Question

What is the best backup software for Vista Ultimate and why?

Asked by: SAbboushi

OK - I think I've given up on getting ntbackup to work under Vista with VSS support - so I need backup software that will:

1) Backup open files under Vista 64 bit Ultimate
2) Backup and Restore EFS files
3) Allow me to backup only what I want to backup
4) Allows me to automatically and easily create a full monthly backup and clear the archive bits
5) Allows me to do a daily differential backup of all files with the archive bit set and NOT clear the archive bit - and the files OVERLAY each other every week (i.e. Monday's backup of this week overlays Monday's backup of last week) - meaning there will only be 7 differential backups saved at any one time.

With Regards-
Sam

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Asked On
2007-12-15 at 14:01:55ID23025801
Tags

backup

,

vista

,

software

,

best

Topics

Backup & Restore Software

,

Windows 64-bit

,

Windows Vista

Participating Experts
8
Points
500
Comments
12

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Answers

 

by: cfourkaysPosted on 2007-12-15 at 15:47:16ID: 20479202

I'm using Acronis True Image 11.
You can download a working trial.
I believe it will do everything you need.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

I have it on my own home built Vista Ultimate and also use it on my Toshiba laptop, with Home premium.

Pete

 

by: willcompPosted on 2007-12-15 at 15:48:49ID: 20479207

 

by: SAbboushiPosted on 2007-12-16 at 10:58:20ID: 20481261

willcomp - thanks, but I don't believe it meets my 3rd criteria (3) Allow me to backup only what I want to backup) - System Partition is required to be part of the backup - and I can't specifically select files (only file types) - AND there is no way to back up certain file types like executables that are on my data partition (their workaround is to store them in a zip file and tell the software to backup zip files!)

Pete - thanks - I have been a Norton user for decades... am trying to decide between Norton Systemworks 2008 to get other capabilities including the backup, vs. True Image.  Most likely, I will go with True Image because Symantec tends to make you uninstall other Symantec software whenever you install new software, EVEN IF you want to keep the other software installed (I have NIS 2007 with a 3 year subscription).

Anyone else?

 

by: noxchoPosted on 2007-12-17 at 13:46:52ID: 20488194

Why not to use Vista native backup solution? If you are looking for something cheep and reliable, then look for Drive Backup 8.51 from Paragon. Here they offer trial: www.drive-backup.com
I had bad experience with Acronis when it failed to restore from backup done by True Image 11.
Later the support staff explained me that problems could be caused by bad sectors on HDD surface. But why let the SW take backup if it could not be restored later?
Definitely Ghost was the best solution but it is not Vista compatible. Drive Backup from Paragon is reliable (got no glitches yet) and their support is something extraordinary.

 

by: SAbboushiPosted on 2007-12-18 at 17:21:47ID: 20496960

Thanks noxcho-
>>Why not to use Vista native backup solution?
I've already explained twice above ; )

>> Definitely Ghost was the best solution but it is not Vista compatible.
I am using Ghost 2003 with Vista - works great as long as you understand a few "gotchas" as far as Iam concerned are "gotchas" to understand regardless of whether or not you use Ghost 2003 (i.e. DOS based)

Would appreciate if someone could respond to the specific needs that I have listed above ; )

 

by: bids4018Posted on 2008-02-10 at 02:25:47ID: 20860704

Acronis True Image 11! No two ways about it. Its the most comprehensive backup solution available on the market. I've tried everything and It's the only one that has consistently saved me countless times.

1) Backup open files under Vista 64 bit Ultimate: YES
2) Backup and Restore EFS files: YES
3) Allow me to backup only what I want to backup: YES
4) Allows me to automatically and easily create a full monthly backup and clear the archive bits: YES
5) Allows me to do a daily differential backup of all files with the archive bit set and NOT clear the archive bit - and the files OVERLAY each other every week (i.e. Monday's backup of this week overlays Monday's backup of last week) - meaning there will only be 7 differential backups saved at any one time. YES

I always keep my Acronis images on a 500Gb external USB hard drive. Personally speaking, nothing comes close and thats about as empirical evidence as you are going to get.

 

by: noxchoPosted on 2008-02-10 at 14:31:11ID: 20862962

Hi SAbboushi, not going to advertise Drive Backup or any other solution because everyone has his or her preferences in interface and the way the software works. I have used Drive Backup since version 6.0 and now they have produced version 8.51 and I have never had problems with this SW.
All the requested features are supported and additionally simple partitioning and copying functionality is given.
Use trials before you purchase whatever you choose.

regards

 

by: stannerPosted on 2008-06-06 at 01:02:44ID: 21727057

I tried Acronis True Image 11, but I've had nothing but trouble with it. First off, I have a 50gb partition where Vista is installed. I used Acronis to make an image copy of that drive (which it seemed to do without problems). I also created the Acronis boot cd. The boot cd will not boot. I even had my neighbor create a boot cd with it, and that won't boot either. When I tried to restore the image to the drive, it rebooted into "Acronis mode" ok, sat there for about 5 seconds, then said it was completed successfully and rebooted back into the same version of windows (i.e. no restore). I can, however, get the individual files out of the backups. The thing is absolutely useless at image backups, though. It's also the slowest thing I have ever seen. I setup a little backup profile just to backup my email. After 3 hours backing up 3 gb of data, I finally just cancelled it and just copied the files over manually in a couple of minutes. Everyone else seems to love Acronis, so maybe it just isn't compatible with Vista 64. I sure haven't had any success with it, anyways, and am looking for something that actually works. The frustrating part is that Acronis has all the features and functionality that I want.

 

by: noxchoPosted on 2008-06-07 at 00:43:39ID: 21734582

What about this one: http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-professional/
Or try to get full version for evaluation purposes from them. It is free.

 

by: OnthraxPosted on 2008-06-07 at 02:29:08ID: 21734839

I use KLS backup software and I think it can do all that you want.

http://www.kls-soft.com/klsbackup/

 

by: SelfGovernPosted on 2009-05-09 at 20:00:31ID: 24346672

Who manufactured your tape drive?  Vendors often include a single-server license of their backup software with the tape drive.  HP's drives come with Data Protector Express, which should do everything you need it to do.

 

by: wluriePosted on 2009-06-16 at 19:51:00ID: 24644527

I've tried Norton Ghost And Acronis and both have caused massive performance issues and stopped it from shutting down while connected to a domain. I'm now testing the Vista backup option and hoping it will give me better results. I should say that I am a big fan of Ghost and Acronis is working well with our XP machines, but no luck at all with either option on my Vista notebook.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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