backup

If you haven't been backing up your data because the economy is bad and you can't afford a decent backup software, I am about to open a can of no-more-excuses on you.

GFI Software launched on Thursday a free backup and recovery software for home users. Unlike other free software, which tends to be the stripped-down of the commercial version, GFI Backup Home Edition is a full-featured application.

The application gives PC users a few ways to safeguard data, including backing it up and syncing it with another location. I tried out this wizard-driven application and the feature I liked best is the capability to back up and sync a computer's folder with an FTP location. Very few other backup solutions offer this and none are free. Of course, GFI Backup also supports backing files to local folders, network locations, and other removable media.

Most backup software, including my favorite, Acronis True Image, uses a proprietary compression standard, meaning you will need the same software to do a recovery. GFI Backup Home Edition, on the other hand, uses the popular ZIP format to store backups. … Read more

Cucku on Monday further enhanced its online backup service with the announcement of Cucku Backup Pro.

Previously, the company had been offering a free, nonpro version of the solution.

Unlike most traditional online backup services that store your data at a center, Cucku doesn't provide any storage space. Instead, it offers a way for you to put your personal data on a friend's computer. This means your backup storage space is as big as the unused hard disk on that computer.

The Cucku's Backup Pro now enhances this service by adding support for multiple partners. This means … Read more

A new interface kicks off TurboZip 8, a reliable compression alternative to WinZip. The easy-to-use archiving tool now supports an even wider range of formats, including 7Z, MS Office 2007 archives, ISO, and BZIP. Two new features make it worth considering: the robust preview feature that makes peering into archived files much simpler, and the Auto Compress Script, which allows you to build new archives based on predetermined criteria.

The preview window can show the contents of not just JPEG and DOC files, but MSI, EXE, and others. It's also blazingly fast, and previewed large files without delay. A … Read more

KLS Backup 2008 Standard doesn't have the most intuitive user interface for backing up important files and folders, but thankfully, it employs wizards to streamline the process. Once we put it to the test, it successfully backed up designated files, folders, and even our Registry keys.

The user interface has commands at the top of the window, and four panels that display created profiles, profile tests, archives, and archive content. Not sure where to go first, we used the backup wizard to get started. Using the wizard, we added the files, selected the compression level, and applied encryption and … Read more

Clickfree just announced its new Traveler external hard drive that uses the same file-based transfer software we reviewed in the Clickfree Portable Backup Drive back in January. The difference is that this device uses solid-state technology for faster transfers and increased durability.

Clickfree stresses that its file-based software is different from other backup solutions that only create an image of the host computer onto their drives. During this "total backup," the drive will restore operating systems and applications, but also winds up restoring viruses, malware, and corrupt files.

Clickfree's automatic backup software only restores your "irreplaceable … Read more

Dealing with registry errors is never fun, but this back up and restore program helps you make sure you can quickly recover when things go wrong. Even if you wouldn't attempt to modify the registry, Mz Registry Backup makes it a snap to quickly restore your registry to an earlier backup if things go wrong when you install or uninstall a program.

Mz Registry Backup has a very simple interface that looks clean and professionally designed. Unlike some registry programs that overcomplicate the process, or those geared towards the expert user, this program makes the process easy enough for … Read more

KLS Backup 2008 Professional works well, but, like this publisher's standard edition, doesn't feature the most intuitive user interface. Though it successfully backed up our designated files, novices might find all its features a bit overwhelming.

The user interface has commands at the top of the window, and four panels that display created profiles, profile tests, archives, and archive content. It wasn't immediately clear what to do first, but a backup wizard is offered that helps guide you through the process. Using the wizard, we easily added the files, selected the compression level, and applied encryption and … Read more

SyncBackSE is another contender in the backup program category, but there's nothing here that you haven't already seen before, even in cheaper programs. We also found a few glitches with the program's scheduling feature.

The program uses a wizard-like approach to creating backup tasks. Using it, we were able to create a new backup task fairly easily. The program includes not only the ability to back up files, but also to synchronize, mirror, and group files together. A zip feature is available that allows you to backup your file into a ZIP file. All was well when … Read more

JaBack is one of many backup programs on the market. It includes most of the standard backup features; however, we found its file backup configurations vague.

The main user interface was plain, with large command buttons at the top of the window, a tree-menu on the left that displays all created backup tasks, and a large panel that displays the specifics of each task. The program includes a set of tips at the bottom of the window, but it's never a good sign when you have to depend on tips to find your way around the interface. But once … Read more