My Windows system backup tool choice – Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Version

System backup tools I’ve used

Acronis True Image Home 2009

Back in 2009, I bought Acronis True Image Home, and at that time I used it to backup my system drive (C:\), so that if in case my Windows crashes and can’t start up, I can qukckly restore my Windows system, and most importantly, as well as the installed programs and their settings.

Acronis’ tool is very user friendly and easy to use, and it has worked quite well in terms of the backup and restore functions, except that it always try to run at least two background services on my computer, and IIRC:

  • One is  for mounting backup archives as virtual drives so that you can view the files in it, this I don’t need but I couldn’t figure out how to disable it permanently, I disabled with AutoRuns, but once I use Acronis again it’ll re-enable it, it’s a pain.
  • Another backup service is for the scheduled backups (even if I hasn’t any scheduled backup jobs, and this made me think that, Gmail Keeper should utilize Window’s built-in scheduler for regular Gmail backups).

That has slowed down my computer quite a little, and I’m a guy who has a greedy requirement for a high performance work PC. So I have given it up, and haven’t used such a backup tool since then, until I have upgraded to Windows 7 and I realized again I should be able to restore quickly my system if a crash happens, to save my time from a lot of tedious re-installations and re-setups.

Windows 7’s build-in System Image Backup Tool.

Windows seven is shipped with a system drive backup tool which is quite good (does the work, and easy to use), except that:

  • If your hard disk fails to start Windows, to recover your system you’ll have to either use your original Windows setup disc, or a system rescue disc, and this process is not very user friendly.  This is OK to me, but,
  • It has a fatal design problem – you can’t have multiple backup images on a portable hard disk, every time you make a new backup it’ll first destroy the old backup.

My New Windows System Image Backup Software

So I had to find an alternative (a lightweight one, of course). In searching for a lightweight system backup tool, after reading quite much reviews, I decided to give Paragon Backup & Recovery 2011 (Advanced) Free a try.

And cheerfully after doing two system backups to both my portable HDD and DVD-R, and tried restoring to a Virtualbox VM, the result turned out to be great because:

  • Most importantly, it starts up only when I need to do a manual backup and it doesn’t run any backup programs or services that will slow down my system.
  • It can burn a bootable DVD witch include this backup software itself.
  • It’s free! Wow!

However, upon my limited test, although it’s OK to me as a software developer I found it’s not very easy to use.  For example, when simulating a system restore using a DVD it burned for me, in the restore process I had to insert the DVD’s back and forth:

  1. Insert backup DVD 1, so that it could select an archive file in the DVD;
  2. Then insert the last backup DVD (disc 2 in my case) so that I could do some verification;
  3. Then insert backup DVD 1 again, so that I could start the recovery;
  4. Finally, insert the backup DVD 2 again.

But the messages shown in the popup dialog windows wasn’t clear at all, and before I figured it out I had to tried several times. This might turn none tech-savvy users away.

And this is only my personal POV for a system backup software

This is not a complete review of these three backup software, but it might be of helpful info for you if you are looking for a lightweight Windows system image backup tool that doesn’t affect your productivity because you don’t have to add background program to  your computer that’s already quite busy.

Tagged: , ,

Discussion

  1. Sputnik says:

    You said :
    One is for mounting backup archives as virtual drives so that you can view the files in it, this I don’t need but I couldn’t figure out how to disable it permanently, I disabled with AutoRuns, but once I use Acronis again it’ll re-enable it, it’s a pain.

    I know its possible to block a process from working with Anvir Task Manager Pro.

    On dotTech you may find all the information to get the Standard version of it for free (regularly 39.95$) : http://dottech.org/freebies/7292

    I dont know if you can also block a process with this one, but its worth trying it.

  2. Raul says:

    So it’s true what I was thinking actually exist! Well this is exactly what I was looking for.
    I suppose there is more light weight backup software around that doesn’t need to constantly run something on background, but after a week searching, this review is the only one I have found talking about this.

    I would really appreciate any update on your experience with Paragon or any other program you could have found a better back up option, but in any case BIG thank you, at least now I have found one good option.

