Programs for data backup. What programs to use to backup data on your computer

A simple and reliable backup solution for your PC

Download and set up Exiland Backup to automatically automate home photos, videos, work files and other important files, to save once and for all them from viruses, PC breakdown, accidental change or deletion, etc.

Backup program light, fast, does not contain advertising and unnecessary functions, and at the same time very easy to learn. All you need is to create a task once, specifying in it which files and folders to copy, where to save backups and set up a launch schedule. Everything is ready! More from you no action required!

If you lose your files, you can quickly restore them from a backup!

Screenshot of a free backup program

Limitations of the free version

Free backup program for backing up files Exiland Backup Free is recommended for small businesses and home use; it contains a number of basic features sufficient to create backup copies of files. But, despite this, such service functions as automatic deletion of old archives, duplication of backup copies to other storages, job queue management, copying files into multiple threads, setting up archive encryption, etc. not available in Exiland Backup Free version. The best way to find out the full list of limitations and learn about the advantages of other versions is the Version Comparison Table.

We recommend using the Standard or Professional version, since they do not have the disadvantages described above. Plus, you will be entitled to priority technical support from the developer and new versions of backup software for free .

Advantages of paid versions Standard and Professional

• Automatic duplication of backups to other drives/servers
• Automatically delete old backups
• Multi-threaded copying
• Running the program as a Windows service (in the Professional version)
• Copying files from multiple PCs on a local network (Professional version)
• Flexible ZIP settings (encryption, compression ratio, division of archives into volumes)
• SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) support
• Shadow backup of locked files (VSS in Professional version)
• Setting a password to enter the program
• Email notification
• Managing the Job Queue at Runtime
• Free receipt of new versions and updates
• Priority Technical Support

How to download and install the program?

You can download the backup program for free. The program distribution takes up only about 5 megabytes. The program is distributed both as a regular installer and in a portable version that does not require installation on a PC.

Normal version (installer):

The downloaded ZIP archive contains the installer file "setup.exe". Run this file and follow the instructions of the step-by-step wizard to complete the installation. By default, the backup program Exiland Backup Free will be installed in C:\Exiland Backup Free, but you can assign a different installation folder.

Portable version (does not require installation on a PC):

The downloaded ZIP archive contains program files that you can simply place on disk in any folder and run the main program file "ExilandBackup.exe"

Most applications used to backup and restore files have similar functionality. Therefore, when choosing a program, you should focus on its reliability, confirmed by reviews of other users. An important criterion is also the amount of system resources consumed. Applications handle the same tasks in different times, depending on internal optimization. We have prepared a list of the three best utilities according to the editors.

Handy Backup

A paid program with wide functionality for creating backup copies and restoring information from them. Has the possibility of free testing during the first 30 days after installation. During this time, the user is provided with the utility without restriction of functionality. Handy Backup has two versions for home use - Standard and Professional, as well as three different enterprise versions.

A convenient feature of the application is that all its editions are installed through a single executable file. The program's functions vary depending on the specified license key. Among the main features of Handy Backup are:

1. Creating backups of various types (full, incremental);
2. Using a program to backup registry data and Windows libraries;
3. Saving created copies to any media and sending to a remote server via FTP/FTPS;
4. Simplified setup of sending to popular cloud storages;
5. Encryption and compression of information;
6. Data synchronization and recovery.

Important! Incremental backup is one of the modern ways of copying information. When using it, only those files that have been changed since the creation of the previous copy are added to the backup media. Using this function will help speed up data processing and save computer system resources.

Iperius Backup

Iperius Backup is a professional application for saving user data. It features extensive customization and convenient management of created backups. The program is distributed on a paid basis with a trial period of 21 days. Works on all versions of Windows, starting from XP. Supports shadow copying (VSS). This function creates copies of all files opened by the user. When using it, the risk of losing relevant information is significantly reduced.

The path for saving backups can be specified manually. You can choose from computer storage devices and external drives. In addition to them, you can use popular cloud storage from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, as well as Dropbox and Azure Storage services. It is also possible to upload data to any server that supports FTP.


