Data backup software

Every computer user knows for sure that no system is immune from errors and even critical failures, when it is not possible to restore it by conventional means. For this purpose, programs for backup and recovery of the system are developed , including utilities that allow you to create backup copies of hard disks and logical partitions. Consider the most popular utilities of different difficulty levels.

Data backup and recovery software: useability

Some users misunderstand how powerful utilities of this type are. Unfortunately, they mistakenly believe that the simplest option would be the usual copying of user files to other logical partitions, other than the system partition. There is another category of users who think that you can copy the entire system partition to another location, and then, in case of a failure, restore the system from this copy. Alas, both are mistaken.

Of course, this technique is applicable to user files, but not everyone wants to clutter up another logical volume with a bunch of information or constantly keep on hand an external medium like USB HDD, a bunch of disks or flash drives, whose capacity is clearly limited. And with large amounts of data, one should also take into account the time of copying from one volume to another. The backup and recovery programs for both the system and partitions work somewhat differently. Of course, in most cases you will need removable media, but the backup copy created will take up much less space.

Basic Principle of Operation and Options for Operation

As a rule, most of today's known and widely used utilities basically use the principles of creating images and compressing copied data. In this case, images are most often used to create copies of the operating system, which allows you to restore it after an unexpected critical failure, and utilities for copying partitions or user files imply compression by the type of archiving.

As for the backup options, there can be two. In principle, almost any program for backing up the system suggests using an external medium (DVD-ROM, flash drive, etc.). This is due only to the fact that when restoring the system it will be necessary to boot not from the system partition, but from the removable media. The image in the logical partition will not be recognized.

Another thing is the disk backup program. In them, you can save the necessary information in other logical sections or, again, use removable media. But what if the amount of hard disk used is hundreds of gigabytes? No optical disk will allow you to record this information even in a compressed form. Alternatively, you can use an external HDD, if it is, of course, available.

As for the choice of a suitable utility for saving user files, the best solution is a file backup program on a schedule. This utility is able to perform this operation without user intervention, saving all changes made for a certain period of time. The new data can be added to the backup, as well as the old ones - deleted from it. And all this in automatic mode! The advantage is obvious - after all, the user in the settings only need to set the time interval between the copy points, then everything happens without him.

"Native" program for backup Windows

So, first, let's look at your own Windows-based system. Many believe that the built-in Windows backup program works, to put it mildly, not very well. Basically, they do not want to use it only because the utility spends too much time creating a copy, and the copy itself takes up a lot of space.

However, she has enough advantages. After all, who does not know how to know Microsoft all the subtleties and nuances associated with the components that are essential for the correct recovery of Windows? And many users clearly underestimate the capabilities of the built-in means of the system. It's not for nothing that such a backup and recovery program is included in the main set of the system?

The easiest way to access this utility is from the standard "Control Panel", where the backup and restore partition is selected. Here you can use three main points: creating an image, creating a disc and setting up a copy. The first and second complications do not cause. But the third is quite interesting. The system prompts you to save the copy on a removable media, having previously determined the device itself. But if you look at the parameters, you can save a copy on the network, which is perfect for locals. So in some cases, such a program for backing up the system will be a good tool for creating a backup with the possibility of subsequent recovery of Windows from this copy.

Most Popular Utilities

Now let's look at the utilities, which, according to many experts, today are the most popular among users. Just note that to consider all the backup programs is simply impossible, so let's dwell on some of them, given the level of popularity and complexity of their use. Approximately a list of such utilities can look like this:

• Acronis True Image.
• Norton Ghost.
• Back2zip.
• Comodo BackUp.
• Backup4all.
• ABC Backup Pro.
• Active Backup Expert Pro.
• ApBackUP.
• File Backup Watcher Free.
• The Copier.
• Auto Backup and many others.

Now we will try to look at the top five. Keep in mind! Currently, we consider backup programs, mainly used for workstations (user computers). Solutions for server systems and networks will be considered separately.

