What's the Best of These Backup Programs?
I'm gong a little nutzoid looking at one backup program after another online, and have reached the point where I decided to see what the experts here have to say.
I am running Windows 7 on a Toshiba Satellite S55 laptop. I use 5 external hard drives to store data which I use on a fairly regular basis, and of course they all need to be backed up. I have not made an image copy yet, and I think incremental and full backups would be OK for me.
For the purposes of your answer, please assume that I am a rank beginner. I find that assuming I'm a computer dummy usually results in the most comprehensive answers!
I do NOT plan to migrate to Windows 10 in the forseeable future, if that is worth noting.
It is important that whichever program I decide on have "dissimilar hardware restore" so that if my system should ever be totally trashed, I can use such a backup to get up and running on another one asap.
I'd also like a fairly easy to use and understand interface display for the program.
The ones that look good to me are:
Acronis True Image 2015
AOMEI Backupper Professional
EaseUS Todo Backup
O & O Diskimage Professional
What's your take?
I am running Windows 7 on a Toshiba Satellite S55 laptop. I use 5 external hard drives to store data which I use on a fairly regular basis, and of course they all need to be backed up. I have not made an image copy yet, and I think incremental and full backups would be OK for me.
For the purposes of your answer, please assume that I am a rank beginner. I find that assuming I'm a computer dummy usually results in the most comprehensive answers!
I do NOT plan to migrate to Windows 10 in the forseeable future, if that is worth noting.
It is important that whichever program I decide on have "dissimilar hardware restore" so that if my system should ever be totally trashed, I can use such a backup to get up and running on another one asap.
I'd also like a fairly easy to use and understand interface display for the program.
The ones that look good to me are:
Acronis True Image 2015
AOMEI Backupper Professional
EaseUS Todo Backup
O & O Diskimage Professional
What's your take?
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
If you are looking for the backup of your system image try RollBack Rx PC Home Edition http://www.horizondatasys.com/en/products_and_solutions.aspx?ProductId=40#Benefits
It is free, and it is very intuitive and easy tool for taking snapshots of your image and restoring them. It is also very robust and efficient. Acronis True Image is also very good, but I think that it is a way too complicated to use. Veeam is an excellent software for backing up virtual machines. I am using it for backing up my ESXi system. They offer free edition, too, that has less features than paid one, but that free version is enough for the needs of backup. If you are searching for solution of backing up your data, I am using rsync on my Linux systems - it is very powerful and has an option for incremental backup. I just checked, there is version for the Windows, too: http://www.rsync.net/resources/howto/windows_rsync.html
On more advice in general - try to create system for your backup staff, and try to do auto backup on regular basis. Backup is not backup if it is not verified and if you cannot restore it in every moment.
It is free, and it is very intuitive and easy tool for taking snapshots of your image and restoring them. It is also very robust and efficient. Acronis True Image is also very good, but I think that it is a way too complicated to use. Veeam is an excellent software for backing up virtual machines. I am using it for backing up my ESXi system. They offer free edition, too, that has less features than paid one, but that free version is enough for the needs of backup. If you are searching for solution of backing up your data, I am using rsync on my Linux systems - it is very powerful and has an option for incremental backup. I just checked, there is version for the Windows, too: http://www.rsync.net/resources/howto/windows_rsync.html
On more advice in general - try to create system for your backup staff, and try to do auto backup on regular basis. Backup is not backup if it is not verified and if you cannot restore it in every moment.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
My experience would tend toward the paragon software. I also have used it for many years and find it both intuitive and a pleasure to use. If you qualify it is even free.
http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/ptac/register.html
http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/ptac/register.html
Paragon or Acronis, they both work and do the job.
you can test the paragon software - there's a free version (but not for universal restore) :
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/download.html
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/download.html
ASKER
Thanks to all so far.
My initial reactions:
1. A couple of responses are too nerdy. Remember I said to talk to me as if I was a computer dummy? The veeam reply is a good example. I've never heard of "hyper v infrastructure" and "vmware" and their website seems totally targeted to pros, not home users.
2. I find it interesting that one reply says Acronis is too complicated and another says its interface is simple. Obviously, it can't be both! Further comments?
3. How about a challenge here, to really focus on my post? The challenge: do a short but thorough side-by-side comparison of the 4 products I mentioned in my question. This is what I did on my own BEFORE deciding to ask the experts here, as I could not make what I felt was a good comparison. The features listed and/or spotlighted on each firm's website were varied enough so that a comparative analysis seemed very difficult to me, and frankly, out of my reach.
Your reactions, please?
My initial reactions:
1. A couple of responses are too nerdy. Remember I said to talk to me as if I was a computer dummy? The veeam reply is a good example. I've never heard of "hyper v infrastructure" and "vmware" and their website seems totally targeted to pros, not home users.
2. I find it interesting that one reply says Acronis is too complicated and another says its interface is simple. Obviously, it can't be both! Further comments?
3. How about a challenge here, to really focus on my post? The challenge: do a short but thorough side-by-side comparison of the 4 products I mentioned in my question. This is what I did on my own BEFORE deciding to ask the experts here, as I could not make what I felt was a good comparison. The features listed and/or spotlighted on each firm's website were varied enough so that a comparative analysis seemed very difficult to me, and frankly, out of my reach.
Your reactions, please?
download the trial's and see which one you prefer
Interesting reaction. I understand what you are saying, but maybe I didn't make myself clear. I proposed the paragon software, not only because the ones you listed are not as good, IMHO, but also because they make software that I consider to be extremely user friendly.
