Choosing a Backup solution for Windows 7

[sathyan]

I just installed Windows 7 (64-bit) this week-end and now need to determine a backup solution for data. I want to backup my libraries (or, if not possible, specified folders) on a schedule to an external eSATA hard drive. After the first full backup, I want to only copy files which have changed since the last backup (I think this is a differential backup). The files should be copied as individual files - I do not want them combined into a single proprietary file.

I have the following options:
1. Windows 7 Backup
2. EMC Retrospect HD Express
3. CMS BounceBack Express

Would you recommend one of these or another inexpensive (freeware or under US$25) solution?

thanks,
Sathyan

 

[theevilsharpie]

The built-in Windows 7 is completely worthless. Don't even waste your time.

I tried EMC Retrospect Professional a few months back when I was looking for a Vista backup utility, and I wasn't impressed at all. Major portions of the program didn't work, and I was never able to get a consistent backup. I can't comment on EMC Retrospect HD, but my experience with their higher tier product really turned me off of the entire brand.

I never tried CMS BounceBack.

 

[klocwerk]

The built-in Windows 7 is completely worthless. Don't even waste your time.

Funny, I've heard it was surprisingly good, especially in comparison to previous MS attempts at Windows Backup...
What'd you hate about it?

 

[theevilsharpie]

What'd you hate about it?

Performance. After 3 days, it had only backed up about 20GB of data (out of 450GB). This is apparently a known issue and Microsoft's solution is to do a system image backup instead, but that only backs up the C: drive, and you can't really maintain multiple versions of a system image backup.

It also lacks flexibility (e.g. only one backup schedule at a time), but I never got far enough to care.

The really sad part is that the backup utility that comes with Windows Server 2008 is pretty good. Why the desktop offerings are so laughably bad is beyond me.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I like Acronis Trueimage myself.

 

[Emulex]

BESR2010 - best in class for business bare-metal

acronis - when it works it works lol

 

[Emulex]

nm

 

[jjsbasmt]

Picked up Acronis True Image 2010 Home from Best Buy last week for 19.99 after instant savings from 39.99. I have used all versions of TI since 8 with excellent results. Have never paid full price for any of them, always got when on sale.

 

[Zerohm]

So does anyone out there have a backup solution they are happy with? I love Mac OS Time Machine, but I've read horror stories about Norton Ghost, and this thread doesn't contain any glowing reviews either.

I'm in the same boat as the OP, looking for an incremental/differenctial backup solution for Windows. I'm not limited to NAS, internal, external...

Anyone have any experience with NTI Backup Now?

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Acronis has been great for me personally.. it has done the job where ghost has failed me.

 

[GaryJohnson]

Are you wanting to protect yourself from just hardware failure, or are you also wanting to protect yourself from erroneous user changes (you deleted a file you didn't mean to so now you want to restore it from a backup)?

If it's the former, that can be accomplished with the built in Sync Center or downloadable SyncToy. Or you could explore a hardware solution: RAID mirroring or striping.

I use both: RAID mirroring, and I sync with Sync Center a critical documents folder to my offsite server (which also uses RAID 1).

To protect myself from user error I version my critical documents.

 

[COPOHawk]

Ghost 15 all the way...but not under $25. It just works...and I have it installed on over 75 customer computers/workstations for daily backup.

The real key here is to make sure how to RESTORE the backup...so if you need to, it won't be a problem.

HTH...

 

[Muadib]

Picked up Acronis True Image 2010 Home from Best Buy last week for 19.99 after instant savings from 39.99. I have used all versions of TI since 8 with excellent results. Have never paid full price for any of them, always got when on sale.

I jumped on this too, and I'm so glad I did. I just used it to move my Win7 setup to my new SSD drive. Freaking Win7 wanted to backup both my C:& D drives.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Acronis is great when it gets past the hardware detection stage, but that can be a pain.

I have a Dell Vostro (intel G31 chipset, no PS2 ports) where I have to unplug the KVM, plug in the Dell KB & mouse, then try 2-3 times before Acronis loads properly.

 

[Jumpem]

I use Beyond Compare to determine which files have changed, and then sync those files to external drives. I do it manually a few times a week though.

 

[Muadib]

I use Beyond Compare to determine which files have changed, and then sync those files to external drives. I do it manually a few times a week though.

You should check out synctoy from Microsoft. It's free, and you can have it sync automatically.

 

[Jumpem]

You should check out synctoy from Microsoft. It's free, and you can have it sync automatically.

That's what I used before switching to Beyond Compare.

 

[sathyan]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I finally got around to doing a backup using Macrium Reflect. For the initial full system image of about 135GB, it took only 32 minutes! (from SATA HDD to eSATA HDD)
http://macrium.com/download.asp

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I recently tried Macrium Reflect and it seems really nice, so i think i'm switching to it!

 

[homercles337]

For my Win7 system i run RAID0+1 and do weekly backups with GFI (http://www.gfi.com/backup-hm). I have found that i prefer backup solutions that are open for browsing to restore just one file. Many other backups require full restore, but i like having the option to full restore or just grab a couple files. Also, GFI does incremental backups--others with the options i like do not do this. The only thing i used windows backup for was to create an image of a new build.

 

[corkyg]

Acronis TrueImage 2010 + a duplicate drive in a mobile rack.