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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).

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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.

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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!!!

(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.

The most commonly used however, is local backup software. These utilities create differential or incremental backup files of important data, after an initial full backup. This brings quicker, smaller backups and relatively easy restoration of individual data. (Differential backup copies all changes since the last full backup; incremental backup copies all changes since the last incremental backup, so you can end up with many incremental files.) If your entire hard disk is trashed, however, you will have to find and reinstall the operating system and all your software before you restore your original data, and then you’ll have to restore the full backup followed by the last differential backup, or each incremental backup.

Some say frequent mirroring your entire hard disk; if your disk goes kablooey, you can restore the exact, complete image, with operating system, data, software, and all. However, this requires some space on the backup medium, and restoring a disk image is overkill if you only need to recover a few files or folders. Acronis True Image is a recognized leader in commercial disk-imaging software, but the free Runtime DriveImage XML is also another choice.

A storage medium (CD, DVD, flash disk, tape, floppy disk, hard disk, networked computer, or the Internet)

Backup software

A well-organized scheme, including backup method, medium rotation, and schedule When planning your backup scheme, here are some advice: begin with the end in mind. In this case, that means plan your backup scheme for easily restoring your data tomorrow, as well as for convenience in backing it up today.

While this is a fundamentally sound program, it is not the greatest available out there. To keep that warm fuzzy feeling firmly in place for when it all goes horribly wrong (and it will…) there is simply no alternative to Acronis’ True Image.

According to my experience with it, What I do know is that it works flawlessly, has tons of options and variables, and has never let me down. I’ve been back up and running on a brand new HD in less than 15 minutes from a system with 20GB plus of OS/apps/soundz/vidz etc. as if nothing ever happened.

Backup Expert replaces a whole lot of separate tools. You’ll never have to hunt searching where your email accounts are stored, you won’t need a separate data compression tool, and you won’t need stand-alone CD/DVD burning software to make your backups.

Features:
Backs up files and data of any type;
Customizes Easily;
Stores anywhere;
Runs on a schedule;
Protects Your Privacy.