In search of ideal backup utility

[tslim]

Hi mwang,

I like your way of testing it out to the bottom of the fact. Thanks a lot for letting me know that GBM Pro does not actually employ a up-to-date zip engine and it only supports unicode zipping partially or with some sort of work around... um.. so call GRename Technology.

I might be lucky that I have always (and am expecting it to be so for a long time) set non-unicode language of my XP to Chinese Simplified and I don't have filenames in Korean.
Put it this way, even if I need to search, I won't have problem.
To be frank, I never search my backup set. Maybe it is because I build/group backup from jobs in quite a systematic way, so locating a piece/a file from all backup sets is relatively easy.

Strictly speaking, what GBM Pro can do, in term of unicode support, is already up to my requirement. I am so eager to find something better to replace it due to 3 major things:
1) Its brainless interface design throughout the whole program.
2) Its backup filter is poor.
3) It does not support grouping of jobs.

and excuse me, I just couldn't help myself... let me moan one more time on the 1):
You won't believe it, a simple thing like picking a backup job can become such a great challenge... a picture worth a thousand words, please see the attachment.

I hope some kind-hearted person will invite the GBM Pro author to this thread, let him see what have he done.

[DonL]

... XYplorer would be my file manager if it had true unicode support (it does now) when I was hunting for an Explorer replacement. Now as I'm planning to move to Linux, I'm not paying for anything that works only on Windows, unless I absolutely can't live without it. As a result, I'm stuck with DOpus, for now. (Ah, sounds like I don't like DOpus. Actually I do, despite many small complaints.)

XYplorer works on ubuntu I've been told by users. Ask for details in XY's user forum.

[mwang]

To be frank, I never search my backup set. Maybe it is because I build/group backup from jobs in quite a systematic way, so locating a piece/a file from all backup sets is relatively easy.

I envy you, I must say. My backup sets are quite well organized alright, but my files aren't. I move them around all the time. As a result, I'm not really sure where to look in the rare cases where I really need to retrieve a file from the backups.

Strictly speaking, what GBM Pro can do, in term of unicode support, is already up to my requirement. I am so eager to find something better to replace it due to 3 major things:
1) Its brainless interface design throughout the whole program.

I noticed this while trying it out months ago. My main candidates at the time were GBM Home 8 and Backup4all 3.1. The latter, unfortunately, didn't have unicode support, either, for the same reason (zip format issue, there was no zip 6.3 yet, iirc).  I remember writing them about it, asking them to consider 7z. They politely said that they would consider it. But I never wrote to GBM's developers, for I thought it would be too time consuming to detail what I didn't like.

2) Its backup filter is poor.

No backup programs I've tried beat Dantz Retrospect (now EMC Retrospect) in this regard. The filtering system was so flexible and powerful. I could define a set of rules called "garbage files", e.g., and then include the "garbage files" filter in other filters to exclude them. Filters could be defined using all sort of criteria, linked with logical operators like "and", "or" and "not". Oh, how I miss that. Retrospect had its own fair set of braindead "features" as well, however, aside from being expensive, so I got rid of it eventually.

I've been watching this thread with interest, for the criteria you layout at the start pretty much sum up what I want in a backup solution. Too bad we're still looking. Maybe I'll have better luck once switched to linux. 

[mwang]

XYplorer works on ubuntu I've been told by users. Ask for details in XY's user forum.

Through Wine or something? I'm afraid that's not good enough. File manager and text editor are the most important tools for me; they're always open (staying in the system tray on Windows). I wouldn't want Wine involved in this arrangement.

That said, thanks for chipping in. I've been an admirer of yours. (Undue influence from zridling perhaps?)

[laurentdc]

Hi,

Nobody tried SyncBackPro v5, even Mouser in its backup tests !
I think it does everything required in the 1st post.
It does not backup a full disk, but DriveImage XML will do that times to times.
There is also a great Syncback freeware version !

Regards

http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/compare.html
http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbpro-features.html

http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm

[mwang]

Thanks for the heads up, laurentdc. Last time I tried SyncbackSE (4.3?), it wasn't good enough. But 5.0 looks like a big jump, and Pro is new, so I'll check it out later (again, if I decide to stay with Windows).

[tslim]

Hi,

Nobody tried SyncBackPro v5, even Mouser in its backup tests !
I think it does everything required in the 1st post.

