BleepingComputer.com: Backup Software Recommendation Needed.

I am looking for good, free or inexpensive, backup software to allow scheduled backups of data from a laptop to an external hard drive. Again, I need to be able to schedule backups, as well as set up exactly what folders get backed up. And the software must create some sort of place for each backup seperately on the external hard drive, not just overwrite what has already been backed up. Log creation would be a bonus, too.

Please only recommend software if you have first hand knowledge of it. Thanks so much!

MSBACKUP?

Albert Frankenstein, on Nov 29 2006, 02:58 PM, said:

Hey there,
I only recently wrote a Tut here for Cobian Backup, but stumbled over this one this week:
http://www.backupanswers.com/freewinbackup/highlights/

Regards,

Johannes

Oddly enough, thier download link is broken.

Where is the tut for Cobian Backup? I have downloaded version 7 to test out.

EDIT: Found it! Thanks. LINK

Hey Albert,

some error on their site. On the main site: http://www.backupanswers.com/freewinbackup/ you can find a working download: http://www.backupanswers.com/downloads/winbackupfreedr.exe

Cheers,

Johannes

SyncBack works for me: http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/syncback-hub.html

The paid version allows you to backup "locked" files also.

I've been using it for a couple of years now (at the wife's office) and love it!

I think that you should try True Image by Acronis. All you need is just schedule a full backup of particular folder to the external drive. And as far as I remember True Image possesses a "log creation" feature. You can download a free version here.

Acronis True Image. Very assorted notes based on about 2-3 week experience.
Free 15 trial is worth every minute they give you.
Backup images, directories, individual files, anything you want.
Yes, scheduled backups are there as well.
Yes, you can do an image from Windows, includes all open files except hibernation and page file.
They also have a feature to backup groups of files by application type. I haven't yet found the need to do that.
Logs are there.
Very flexible arrangement - YOU're in control - totally, backup locations, what to backup, what to restore and where.
User friendly beyond anything I've ever seen.
Cheap? NO. $50. Is it worth it to me? You bet. To be able to restore an image in 20 minutes instead of installing Windows and patches from scratch is worth it.
(The speed is roughly 1gig/min. To that 20min I mentioned, do add about 15min revalidation time, that's worth doing as well).
One thing I really like is that you can look at the image file through Acronis TI interface, and that includes .txt files, excel, word. Even though compressed, they're readable (sort of like Winzip).
I've been beating on it for a while now (version 10) back and forth, using the Windows interface as well as the rescue CD bootup through Linux, and it's working. Total, perfect restoration to whatever time point you wish to use.

Edit:
Over at wilders there's an official forum.
I gather from some posts that there are some issues with some computers or drives.
I have a Toshiba laptop and use USB drive for backups. I can boot from CD, and then the image gets read just fine. Some computers aren't so lucky.

Edit2: I just reread your requirements about 'not to overwrite backup'. That's under your control. Under the schedule scenario, you can predict how many backups to keep and where. They will work it FIFO when you run out of space. You can download their user giude and read about it.

tos226, on Dec 4 2006, 11:55 AM, said:

You wrote more detailed post about True Image's abilities than me.
I love more detailed answers too, so I think that Frankenstein will appreciate it.

I've been using Acronis since version 7.0 and have been doing beta testing with them since version 8.0. It's the only way that I will go for disk imaging.

But I consider it overkill for backup chores. SyncBack or Cobian will do all that you need and they're free.

I'm one of those folks that have a problem system. In my case it's a Toshiba M45 laptop and version 8.0 of the Acronis True Image Enterprise Server. Not a problem tho' - I just created the Acronis Secure Zone and a copy of my image resides right on the hard drive. I'll get around to installing version 10 in the near future and will see if it works then.