SyncToy 1.4 - deleting local data

I catalog my images by year (2006, 2007, etc) on my desktop and backup to
external drive #1 using SyncToy Echo. I then backup external drive #1 to
external drive #2 for a second backup using SyncToy Echo. No problem so far.

I now need to delete the images for year 2006 on my desktop to allow space
for the 2008 images. Using Echo would not be a good choice since Echo would
also delete the same images on external drive #1, and eventually external
drive #2.

Is the following then correct?
1. Delete the 2006 images on my desktop
2. Run SyncToy in Contribute mode

This should not delete any images on external drive #1 but should update the
SyncToy database on the desktop. OK?

Now (and this is critical), if I later run SyncToy in Echo to backup new
2008 images, SyncToy will know enough to leave the 2006 images alone on
external drive #1. OK?

Next, I modify a 2006 image on external drive #1. I then run SyncToy in Echo
to backup any changes on external drive #1 to external drive #2. OK?

Sorry for the convoluted questions but I hate to lose any data.
dan

i'm new to this, too. But here's an idea: run one set of rules to copy from
your desktop to external hard drive 1, then run another backup rule where 1
copies to 2. You can choose different modes for each (contribute from
desktop to External Hard Drive 1, and Echo from External Hard Drive 1 to 2).

Hope this makes sense / works for you. Good luck!

"Dan" wrote:

> I catalog my images by year (2006, 2007, etc) on my desktop and backup to
> external drive #1 using SyncToy Echo. I then backup external drive #1 to
> external drive #2 for a second backup using SyncToy Echo. No problem so far.
>
> I now need to delete the images for year 2006 on my desktop to allow space
> for the 2008 images. Using Echo would not be a good choice since Echo would
> also delete the same images on external drive #1, and eventually external
> drive #2.
>
> Is the following then correct?
> 1. Delete the 2006 images on my desktop
> 2. Run SyncToy in Contribute mode
>
> This should not delete any images on external drive #1 but should update the
> SyncToy database on the desktop. OK?
>
> Now (and this is critical), if I later run SyncToy in Echo to backup new
> 2008 images, SyncToy will know enough to leave the 2006 images alone on
> external drive #1. OK?
>
> Next, I modify a 2006 image on external drive #1. I then run SyncToy in Echo
> to backup any changes on external drive #1 to external drive #2. OK?
>
> Sorry for the convoluted questions but I hate to lose any data.
> dan