[Crimson]

I recently got a new Windows machine for my household that came with the 64-bit version of Vista. I'm really not that familiar with Vista, and am looking for a backup utility that can schedule incremental backups to an external drive where I can pick and choose folders. I also prefer backup applications where the backup is not some proprietary compressed and encrypted file, but rather a clone of the directories and files I choose. Any (free!) suggestions?

[GHM]

I recently got a new Windows machine for my household that came with the 64-bit version of Vista. I'm really not that familiar with Vista, and am looking for a backup utility that can schedule incremental backups to an external drive where I can pick and choose folders. I also prefer backup applications where the backup is not some proprietary compressed and encrypted file, but rather a clone of the directories and files I choose. Any (free!) suggestions?

Acronis is great for this.Not sure if it is totally free..though with a little digging you could find it free.

[Levi]

I love Acronis True Image Echo workstation.  I was able to upgrade my SCSI drive to a larger SCSI drive using the "clone drive".  Highly Recommended

Now for automated backup without compression, I use Second Copy.  Second Copy also can backup to a SAN or mapped network drives. 

[richidoo]

Have you tried Vista's own backup utilities? They are enhanced greatly over XP. I have used XP backup for years, it is robust. I don't know if it can just copy files without putting them into a container file. XP Backup can't but it is easy to find a Windows machine to open the files. The container approach lets you organize backups by date or whatever.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2007.09.backup.aspx

[jqp]

Haven't taken this route, but there are external drives that come with '1 touch' backup software which I assume can be scheduled?

You could write your own since Windows comes with Scheduled Task capabilities in the Control Panel

I should look into this also for friends

[jqp]

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2007.09.backup.aspx

Yes this seems to be a very good article!

[Levi]

Haven't taken this route, but there are external drives that come with '1 touch' backup software which I assume can be scheduled?

You could write your own since Windows comes with Scheduled Task capabilities in the Control Panel

I should look into this also for friends

Most One touch backup will not allow you to backup into mapped network drive or NAS.  Windows Backup sure looks good in paper.  I find it rudementary. 

[Crimson]

Haven't taken this route, but there are external drives that come with '1 touch' backup software which I assume can be scheduled?

You could write your own since Windows comes with Scheduled Task capabilities in the Control Panel

I should look into this also for friends

Most One touch backup will not allow you to backup into mapped network drive or NAS.  Windows Backup sure looks good in paper.  I find it rudementary. 

Yep. Me, too. Thanks for the recommendations. I'll check them out.