The maximum number of saved versions of each file is limited only by the free space on the selected drive. To save disk space, you can use compressed copying in ZIP format. When restoring information, files will be automatically extracted from the created archive.

The modern AES protocol is available for data encryption. When installing Iperius Backup on Windows, a special service is activated to ensure that the application runs in the background. To simplify remote administration, the program also has the function of sending notifications by email.

Acronis True Image

Like Handy Backup, this utility is a powerful tool for creating backups. An interesting feature of the application is the presence of the “Try & Decide” mode. In it you can install new drivers or software with the ability to subsequently roll back all changes made. This mode can be used when installing programs from dubious sources. Once you install the application through Try & Decide, you can uninstall it at any time and undo all changes to the system.


All versions of True Image also have additional functionality:

• Wide range of program capabilities for data recovery;
• System protection from ransomware;
• A tool for creating boot drives for system recovery;
• Utility for full cloning of disks and individual partitions.

Acronis True Image also has mobile versions for Android and iOS operating systems. With their help, you can create a backup of your smartphone and tablet data. Device images are subsequently downloaded to a computer or network-attached storage (NAS) via Wi-Fi. Backup management is implemented at a high level: the processes of copying and restoring data can be started directly from the PC. The only condition is that the mobile device must be connected to a wireless network.

Pay attention! Acronis provides a month of free access to cloud storage after registering the program. The user receives a significant amount of disk space - 1 terabyte.

Why copy and save backups

The need for backup is caused by the imperfection of modern data storage devices. The surface of hard drives is subject to mechanical wear, and solid state drives (SSDs) have a limited number of write cycles. You can create backups manually. To do this, you need to regularly transfer important information to an external source - a separate hard drive or online storage. But it is much more convenient not to copy files yourself, but to use special programs for backing up data. Another common name for such tools is programs for restoring information from backup copies.

Why do we need data recovery programs?

Often, users do not think about the need to save data until it is lost. And when a failure occurs, it is too late, and you have to pay specialists to recover information from the problem disk. In some cases, it is impossible to recover lost data. Therefore, it is better to make a backup in advance. To do this, you can use any of the presented programs.

Such utilities are needed to create and regularly update copies of important files. You can set the copying mode and frequency yourself. You can also use the option of creating a backup when your computer is idle. In this mode, information will be copied only when the computer is turned on but not in use. Data recovery in these programs is usually done in a few clicks. All saved information is returned to its place without the need to manually specify unpacking paths.

What files need to be copied

The choice of reserved directories depends on the user's needs and the available disk space on the external drive. Copy the most important data first. For example, work documents and family photographs saved in a single copy. Then, if there is still space left on the drive, you can copy the data from the programs you work with most often. This could be a backup of your browser bookmarks or save files created by games.

Copying a home archive of multimedia (movies, images and music) is appropriate only if these materials are difficult to find on the Internet, and if the disk breaks, you will not be able to download them again. Since multimedia files are large, you can usually limit yourself to just saving a list of them. It will help you download information again if it is lost.

As for games and programs, they are usually not required to be backed up. Installation files can almost always be downloaded from official websites. You should also remember that applications make changes to the system registry when installed. Simply copying the program folder may result in it being inoperable after recovery. In this case, it is imperative to save the license keys in a separate document. This action will help restore the license after reinstalling the software.

Important advice! Only create a copy of all operating system files if you have sufficient disk space. Modern versions of Windows provide the ability to restore the OS without having a bulky backup. Therefore, it is better to use free space to copy personal files.

Where to write backups

You can store your backups on separate devices or in the “cloud” - a special distributed online storage provided by third-party companies. The first method allows you to record more files for later recovery. However, it requires a device on which the information will be saved. The second copy method has significant storage size limitations. Bypassing them usually requires purchasing a paid subscription to cloud services.