  3. Dimitri says:

    Today I am switching AWAY from Paragon. The first time I ever needed to restore, it failed me. I wanted to restore the Windows directory, but it kept saying “access denied” for each file it tried to restore because, duh, they are in use. No worries, I thought – I’ll simply boot from the recovery CD. Guess what? You can’t restore individual files from the recovery CD – only entire partitions! And the manual which says you can use the File Transfer Wizard on the CD to open a PBF file is WRONG. You get what you pay for. Useless.

  4. I reallly love your site.. Great colors & theme. Did you make thbis web site yourself?
    Please reply bacfk as I’m attempting to create my very own site and want to find out where you got
    this from or just what the theme is named. Many thanks!

  5. This is a good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
    Brief but very accurate info… Thank you for sharing
    this one. A must read article!

  6. H? there! This iis m? 1st comment here so I just wwanted to give a
    quick shout out and tell you ? g?nuinely enjy reading your posts.
    Can you suggest any other bl?gs/websites/forums th?t copver the same subjects?
    Thanks!

  7. Hi there to all, h?w is all, I think ever one is etting more from
    this web site, and your views are good in favor of
    new visitors.

  8. Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to send
    you an e-mail. I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
    Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.

  9. Very shortly this web page will be famous among all blogging and site-building users, due tto it’s pleasant articles

  10. However, wee do moderate comments, and misplaced anger or agression towards the author of
    the article, or our website, including but not limited to
    threatening language, foul language, etc. Or is this new public face a
    response to the years off negative publicity, a
    reaction to the threat of becoming an industry monolith,
    and the considerable downsizing that thus might mean at some
    point in the future. However, if you are searching for going to the Niagara fall, you are asked to get a
    Niagara tour on a hih end limousine – do not waste your time aand go to this mind-blowing place following the landing in Toronto.

  11. wifi hack says:

    This info iis priceless. When can I fiind out more?

  12. What i do not realize is in truth how you’re no longer actually
    a lot more well-favored than you may be now.
    You’re so intelligent. You know therefore considerably on the subject of this subject, made me in my view imagine
    it from so many various angles. Its like men and women aren’t involved unless it’s one thing to do with Woman gaga!
    Your personal stuffs nice. All the time
    care for it up!

  13. This Faceboook Monster Legends chgeat was made by using a bug into the game application on Facebook that will not place your profile vulnerable consequently
    producing you develop into the prime degree Monster Legends gamer.
    There are a huge number of rizks involved in using
    a Facebook Poker Chips Hack. ‘We even make a joke out of how we
    know one another ‘ claiming to have met in ‘Intro to Super
    Mario Re-enactments,’ which I seriously doybt is a real course at Wesleyan, or to have lived together inn a ‘spay and neuter clinic’ instead oof the dorm.

  14. Except for the i – Phone 4, which will probably continue to be sold as a low-end handset.
    ) It has only gotten more difficult to compare between the carriers.
    Almost all the gadgets launched by the brand are amazing in features and incredible in looks.

  15. What’s up, after reading this remarkable article
    i am too glad to share my experience here with friends.

  16. great site says:

    I simply want to tell you that I’m new to weblog and absolutely liked you’re blog site. Probably I’m want to bookmark your website . You definitely have terrific posts. With thanks for revealing your blog site.

  17. Say ?thanks? you to your parents which they gave you the planet

  18. good health says:

    Immediately after starting up past 7 days with way too a lot of calories, I managed to reel them in right before mid-week and it paid out off.

  19. Matilda Zari says:

    Thanks for the great post on your blog, it really gives me an insight on this topic.*`,”`

  20. “Some genuinely nice stuff on this website , I love it.”

  21. “Muchos Gracias for your blog.Really looking forward to read more.”

  22. “Thank you for your blog post.Really looking forward to read more.”

  23. “Im grateful for the article.Really thank you! Great.”

  24. “Thanks for the blog.Much thanks again. Really Great.”

  25. e-liquid says:

    “Appreciate you sharing, great blog.Thanks Again. Keep writing.”

  26. Tracie says:

    Undeniably imagine that which you said. Your favourite justification seemed
    to be on the web the easiest factor to bear in mind of.
    I say to you, I certainly get irked whilst other people consider concerns that they plainly do not realize about.
    You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and also defined out the entire
    thing with no need side-effects , people could take a signal.
    Will likely be again to get more. Thank you

  27. Works of art are pleasing to the eye, to reach the goal of infecting people, education people.

Reply Cancel reply

*