Back up software license worth it? [Black Friday coming soon]

[PLAfiller]

Greetings all,

as black Friday/ cyber Monday is around the corner I have been thinking of purchasing a life time license for Easeus todo backup Home. I was wondering if you think it's worth it? I didn't have a back up process until soon. I invested time to learn folder structure and started clearing up old archives and creating a proper folder organization. Now I would like to organize my back up process? How do you do it? With windows inbuilt tools or aftermarket software?

 

[oobymach]

I use macrium reflect to make clone images of my hard disk periodically, it's free and fairly easy to use but might require a tutorial your first time.

Macrium Reflect | Free 30-Day Trial

Macrium Reflect - Incredibly powerful software that allows you to create and schedule effective backups

www.macrium.com

 

[Bill_Bright]

It really does not matter what you use - just have a robust backup plan and use it. And test it too. That is, restore from a backup so you know how to do it. If you are not familiar with the process, even the most simple program can be daunting - or fail!

When I had my repair and consulting business, if something happened to my primary computer, I needed it back on line yesterday. So I kept regular image backups and incrementals too. These days, I'm retired. Just knowing none of my important files would be lost forever is fine, even if it takes much longer to recover and get a fully operational system again.

The Macrim Reflect Free is a great program. But frankly, the one built into W10 works great too. Again - much simply depends on what you are used to and familiar with.

What is MOST important is that you have multiple backup copies with at least one maintained off-site. That is, keep at least one copy at a friends or relatives house. Or essentially anywhere but your home. I know of several cases where the user kept the one and only backup on their external drive sitting next to their monitor. One person lost it all when his house burned to the ground. Another when a hurricane blew it away. And most recently, a friend of a friend had a bad guy break into their home and stole the computer and the external drive too. They lost all their family photos, tax records, and more.

When I had my business, I kept a copy in my safe deposit box at my bank. Today, I have a trusting neighbor. If you trust the cloud, you can put a copy out there. I personally believe your data will never get lost out in the cloud. On the contrary, there will likely soon be more copies than you can imagine. My trust issue with the cloud is that I fear my data will be hacked and stolen - due to incompetence and negligence by those responsible for maintaining and keeping secure, the cloud storage service. So if you use the cloud, I recommend you encrypt anything you put out there.

For the most simple backup, keep all your personal files somewhere under the Documents folder. Then just make regular backups of that. You can always buy a new Windows license, and download and install your programs, if it comes down to that. But replacing your personal documents is another issue. If you have more than one computer on your network, you can even send a copy over (drag and drop) to that computer, and vice versa.

 

[chrcoluk]

Greetings all,

as black Friday/ cyber Monday is around the corner I have been thinking of purchasing a life time license for Easeus todo backup Home. I was wondering if you think it's worth it? I didn't have a back up process until soon. I invested time to learn folder structure and started clearing up old archives and creating a proper folder organization. Now I would like to organize my back up process? How do you do it? With windows inbuilt tools or aftermarket software?

Windows software will usually eventually get rid of lifetime licenses as its not profitable for them long term, typically they get offered to get a new product of the ground, but if it ever gets popular enough they usually stop getting sold, so if you like the product I would get the lifetime.

Before anyone jumps in, I know there is exceptions.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Windows software will usually eventually get rid of lifetime licenses as its not profitable for them long term

Sadly, this is often true. I had recurring costs for software. If you have to pay over and over again to renew a subscription, that recurring fee becomes just another recurring bill. And I hate bills.

And sadly, some developers have used what amounts to, IMO, deceitful tactics to get around those lifetime licenses. They update their program and call the new version an entirely new program. Then they use that claim of being a new program to force existing lifetime license owners to buy new licenses - which often are subscription plans only.

 

[plastiscɧ]

With windows inbuilt tools or aftermarket software?

I use this for years.
pro: with the WIN RE section u can rescue the whole OS and the data cus u have an 1 to 1 shadow copy. this shadow copy can be stored on any device though.

 

[Regeneration]

There are plenty of freeware backup tools.

Paragon Community Edition:

Free Data Recovery software | Paragon Backup & Recovery Community Edition

Reliable backup and recovery tool for windows 10 with advanced options of restoring files, folders and os. Incremental and differential backup of the whole system.

www.paragon-software.com

I recommend System Restore + Full HD backup (partitions) on a monthly/quarterly basis unless you're a small business or more.

 

[Nuckles56]

I use macrium reflect to make clone images of my hard disk periodically, it's free and fairly easy to use but might require a tutorial your first time.

Macrium Reflect | Free 30-Day Trial

Macrium Reflect - Incredibly powerful software that allows you to create and schedule effective backups

www.macrium.com

I also use macrium and it works really well (at least to do backups as I haven't had to do a restore yet touch wood) plus I like the ability to do a differential backup as well as full ones. I normally do a full backup to my NAS once a month and then differential backups every week.

 

[MarsM4N]

I used AcronisTrueImage, like forever. Super quick, reliable & it creates the smallest backup sizes out there. Sadly they decided now to switch to a subsciption based model, so when the support ends & the program becomes incompatible (f.e. after Win10 updates or switch to Win11?) I have to look for a new solution. Dang.

My personal file management & backup method looks like that:

- created 2 partitions: 1 for Win10 alone & 2 for personal folders/files
(moved the Win personal folders, personal data (images, music, program installers, etc.) & game libraries to partition 2)
- movies on a separate HDD
- using Microsoft SyncToy (Freeware) every few days or before/after important changes to mirror the files from Partition 1 & 2 to a external SSD
(which is connected to an external USB hub ICY BOX IB-Hub1405, so the drive is offline with one switch when not in use. quick & simple)
- monthly backup to 2 external 2,5" HDD's (2 copies of everything, stored in 2 different buildings)

That way I can use different backup methods depending on file types, can create separate backups/restores & have 3 copies from important files & 2 copies of movies.

 

[John Naylor]

For our SoHo (Small Office / Home) we went from SCSI tape drives to an NAS (with additional offsite storage) to SSHDs (got great deal @ $75 per 2 GB) ....

- Main Office PC has (2) SSDs, (1) for OS and Programs, (1) for Gaming
- Main Office PC has (4) SSHDs, for Data and Backup of both the SO and HO side of the network.

- All backups are mirrors so down time for a drive failure is 0
- All Data drives are easily removed
- All office machines have a USB Drive Dock
- If an Office Data Drive dies, I just pull what I need off the other
- If the Main Office PC' dies, I can pull either drive and access it on another via the Dock
-The Dock's are used also for offsite storage
- SO drives get an automatic incremental mirror backup up at noon and evening
- SO drives get manual mirror offsite backup On Friday
- SO drives, on last Saturday of the month the secondary (mirrored drive) is wiped and fresh mirror made
- For SO side, the primary drive is replaced with a new one every 2 years; the primary becomes the secondary (mirror) and the secondary becomes relegated to off site storage
- HO drives get an automatic incremental mirror backup up at 5 am on Mondays
- All of the SO satellite PCs and the HO PCs can initiate a manual back up at any time w/ the click of a button
- FBackup handles all the software duties with ease and the graphical interface makes it brainless selecting or ignoring folders.

Reaching the end of the 2 year, add a new drive cycle this spring, will likely be looking at 2 TB SSDs which should be cheaper in a post pandemic, post tariff market.