It is believed that storing data at home provides greater protection against unauthorized access to it. However, modern cloud storage systems are equipped with strong encryption. In addition, information can be additionally encrypted in your own way before sending it to the server. Some backup programs support this feature.

Cloud data storage

Free versions of services often provide from 2 to 10 GB of disk space on their servers. This space may be enough to backup and subsequently restore the most important data on your computer. The cost of a monthly subscription on most of these sites is around $2-$5. Using the paid option allows you to expand the available space to several tens or hundreds of gigabytes, and in some cases - up to 1 terabyte. The most popular storage facilities are:

• Dropbox;
• Google Drive;
• OneDrive;
• iCloud;
• Cloud Mail.Ru;
• Yandex.Disk.

Home devices

When saving information to any home storage device, follow the main rule: it should be isolated as much as possible from the main drive. This will help you avoid losing your backup if you lose access to the original data. For example, during a critical surge in network voltage, both media may burn out if they are always connected to the same computer. It is better to use a spare disk only when recording a backup copy, and store it separately the rest of the time.

Important video: Backup using Acronis True Image

Hello friends!

Despite all your efforts to maintain the working condition of your PC, sooner or later you will have to face such a phenomenon as a failure of the Windows operating system.

And the worst result of this may be the loss of information contained in the computer.

As you know, on a PC, in addition to photographs and all sorts of things downloaded from the Internet, all kinds of documentation are often stored. In addition, you, like most other users, probably have special programs configured according to your preferences that you do not want to reinstall. You don’t want to lose all this, do you?

In order not to regret lost data and not waste time restoring it using special applications, I advise you to make a backup. This is the only way you can protect the files you need from a sad fate.

In today's article we will look at the most effective backup programs.

Acronis True Image Home

Among backup utilities, this application is the most popular. Although it is primarily designed to work with logical drives, this program can also copy certain files and directories.

The application has a large number of various settings for making reservations of any kind. So, for example, in the options of this program you can select the type of backup, configure the creation of copies according to a schedule, etc.

There are three concepts of backups in Acronis:

1. incremental,
2. differential,
3. complete.

A full backup contains a complete image of a logical disk.

When creating a differential copy, only those files that have undergone any changes since the full backup were archived are archived.

Incremental means adding changed files to a full backup, starting from the moment of the last backup.

Acronis also allows you to choose the level of data compression and set a password for the backup.

Acronis True Image Home can be downloaded for free from any computer software resource.

Norton Ghost

This convenient and functional product allows you to create backup images of logical drives and carry out the system recovery process.

The Norton Ghost application is very similar to the software described above. It is possible to create incremental, differential and full archives, but in Norton Ghost you can create archives with a high level of compression, which saves disk space and minimizes the duration of the recovery process.

In addition, the program provides filters that allow you to copy certain types of files, including driver files.

The program is excellent, but paid. The free version is only available for 30 days.

A very powerful and easy to use tool that is free to use. It has a built-in wizard that allows you to make reservations step by step. This approach makes it possible for even complete “dummies” to use the utility.

Of the huge number of functions of this application, I would especially highlight the archive protection system by setting a password and encryption, increased filtering options, the ability to check the status of what was copied, and an excellent task scheduler. With this program you can:

• write backup data to an optical or hard drive;
• send them to an FTP server or Comodo online server.

File Backup Watcher Free

A free utility with a step-by-step wizard that helps novice users complete all the steps correctly. It has a convenient scheduler with a clear interface.

File Backup can not only backup, but also work with ZIP and write data to any optical media.

The Copier

Another excellent free application aimed at performing automatic copying according to a given schedule. Prepares copies in the form of ZIP archives and writes them to a hard drive. Allows you to create multi-volume archives.

FBackup

With this utility, you can backup all the data you need in a matter of minutes. The presence of the auto-backup function makes it possible to set up copying according to a schedule, so you don’t have to back up data manually.

It is more convenient and reliable to store copies on an external hard drive. Of course, you can also use a flash drive for this, but this method is only appropriate when backing up a small amount of information, since a high-capacity flash drive is quite expensive.

