FREE Back-up Software

Your back-up your C-drive regularly.  Of course you do………….NOT!  Let’s be honest here (it’s just you and me), you don’t back-up nearly as often as you should.  Yes, you might make copies of your word-processor or spreadsheet files, but what about your emails and all the SETTINGS?

The Reality Of Re-Installing

In reality (that thing we humans detest so much and avoid as much as possible) re-installing programs is just the proverbial “tip of the ice-berg”.  The real fun starts when we have to set-up our email accounts and all the small applets and add-ons for our various browsers and software programs.  It’s a PAIN IN THE BUTT!

Macrium Reflect

Macrium Reflect will make a back-up image (that is, an EXACT COPY) of your hard drive, or a partition OF your hard drive, so that in the event of a crash (and one of your computers one day WILL crash), you can easily restore it to it’s former state, emails, settings, add-ons, browser bookmarks and all.  Macrium offers a free version, which you can get HERE, though it is somewhat limited when compared to Acronis True Image.

Acronis True Image

Acronis’ program called True Image IS BETTER.  It’s easier to use and is extremely stable, but the difference is, Acronis charges for their program ($49 at the time of writing) but Macrium does not.  Macrium is an Italian company, so they have provided pretty good tutorials in English, whereas Acronis’ tutorials were originally in English so don’t have to be translated.

If you want a complete review of Acronis’ excellent True Image, you can read Cenay Nailor’s review HERE. Cenay is the master (or should I say “mistress”?) of technical marketing, and she knows this software inside and out.

Other Back-up Software

There are other programs available of course, and you can find them simply by doing a search online for the keyword “backup software”.  Acronis True image is definitely the winner as far as I’m concerned, and the $49 it costs is easily worth the peace of mind you get and the hassle you WON’T have WHEN your computer crashes.

Luke.

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IT Support Birmingham

UK Support, IT management, and hosted desktop services.

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