Free background backup program?

[anthony]

I've used Norton 360 in the past to do auto backups once a week from
various folders such as My Documents to my USB-connected separate 1-
terabyte hard-drive. Great security, so I know freelance writing for
instance is still there in case of catastrophic break-down.
However, I've noticed that the Norton back-up is now in a totally
undecipherable encrypted form which is just total gibberish -- and of
no use to me if, for instance, I want to be able to take my back-up
drive with me to friends' homes while my own computer is stored away
-- my wife and I are about to undertake an arduous home relocation and
those Norton backups are of no use at all in those circumstances.
Is there a free program which will silently work at backups for me so
I can say thanks but no thanks to Norton's method? I can't understand
why Norton doesn't offer an unencrypted backup option. It would make
life a tad simpler .... I did try one freeware program but it was
strictly limited in both format and gig size that it would back-up.

 

[Bob CP]

I've used Norton 360 in the past to do auto backups once a week from
various folders such as My Documents to my USB-connected separate 1-
terabyte hard-drive. Great security, so I know freelance writing for
instance is still there in case of catastrophic break-down.
However, I've noticed that the Norton back-up is now in a totally
undecipherable encrypted form which is just total gibberish -- and of
no use to me if, for instance, I want to be able to take my back-up
drive with me to friends' homes while my own computer is stored away
-- my wife and I are about to undertake an arduous home relocation and
those Norton backups are of no use at all in those circumstances.
Is there a free program which will silently work at backups for me so
I can say thanks but no thanks to Norton's method? I can't understand
why Norton doesn't offer an unencrypted backup option. It would make
life a tad simpler .... I did try one freeware program but it was
strictly limited in both format and gig size that it would back-up.

You'll actually have to learn how to write batch files, but xxcopy is
what I use to "clone" my data directories to an external drive. No
encryption. Heck, you can do it with the native xcopy too, using
archive bits, but you won't delete files on the destination drive that
don't exist on the source drive.

 

[John A]

Karen's Replicator is OK. One issue is that it has to be present on the task
bar to do its auto updates.
www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

I personally use Second Copy, which is excellent, but not free.
www.centered.com/

Both just do copies, no encryption or compression.

 

[Twayne]

You'll actually have to learn how to write batch files, but xxcopy is
what I use to "clone" my data directories to an external drive. No
encryption. Heck, you can do it with the native xcopy too, using
archive bits, but you won't delete files on the destination drive that
don't exist on the source drive.

But beware: You cannot back up the OS with any copy program because they
do not use the VSS Shadow Copy Services. Thus, the OS backups will be
incomplete and missing any of the standard 'in use" system files.
For pure data backups, they are good though.

HTH,

Twayne`

 

[Twayne]

I've used Norton 360 in the past to do auto backups once a week from
various folders such as My Documents to my USB-connected separate 1-
terabyte hard-drive. Great security, so I know freelance writing for
instance is still there in case of catastrophic break-down.
However, I've noticed that the Norton back-up is now in a totally
undecipherable encrypted form which is just total gibberish -- and of
no use to me if, for instance, I want to be able to take my back-up
drive with me to friends' homes while my own computer is stored away
-- my wife and I are about to undertake an arduous home relocation and
those Norton backups are of no use at all in those circumstances.
Is there a free program which will silently work at backups for me so
I can say thanks but no thanks to Norton's method? I can't understand
why Norton doesn't offer an unencrypted backup option. It would make
life a tad simpler .... I did try one freeware program but it was
strictly limited in both format and gig size that it would back-up.

Ghost does not encrypt by default. Are you sure you mean encrypt? Is
so, you'll also be having to enter passwords too.

Most likely what you're seeing it the file compression which IS on by
default, to legacy compression, which almost any zip program and
decipher.
If you want to be able to read those files, etc., externally then set
the Compression ot "None". But it'll take more disk space.
Also note that to read file written by any backup program, it's going
to require that same backup program to read them on another machine. If
it's portability you're looking for, and these are not OS files, then
ZIPping might be the best thing for you. There are lots of zip programs
out there. Just be sure to use "legacy" compression and they'll all be
able to read each other's compressed files.

Is that anywhere near the answer you need?

HTH,

Twayne`

 

[anthony]

But beware: You cannot back up the OS with any copy program because they
do not use the VSS Shadow Copy Services. Thus, the OS backups will be
incomplete and missing any of the standard 'in use" system files.
   For pure data backups, they are good though.