To store backed up files on your hard drive, you should set aside some separate space for them to minimize the risk of them being accidentally deleted.

Reservation is a rather complex matter that requires the user to have special knowledge and skills.

Sincerely! Abdullin Ruslan

Good day to you, my dear readers. The frost hit hard, so you won’t be able to go outside for very long, although it’s great there, to be honest. But that's not the point. In the previous article I talked about that. But it turns out that most people do not want to work with standard operating system tools.

Well, they are right. The built-in tools do not have very good functionality, although they are quite good, but the programs are made specifically for specific needs, so the developers are trying to make it so cool that people use this particular application. Well, this is logical, right?

And there are sooo many such applications and the abundance is dizzying. I will show you several of these applications that I consider the best, but you decide for yourself which one is worthy of the title “Best backup program?” Because no one will give you a specific answer, but will only express their opinion. Well, if you don’t mind, then I’ll express my opinion.

An excellent program for backing up your system, files, folders, messages, entire disk and other information important to you. This is a really powerful thing that allows you to protect your information. In this application, you can configure the frequency of copying, and only those files in which changes have occurred. This greatly facilitates your work and in case of some “Oops”, you can return to almost any point in time. The schedule can be set up simply and clearly.

In addition, the program has very broad functionality and an excellent task scheduler. You can find a specific file in the image and isolate it from it separately, without affecting the image itself. And a huge advantage of the program is that it has its own remote space. There is, of course, a fly in the ointment. Firstly, it's paid, and secondly, some people started complaining about the last few versions.

Aomei Backupper

Good and free program. And this is already an important factor. Backupper has a number of functions useful for backup, such as a simple interface, encryption and compression of backups, increased speed, copying individual files, partitions and even disks, etc. But how can there be no downsides? Of course they will always be there. I will focus on only one thing, but the most important one is the lack of a schedule. Those. you can only perform manual backups and cannot set the automatic image creation time.

EasyUs Todo Backup

Another good free backup program. Just like other programs, this one is capable of archiving not only the entire hard drive and system images, but also individual files and folders. The system also has the ability to change and replace any file that has undergone changes. Well, among other things, the program automatically overwrites the old image, and the schedule is just a classic. It's a shame that the program doesn't support the Russian language, but in principle it's not difficult to figure out.

Macrium Reflect FREE

Great program. I'm just delighted with it myself. With its help you will quickly create a system image, the built-in scheduler works like clockwork, the interface is simple and convenient, and there is a high degree of security. And this is not a complete list of all the advantages. But it turns out there is one minus. Here you can only create a system image, but to create a backup of individual files and folders, you will have to purchase the paid version. Just like that.

Cobian Backup

Another pretty good free program that I would highlight among others. It has, in principle, everything you need for backup: copying individual files and folders, good encryption, a good scheduler with a schedule, and much more. This program is suitable for any user, although beginners may find it a little difficult to use.

Here I have shown you five of my favorite backup programs. I do not advise you to choose at random. First, look at the reviews of each program, compare the functions, but most importantly, it’s better to test it on yourself, since one of the programs failed to restore from a backup miserably, when everything went fine for another person.

There are many factors due to which some will do well and others will not. Everything may depend on the computer itself, your system, etc. So, if you don't succeed with one, it doesn't mean the app is crap. Although many will not agree with me. But I expressed my opinion, and you can express yours.

Personally, of all these programs, my favorites are Acronis and Macrium Reflect. And I would recommend using one of them, although, as I said above, people had problems with acronis in the latest versions. But on version 11 I didn’t notice anything bad. Everything was going great for me.

But what I recommend even more is to watch the stunning backup course. Here you will receive the most comprehensive information on this topic and you will quickly learn how to protect your files from loss without a hitch. No, seriously, the course is built so beautifully that just anyone can handle the backup. No water, just business.

Well, on this cheerful note I end my review. I wish you to protect and protect all your necessary data from any circumstances.

