Good backup freeware software?
 

I downloaded GFI Backup home edition. I read good things about it. Anyone else use it?

I guess it could use the built-in Windows program but I think 3rd party programs provide more options.

i'm using synchback and it is fine.....the backup program in windows 7 home premium won't let you back up to a network drive (you need a more expensive version of windoze)

Which system software are you running, XP, Vista Windows 7? I use in Windows 7 ultimate the integrated tool which run grate for me.

the big problem with windows bu and freeware bu, is they usually do not transfer from one ms os to the next.

so if you need something from 2000, either you build a new/old machine, or you are sol.

For backups, I swear by CrashPlan. It's free (Windows, OS X, Linux and Solaris) and will automatically backup to an external hard drive, another computer on your network, a friends computer on the other side of the world or to CrashPlan's paid backup hosting solution.

I have used GFI backup. And just installed CrashPlan ... which is backing up right now to my WD "PassPort" external disk.
However, all back-up programs I know perform only a partial back-up. I am looking for a a full 1:1 image back-up for the complete Windows System for Vista. Looks like Windows 7 has such a feature.
This article .. sorry in German ... describes this:

http://www.heute.de/ZDFheute/inhalt/...010211,00.html

Is there anything out for Windows Vista?

Cobian Backup 9 is also a good backup software. It is open-source and can be used to automate the process of backing up. It is a free and easy to use program.

[QUOTE=USAFAN;13158879....I am looking for a a full 1:1 image back-up for the complete Windows System for Vista.......Is there anything out for Windows Vista?[/QUOTE]

DriveImage XML does a very nice job of complete disk/system images. Free for non-commercial use and to try.

For regular backups, SyncbackSE is hard to beat - very fully featured and backs up to local or remote, including FTP, encryption and compression, with complex rule creation possible.

Second CrashPlan
 

CrashPlan is it. Cross-platform, easy to use, and free. No-brainer!

Am I the only one left on the planet still using xcopy to backup data? :D :D :D

Sounds like you want imaging software, not backup software, and Acronis is pretty widely regarded.

www.computersworth.com has it for $22.

A bit different, but Mailstore for backing up outlook is amazing and free for home users.

+1 for Cobian. I've been using it for years now and use it to make a monthly full backup of all my data files followed by a weekly differential and a daily incremental backup to both a network drive and an external drive so that I have two sets of backups. It is easy to set up & configure for an automated operation and each set of backup has the date & time and so I have a history of backups going back several years, I delete all daily incrementals older than a year. Thus I can retrieve any version of any changed data file going back to any day within the past one year and any version of the same file going back several years to any week prior to the past year. Relatively inexpensive high capacity drives help make this possible.

All my data files are organized under various subfolders within subfolders by type of data and are on a separate partition on my laptop in a root folder called D:\DATA and almost all my applications are configured to store or read files from the appropriate subfolders in D:\DATA\.

Wirelessly posted (Nokia N97 / Palm TX: Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.4; Series60/5.0 NokiaN97-3/12.2.024; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1; en-us) AppleWebKit/525 (KHTML, like Gecko) BrowserNG7.1.12344)

Great thread... Im looking to backup some things and one of these will come in handy.

I use TreeComp to do delta backups. Works awesome.

No. I use it as well.

DenverBrian:

Thanks for this recommendation. The people from Geek Squad at Best Buy also recommend and use Acronis. BTW, Amazone has the new Acronis True Image Home 2010 for $19.99.

Now here is my problem/question:

I want a clean install of Windows. So I am going to make a mirror image of C: to my WD Passport disk. Then I install Windows. Then I copy the image back from WD passport to C:. Will I have still the new Windows (and saved files) ... or will Acronis also copy the "old" Windows and I have the same old Operating System before I started?

A mirror image is an exact duplicate, bit for bit, of the disk or partition.

So if you make a mirror image of C:, THEN install Windows, you will lose that installation of Windows if you restore the mirror image.

A mirror image is a snapshot of your entire disk at that moment in time. It's wonderful for situations like when your OS screws up and you're forced to re-install the OS, but then you'd also have to re-install all your programs and go through the 72 Windows updates and so on.

With a mirror image, you can restore your disk to exactly the way it was when you imaged - meaning you'll have a good OS AND all your programs installed properly.

I always image my C: drive just after buying a new 'puter, after I've got it set up with all the stuff I want; that becomes a reference image I can always go back to in an emergency.

I keep all my data in a separate partition to eliminate any problems with losing data when re-imaging.

In your case, I think you want to install Windows, get it all set up with updates and drivers (but not programs, if I'm reading you right)...THEN image the disk. This will create a "clean copy of Windows" you can go back to in an emergency.

P.S. The Amazon Acronis 2010 at $19.99 is a great deal, especially if you are on Windows 7. If you're still on Vista, ComputersWorth has their little bundle back where you can get Acronis 2009, McAfee, and a 4GB flash drive for $21. That's how I originally got my copy of Acronis.

DenverBrian:

Thanks for all.
Yes, I want to install Windows 7. I could install it on top of Vista 64 bit, but the people from Geek Squad at Best Buy told me that a clean install is much better... but with a clean install I may loose some of my older programs. Thanks again ... I'll stay for some time with Vista ... the risk to loose some of my needed programs is just too high.

Indeed, there's nothing like a loose program to ruin your day. I use tightening software daily. :D :D :D

You might consider Paragon free backup software for your future needs. Personally I had a very positive experience using it, and it's FREE!

Check out drop box, 2gb for free, great if you use multiple pcs/macs