best program to use for automated backups

[aprice88]

hi -
i have to back up my laptop. i have it in a home network with a desktop so i figured i would back it up on that hard drive. here's the problem - i want to do this each week and have it automated, hopefully only saving files that have changed or are new. also, i need it to backup my email that i have in Outlook (Office XP). lastly, im not sure if i should back up the entire drive, or just files i set. suggestions welcomed!

is there an easy way to do this? i know there must be. please help a non-programmer-type save his data!

thanks,
aaron

 

[comtec17]

You could use Retrospect from dantz.

http://www.dantz.com

 

[aprice88]

is there a less-expensive or, dare i say it, free option out there?

 

[comtec17]

Retrospect Professional v6.5
Protects networked desktops and notebooks for personal and home office backup. $129.00

This will be free if you purchase a Maxtor external hard drive.

 

[aprice88]

what about the windows XP backup utility? is that any good?

 

[LOKIDOG]

I've used Genie Backup. It has been OK, but I really don't have that much experience with backing up - or should I say recovering.

I recently had a hard drive meltdown - or at least the data on it.

I was using GOBACK 4, and backed up the Registry, Windows settings, Documents, and Audio and Video files with Genie Backup. (automated)

Well, GOBACK did not. I think it may have contributed to file corruption which compounded a bad boot sector problem, and eventuall reformat.

Genie Backup Manager did backup these things, only problem is that not all of them were actually backed up per schedule. Apparently, some of the backups did not actually take place when scheduled, but the program did not notify me of this failure. I'm not even sure why they did not backup. There are options for backing everything up, or only updating (backing up only changed files and adding them to an older or running BU file). I'm not sure what was happening. Emails were backed up - up to date - which was great.

Documents, however were not. But most important documents are there - or in attachments in emails!

So - My question it. What is the best BU strategy to avoid this! I will post a separate topic.

 

[Xaqte]

I've had a great experience with CasperXP

http://www.fssdev.com/products/casperxp/

No, I don't work for them... nor do I mean to advertise. Its just good stuff! Let us know your results!

X

 

[LOKIDOG]

Xate, Do you have experience with this software?

 

[Xaqte]

LOKIDOG, I've used the software I mentioned earlier on numerous drives big & small. I've even been able to copy between different interfaces as well. I've used it with XP, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows 2003 Server. If I can help you at all with it, please let me know.