Well, I say goodbye to you for today. I was very glad to see you on my blog and really hope to see you again. Don't forget to subscribe to my blog updates to stay up to date with the most interesting information. See you in the next articles. Bye bye!

Best regards, Dmitry Kostin

Every computer user probably knows that no system is immune from errors and even critical failures, when it is not possible to restore it using ordinary means. For this purpose, programs have been developed for and including utilities that allow you to create backup copies of hard drives and logical partitions. Let's look at the most popular utilities of different levels of complexity.

Programs and data recovery: feasibility of use

Some users have a bit of a misconception about how powerful these types of utilities are. Unfortunately, they mistakenly believe that the simplest option would be to simply copy user files to other logical partitions other than the system one. There is another category of users who believe that they can copy the entire system partition to another location, and then, in case of failure, from this copy. Alas, both are wrong.

Of course, this technique is applicable to user files, but not everyone wants to clutter another logical volume with a bunch of information or constantly keep on hand an external drive like a USB HDD, a bunch of disks or flash drives, the capacity of which is clearly limited. And with large volumes of data, you should also take into account the time it takes to copy from one volume to another. Backup and recovery programs for both the system and partitions work somewhat differently. Of course, in most cases you will need removable media, but the created backup copy will take up much less space.

Basic operating principle and operating options

As a rule, most of today's well-known and widely used utilities mainly use the principles of creating images and compressing copied data. At the same time, images are most often used specifically to create copies of the operating system, which allows you to later restore it after an unexpected critical failure, and utilities for copying partitions or user files require archiving-type compression.

As for reservation options, there can be two of them. In principle, almost any system backup program suggests using external media (DVD, flash drive, etc.). This is only due to the fact that when restoring the system, you will have to boot not from the system partition, but from removable media. The image in the logical partition will not be recognized.

Another thing is disk backup programs. In them, you can save the necessary information in other logical partitions or, again, use removable media. But what to do if the used hard drive capacity is hundreds of gigabytes? Nothing will allow you to record this information even in compressed form. As an option, you can use an external HDD, if it is available, of course.

As for choosing the right utility for saving user files, the best solution is a scheduled file backup program. Such a utility is capable of performing this operation without user intervention, saving all changes made over a certain period of time. New data can be added to the backup copy, as well as old data can be deleted from it. And all this in automatic mode! The advantage is obvious - after all, the user only needs to set the time interval between copy points in the settings, then everything happens without it.

"Native" Windows backup program

So, first, let's focus on the native tool of Windows systems. Many people believe that the Windows backup program built into the system does not work very well, to put it mildly. Basically, they don’t want to use it only because the utility spends too much time creating a copy, and the copy itself takes up a lot of space.

However, she also has enough advantages. After all, who else but Microsoft specialists would know all the subtleties and nuances associated with the components that are essential for correct Windows recovery? And many users clearly underestimate the capabilities of the tool built into the system. It’s not for nothing that such a backup and recovery program is included in the main set of the system?

The easiest way to access this utility is from the standard “Control Panel”, where you select the backup and recovery section. There are three main points you can use here: creating an image, creating a disk, and setting up a copy. The first and second do not cause any difficulties. But the third one is quite interesting. The system will offer to save a copy on removable media, having previously identified the device itself. But if you look at the parameters, you can save a copy on the network, which is perfect for local locations. So in some cases, such a system backup program will be a good tool for creating a backup with the ability to subsequently restore Windows from this copy.

Most popular utilities

Now let's look at the utilities that, according to many experts, are the most popular among users today. Let us immediately note that it is simply impossible to consider all backup programs, so we will dwell on some of them, taking into account the level of popularity and complexity of their use. An approximate list of such utilities may look like this:

• Acronis True Image.
• Norton Ghost.
• Back2zip.
• Comodo BackUp.
• Backup4all.
• ABC Backup Pro.
• Active Backup Expert Pro.
• ApBackUP.
• File Backup Watcher Free.
• The Copier.
• Auto Backup and many others.

