What Windows backup software?

[Saracen]

A friend asked me this recently, and I'm a bit out of touch. Well, quite a lot, really.

They want :-

- free
- disk image capability for OS recovery, AND
- file level backup.

The two do not need to be a single package.

Oh, and preferably :-

- encryption to a decent level. They are worried about the NSA, but basic nosiness
- local storage only .... NAS, HD and/or DVD, BD, etc
- supports Win7 currently, Win10 eventually

I use TrueImage for my remaining Win systems, but for this, I'm currently thinking of suggesting Macrium for imaging, Easeus for backup.

Thoughts?



EDIT - Yes, I've read previous threads. But they're out of date and software recommendations come and go.

[peterb]

From the encryption aspects, this is worth a read

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archiv...ting_wind.html

[GoNz0]

Macrium.

[peterb]

BeCrypt https://www.becrypt.com/uk/products/...isk-encryption

Has a good reputation, and offers versions for the protection of low grade protectively marked information, but obviously that is not available to the general public (read into that what you will )

It is of course protecting data-at-rest after either copying/cloning the disk or selectively backing up individual files.

GoNz0 enigmatically gave a one word solution. I've just looked at their site and it seems very capable and is win10 comparable. However, while they directly sell a home edition, for business use it has to be bought through a support partner for support. Which option to go for would depend on the number of licences required and the extent of the network.

It includes encryption which is probably good enough for privacy.

[Giraffe]

Macrium.

+1. Macrium Reflect Free works well. I'd had trouble using EasUS and not being able to boot from the clone and Macrium just booted.
I use Cobian to USB sticks for simple backup.

[Moby-Dick]

huge shameless plug

https://www.veeam.com/endpoint-backup-free.html

[g8ina]

+ 1 Macrium, excellent bit of kit.

[shaithis]

huge shameless plug

https://www.veeam.com/endpoint-backup-free.html

+1

Switched all my PCs to it a few months ago. The only backup solution I have found that will turn my PC on in the middle of the night, do an incremental backup and then turn the PC off afterwards.

[GoNz0]

+1. Macrium Reflect Free works well. I'd had trouble using EasUS and not being able to boot from the clone and Macrium just booted.
I use Cobian to USB sticks for simple backup.

Macrium can also setup it's own boot loader as well as USB based bootable recovery, it now does differential images in the free edition.

[Giraffe]

huge shameless plug
https://www.veeam.com/endpoint-backup-free.html

Had a look at that - will it do just a clone of a disk? I wasn't sure from the info. that I read.

[Moby-Dick]

Yeah it'll do a whole machine image , volume or file level. I use a whole machine level for all of our machines in the house , backing up to a NAS that powers itself on just before the backup window.

[Giraffe]

Thanks. I like to have a disk that'll just boot - so simple.

[Saracen]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'm looking at them now.

Moby, does Veeam do standard backups, I.e. selected by drive, folder or file, differential and incremental, or just images? Thanks.

[shaithis]

VeeamEP does full machine, drive or folder/files....and by default does incremental with dedupe and compression. I don't think it does differential yet (unlike the Veeam for virtual backup).

[Saracen]

That's a surprising omission, if so. Personally, I've always preferred to do full, then keep a sort-of grandfather, father, son rotation of differentials. Few things are more of a pain than doing a restore, then several dozen incrementals.

But for my friend, maybe a weekly full(or image) and daily incrementals would do.

Either way, Veaam is a new one on me, but looks interesting and recommendations from you lot goes a long way to convincing me. It's a question of whose opinion you trust, innit? You lot knows wot you is talking about.

[Junnilly]

Thanks. I like to have a disk that'll just boot - so simple.

Thanks, I will try them!