Two Recommended Data Backup Utilities

1. Acronis True Image Home 2010

Acronis True Image Home 2010Acronis True Image Home 2010 provides home users reliable and timeless backup and recovery of systems, applications, settings and personal files. From an intuitive graphical interface, users can easily define where, locally or online, and how often to backup a PC.

Key Features:

  • Support for Microsoft Windows 7 that delivers more comprehensive functionality over Microsoft Windows 7 backup capabilities.
  • Continuous data protection Acronis Nonstop Backup automatically creates incremental backups every five minutes allowing users to roll back their system, files, and folders to any point in time in the past.
  • Convert Acronis’ backup images (.tib) into Microsoft virtual hard disk files(.vhd) and vice versa, allowing users to run existing systems as virtual machines in Microsoft Virtual PC 2007. Windows 7 Ultimate users can also boot from .vhd images.
  • Acronis Online Backup capability Optional Acronis online storage services are available to automatically backup valuable data or files over the internet to a secure location.
  • One-Click Protection Create a backup strategy of the system and implement it with just one click.

 

Platform: Windows XP/Vista/7
Price: $49.99 Price on Amazon.com: $28.98

2. Symantec Norton Ghost 15.0

Symantec Norton Ghost 15.0Norton Ghost from Symantec protects your system with the advanced pc backup and restore software with system restore technology.

New Features:

  • Cold Imaging lets you back up files without installing Ghost.
  • Blu-ray Disc allows you to back up large amounts of data to high-capacity Blu-ray Disc — up to 25 GB per disc (50 GB dual-layer).
  • Windows® 7 support including support for Bitlocker™ provides enhanced data protection through drive encryption and integrity checking.
  • Symantec ThreatCon integration leverages intelligence from Symantec’s industry-leading security research organization to automatically backup files whenever ThreatCon reaches a specified threat level.

Platform: Windows XP/Vista/7
Price: $69.99 Price on Amazon.com: $39.99

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Backup Software: Symantec Norton Ghost 15.0

Backup Software: Symantec Norton Ghost 15.0 Norton Ghost 15.0 protects your applications, settings, folders, files and everything else on your PC with professional grade backup and recovery. So you can quickly restore your PC and recover lost or damaged files.

Key Benefits:

  • Creates full system and file backups — Safeguards your system, settings, applications, and files with flexible, comprehensive backup protection.
  • Restores from system failures — Recovers your system and data even when you can’t restart your computer.
  • Enables convenient, secure offsite backups — Saves recovery points to an FTP site for easier offsite management and even backs up your data to network-attached storage devices.
  • Backs up on schedules and events — Lets you decide what is backed up and when so you can customize backups based on how you use your computer.

Features:

  • NEW! Cold Imaging lets you back up files without installing Ghost.
  • NEW! Blu-ray Disc allows you to back up large amounts of data to high-capacity Blu-ray Disc — up to 25 GB per disc (50 GB dual-layer).
  • NEW! Windows® 7 support including support for Bitlocker™ provides enhanced data protection through drive encryption and integrity checking.
  • NEW! Symantec ThreatCon integration leverages intelligence from Symantec’s industry-leading security research organization to automatically backup files whenever ThreatCon reaches a specified threat level.
  • Full system (disk image) backup lets you easily backup everything on a hard drive or partition.
  • File and folder backup lets you back up only the files and folders you choose, rather than backing up and entire disk.
  • File backup search finds and backs up only the types of files you choose, such as photos, MP3 files, and documents.
  • Incremental backup copies only files that have changed for fewer, faster backups.
  • Customizable, event-based backup triggers backups based on key events, such as when you install a new program or when there are sudden increases in data storage.
  • Offsite backup copies recovery points to a FTP site for easier offsite backup management.
  • NAS backup gives you the option of backing up your files to network-attached storage devices.
  • Advanced compression automatically compresses files so you can store more files in less space.
  • Advanced encryption helps keep your sensitive documents safe from prying eyes.
  • System protection lets you easily restore your system, applications and files even when you can’t restart the operating system.
  • Google Desktop™ integration makes data recovery even faster with searchable backup indexes.
  • LightsOut Restore lets you quickly restore your system without needing a bootable CD.
  • Remote management lets you remotely control other Norton Ghost installations (12.0 and higher) on your local area network.
  • Scheduled P2V allows you to automatically create a virtual disk from your most recent backup.
  • Version support lets you restore older disk images made with Ghost 10, 12 and 14.
  • Multiple storage options let you back up to almost any media, including Blu-ray Disc®, CDR/RW and DVD+-R/RW drives, USB and FireWire® (IEEE 1394) devices, network drives, and Iomega® Zip® and Jaz® drives.

Operating system: Windows XP/Vista/7

Price: $69.99

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