Now let's try to look at the top five. Please note! At the moment, backup programs are being considered, mainly used for workstations (user computers). Solutions for server systems and networks will be considered separately.

Acronis True Image

Of course, this is one of the most powerful and popular utilities, enjoying well-deserved success and the trust of many users, although it is an entry-level program. Nevertheless, she has enough opportunities.

After launching the application, the user is taken to the main menu, where several action options can be selected. In this case, we are interested in the backup and restore section (there are additional utilities in the menu, which for obvious reasons will not be considered now). After logging in, the “Wizard” is activated, which will help you create a backup. During the process, you can choose what exactly you want to create a copy of (the system for restoring from scratch, files, settings, etc.). In "Copy Type" it is better to select "Incremental" as it will help save space. If the media volume is large enough, you can use full copying, or differential copying to create multiple copies. When creating a copy of the system, you will be prompted to make a boot disk.

Here's what's interesting: the utility shows fairly high performance in terms of backup copy creation speed, time, and compression. So, for example, it will take an average of 8-9 minutes to compress data of about 20 GB, and the size of the final copy will be just over 8 GB.

Norton Ghost

Before us is another powerful utility. As usual, after starting the program, a “Wizard” starts, helping you go through all the steps.

This utility is notable for the fact that it can be used to create a hidden partition on the hard drive where a copy will be stored (and both data and the system can be restored from it). In addition, you can change many parameters in it: read control type, write type, compression, number of points for simultaneous access, etc. As for performance, the application compresses the same 20 GB to a size of just over 7.5 GB, which takes about 9 minutes. In general, the result is quite good.

Back2zip

And here is a scheduled backup program. It differs in that its installation takes only a couple of seconds, and once launched, it automatically creates a new job and begins copying data, assuming that user files are stored in the “My Documents” folder. Unfortunately, this is the main disadvantage.

When starting, the task must be deleted, and then the original destination folder must be selected. There is no “wizard” in the usual sense; everything is done from the main window. In the scheduler, you can set the copying interval from 20 minutes to 6 hours. Overall, the simplest solution for entry-level users.

Comodo BackUp

We have before us another very interesting utility that can compete even with commercial products. Its main feature is the presence of as many as five operating modes and a huge number of settings.

Interestingly, the utility is able to respond to changes in the files included in the backup in real time. As soon as the source file is modified and saved, the application immediately creates a copy of it, adding and replacing the final element in the backup. Not to mention the scheduler, you can separately note the start of creating copies either at the start or at exit.

Backup4all

Finally, let's look at another free utility that allows you, so to speak, to make backup copies for everything that may be needed in the future at the same time, so to speak.

This utility is interesting because it allows you to save copies not only on external or internal media, but also on networks, or even on FTP servers. There are quite a lot of editable parameters and settings, among which four copying methods can be distinguished, as well as support. In addition, the interface is very simple, and the display of folders and tasks is presented in the form of a tree structure similar to “Explorer”. The user can also divide the copied data into categories such as documents, drawings, etc., and assign each project its own label. Naturally, there is also a “Task Scheduler”, in which you can specify, for example, the creation of copies exclusively at times of low processor load.

Solutions for server systems

There are also specialized backup programs for server systems and networks. Among all this diversity, three of the most powerful can be identified:

• Symantec Backup Exec 11d System Recovery.
• Yosemite Backup Standard Master Server.
• Shadow Protect Small Business Server Edition.

It is believed that such utilities are a good backup tool for small businesses. In this case, restoration “from scratch” can be performed from any workstation located on the network. But the most important thing is that the reservation only needs to be made once; all subsequent changes will be saved automatically. All applications have an Explorer-type interface and support remote control from any terminal on the network.

Instead of an afterword

It remains to add that not all data backup/recovery programs have been discussed here, allowing you to create backups of both systems and files, and then restore them from the created copies. However, it seems that even brief information about the above programs will give many an idea of ​​how it works and why all this is needed. For obvious reasons, we leave the question of choosing the appropriate software open, since it already depends on the preferences of the user or system administrator.