Backup Software

[TiziteLayinLow]

I would like backup software for windows that will either take an image of the complete computer and toss it to a mapped drive or simply files/folders that I select..

heres the catch.. I need it to schedule and run with no interaction from user (middle of the night) I would also like a confirmation to display in even as simple as a msgbox letting the user know that the backup was successful.

I was using StompSoft PC Backup v6, but the scheduled events arent working correctly and I would just like something else. When the event would attempt to run it would show last result = 0x67.

ALSO - very importanly I would like this to be a freeware solution due to the fact that I want to be able to roll this out at several small business solutions and keep the price cheap for them.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hadsus]

Syncback. You can schedule but through Windows Scheduler rather than the software itself......I think though I haven't tried it myself.

http://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/freeware-hub.html

 

[TiziteLayinLow]

It has problems coping files that are in use. This other software used to get an entire image of the HDD and send that to destination. thanks though if nothing else i might give this a shot

 

[Homerboy]

normally freeware is NOT for business use. Thats your #1 problem. Read the AUP 1st.
Honestly, I can't think of any freeware, let along "cheap-ware" that is going to do what you want, especially copying open files and creating a full disk image.
I'd be intersted if you find this needle in a haystack.

 

[Joemonkey]

I agree w/ Homerboy, freeware usually has caveats against using in a for profit business.

If you are using Windows Server 2003 turn on volume shadow copy and set a scheduled task to run ntbackup with proper switches to get a truely "free" backup solution

 

[DarkTXKnight]

Chances are that his Small business clients are probably not using server 2003. In that case he could go with the syncback solution mentioned earlier but instead of using the freeware, he could use the full version. That will catch the open files and at 25 bux\5 computers that will be hard to beat pricewise.

 

[TiziteLayinLow]

some of our clients have 2003 SBS... some are simply workgroup.

does ntbackup cover opened files? I will look into this solution because on the clients that do not have a file server for backup storage I can hookup a maxtor NAS (300g) for 5 or less users.

Although I do like the compression and encryption features of SyncBackSE becuase some clients are XP Home and will not support encryption and I would like some form of security method.

Thanks for the information I think I have a couple possibilities now. I would like to try SyncBackSE on some clients with the eval before rolling it out on several clients.

Thanks again,
Matt