FREE Backup Software

If it backed up your 2460 in less than a minute, it didn't get everything. The USB interface on the nuvi is not that fast regardless of how good the backup software is.

While I downloaded copies of both the x86 and x64 versions, I'll never use it because a month prior Paragon gave away copies of Backup & Recovery 14 Compact, which has some added features over the free product. The main difference between the 2014 version and its 2013/2012 counterparts is that this one supports Windows 8.1. While it is basic in its features, being a free offering, it does cover the most important thing: creating a drive image. If you have ever had to restore a computer from scratch, installing Windows, then the computer's drivers, and updates on top of it all mean a very long day spent doing nothing. With Paragon Backup & Recovery, I'm back up and running in about a half hour. With the free version, I don't recall if it supports incremental backups, but if it does, it makes a useful program pretty much essential.

Needless to say, I emphatically recommend this software.

Just used this software to do a full backup of my Nuvi 3597. It completed in 22 minutes. It took the better part of a minute just gathering the info it needed to begin the backup process.

I took another backup, this time using the softwares "File Transfer" facility. It took the same 22 minutes to copy the whole 3597 drive and about 21 minutes just to complete the .system folder.

This free version does support incremental backups.

I decided that I would look at the restore feature. It said that it could not restore to the Garmin Drive. OK. I then gave File Transfer a try. Like it better because I can see which files I want to restore.

I thought the backup was a little fast and the compression it showed was out of sight ... 4+gb to 2mb. I just tried again and it was my SD card that it was backing up. Just tried again. It seems that Paragon will not allow the Garmin drive to be backed up. Don't quite understand it. It will allow the SD card and the computer drive to be backed up. Just not the main Garmin drive.

EDIT: I have another Backup app installed called EaseUS ToDo Backup. It works. No recognition issues and the File Backup worked without a hitch.
Any suggestions??

Glad to see that others are doing OK though.

What mode is your Nuvi in, MTP or Mass Storage (USB)?

Paragon will only back up the Nuvi drive if it's in Mass Storage mode. Unless you've changed your Nuvi from it's default MTP mode to Mass Storage, this software will not see the Nuvi and therefore can't back it up.

As I posted above, it worked fine backing up my 3597. It was in Mass Storage mode.

According to Garmin the 2460 does not support MTP and now I know the reason

I need to try this

Thanks for the information - Has anyone tried Acronis True image 2014 which is not free to see if it works on Garmin.
Thanks for your reply

I have tried True Image 2013 but couldn't get it to see the Nuvi's internal storage drive. I didn't spend a lot of time attempting to figure it out but it may have been the same issue that Paragon has with MTP and Mass Storage mode.

Maybe worth a look

I used the free version of SyncBackFree for a while when I had XP. I have had Windows 7 for a while and just now put SyncBack on my Windows 7 computer.

It is worth a look if you want a free backup.
I chose the option to just copy each file to my external hard drive. When I run it each time the back up program just adds anything that I don't have or updates any file that I have changed or keeps the old file and adds the new one (whichever option I choose)

There are a lot of options in this program.

http://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/freeware-hub.html
This is the link I used, it also gives upgraded programs to buy but the first one has SyncBackFree.

I've used SyncBackFree and it's predecessors for years to backup various drives including my Nuvi and it's SD card. Has always worked great for me. Recommended!

Thanks for getting us into a discussion of backup. As most know, I am a strong proponent of BACKUP - whether it is my Garmin devices, my smartphones or my PCs.

There seem to be several members who are not "seeing" their devices when attached to the computer. I should know the answer to the question I am about to ask, but my 2595 is out on the road so I cannot test it out. And one reason I do not know the answer is that the very first thing I did when I got my 2595 was to change it to be in Mass Storage Mode and do a backup (and I left it in MSM)

The question is whether the newer devices - those that employ Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) - will accept updates for firmware, maps, etc in MTP mode.

The answer surely has to be yes - but I would like confirmation.

Assuming so, then why put such units back int MTP mode at all? I realize that Garmin says that it is safer, but you likely just made a backup of .system.

I tried SyncBackFree and uninstalled it after a couple of trial backups. If you were to have to do a complete restore you may be out in the cold. There were 60+ files that the app would not back up and a bunch with "conflict". I contacted Sync.. and was told to check the FAQs which I already had done ... no FREE support. You might want to check closely at the stats when you backup to be sure ALL files were included. I don't recall that the app even told me which files they were.

Just my observations.

Perhaps the answer is in the FAQs, but I am in some downtime at work and wanted to see what was going on here. Anyway, what is the diff btwn MTP and MSM? My unit is not MTP friendly, but what about MSM?

Perhaps you mean "MSC"? The difference between MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) and MSC (Mass Storage Class) is that in MSC mode the device is seen as simply another drive. In MTP the system areas are hidden.