Acronis True Image

Of course, this is one of the most powerful and popular utilities, enjoying the deserved success and trust of many users, although it refers to the entry-level programs. Nevertheless, she has enough opportunities.

After launching the application, the user enters the main menu, where you can select several options for actions. In this case, we are interested in the backup and restore partition (there are still additional utilities in the menu, which for obvious reasons will not be considered). After login, the "Master" is activated, which will help to create a backup. In the process, you can choose which copy to create (system for recovery from scratch, files, settings, etc.). In the "Type of copying" it is better to choose "Incremental", because it will help to save space. If the volume of the medium is large enough, you can use the full copy, and to create multiple copies - the difference. When you create a copy of the system, you are prompted to make a boot disk.

That's interesting: the utility shows quite high rates for the speed of backup, time, compression. So, for example, the compression of data on the order of 20 GB will take an average of 8-9 minutes, and the size of the final copy is slightly more than 8 GB.

Norton Ghost

Before us is one more powerful utility. As usual, after the start of the program, the "Master" is started, which helps to pass all the steps.

This utility is noteworthy that with its help you can create on the hard drive a hidden partition where the copy will be stored (and from it you can restore both the data and the system). In addition, it can change many parameters: the type of the recovery point, the control of reading, the type of recording, compression, the number of points for simultaneous access, etc. As for performance, the same 20 GB application compresses to a little more than 7.5 GB, which takes about 9 minutes. In general, the result is pretty good.

Back2zip

But the backup program is scheduled. It differs in that its installation takes only a couple of seconds, and after launching it automatically creates a new job and starts copying the data, assuming that the user files are stored in the "My Documents" folder. Unfortunately, this is the main disadvantage.

When you start, you must delete the job, and then select the original destination folder. "Masters" in the usual sense is not there, everything is done from the main window. In the scheduler, you can set the copy interval from 20 minutes to 6 hours. In general, the simplest solution for entry-level users.

Comodo BackUp

We have one more interesting utility that can compete even with commercial products. Its main feature is the presence of as many as five modes of operation and a huge number of settings.

It is interesting that the utility is able to react to changes in the files included in the backup, in real time. As soon as the source file is changed and saved, the application immediately creates a copy of it, adding and replacing the final element in the backup. Not speaking about the scheduler, separately it is possible to note start of creation of copies either at the moment of start, or at an exit.

Backup4all

Finally, let's look at one more free utility that allows you, so to speak, in one fell swoop to make backup copies for everything that may be needed later on at the same time.

This utility is interesting in that it allows you to save copies not only on external or internal media, but also on networks, or even on FTP-servers. There are a lot of editable parameters and settings, among which there are four methods of copying, as well as support for the UDF file system. In addition, the interface is very simple, and the mapping of folders and tasks is presented in the form of a tree structure in the type of "Explorer." Also, the user can share the copied data by categories such as documents, drawings, etc., assign each project a custom shortcut. Naturally, there is also a "Task Scheduler", in which you can specify, for example, the creation of copies exclusively at the time of low CPU load.

Solutions for server systems

For server systems and networks, there are also specialized backup programs. Among all this diversity can be whitewashed the three most powerful:

• Symantec Backup Exec 11d System Recovery.
• Yosemite Backup Standard Master Server.
• Shadow Protect Small Business Server Edition.

It is believed that such utilities are a good backup tool for small businesses. In this case, recovery from scratch can be done from any workstation on the network. But the most important thing is that the reservation should be made only once, all subsequent changes will be saved automatically. All applications have the interface type "Explorer" and support remote control from any terminal in the network.

Instead of an afterword

It remains to add that not all backup / restore programs were reviewed here, allowing you to create backups of both systems and files, and then restore them from the created copies. However, it seems that even brief information about the programs given will give many an idea of how this works, and why all this is needed. The question of choosing the right software for obvious reasons we leave open, because it already depends on the preferences of the user or the system administrator.