Recommended backup software?

[mlts22]

I personally use Windows Server 2012 at home, which comes with a very useful tool called wbadmin (both command line and the .msc snap-in) for backups. However for Windows 7 and newer, it, at best, pretty much generates a complete system image, and restorations are not easy on a client Windows edition (open the .vhd, yank the files out manually.)

To help a relative out, what utility do people use for complete backups to external hard disks? I also use Mozy for documents, but for backups to a drive, I've not had that good luck. Acronis TrueImage quietly failed after a few months and would not start without giving any error messages, even after a reinstall. I caught it when doing a random check. I tried Retrospect, and it also had issues where it would just lock up with the CPU pegged until it was manually killed (taskill /f /im retrospect.exe).

The ideal is a utility where if something happens, I can restore individual files, or if the whole system dies, boot a recovery disk, and restore from the external HDD. The ironic thing is that this is very easy with Windows Server operating systems, but for client editions, it calls for a third party program.

[TheBearAK]

I'm not a good person to ask anymore, but have used Retrospect in an office environment and always found it easy to set up and use and very reliable. But, I would not recommend it for individual backup.

I've been using SyncToy from Microsoft just to sync my \Users directory to an external drive.

I've heard good things about Genie Timeline (Apple Time Machine knock-off).

[mlts22]

Mozy is similar to Carbonite. The advantage of backing up to a local drive is the ability to deal with a complete hard disk failure without having to redownload hundreds of gigs of data. Mozy, Backblaze, and Carbonite are great for a second line of defense, say one loses their computer and their backup drive. However, it is nice to just restore a file with a click, than to have to find decent Internet access (or burn up precious gigs on a LTE connection) to restore.

Not saying Carbonite is bad. It has its place. However, the first line of defense is an external HDD, if possible.

[kitch251]

60$ per year and Carbonite backs up EVERYTHING you do instantly.

Jim

[mlts22]

Mike Stanbro wrote:
I have been building and using PCs since their inception. I have tried essentially every backup software solution out there. Acronis True Image is the best package I have ever used and I have it on five computers. It has worked for me for the past four years.

You mentioned Retrospect. Good product, but not as good as Acronis in my opinion.

You said that your Acronis quietly failed. I would suggest that it should be completely removed and reinstalled. The following link gives instructions on how to uninstall and includes a utility that deletes all traces of the product. I had a similar problem on a laptop that suffered a corrupted hard disk. I had to uninstall, run the cleanup utility, and then reinstall. After that, it went back to normal.

http://kb.acronis.com/content/34876

Also, if you have not done so already, run a full check of your hard disk to make sure the file system is in good shape. Backup tools can get hung up if the file system has problems.

I already did that (uninstall/reinstall), same thing. I also checked the filesystem (after XP, it is a habit after every patch tuesday to do a chkdsk /f before the reboot... although windows 8 and newer have the chkdsk /scan command that allows for online filesystem scanning/cleaning), and did the usual checking for corrupted stuff via tasklist and taskmgr. I even dumped an image via wbadmin and scanned that on a separate PC as a way to check for rootkits.

What I might do is just dump the machine via wbadmin to an external drive, completely wipe the system hard disk using the diskpart clean all command, and then restore the image back. I've seen this fix issues before.

[Mike_Stanbro]

I have been building and using PCs since their inception. I have tried essentially every backup software solution out there. Acronis True Image is the best package I have ever used and I have it on five computers. It has worked for me for the past four years.

You mentioned Retrospect. Good product, but not as good as Acronis in my opinion.

You said that your Acronis quietly failed. I would suggest that it should be completely removed and reinstalled. The following link gives instructions on how to uninstall and includes a utility that deletes all traces of the product. I had a similar problem on a laptop that suffered a corrupted hard disk. I had to uninstall, run the cleanup utility, and then reinstall. After that, it went back to normal.

http://kb.acronis.com/content/34876

Also, if you have not done so already, run a full check of your hard disk to make sure the file system is in good shape. Backup tools can get hung up if the file system has problems.