I think the best way is to ask in their forum. As of this writing I am still waiting for the forum member registration activation email.

Are you sure it support registry key(s) and Alternate Data Stream backup?
I flip through their PDF guide, the grouping profile feature looks excellent!

[tslim]

Unfortunately, SyncBackPro does not support registry key(s) backup.

[Armando]

But couldn't you use something separate just for registry?

[tomos]

But couldn't you use something separate just for registry?

yeah, seems to me you're doing pretty well if you get the other six points in one programme (I know I know you're looking for the ideal backup - you could always make a request with SBPro if it otherwise suits & maybe you'll get it in time!)
-
but it begs the question:-
is there a simple programme that you can use to backup registry keys ?

[tslim]

But couldn't you use something separate just for registry?

I could. But I don't want to.

[tslim]

In fact,
SyncBackPro still miss a minor thing, it can't let me decide whether a folder junction should be treated as a file item or an ordinary folder (thus backup whatever pointed by it), instead it strictly treats folder junction as the former.
Anyway, this feature is quite minor, I don't really insist of having this one.

[MerleOne]

I think there is also a new  contender in the area : TK8 Backup (http://www.tk8.com/backup/), pro version preferably.  It's a new product but very promising, in particular it has a very quick backup engine.  I like the straightforward interface and the direct management of saved files.  However, IMHO, this software is still lacking some important features such a verify, especially when burning on DVD.  Future versions could be nice.  I purchased a license through Bitsdujour rebate some months ago.

[Armando]

Thanks MerleOne.

On the feature page, they say :

"Folder monitoring to auto start backup tasks when file change is detected"


Seems like a nice feature. Do you use it, and does it work well?

And how about backing up locked files ? I'm having problems using the volume Shadow Copy service, and wondering if TK8 Backup uses the same technique...

[MerleOne]

Thanks MerleOne.

On the feature page, they say :

"Folder monitoring to auto start backup tasks when file change is detected"


Seems like a nice feature. Do you use it, and does it work well?

And how about backing up locked files ? I'm having problems using the volume Shadow Copy service, and wondering if TK8 Backup uses the same technique...

I have not tried this feature yet and about locked file, I suppose it is VSS since there is no extra software installed, which I also like.

Actually, the publisher responds always quickly to inquiries, I am sure he can give more details.  If I can manage, I'll try to look deeper and let you know here.

[Armando]

thanks 

[MerleOne]

This screen captures shows the feature "save when folder content is changed".

[Armando]

oooh. I see. Thanks for taking the time to post this screenshot. 

That option could be handy... 

[MerleOne]

oooh. I see. Thanks for taking the time to post this screenshot. 

That option could be handy... 

Actually I didn't try it, but you may experiment directly, they have a trial version.

Also, I didn't see any option related to open files backup.  Maybe it's always on ?

[Clive]

Would this work?
http://www.xxcopy.com/index.htm#summary

A Win95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/2003/2008 utility which runs in command line mode.
Comes with a 16-bit version (XXCOPY16).
(XXCOPY16.EXE copies files using the short (8.3 format) name only.)
Duplicates the entire system drive which can boot Win9x (xxtb #10).
Keeps the same short name (8.3) in the destination as in the source (xxtb #03).
The source specifier accepts wildcards in directory names also (xxtb #28).
Backs up directory incrementally without the use of archive bit. (xxtb #06).
Synchronizes directories (xxtb #20).
Controls file attributes (keeps the source, destination attributes or none).
Excludes directories or files from copying by wild cards(xxtb #05).
Handles a Cyclic Copy case much better than XCOPY (xxtb #07).
Qualifies files by file date/time (Before, On, or After) (xxtb #17).
Deletes files or directories using the same powerful selection mechanism (xxtb #12).
Copies hidden/system files, and overwrites Read-only files.
Flattens a directory tree into files in one directory (xxtb #16).
... and many, many, intimidatingly more ... (over 200 command switches)
Copies security information for NTFS volume archiving.
Supersedes Microsoft's ROBOCOPY (xxtb #30).
Works very much like XCOPY with the same command syntax.
Available in two flavors; Freeware and Pro Edition (see below).
PAD (Portable Application Description) File.

[kyrathaba]

I'm testing Cobian Backup Boletus.  Not sure yet if it fulfills all the requirements of the OP, but so far it seems sweet.