[jayzee786]

I've been using GFI Backup for a long time on all my computers (1 Desktop, 2 Laptops, 1 Netbook) however GFI really slows down my Desktop to a crawl when it's running before it wasn't a problem but I've recently started using the Desktop again (It's really old low spec).

I've moved onto EaseUS Todo Backup but am wondering if anyone here's got any other recommendations?

I've tried Macrium Reflect but I don't want to image the whole drive as 90% is full of videos which I don't need backed up the remaining 10% is the Documents, Pics and Music folders of users on my LAN which I do need backed up.

[anniebrion]

I use Acronis True Image 2010, this allows you to exclude files/folders from a full image backup.

[rossi_dr]

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...ng-program.htm

[c4rv]

Do you want a disk backup or documents only.

Personally I use puresync which is a file based backup. Easy to use, though has lots of options for more advanced use.

http://www.jumpingbytes.com/en/puresync.html

For disk image backups I use Acronis.

[TheBigM]

As you have multiple PCs. I recommend you get a Windows Home Server.

You can stick all those videos on there to share across the house, anything on the server can be duplicated across multiple disks. You can set each PC to automatically back up to the server at a certain time daily. Restoration is very straightforward. And there is also data deduplication at the cluster level to reduce the space backups take up.

[jayzee786]

Originally Posted by c4rv

Do you want a disk backup or documents only.

Personally I use puresync which is a file based backup. Easy to use, though has lots of options for more advanced use.

http://www.jumpingbytes.com/en/puresync.html

For disk image backups I use Acronis.

I don't want to backup the whole disk just certain folders.

Originally Posted by TheBigM

As you have multiple PCs. I recommend you get a Windows Home Server.

You can stick all those videos on there to share across the house, anything on the server can be duplicated across multiple disks. You can set each PC to automatically back up to the server at a certain time daily. Restoration is very straightforward. And there is also data deduplication at the cluster level to reduce the space backups take up.

I've got a free copy of Windows Server 2003 from Dreamspark but I can't afford to dish out for WHS atm.

File sharing over the network with XP is doing the job for me atm.

[RobAnt]

If you have more than two PCs or laptops, then Windows Home Server 2011 is a good option. It cam backup both itself and PCs on the network (it wakes them up).

I have the lowest spec AMD 64bit processor 2 Gigs of RAM and as many drives as I can cram into it for both server and PC backup.

I've increased storage using both PCI/PCIe imternal SATA/exterma; eSATA and PCIe USB3 external drives.

For £30 WHS 2011 is great value which runs on any modest 64bit processor. You can still get WHS 2008, which supports 32bit processors. There are loads of apps you can get too.

[jayzee786]

Will WHS 2008 run on a Intel Celeron D 3.2Ghz?

[TheBigM]

Originally Posted by jayzee786

Will WHS 2008 run on a Intel Celeron D 3.2Ghz?

Without having gone to properly check, I imagine so. The whole thing was designed to run on a low-power spec. The 2008 one is what I have and sticking with because it has the "Drive Extender" technology that they removed in the 2011 version.

[jayzee786]

I'll have a look at it when I can. I dunno what's wrong with this desktop as recently even on fresh installs of XP or 7 if there are more a few start up items the computer slows to a crawl. Have installed 7 on it started the install at 1am and it still hasn't finished first time I installed 7 on it it took around 1hr 20mins

[Faust]

Originally Posted by jayzee786

I'll have a look at it when I can. I dunno what's wrong with this desktop as recently even on fresh installs of XP or 7 if there are more a few start up items the computer slows to a crawl. Have installed 7 on it started the install at 1am and it still hasn't finished first time I installed 7 on it it took around 1hr 20mins

That's a long install time for W7, mine typically took around 35mins.

[jayzee786]

Originally Posted by Faust

That's a long install time for W7, mine typically took around 35mins.

I think the computer is about to die as its slow and sluggish no matter what OS is installed.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by jayzee786

I think the computer is about to die as its slow and sluggish no matter what OS is installed.

Its probably only one component thats knackered. Could even be something like the PSU thats dieing.

[jayzee786]

This started after I cleared all the dust out of my CPU fan. Could I have damaged the CPU or it's fan?

I've logged into the fresh install on win 7 finally and everything is just not responding

[jcontreras]

i think i have a suggestion regarding a perfect back up software for your windows maybe it is use in your home or in business check this link i hope this help your problem solved.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by jcontreras

i think i have a suggestion regarding a perfect back up software for your windows maybe it is use in your home or in business check this link i hope this help your problem solved.

Lol spam fail - no link.

[SusanBatson]

I use Praetorian Guard to centrally back up the PCs at work. I usually do full backups, but there is an option to just select certain files and folders. It doesn’t slow down the performance much.

[and101]

I use smartsync pro to back up the files on my pc. It can be scheduled to run every day and scans the hard drive for any changes and only copies new or updated files to the backup drive. It also does incremental backups so you can save several revisions of a file.

It doesn't compress the files so you will need a backup drive bigger than your pc hard drive but that does have the advantage that you can easily access individual files on your backup drive without having to use any special software.

[anniebrion]

Originally Posted by and101

I use smartsync pro to back up the files on my pc. It can be scheduled to run every day and scans the hard drive for any changes and only copies new or updated files to the backup drive. It also does incremental backups so you can save several revisions of a file.

It doesn't compress the files so you will need a backup drive bigger than your pc hard drive but that does have the advantage that you can easily access individual files on your backup drive without having to use any special software.

You can set windows compression on the backup drive to save some space

[and101]

Originally Posted by anniebrion

You can set windows compression on the backup drive to save some space

I use a NAS drive for backup which runs linux so windows compression probably wouldn't work. Plus compressing the drive makes it more difficult to retrieve any data if something gets corrupted.

[D0nWhitt0n]

If you want to back up files/folders selectively I can recommend @MAX SyncUp. I use it successfully in my LAN. Usually I back up only important documents. This software is very convenient it allows you to create masks so I can back up/exclude from backup files that contained determinate words/letters and files with specific extention. Files are recovered individually too.
It compresses files to zip-archive and its own one so you can save drive’s space and it saves only changed files (and new files)
It has no significant system requirements.
http://www.atmaxsoft.com
PS. also it does backup to Google Drive

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by and101

I use a NAS drive for backup which runs linux so windows compression probably wouldn't work. Plus compressing the drive makes it more difficult to retrieve any data if something gets corrupted.

It depends on how the NAS presents the drive as to question over compression.

Plus I think compression is less effective these days, pretty much all media files are already compressed and so are office documents these days.

[JohnGeek]

Originally Posted by jayzee786

I've been using GFI Backup for a long time on all my computers (1 Desktop, 2 Laptops, 1 Netbook) however GFI really slows down my Desktop to a crawl when it's running before it wasn't a problem but I've recently started using the Desktop again (It's really old low spec).

I've moved onto EaseUS Todo Backup but am wondering if anyone here's got any other recommendations?

I use and recommend Handy Backup 7, it's the best backup software for Windows I ever used, easy to use and reliable; also provides image the whole hard drive and netwok backup.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by JohnGeek

I use and recommend Handy Backup 7, it's the best backup software for Windows I ever used, easy to use and reliable; also provides image the whole hard drive and netwok backup.

You forgot to mention how expensive it is.

Expensive considering $98 doesn't even give you an image backup or network backup!!!!!!!!!

[Johnbee]

OP if I were you I would definitely download and try Cobian. It is what I chose after a lot of looking.

Send the bloke a few quid if you decide to use it.