Should I use RAID 1 or synchronization software (for example Synctoy)

[hinic1999]

I have an internal hard drive of 2TB and it has system files, programs i use, downloads etc..basically information that i don't really care about much.
I have an external hard drive of 1TB which is filled with information that i care about such as pictures, documents, videos, movies, and other important stuff sometimes a program, a game or a whole software project with lots of files that are connected. Basically information that i want to have while im alive.
I bought a new external hard drive of 2TB.
I want my 2 external hard drives to work together. So for example when i put some new data on one of them i want it synced to the other one too, aswell as when i remove something from one of them i want it removed on the other one too. I would also take one of them with me to the vacation or something work-related and when i come back after few days and have it plugged in again to my PC i want the data to synchronize to the external hard drive that i didn't take with me. I don't want something like a backup, rather them both to work as a one thing.

so should I use RAID 1 or synchronization software (for example Synctoy)

 

[USAFRet]

Well...making them "work as a one thing" would be a RAID 1.
However...working as one also means any 'problem' that happens on one also happens on the other.
You, the user, and the OS, sees but one volume. Or one file.

Accidental deletion, corruption, virus, ransomware...happens to at the same time.
The only "protection" is against physical drive fail.
RAID 1 does nothing for the far more common forms of data loss.

This is all secondary data? Not the OS drive?
Then maybe SyncToy, SyncBackFree, or FreeFileSync would work. It is not "instant", but whatever schedule you want.
Sync every 6 hours, maybe. Copy over new or changed stuff to the drive.

Applications and programs are problematic in this, though. Presumably you'd be connecting this to a different PC when on vacation?

 

[hinic1999]

Well...making them "work as a one thing" would be a RAID 1.
However...working as one also means any 'problem' that happens on one also happens on the other.
You, the user, and the OS, sees but one volume. Or one file.

Accidental deletion, corruption, virus, ransomware...happens to at the same time.
The only "protection" is against physical drive fail.
RAID 1 does nothing for the far more common forms of data loss.

This is all secondary data? Not the OS drive?
Then maybe SyncToy, SyncBackFree, or FreeFileSync would work. It is not "instant", but whatever schedule you want.
Sync every 6 hours, maybe. Copy over new or changed stuff to the drive.

Applications and programs are problematic in this, though. Presumably you'd be connecting this to a different PC when on vacation?

Im not quite sure what stands for secondary data, because i do sometimes install a program or a game on it, or have "big and lots of file" projects such as unity and stuff. My OS drive is in my PC and i don't have the "important" files on it other than OS data, programs that i use, downloads etc..

Yeah i use a different PC on vacation, like a laptop or a friends PC.
Also if i use one of the sync apps that you mentioned, how often do problems happen and do I know if they do. For example while its syncing and my power goes off or i don't know that it is syncing and i plug one of the external hard drives out. How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

also one question just out of curiosity: can the OS data be synchronized with those apps too?
Thanks a lot for your reply!

 

[USAFRet]

By 'secondary data' I'm referring to files that you personally create.
doc/xls/video, etc, etc, etc.
Specifically NOT applications. And especially not the OS or parts thereof.

Application on this drive will be problematic.
For instance...2 systems - Home desktop and vacation laptop.
The home desktop - install an application.
The vacation laptop OS knows nothing about this application. Most applications won't even run.

If each system had its own install of an application...MS Office, for instance...that can easily use individual files that live on this mobile drive.
But you can't move the actual MS office application back and forth.

 

[hinic1999]

By 'secondary data' I'm referring to files that you personally create.
doc/xls/video, etc, etc, etc.
Specifically NOT applications. And especially not the OS or parts thereof.

Application on this drive will be problematic.
For instance...2 systems - Home desktop and vacation laptop.
The home desktop - install an application.
The vacation laptop OS knows nothing about this application. Most applications won't even run.

If each system had its own install of an application...MS Office, for instance...that can easily use individual files that live on this mobile drive.
But you can't move the actual MS office application back and forth.

