Need backup software that works

[Fr33m4n]

I need to backup some files to another local drive. I thought this would be a pretty straight forward process with Acronis True Image 10 home but it constantly freezes at a random percentage below 10. And it's not just the same file every time either. I've tried to run the app several times with different settings with no luck, I've uninstalled and r-installed. I've tried to google for a solution, but nothing comes up. The program doesn't really freeze either. It appears to be working and is responsive, but it won't allow me to cancel the opperation even though I do get dialogue boxes that asks me if I'm sure and so on.

Anyway, I've given up on that app unless someone has a suggestion as to what is wrong? I had a look at Norton Ghost, but I have no good experiences with norton apps. I've tried to google for some good review comparisons of backup software but I haven't found anything good. So I'm hoping someone here has a good suggestion I might try.

Edited June 17, 2007 by Fr33m4n

[Martin H]

I would personally recommend the latest build of Acronis True Image Home v9.0(build 3677). I have used Norton 2003 for some years and really liked it, but then after i tried ATI9 for about a year ago, then i switched to that. Some of the reason where that backups where done without rebooting and the backup/restoration jobs where much quicker and smaller in size. Then when ATI10 came out, then i immidiately switched to that, but at the end of the day, i had to uninstall it and go back to ATI9, because it would show an error message evrytime i wanted to restore an image. I also read on the ATI forum at the time, that countless ppl had problems with ATI10, and the general concensus over there, where that it was a matter of harware compatibility if it would work right or not(I'm personally doubting this, since v9 worked fine for me, but what do i know...). Anyways, i haven't tried ATI10 for a long time now, so i can't say if my issue still exists or not, but as i'm perfectly happy with ATI9, and since v10 just seems to add bloat IMHO and as i don't need any of the new features personally, then i will stick to good old ATI9.

[nemesis19]

Been using a software called "Backup4all". Its straight forward backup with compression or without it. Although its a shareware, well, you could try it for 30 days, if satisfy, you could buy, Its worth!

Here is the link for the website:

http://www.backup4all.com/

Edited June 22, 2007 by nemesis19

[jaclaz]

If I may, there is probably a misunderstanding, one thing is a BACKUP, another one is a CLONE or IMAGE.

Acronis TrueImage or Ghost represent the typical applications that do the second.

If you need a backup, I can suggest you the FREEWARE:

SAMEDIR

http://samedir.sbn.bz/

or

COBIAN BACKUP:

http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

If you need an image, though it is very strange that Acronis does not work for you, you can try the FREEWARE:

DRIVEIMAGE XML:

http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm

or

SELFIMAGE:

http://selfimage.excelcia.org/

or

NFGDUMP:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/nfgdump/

jaclaz

[Martin H]

Personally, then i can't really understand why anyone would need a backup app for simply making backups of files and folders. For such tasks, then i have always just used explorer.exe. Although Acronis True Image, which i recommended, does support normal folder/file backups also, then i do admit that i was thinking of images when i wrote the post.

[albator]

Then use Acronis boot CD, you can get the 7 version for Free.

[Jeremy]

An image, technically speaking, can be considered a backup, IMHO.

Acronis True Image

Burning files to DVD+/-R doesn't hurt, either.

[CGA]

Another (not so well known) imaging software is R-Drive Image. I've been using Acronis for quite some time but after having some problems with it i switched to R-drive. Not as fast backups as Acronis but very reliable.

[killerb255]

If you have XP Pro, just use the ntbackup command...

[SmaugyGrrr]

Casper 4.0 is what I use to back up my HD to an external drive. It does its business while Windows is running. After the first full (slow, obviously) backup, subsequent backups only transfer changed data - the developers call this "SmartClone technology". The backup drive is fully bootable - the defective original drive can just be swapped with the backup to get up and running again. Locked files (i.e. the SAM) are also copied.