Traditionally, we are accustomed to believe that the biggest danger to your computer - this virus, but is mindful of the preservation of information, as it happened in your computer, even a small break, and you have to remain at risk «broken tub» - either you listen to music, or watch a movie or a favorite toy to play.

The purpose of this article is not to convince you of the need for backup, by contrast, the authors come from the assumption that you yourselves understand that it is you want, but we want to help you solve a different problem: to understand the advantages and disadvantages of popular backup - programs that do not buy a pig in a poke.

A mistake in choosing programs for backing up is easy. Suffice it to okinut cursory glance market software for backup, to understand - here is what to think. This is only a partial list of programs that perform this function.

Acronis True Image 11 Home
Paragon Drive Backup 8.5
Genie Backup Manager 8.0
Symantec Norton Ghost 12
APBackup
Backup Manager
Backup4All
Handy Backup
Perhaps with some of those decisions you have faced before, and not in the context of backup. For example, you could use some of the tools for creating disk images.

Despite the fact that all of these solutions supports the backup, some, such as Acronis True Image 11 Home, Paragon Drive Backup 8.5b, Symantec Norton Ghost 12 to specialize the building of a hard disk, and can not be seen as a backup applications.

On this basis, all the solutions can be divided into two groups:

1. Specializing in backup image of hard disk:

Acronis True Image 11 Home
Paragon Drive Backup 8.5
Symantec Norton Ghost 12
2. Specializing in backup file system:

Genie Backup Manager 8.0
APBackup
Backup Manager
Backup4All
Handy Backup
Why did we choose this division? Naturally, on the basis of user needs. If you are interested in that, in the event of a computer quickly and easily restore the operating system in working condition, then, of course, your choice - it is Acronis True Image 11 Home, Paragon Drive Backup 8.5b, Symantec Norton Ghost 12.

If you are more interested in function to copy the file, and you do not want to overpay for other features, but worth paying attention to the Genie Backup Manager 8.0, APBackup, Backup Manager, Backup4All and Handy Backup. But let's look all the programs.

Acronis True Image 11 Home

This utility allows full, differential and Incremental backup file system. That is, there are three main types of copying. And if in the case of full backups title speaks for itself, for the uninitiated user would not be superfluous to clarify the difference between the differential and incremental types of copying.

A backup copy refers to the changed information for a certain period of time. And every subsequent copy includes the changed files, and those who remained neizmenennymi since the full backup. That is, differential backup - is copying the entire difference between the first and last copying.

Incremental backup copies only new and changed files since previous backup, rather than the first. Therefore, in general, differential backup takes up more space on the media than incremental. But incremental backup harder to recover, as well as accounts take into account not only the first and last backup files, but all the intermediate increment.

What type of person you select the copy? Here there is no single answer. Everything depends on what's important for you to: convenience, speed, economy or reliability.

But let's return to Acronis True Image 11 Home and its functionality for file copying. Despite the possibility of copying a file in the program, in general, it presents a good idea, it should be noted and obvious disadvantages, such as the inability to synchronize the folders is not very easy task planner, the lack of backup on SFTP, and abridged list of presets to copy.

The program supports recording on the following carriers: HDD, JAZ, MO, ZIP, CD, DVD, USB, FireWire, LAN, FTP.

Price Web: $ 49.99

Paragon Drive Backup 8.5

As the name implies, this tool is designed to work with disk images. Apart from the fact that it allows you to create normal and incremental image, Drive Backup has two unique features:

Cyclic Backup - lets you set the maximum number of backups, or the maximum size that they can hold on the disk, then the new version no longer maintained and begins overwriting the first.

Synthetic backup - allows you to edit the saved image: to change the compression, to include encryption, etc.
But with regard to the file copy, alas, Paragon Drive Backup 8.5 for it simply is not designed so that if you are interested it is in a file copy, then the idea of using this application will be abandoned.

Supported by recording the following carriers: HDD, Floppy disk, JAZ, MO, ZIP, CD DVD.

Price Web: $ 29.95

Symantec Norton Ghost 12

As we know, this program originally conceived as a tool to create a disk / partition, and then it was «naveshan» functional file copying. Therefore, it is worth more to understand how qualitatively Symantec was able to realize this important function for the user.

