Data Backup Software and Service

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!!!