I'm sure, if you really wanted, experts here could chime in on which of the softwares you listed would best suit your needs, but are you asking a which of these question because you have done extensive research and therefore feel that any other software won't fulfill your needs, or do you really seek expert advice?
If it is the latter, my advice stands - I personally would never use any of the ones you have listed. If it is the former, than follow David's advice.
A third option may be to check out Crashplan. You can use the free version to backup locally or the paid version to backup to their cloud. Both have versioning (a must).
Remember, Files not backed up in at least 2 [other] places, are files you do not care about.
That said, given the tone of this thread - count me out.
I'm sure, if you really wanted, experts here could chime in on which of the softwares you listed would best suit your needs, but are you asking a which of these question because you have done extensive research and therefore feel that any other software won't fulfill your needs, or do you really seek expert advice?
If it is the latter, my advice stands - I personally would never use any of the ones you have listed. If it is the former, than follow David's advice.
A third option may be to check out Crashplan. You can use the free version to backup locally or the paid version to backup to their cloud. Both have versioning (a must).
Remember, Files not backed up in at least 2 [other] places, are files you do not care about.
That said, given the tone of this thread - count me out.
ASKER
For the benefit all all who answer,In response to Thomas Z.F. who asks: "...are you asking a 'which of these' question because you have done extensive research and therefore feel that any other software won't fulfill your needs, or do you really seek expert advice?"
In my original post, I said: It is important that whichever program I decide on have "dissimilar hardware restore." The 4 programs I listed were the ones that made it quite clear that that feature was offered. My original research included two dozen pieces of software at prices from $50 U.S. or lower. Perhaps I missed that feature in some of those, to be sure. The websites for ALL programs are designed to sell the product, and therefore emphasize what are considered a program's key features which seem to be quite different from item to item.
There may well be other software that will fill my needs, since, as you may surmise, my needs are neither unusual or overly extensive.
I was hoping to avoid the time involved in downloading trial programs, setting them up, trying them and then deleting them, besides being added to multiple mailing list from which I would have to unsubscribe. All small things but collectively, a time-consuming effort I thought I might avoid by using EE.
Anyone else care to chime in?
In my original post, I said: It is important that whichever program I decide on have "dissimilar hardware restore." The 4 programs I listed were the ones that made it quite clear that that feature was offered. My original research included two dozen pieces of software at prices from $50 U.S. or lower. Perhaps I missed that feature in some of those, to be sure. The websites for ALL programs are designed to sell the product, and therefore emphasize what are considered a program's key features which seem to be quite different from item to item.
There may well be other software that will fill my needs, since, as you may surmise, my needs are neither unusual or overly extensive.
I was hoping to avoid the time involved in downloading trial programs, setting them up, trying them and then deleting them, besides being added to multiple mailing list from which I would have to unsubscribe. All small things but collectively, a time-consuming effort I thought I might avoid by using EE.
Anyone else care to chime in?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
After considering the replies, I decided that as much as I did not want to spend as much time as it required, I did indeed download, install, and look at the suggestions here (except for veeam, which lost me on their main page). I also looked at reviews and software home pages AGAIN.
I was not impressed with Paragon, in large part due to the demo failing to install (32 vs 64 issue). Their loss.
After searching more reviews of the highly-recommended Acronis and finding a 50% approval vs 39% disapproval rate by Amazon buyers, the well-written negative comments pushed me away, with many talking about the user-unfriendly interface. After downloading the demo, I did not think the interface was that bad. Then I happened to find a PC magazine reviewer's article that specifically pointed out that the current version had advanced light years from earlier ones with the user-friendly screens I saw, suggesting that Acronis finally heard the complaints about the interface.
That helped me to settle on Acronis.
Summing up, the replies (or main parts of them) here that were the most simple were the best. I said I had a Windows system; I don't need info or opinion on how there's a backup for a Mac or linux computer. I didn't ask about the need for an off-site backup (which I knew about), so it came across that I was being talked down to. Sure, all the suggested softwares work...but which are the easiest while being thorough? For awhile, I felt like I had asked someone "What time is it?" and they replied by telling me how build a clock.
If you're laughing, fine. If you're a little annoyed, just get over it. That just means you should check your ego at the door.
Are we having fun yet?
I was not impressed with Paragon, in large part due to the demo failing to install (32 vs 64 issue). Their loss.
After searching more reviews of the highly-recommended Acronis and finding a 50% approval vs 39% disapproval rate by Amazon buyers, the well-written negative comments pushed me away, with many talking about the user-unfriendly interface. After downloading the demo, I did not think the interface was that bad. Then I happened to find a PC magazine reviewer's article that specifically pointed out that the current version had advanced light years from earlier ones with the user-friendly screens I saw, suggesting that Acronis finally heard the complaints about the interface.
That helped me to settle on Acronis.
Summing up, the replies (or main parts of them) here that were the most simple were the best. I said I had a Windows system; I don't need info or opinion on how there's a backup for a Mac or linux computer. I didn't ask about the need for an off-site backup (which I knew about), so it came across that I was being talked down to. Sure, all the suggested softwares work...but which are the easiest while being thorough? For awhile, I felt like I had asked someone "What time is it?" and they replied by telling me how build a clock.
If you're laughing, fine. If you're a little annoyed, just get over it. That just means you should check your ego at the door.
Are we having fun yet?
Veeam is pretty well known for backing up vmware and hyper v infrastructure and they recently came out with a free endpoint solution. I have tested a full restore on my computer successfully.
Acronis would be my second choice.