| Windows Backup Software: Find the Best Backup Software For Your PC |
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Windows Backup Software
Hello, I'm Trent. I would love to have the opportunity to share with you my knowledge on Windows backup software.
As a small business owner, I understand the importance of making sure all of my most important files are backed up in the event of any computer hardware or software issue.
I recently looked into the Windows backup software market to find more information on the products available.
Read more below to see what I have to say about Windows backup software.
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Recommended Tools to Prepare Before using Backup Software |
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Computers and laptops are being used a lot more often by people all over the world and the latest models have proven to last for a very long time.
The reliability of these systems gives people a good sense of comfort with plenty of space to store all of their important files and many of the hard disks being advertised as long lasting.
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However, just because data is safely stored in the primary memory doesn't mean that the data is guaranteed to stay there forever. Accidents can happen and viruses can easily ruin one's day. Prevention isn't a good approach because problems can arise when least expected.
The best thing to do is to prepare for the situation ahead of time by using backup software so copies of your files are saved elsewhere. To do this, you will need a backup software along with one or more of the recommended tools listed below.
DVD Burner and Blank DVDs
These two components serve as the most basic mediums of backup because most computers have a DVD drive with burning capabilities and DVDs in general are very affordable these days. Each DVD weighs 4.7 GB which should be enough to backup thousands of pictures, audio files, and videos.
While it is considered the most cost-effective way to backup files, DVDs remain as the most vulnerable to damage so be sure to either backup to multiple DVDs or use another method alongside it. If file size is the main concern, dual layer DVDs boast nearly double the capacity wile Blu-ray discs have much more to offer although they have the same vulnerability to DVDs.
External Hard Disk
With the cost per gigabyte dipping down as microtechnology evolves, external hard drives are becoming cheaper than ever. Even the small flash drives that boast 4 to 32 gigabytes are within the average budget. Backing up to these sources isn't as difficult and can be performed faster especially on high speed disks. Your only real limitation is the disk's capacity, but also check the brand and model ratings if you plan on placing sensitive data as some externals break down for unknown reasons.
Other Computers
Some backup software have the option to copy the backup to another networked computer. Although this puts mobility out of the equation unless it is a laptop, files are a bit more secure since they are housed in large casings. Some of these casings may have a cooling fan to prevent hard disks from overheating. Most internal hard disks handle heat exceptionally well, but it is better to stay safe by storing the backups there.
Online Storage Sites
The three tools above all have some chances of failing and if that bothers you, you can go with a reliable online storage site that makes use of professional-grade servers where your data is safely kept and available for recovering at any time. This is the slowest method of backup since it depends on an Internet connection, but chances of failing are very slim if you sign up with a trusted service.
One tool should be enough for you to perform a backup job, but having 1 or more tools give you better flexibility in making and saving types of backups and gives you confidence that your important files aren't going anywhere.
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Tips in Backing up your Files using Backup Software |
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Most of the backup software available including the tool built into Windows should be very easy to use and often have a "Wizard Mode" in which a wizard is presented to the user so that all that needs to be done is to follow the steps and wait for the backup process to fully finish.
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Although the process can be very simple to complete even for first time users, backup software tips should still be applied no matter what software you decide to use. Backups can consume a considerable amount of space and can be as vulnerable as your original data if you don't know where to store them and how often you want to produce them.
Known when you Need Compression
Hard disk drives are greatly increasing in capacity which means more space available for doing a complete backup. In cases like this, it is best to not use any form of compression because accessing the data (if needed) will be a lot faster since there are no decompression operations taking place. Disabling compression isn't always the best the idea though especially if you want to do full system backups and your hard disk is big because a backup of that kind will require space equal to your used hard disk space. Compression can sometimes reduce the space required for a backup by over 50 percent.
Backup to Multiple Sources
Backing up your files can be a lengthy task and once it is completed, you may take a break or get right back to work knowing that your data is safe. However, there might be some rare instances where your data gets lost and your only backup source being damaged. If you have very important files to be preserved, try to backup to addition sources including online sources and external drives.
Include Comments in your Backups
In order to keep your backups up-to-date, you need to perform them regularly for your backup files to be recent. Preserving your older backups can be considered too if you have plenty of available disk space. This can add confusion if your backups aren't managed properly when you need to do some restoring. Also if you have different types of backups, you may recover the wrong files by accident if they are not properly described. If the backup program you are using has a "comment" feature use that. Otherwise give your backup files meaningful filenames or folders so you can quickly find the backup that you need.
Make Small Backups Too
Every backup doesn't have to be a full backup when you have lots of files in your drives since they can take long to complete. Chances are, a lot of the files in your hard disk such as your installed programs can easily be replaced by downloading them in the Internet or acquired from other sources. You can go easy on the larger backups and perform smaller backups that contain your most important files more frequently. This will save you time and disk space while still keeping you secure.
