Backup Freeware

FreewareVista Great Freeware
Freeware and free trials, tips and resources

Backups

Consider this definition of Backup: a backup serves as a suitable substitute when something fails or is unavailable. Simple, right? Why is it then that so many computer users are confused about backing up, backup insufficiently, and despite all their best efforts still lose data?

Tech support units in fact have an old saw (as small comfort when your data is about to be lost in a full operating system re-install) - "There are only two types of computer users, those who have lost data and those who will".

Part of the problem is that most computer users consider backups in an isolated sense. For example, Joe is concerned about his Bookmarks and so copies them to a 'backup folder' on his hard drive. He assumes he's made a suitable backup but then his operating system becomes badly corrupted or the hard drive fails - the bookmarks are gone along with everything else.

So when you consider backups, you must consider the idea of the 'potential failure being guarded against'. What will be lost in a bad operating system crash? or mechanical hard drive failure? When you consider such worst case scenerios, you'll see that to be safe you'll need to backup to a location other than your hard drive - to an external hard drive or CD's and DVD's.

Also, depending on how you use your computer, you may like to put in place a backup strategy that includes ease of recovery from smaller disasters - so you don't have to repeatedly re-install your whole operating system every time something goes wrong; this is where imaging software such as First Defense ISR is a huge time and headache saver.

SyncBack - solid backup and file synchronization

Easy Backup - painfully simple program that effectively does folder backups, plus timed interval backup capability

NTI Backup Now Standard - quality backup software, part of the Intel Desktop Utilities Version 2.1.9.66 (Full Version)

MozBackup - with this freeware utility you can automate the task of backing up bookmarks/profiles of Mozilla or Mozilla Firefox

Snap Backup - straightforward freeware to backup files and folders, 100% Java

WinDriverBackup - freeware application from JerMar Software Corporation; identifies all drivers and allows for a quick and easy backup. An updated (non-freeware) version called DriverGuide Toolkit (Free Trial) provides additional functionality including search capability for updated drivers

First Defense ISR (Free Trial) - powerful software for immediate system recovery. Allows for creation of snapshots while at the same time allowing key data files to be 'anchored', thus the data files are current when you boot to a different snapshot. Although the software is quite intuitive, there is a bit of a familiarization curve at the start. Has saved me from a complete re-install many times. No conflict with system restore, but will NOT work alongside products such as Norton GoBack. Will not run with Kaspersky AV installed. See also First Defense ISR Forum and Wilders Forum for First Defense ISR

Windows Live OneCare - Microsoft 90-day trial, PC security and performance tools, backup tools

Active SMART (Free Trial) - not backup software, but checks hard drive status to predict failure well in advance

INFORMATION: Mozilla Firefox Bookmarks Backup Tips