Okay I understand, Also if i use one of the sync apps that you mentioned, how often do problems happen and do I know if they do. For example while its syncing and my power goes off or i don't know that it is syncing and i plug one of the external hard drives out. How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

 

[USAFRet]

Okay I understand, Also if i use one of the sync apps that you mentioned, how often do problems happen and do I know if they do. For example while its syncing and my power goes off or i don't know that it is syncing and i plug one of the external hard drives out. How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

If you lose power while it is writing...the whole file system could be corrupted.
Unlikely, but a possibility.

 

[hinic1999]

Okay I understand, Also if i use one of the sync apps that you mentioned, how often do problems happen and do I know if they do. For example while its syncing and my power goes off or i don't know that it is syncing and i plug one of the external hard drives out. How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

If you lose power while it is writing...the whole file system could be corrupted.
Unlikely, but a possibility.

Okay but maybe other example if my computer crashes or i put it to hibernation while its syncing or anything like that. How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

 

[USAFRet]

Okay I understand, Also if i use one of the sync apps that you mentioned, how often do problems happen and do I know if they do. For example while its syncing and my power goes off or i don't know that it is syncing and i plug one of the external hard drives out. How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

If you lose power while it is writing...the whole file system could be corrupted.
Unlikely, but a possibility.

Okay but maybe other example if my computer crashes or i put it to hibernation while its syncing or anything like that. How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

A "crash" is no different than a power cut. The system stops working.
If that happens during a copy process...things may get corrupted.

Does your system crash often? If so...you need to fix that.

 

[hinic1999]

Okay I understand, Also if i use one of the sync apps that you mentioned, how often do problems happen and do I know if they do. For example while its syncing and my power goes off or i don't know that it is syncing and i plug one of the external hard drives out. How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

If you lose power while it is writing...the whole file system could be corrupted.
Unlikely, but a possibility.

Okay but maybe other example if my computer crashes or i put it to hibernation while its syncing or anything like that. How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

A "crash" is no different than a power cut. The system stops working.
If that happens during a copy process...things may get corrupted.

Does your system crash often? If so...you need to fix that.

It doesn't. What if I put it in hibernation? And my main question (even in case that nothing goes wrong)is really: How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

 

[USAFRet]

It doesn't. What if I put it in hibernation? And my main question (even in case that nothing goes wrong)is really: How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

This is all down to trust.
Known tested software (as recommended above), and you personally test it to your satisfaction.
The first few times...you test the files that end up on the target drive.

Once you're satisfied that the software works, all should be good, and you can let it run on automatic.
Of course, verification testing once in a while.

 

[hinic1999]

It doesn't. What if I put it in hibernation? And my main question (even in case that nothing goes wrong)is really: How will i know for sure that everything is synced if i don't check it myself if its on both of external hard drives?

This is all down to trust.
Known tested software (as recommended above), and you personally test it to your satisfaction.
The first few times...you test the files that end up on the target drive.

Once you're satisfied that the software works, all should be good, and you can let it run on automatic.
Of course, verification testing once in a while.

Okay, Thanks for all the replies! My final question is if you could recommend any free sync software. I heard about synctoy is it as good as those for which you have to pay?

 

[USAFRet]

Okay, Thanks for all the replies! My final question is if you could recommend any free sync software. I heard about synctoy is it as good as those for which you have to pay?

For just file/folder sync (copying), SyncToy, FreeFileSync, or SyncBackFree.
I've used all three.

But currently, I use Macrium Reflect for actual full drive backups. Not what you're looking for, though.

 

[hinic1999]

Okay, Thanks for all the replies! My final question is if you could recommend any free sync software. I heard about synctoy is it as good as those for which you have to pay?

For just file/folder sync (copying), SyncToy, FreeFileSync, or SyncBackFree.
I've used all three.

But currently, I use Macrium Reflect for actual full drive backups. Not what you're looking for, though.

Alright, thanks!