Decent FREE backup program Windows

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Kyle Yates
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p.1 #1 · Decent FREE backup program Windows

Hi all
Backing up computers and data these days is something we need MORE and more -- I'm surprised that a lot of people (including PRO's) don't do it -- I can't think of any shooter who goes out on a gig without a spare camera and some backup gear - but get back to the studio and sit behind a computer - the Brain seems to get switched off.

Anyway (I have NO interests or commercial associations with this company) but this one offers a FREE decent backup program that also works on Windows 7 (and 64 bit as well).

I used to use Acronis True Image but there are still some issues with Windows 7. I don't like to work without EVER having reliable backup possibilies.

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/download.html

I suggest you have a look at this as it would address most backup requirements without creating too much hassle -- we are shooters first, not computer gurus.

Cheers
-K

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:16 AM

shrimpone
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p.1 #2 · Decent FREE backup program Windows

Kyle:

Thanks for the advice! I too have been looking for a good, easy backup program, have not found one yet. It takes a lot of time doing it the way I've been doing it. I need something that casn look at the main drive and the backup drive and onlt write new files to it and not waste time wrtting everything. Does this do that?
Thanks!

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:27 AM

Kyle Yates
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p.1 #3 · Decent FREE backup program Windows

Hi there
I'm just testing this at the moment
The process is called INCREMENTAL backup.
Seems to work but read the documentation.

I'm using Windows 7 Professional X-64 (64 bit version - since Photoshop CS4 really flies with the 64 bit version),

However every so often you should do a FULL backup.

To restore from Incremental backups you just restore as far back as you need to go.

In the event of complete disaster / recover you restore the LAST COMPLETE backup and then the incremental ones.

Cheers
-K

Oct 26, 2009 at 11:46 AM

Tomagado
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p.1 #4 · Decent FREE backup program Windows

Hopefully this isn't considered thread jacking, but for the Mac users, Super Duper, http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/ is decent for free, and has some nifty features added when you pay for the unlocked version.

Great helpful thread Kyle, thank you.

Oct 26, 2009 at 07:30 PM

renpho
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p.1 #5 · Decent FREE backup program Windows

shrimpone wrote:

Thanks for the advice! I too have been looking for a good, easy backup program, have not found one yet. It takes a lot of time doing it the way I've been doing it. I need something that casn look at the main drive and the backup drive and onlt write new files to it and not waste time wrtting everything. Does this do that?
Thanks!

Take a look at Syncback http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbse-features.html
There is a free version on the downloads page. The drawback to the free version is that it will not backup open files.

Oct 29, 2009 at 06:19 AM

Kyle Yates
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p.1 #6 · Decent FREE backup program Windows

renpho wrote:
shrimpone wrote:

Thanks for the advice! I too have been looking for a good, easy backup program, have not found one yet. It takes a lot of time doing it the way I've been doing it. I need something that casn look at the main drive and the backup drive and onlt write new files to it and not waste time wrtting everything. Does this do that?
Thanks!

Take a look at Syncback http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbse-features.html
There is a free version on the downloads page. The drawback to the free version is that it will not backup open files.

Hi there
The free version looks so basic I wouldn't bother - even the built in backup on Windows 7 is better --if you can't span disks, have "incremental" backups or back up to removable media then IMO its no good.

Just also noticed it's not even VISTA 64 bit compatable (the free version) so certainly won't work with Windows 7 x-64.

A Pro these days can have several TB (1 TB = 1000* 1GB) of photographic data which needs to be backed up -- without incremental backups you'd have to back up severa TB every week or so.

Also this program doesn't seem to give you the option to create bootable media so you can'tdo a "bare metal" recovery or clone a disk if you want to change / add extra disks on to your system / network or even move / copy your data to a different machine.

Also you can't run it from external media like a usb drive so if your machine is hosed up you haven't got any way of running the program -- so doubly a 100% waste of space.

I use acronis -- 49 USD and it's really good -- well suited to pro photographers -- backs up Disc / partitions images as well and really fast. A Windows 7 50GB partition around 12 - 14 mins.

http://www.acronis.com

However do use SOMETHING and the paragon program whilst slower is free and has all the sensible features you'd need.

The DATA on my machines is far more valuable than the hardware -- amd just think of the cost of messing up an important gig --what's 49 USD in comparison to that -- probably cheaper than replacing a Lens cap on a decent Lens.

(I'm still amazed at how many people NEVER back up their stuff --you might have been lucky so far but eventually DATA does got lost / made inacessible and if you haven't got a recovery strategy you can be royally screwed up).

Cheers
-K

Oct 29, 2009 at 08:13 AM

Beni
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p.1 #7 · Decent FREE backup program Windows

I'm using Cobian Backup, free, pretty customiseable backups and very easy to use.

Oct 29, 2009 at 10:57 AM

Kyle Yates
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p.1 #8 · Decent FREE backup program Windows

Hi there
another good REally Cheap (19 GBP / 20 EUR) one is Macrium -- http://www.macrium.com/features.asp.

I still prefer Acronis myself for paid sofyware but I've heard good reports about macrium

Cheers

-K

Oct 29, 2009 at 05:38 PM


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