I'm positive jgermann will chime in here, but depending on the device, to back up a Garmin in its entirety requires it to be in MSC mode.

That's all we need - one more term for USB mode.

Me also, what do you have to lose by trying it out

I use it to back up documents and photos and it tells me before it runs what files ate backing up and if it has a conflict etc. It has always copied all files I tell it to. The last conflict it ask me about was a photo taken sideways and I turned it up right after its first backup. It ask me if I wanted to replace or keep the original file. So far it has worked great for me.

I use it to back up my company laptop and my personal computers. I have never had a missed file. I set it and forget it based on what i want backed up.

As explained in A Glossary of Terms and Links , Garmin talks about Mass Storage Mode which I abbreviated as MSM.

However, one of the specifications for USB devices is the Mass Storage Class - abbreviated as MSC.

For our purposes either will work because, as has been pointed out above, if one wishes to backup a newer Garmin device, it must not be in Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) mode.

OK ... I am "assuming" then that if a unit does NOT support MTF mode then it must already be in Mass Storage Mode. If this is the case then my unit should have been able to backup with Paragon. It backs up with EaseUS Todo Backup and SyncBackFee (though not my choice).

The time it took to backup with the above apps took the same time as a drag and drop from nuvi to my hard drive. Also, neither of the apps were used with compression.

So the short of it is ... Why not just drag and drop?

I have been looking around for FREE apps to try. Even though I like EaseUS Todo, what is the harm in looking and trying other apps? Anyway, I found a few on: http://download.cnet.com/windows/backup-software/ . I sorted the list by Editor Reviews. I downloaded and tried Yadis! It worked well and restore allows you to select individual files. It backed up all 6147 files. Took about 30 minutes for 5gb.

I would be wary of using the CNET site for downloads. I used to use their site but a while back they started including spamware in their downloads. So please research them before downloading.

Went to to download Open Office from them (CNET) and had 4 programs considered as spam and spyware by my AV software bundled in with them. There was no opt-out option for the added programs either. Used system Restore to back them out.

There isn't an Opt-out as such, but below each large green Download button there is a direct download link in small type. I have never had an issue with this method. However, there are some free apps that want to install toolbars, etc. and I have always found an opt-out for those.

Just my experience

Not great, but...

You usually get what you pay for and in this case that is a very accurate statement.

I use the free version of Macrium Reflect, I back up all of my PCs with it.

SyncBack is not intended to backup the entire HDD (OS). That's what programs like Acronis and Macrium are for. SyncBack is intended to backup/sync DATA files. For devices like my Garmin, it works great.

This also happened to me. I always look for added 'toolbars' but this surprised me. Much added time to fix it. I will try one of those backups that some have suggested.

Thanks for posting

I also have had similar experiences with CNet downloads. Even if you uncheck the box for the additional software installation it installs it anyway. Several other companies also include additional software with their product and if you speed through the screens while installing you end up with stuff you never wanted.

The key to not getting the garbage is to use the dedicated link to the software developer. Two ways to do this ... use the link below the CNET download link, or go to the developers site directly via a search. I have not had an issue UNLESS I did clicked on the dialog boxes without reading close enough.

Garmin Express can also do backup and restore.

Whatever link you click on (and dferron is correct about the one you want almost always being BELOW the product name), take a look at the name of the file about to be downloaded. If its name is not something you expected based on what you were looking for, then STOP right there. Cancel and go back a screen to take a closer look at where you clicked.

Even better, as dferron suggested, try to get the download from the developers site.

CNET, in my opinion, is no worse than any other site that offers access to various software products. I do like to check CNET's ratings of similar products.

Yes...sort of. Garmin Express Backup will only back up the locations saved in the favorites, saved menu and routes.

See:

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={51c35d50-3dbf-11df-e655-000000000000}

With GE on your computer, it is an easy way to backup/restore Favorites but it is in no way a full backup of files in the nuvi.

To back up all files accessible to users:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30394

If you're anything like me, you sometimes have to support some of your friends and relatives PCs as well. I use CrashPlan (www.code42.com/CrashPlan‎) for a few reasons:

• It's free (if you skip their paid service)
• You can have many and multiple backup destinations
• You can backup over the 'Net to remote friend's PCs
• Your friends can off-site to you as well
• The backups are automatic. You don't have to remember anything...
• It's extremely secure
• Did I mention that it's free?

I back up all my PCs to my server's RAID array. I've lost too much data over the years...don't want to be back there again.

Simply install it, set the parameters, and walk away. Restoration is just as simple. Choose the file(s) to restore, click go, and again walk away... I back up my GPS units to the local machine and let the automatic PC backup do the heavy lifting.

My two cents

I have had no problem backing up and restoring my Garmin 3490 using the Easus utility.

Good program, no bloatware.