Best XP Backup Program II

[GoogleGrouper]

Can anyone recommend the best file backup program for Windows XP Pro
SP1 that meets all of the following requirements:

1. Backs up the files in original formats, not proprietary MicroSoft,
third-party or .zip formats, that can be read on the desktop of any
Windows computer (W98 or greater) with a CD ROM drive.

2. Backs up to CDs directly (the backup program included with XP does
not).

3. Allows the user to choose which files to back up.

4. Allows incremental/differential backups and full backups.

I've tried 6 or 7 programs and none of them satisfy what seem to be 4
really basic requirements. Thanks. Please respond to this group.

PS: Thanks for previous recommendations, but Casper XP does not allow
backup of a single file, and Retrospect backs up in a proprietary
format that can only be read by a CD R/RW drive. I typically need
backups when my computer has crashed and I need to restore to a second
computer that does not contain any proprietary backup software, only
out-of-the-box Windows.

 

[Jerome M. Katz]

You are looking for pie in the sky. All backup programs back up in
their own proprietary format and you just have to install them after
plain vanilla windows to restore.

 

[Malke]

You are looking for pie in the sky. All backup programs back up in
their own proprietary format and you just have to install them after
plain vanilla windows to restore.

Second Copy from www.centered.com will do everything you want except I
don't think it will back up to cd-r directly. I've always funnelled all
the backups to one backup folder and then burned it to a cd-r. The cost
is around $30.

Malke

 

[GoogleGrouper]

I disagree. I am currently using an application that allows backup in
non-propreitary format (but it has a poor user interface) and Second
Copy, below, seems to allow non-proprietary format backup as well.
There is no technical reason why a backup program has to use a
proprietary format when all it is doing is checking standard Windows
attributes and copying appropriate files to a specified location. My
guess is the software companies just want to lock customers to their
software: back up using their proprietary format and you need their
software forever to unlock your archives. And then they go out of
business a year after you bought their junk.