What's the best free Backup/Recovery software program/s?

I'm still new on this thing and I could not really decide which one is the best. The one which is easy to use, and can really restores everything in case we want to. With automatic daily scheduling and also has an automatic deletions of older backups.

 

I've been using the last free version of Backup4All since some time now.
I do like the fact that you can specify what to backup and what not.
It has a scheduler and does incremental backups.
Haven't tried another, since there's no need to.

Automatic deletions of older backups isn't included in this version.
I do find it a bit dangerous to automatically remove older backups without
you knowing about it.
Could give you problems, in case you need to restore an older backup.
Oops! Oh no, it's deleted.

 

I use a combination of system restore in XP (which works for getting rid of installed programs that dont play well in my experience) and then use SyncBackSE freeware version http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html (further down the page) to back up folders to my server which eventually get burnt to DVD.

I am planning to make backup images of my OSes (as the configuration wont change for ages on my server or laptop), but first I want to make a clean install using Nlite http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html (especially my server). Not quite sure how much (if any) software to install before making the image though.

 

Drive Image XML.

It's a free imaging program that works with BartPE.

The best thing about the program is it actually will burn to a cd without media errors after-the-fact.

http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm

 

Exboot from a bootable USB2

 

i have two programs on my windows partition for imaging called snapshot.exe and partition-saving. i haven't used them though.

 

I use an old fashioned method of preserving my important programs and keep all my license keys the same way.

I use good old winzip to zip up the whole shooting match (takes a while for 2 HD's)(98/XP) then install an alternate hard drive long enough to save my zips to it then pull that puppy out and put away for safe keeping. I found plastic media too easily wears away over time (DVD/CD).

External HD is another safe method i guess but i have no need for it since i know how to jump my IDE lines for quick exchanges and install a simple 3rd party booter that operates ahead of the XP bootloader. (MBR stuff)

I dunno if users still use zip drives or not, never go into that myself.

I had too many issues using first Norton Ghost than Acronis, neither of them could perform efficiently without having to run for help and even then i don't like holding my breathe that something might work right or not.

Oh yeah, since i have XP pro i've used that backup program a couple of times, seems to do ok but i still don't trust it if my XP side of things would go belly up, dunno if the backup would respond to a new install or not, never tried. I found it safest to do it with the current old way i keep programs in storage.

 

What's the (best) free Backup

batch file: xxcopy.exe to external HD


What's the (best) free Recovery

Windows Cmd.exe: format


"Others..pls specify and why its more better"

I don't know that this is better, just simple.

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For free backup and recovery I use Simply Safe Backup 2005 Free Edition and EZBack-it-up which is great for small jobs. As someone else already mentioned XCOPY is also great for backups jobs. On the Linux side I just simply tar it to disk or tape.

As for why it's better. I happen to like them and how they work. I also used a couple of paid for backup programs particularly with OS/2.