HTH,

Twayne`

Thanks for the advice ... I'll leave NOrton backup in place for its
shadow copy service, but use one of hte suggested programs for a pure
data backup.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

You already have a free program on your system. Have you tried to go to
Control Program, Systems & Maintenance, click Back up & Restore.

You can use backups/restore on any XP machine so you are not tied to one
particular program. Worth a try.

Let me know if you want step by step to use this facility.

hth

 

[BillW50]

In ANONYMOUS typed on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:08:51 +0100:

You already have a free program on your system. Have you tried to go
to Control Program, Systems & Maintenance, click Back up & Restore.

You can use backups/restore on any XP machine so you are not tied to
one particular program. Worth a try.

Let me know if you want step by step to use this facility.

hth

Ntbackup.exe is a terrible backup program. Nor is it very reliable
either especially for XP Home systems. And I am surprised that nobody
mentioned the best free ones out there. Like:

Acronis True Image Seagate Edition (DiscWizard)
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/discwizard

Acronis True Image WD Edition
http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119&type=download&wdc_lang=en

Paragon DriveBackup Express 9 (free)
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/

And if you are interested in data backups only, this one can't be beat.

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

 

[Twayne]

In ANONYMOUS typed on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:08:51 +0100:

Ntbackup.exe is a terrible backup program. Nor is it very reliable
either especially for XP Home systems. And I am surprised that nobody
mentioned the best free ones out there. Like:

This is an old post, but I can't let it go. ntbackup.exe is a fully
functional, capable, reliable backup application. I and many others I
know used it successfully at one time or another and I still use it
periodically to create backups of the System State.

While there is nothign wrong with the other recommended backup programs
mentioned, none are what the OP asked about, which is "free". ntbackup
is free and comes with EVERY XP OS. It doesn't have all the bells &
whistles of the other programs; it just simply does backup and restores.
The only real CON is that a floppy drive is required to recover from
a complete catastrophe/loss of the boot disk.

HTH,

Twayne`

 

[BillW50]

Twayne wrote on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:33:58 -0400:

This is an old post, but I can't let it go. ntbackup.exe is a fully
functional, capable, reliable backup application. I and many others I
know used it successfully at one time or another and I still use it
periodically to create backups of the System State.

Lots of people have had problems with ntbackup.exe. I don't believe
anybody had much problems with backing up, just when it comes to
restoring and it misses many important files (XP Home users take note).
I personally don't recommend it at all. There are many *free* backup
programs which are far better.

While there is nothign wrong with the other recommended backup programs
mentioned, none are what the OP asked about, which is "free". ntbackup
is free and comes with EVERY XP OS. It doesn't have all the bells &
whistles of the other programs; it just simply does backup and restores.
The only real CON is that a floppy drive is required to recover from
a complete catastrophe/loss of the boot disk.

All the ones I list below is totally *free* and are far better. ;-)

 

[Daave]

This is an old post, but I can't let it go. ntbackup.exe is a fully
functional, capable, reliable backup application. I and many others I
know used it successfully at one time or another and I still use it
periodically to create backups of the System State.

While there is nothign wrong with the other recommended backup
programs mentioned, none are what the OP asked about, which is
"free". ntbackup is free and comes with EVERY XP OS. It doesn't
have all the bells & whistles of the other programs; it just simply
does backup and restores. The only real CON is that a floppy drive
is required to recover from a complete catastrophe/loss of the boot
disk.

I use ntbackup where I work to back up files (documents, etc.) *only*. I
find it to be very reliable.

But to back up the OS and its most current updates along with all the
programs installed and their updates and various settings, I would
definitely recommend imaging or cloning the hard drive.

 

[BillW50]

Daave wrote on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:29:59 -0400:

I use ntbackup where I work to back up files (documents, etc.) *only*. I
find it to be very reliable.

But to back up the OS and its most current updates along with all the
programs installed and their updates and various settings, I would
definitely recommend imaging or cloning the hard drive.

I don't doubt that for a second. As ntbackup should have no problems
backing up data (those that are not locked anyway). The problem pops in
when it comes to the system. Now you have a problem.

 

[Daave]

Daave wrote on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:29:59 -0400:

I don't doubt that for a second. As ntbackup should have no problems
backing up data (those that are not locked anyway). The problem pops
in when it comes to the system. Now you have a problem.

I agree 100%.