Image & Data Back-Up Software

[popepaul]

I use a freeware back-up software program called Cobian Backup. It is easy install, to setup, schedule, and use, and the price is great “Free” (donate if you can). This software was first offered in 2000 and has been very popular. When I looked for a good package, there were a lot that charge a lot but were not near as good. Window XP also has a Microsoft back-up tool built in, but it was not very good. I was looking for something that did everything I wanted, was easly to setup, required little to no maintenance, was reliable, and was rated well. I looked at a lot of purchase software and some freeware. Rating wise, everything pointed to Cobian Backup. I installed and tried it and was sold. Cobian writes a good solid software program.

Cobian’s Site: Cobian's site - The home of Cobian Backup
Also available on a lot of other sites, including:
- SourceForge.net: Cobian Backup


Details as describe on the No-Nag Freeware site:

Cobian Backup is a multi-threaded program that can be used to schedule and backup your files and directories from their original location to other directories/drives in the same computer or other computer in your network. FTP backup is also supported in both directions (download and upload).

Cobian Backup exists in two different versions: application and service. The program uses very few resources and can be running on the background on your system, checking your backup schedule and executing your backups when necessary. Cobian Backup is not an usual backup application: it only copies your files and folders in original or compressed mode to other destination, creating a security copy as a result. So Cobian Backup can be better described as a 'Scheduler for security copies'.

Cobian Backup supports several methods of compression and strong encryption.

I could use Lightroom to backup my images to another drive as I download my images from the CF cards, but it is so slow at that, that I choose to download via Lightroom, and then have Cobian do my image and data back-ups nightly. Cobian Backup is quick, uses little resources, and I have it scheduled to do nightly backups.

I was wondering what others used to backup their data? I have no plans to move away from Cobian Backup, but I am curious as to other photographer’s processes and tools.

-Paul

[brian.austin]

NTBackup to external hard drives. It's free with Windows.

[W.Smith]

Time Machine to external drives. It's free with MacOSX. Set up once & forget.
To be replaced soon (started shipping today) by Time Capsule, the wireless version. Handles up to 4 TB.

[Hookemup]

Time Machine to an external HD

[aam1234]

Any views/comments on the Backup utility that comes with Win XP.

Thanks.

[popepaul]

Originally Posted by aam1234

Any views/comments on the Backup utility that comes with Win XP.

Thanks.

Hi aam1234,
When I originally looked that the back up software that comes with XP, it did not have all the features I was looking for in a back-up program. It might meet your needs.

Decide your needs, and then look for what software meets those needs. Look at this web site (Data Backup Software Review 2008) for ideas around back-up features. I would not necessary buy any of those, just use it as a way to discover the software back-up features you need and then find the software that has those features that are important to you and is in your price range.

I went with Cobian's back-up, because it has all the features that I needed, has been around for years, is a solid program, gets great ratings, is free, and is open sources software. I am in the computer/printer industry, current in an IT role, and am a big supporter of open source software. There are also some great purchase software back-up programs, so you can always go that route. If the XP program meets your needs, it is free, so that is a plus.

Details on XP's Back-up
Windows XP Backup Made Easy

Regards,
Paul

[aam1234]

Thanks, Paul.

[Rense]

I use Allway Sync Pro and Acronis True Image

[wookiee2cu]

Norton Ghost 12. It eats up quite a bit of room but it's got everything. I just got done doing esentially a format, loaded all my programs and ran a back up. I then copied that backup (about 160GB) to my external. I set it so it only keeps about 2 back up's on file allowing for about 235GB out of 400GB on my secondary drive. I have had to use it before and it's great. Just load it and walk away, about an hour or so later your computer is back to that state, registry and everything.

[mwrave]

For backups I like to use tape drives. The initial cost is rather expensive, but after that the tape media can be purchased in sizes ranging from 10gb - 1tb for much less than their hard drive equivalents. I'd also recommend against backing up to stand-alone hard drives, they have a tendency to go bad. The other problem with hard drives is that after they sit for a long period of time unused (i.e. an external drive used for the occasional backup) they develop issues with the moving parts inside. This can lead to a very costly recovery that includes replacing internal drive components, that whole process is really more of a crapshoot.

[Fast Eddie]

Currently using the Time Machine automated back-up software (part of Mac OSX Leopard) to send the data to a 1TB Time Capsule wireless external drive. I've been using this setup for a couple of weeks now, and I'm very happy with it.

[JDArt]

For backups I use another computer (server) and NO BACKUP SOFTWARE. I don't see the sense in backing up photos with some proprietary format. What you want are backups made daily. The backups should be straight file copies so that you can get at the data quickly if necessary.

[Alfred D.]

Originally Posted by JDArt

backups should be straight file copies so that you can get at the data quickly if necessary.

Carbon Copy Cloner (for OSX) does just that (in addition to scheduled straight and incremental backups), and adds a security layer: you need your root password to access the backup files on the bootable disk image.
Pretty good software.
But Time Machine's and Time Capsule's whizz bang integration into Leopard has almost made CCC obsolete. Even if they don't add any security layers like CCC does (Apple, are you listening?). I keep a copy of CCC for convenience's sake. And to have an alternative at hand should I need it.