Data Backup Software and Service

Maybe Windows Backup utility’s features and functions are not comparable with the third party software, even a freeware - EASEUS Disk Copy, but indeed its compatibility is unparalleled. The Windows Backup utility helps you create a copy of the information on your hard disk. In the event that the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten, or becomes inaccessible because of a hard disk malfunction, you can use the copy to restore your lost or damaged data. The Windows Backup utility helps you protect data from accidental loss.

The hard disk and partition imaging software take a snapshot of your hard disk so that you can restore your system at a later time to the exact same state the system was when you imaged the disk or partition. This is useful for system recovery in case of a hard disk disaster. The term "image" is used because such software often copy the state of the hard disk sector by sector to your image. Hence if your hard disk was (say) defragmented with certain software occupying certain sectors when you backed up, it will be returned to that same state when you restore your backup. The image utilities often do not allow fine control what you backup - you can specify the partitions or hard disks to back up, but you usually will not be able to specify which folders to exclude or include. They are useful for backing up your system drive or partition, that is, the drive that you placed your operating system on. Hard disk imaging software are sometimes also used to clone a hard disk to another (useful for the times you change or upgrade your hard disk).

On the other hand, the hard disk, folder and files backup software listed here allow a finer control over what you back up. You can selectively backup and restore (say) your documents and email while omitting other files and directories. Some of the utilities allow you to schedule your backups, so that you can be sure that your important data are backed up periodically (for example, daily, weekly, monthly, etc). Depending on the utility, it may or may not support the backup of your system drive (the drive you booted from).

Beinsync lets you synchronise your folders on various machines so you're never without your files.

The program has a Windows Explorer type layout and individual folders can be selected for sharing.

After installation you're guided through the process of setting up folder synchronisation; series of popular folders are suggested, such as My Pictures and Internet Favourites.

When you select a folder you must leave the first machine on while you sync. All file transfers are performed using a direct peer to peer method. Data goes through various ports and there shouldn't be any firewall issues. It takes a few seconds to connect and despite a slightly worrying "connected (behind nat)" message on our test machines, which any Bit Torrent user will know means crippled speeds, Beinsync went flat out transferring files as fast as our upload link could manage.

Folders can be shared via an email link, so even if your friends and family don't have a Beinsync account they can access a selection of files. Using this method, the PC where the files are hosted acts as a form of web server; everything is encrypted and browsing the shared files is a simple list or thumbnail affair.

I tried out almost anything on the market …

But what I want to clyrify first, is don′t always mix up 2 different aproaches to save your data:
What IS useful for profi environment but as well for those, who often install and try out new software, is the mentioned aproach by an imaging programm (as ther is DriveSnapshot, Acronis, NortonGhost, DriveBackup [and many more...] but as well good freeware as DriveImageXML or the new version of Savepart [and more...]).

This will protect you from the need to set up your complete system on HD-crahes an other bigger problems; you can go back to the formerly saved state of your complete installation!

A good programm should allow to leave out defineable folders and the hyberation file. (I use DriveSnapshot which is really small extremly fast, consists of only 1 file with 240 KB and has ability to run from DOS, too!!!

But Acronis TrueImage is also great and more comfortable for not too experienced users.
(B.t.w, I run Snapshot weekly with option “Differential backup” enabled… and DAILY in professional environments - Images are saved on bootable USB-drives (bootable Floppy, CD … will do as well).)
The 2nd approach is to save your actually produced new data (text documents, databases, settings…). For this it is best to save i permanently in the background - best is a REALLY SAFE place, as external drives, another computer, (or at least another drive; minimum should be another partition…!)

Both aproaches are recommended; For your daily and permanent backup it is sufficent to have todays ofer(or BackToZip and a lot of other free software to doo the job; a zipping feature is recommended for it saves space and fast - but a testing routine for the saved data should be implemented!!!

Two basic kinds of software facilitate the latter approach: specialized backup software and synchronization programs.

(See Wikipedia for a fairly thorough, though slightly geeky, explanation of the entire backup subject.)

For this backup software roundup, I looked for programs with these capabilities (and so should you):
Select files, folders, or entire drives for backup.

Select or exclude files according to file extension masks (for example, *.doc, *.xls, *.dat, etc.). The built-in mask should already know how to find Outlook, Outlook Express, and other common applications’ data files (for instance, *.pst and *.pab).

Support multiple backup "sets" or "profiles".

Either incremental or differential backup or both, in addition to full backup.
Set up an automatic schedule for unattended backups.
Back up the Windows Registry.

Automatically save and close open files so they can be backed up.

Copy files as they are, or archive them using ZIP compression. (Use of this universally accepted file format ensures that you can restore your files even without the backup program that created them.)
Protect backup files using ZIP encryption.

Protect backup files with a stronger encryption method (such as DES, AES, Blowfish, etc.). (Warning: Strong encryption can require the backup program for a restore… and don’t lose that password!)
Copy to CD or DVD, hard drive, flash drive, networked computer, or an FTP site on the Internet (even if not secure).

Keep a log of backup and restore operations, and send email notifications on completion.

Other desirable features include enabling you to specify other programs to run before or after the backup, excluding already-compressed files (such as *.zip, *.jpg, *.mp3, etc.) from compression, and verifying the integrity of backup files. Some also include synchronization functions, and a few can also create disk mirror images.