All of backup software tips apply to any backup program you use including the manual method. Use these tips well and you should run into no problems in backing up and restoring when needed.
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Popular Windows Backup Software for Download |
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Since the early versions of Windows, Windows came with a few backup software tools that regular users can use to backup important files to other destinations easily. However, these programs have basic functionality and once the files that need to be backed up start to pile up, a more heavy-duty Windows backup software could be necessary to get the task done smoothly.
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There are some freeware solutions that specialize in certain tasks and also some commercial software that serve as a complete backup replacement for traditional Windows backup software.
GFI Backup
GFI Backup is a great software to use if user friendliness and reliability are needed. It is powered by a wizard interface that guides users on how to backup their files step by step and supports file and folder synchronization as well giving some flexibility to advanced users. Smaller backups can be made by backing up the settings of popular applications and the entire registry. It also supports both incremental and differential backups to reduce the time it takes for successive backups and minimizes disk space consumption. 256-bit AES encryption can be applied to the backup to make it secure and backups can easily be managed by using search filters or checking out the logs. With several backup options available, GFI Backup is a solid choice.
MozyHome
MozyHome is another popular freeware that does something that GFI Backup doesn't concentrate on and that's the online backup functionality. MozyHome offers 2 GB of free space to anybody that registers in their service. The software does the rest by uploading the files that the user selects to their servers. Some encryption methods are supported and incremental backup can be used. There is also a backup plan which grants unlimited online backup storage space if $4.95 is paid monthly.
KLS Backup 2009
In the commercial category, KLS Backup 2009 functions a lot like GFI backup in terms of its goals. It has a friendlier interface than GFI Backup and supports better compression formats including 7-Zip and SQX formats so backups will take up less space. It also supports backing up to network locations and online FTP servers. It uses a special version management system to make it easier to restore backups if multiple backups were mode. Some synchronization extras were through in as well making it possible to sync between two folders regardless of their locations. One of the highlights is its integrated scheduler for automated backup purposes.
Acronis True Image
Acronis True Image is widely recognized as one of the best Windows backup software available because of its full backup capabilities. It can literally clone a hard disk complete with the partition information and master boot record intact into a special compressed format. The backup completes very quickly and the compression is decent and customizable. The backup can also be converted to a virtual hard disk for use in virtual machines. It runs powerfully in the background when the scheduler is activated allowing differential or incremental backups to be made. There are several versions available to suit home and business users.
It is a good idea to start with the freeware solutions since both GFI Backup and MozyHome provide functionality that no built-in backup tool provides. Once you see that you need bigger features, you can start exploring the commercial Windows backup software.
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When it is Time to Get Third Party Windows Backup Software |
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Windows 7 is finally here and consumers all over the world are leaving XP to enjoy all of the wonderful features that Windows 7 offers.
In addition to the huge improvements in performance and stability as well as the new taskbar, several built-in applications were improved as well including the Windows Backup software.
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System Restore retains its functionality, but the Windows Backup has been replaced with a wizard called "Backup and Restore" which supports creation of system images, system repair discs, and easy selection of the files that need to be backed up. Backing up using this program is extremely simple and could be too simple for some users that wish to backup often leading to the need to manage backups better. If any of the following features below are needed or if you do not have Windows 7 and want to have a better backup solution, it is time to find a third party Windows backup software.
Full Partition Backups
The latest built-in backup software in Windows supports creation of an image, but only on their primary drive. When it comes to cloning or full partition backups, it won't be possible without using a quality commercial backup software like Acronis True Image. The advantage of full partition backups is the fact that a single restoration can literally bring back your system to a previous backup. This is what System Restore does, but some files are retained. With a third party Windows backup software that supports full partition backups, everything is covered including personal settings.
Incremental and Differential Backups
The problem with large backups with the built-in Windows tools is that when another backup needs to be made, the process has to start from the beginning even if previous backups had the same files backed up. There is no need to store the same copies of backed up files if they are going be saved in the same destination.
This is where incremental and differential backups can come in handy. Incremental backups perform very quickly since it only backs up the files that have been added since the last backup was performed. Then when a recovery is needed the first backup needs to be used following any incremental backups.
If the recovery process of incremental backups is too tedious, differential backups could be more reliable since it backs up files that have changed. This could take up more disk space, but recovery is easier.
Better Compression
When lots of backups need to be performed on a tight schedule or larger backups need to be made, better compression may be necessary in storing more backups in a single destination. While the Windows Backup offers standard compression, other Windows backup software can make the backup file size even smaller at the cost of backups taking longer to complete, but that should be fine if you set automated schedules.
Windows finally has a solid backup solution that should be good enough for regular people to use. Only consider the alternatives when you want to have any of these features in addition to the basic features.
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