So, backup files in Symantec Norton Ghost 12 presented to the full and incremental backup. It is possible incremental backup developed in our view is not well. For example, you can not save increment time-stamped. Regarding the Task Scheduler, and it is not all smooth. The program does not perform data recovery on schedule. Tasks can be copied daily and weekly, or referenced in any event, but not once a month.

Moreover, the entry level users with a rich functional program works very unstable - attempt to establish a back-ups led to restart the system in more than half the cases.

Supported by recording the following carriers: HDD, Floppy disk, JAZ, MO, ZIP, CD, DVD, LAN, USB, FireWire, Maxtor OneTouch.

Price Web: $ 69.99

Genie Backup Manager 8.0

Genie Backup Manager 8.0 - This is a typical utility for file backup. Create a disk, it is not even trying, but it has a recovery system using a boot CD - Disaster Recovery.

The program supports all three types of backup: full, differential and incremental. Also present function of the rotation back-ups - that is, the possibility of follow-up to full and incremental backups in a problem. There is a large number of backup presets and the empowerment of Task Scheduler, with a mute function of the computer after you complete copy.

Also in the program successfully implemented a choice of different versions of files and folders to restore: a program offers a list of all available options from which to choose at will.

But in this whole barrel of honey and spoon is tar - Genie Backup Manager skips files! That was more user feedback on the Internet. That is, when you select the data to copy Genie Backup Manager sometimes «see» not all files are present on the computer!

Supported by recording the following media: hard disk, tape, CD, DVD, FTP, SFTP, USB, online server.

Price Web: $ 49.95

Handy Backup

The program Handy Backup Novosoft company also intended primarily for the backup file system. Regarding the possibility of a backup image, it is present in the form of paid plug-Image backup.

File copy of Handy Backup organized simply and conveniently. Initially, you create a challenge to copy, then choose what data would reserve, and this will help you filter inclusion and exclusion of data, as well as special presets, including to copy mail from the server. It is possible to synchronize the folders on FTP / SFTP, Incremental backup time-stamped and different versions of files. Design can not only copying but also rehabilitation. Following the establishment of objectives, we can change all the settings. Is it possible to launch the task in the service Windows. In general, a good and important, reliable tool.

It is also worth noting that the advanced version of Handy Backup Server and Handy Backup Full support for copying databases, and even have special presets for copying MSSQL and MS Exchange Server. Given that other utilities provided to the database does not work, you can safely say that at the moment, Handy Backup - this is the most advanced solution for a file copy of the data.

Supported by recording the following media: external hard disks, Zip, floppy, JAZ, MO, FireWire, USB, LAN, FTP, SFTP, CD, DVD, HD DVD, Blu-ray.

Price Web: $ 39

Backup4All

The standard version of the program supports the full and Incremental backup file system. But to copy a disk program in principle is not intended. File copy sold well. There is a possibility of revolution BackUp, a repetition of full and incremental backups in a problem. There are three preset to copy the My Documents folder, Favorites, and My Pictures. Planner - one of the most advanced. There is an opportunity to restore the files on the mask, but there is no possibility of recovery planning. Regarding the recording to the media, the distinctive feature here - write to USB-drives, such as Maxtor OneTouch.

Supported by recording the following media: external hard disks, Zip, floppy, JAZ, MO, LAN, FTP, SFTP, CD, DVD, integrated USB-drives, such as Maxtor OneTouch.

Price Web: $ 29.95

APB Backup

We can say that the creators of this utility is well managed only one - to realize a minimum of functions without the backup of claims to something greater. The entire process of creating backup tasks within the six steps. No presets are not even smells. The ability to write at least some carriers are not available. That is not at all clear where to keep backup. Moreover, as such, there is no possibility of recovery. That is a backup program creates, but you have to restore it manually.

Writing in the media does not support.

Price Web: $ 39.95

Backup Manager

Another tool to copy a file from the most simple level. It supports only full backups, with no possibility of overwriting backup files. As with APB Backup, no possibility of recovery and recording to the media. Preset does not.

Writing in the media does not support.

Price Web: $ 12.5

So, we examined eight programs backup. What they have to choose - you decide! We only hope that this review will help you make the right decision.