My Favorite Backup Utility (It's Free!)

Fri May 5, 2006 12:02PM EDT

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I'm on a bit of a backup kick this week, so I want to wrap it up with a testimonial for Cobian Backup, an excellent backup utility that is completely free: No registration, no advertisements, no crippled features, no nagging, no begging for donations (though they are, of course, accepted).

Cobian succeeds where most other backup programs fail because of one key feature: Simplicity. I can't count the number of times I've seen people diligently install backup software on their machines... and then never use it all because it's too complex. I can't blame them. Most backup software seems to be targeted at enterprise IT people instead of average users who simply want to set the program to back up their files and forget about it.

Cobian is named after its developer, Luis Cobian, who proves that a single programmer can succeed where a big company fails miserably. Cobian also promises a new version of the software for release this summer. Called Black Moon, it looks even better than the current one.

But hey, I'm open for other suggestions: Got a backup utility you swear by? Tell everyone about it in the comments!

Comments on My Favorite Backup Utility (It's Free!)

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  • 7 Posted by candyman20006 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought command & conquer generls pc game.when i got home i started to down load it.well it would'nt i even tried to reg it.it wouldnt let me play so took it back to wal-mart for a refund with no luck.wal-mart said i would have to send it back to the company that made for a refund.i dont feel its right if you buy it and you have your recipte then you should be able to get your money back.

  • 9 Posted by garycauble on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Casper XP has been a perfect backup solution for me and my customers for quite sometime now. Very easy to use and it creates a bootable copy on a hardrive so you never lose the data. We used this a college to backup school room systems. Here is the website for more information: http://www.fssdev.com/. Fantastic product to schedule regular backups!

  • 10 Posted by ssn_wrrn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thanks for the info on Windows built in back up!

  • 11 Posted by hooverpg on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    Where is the OS windows B/u- I have looked everywhere for it.

  • 12 Posted by kurter21 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    jamie and seamsufurr get over it, seamus he'd rather be writing to 95% than 5%. Good article. I'll have to check this program out

  • 14 Posted by lawrencevanrijn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree to a few items 1. there are more computers beyond PC (however none of my Macs have EVER crashed). 2. Windows OS does have a backup facility. It is not the most user friendly, but it does work. Every modern XP system comes with a DVD burner, so the PC is complete to do your back-ups. Just one overnight run each month and you could have a secure 2007.

  • 15 Posted by neilan.rm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    According to Apple's latest commericials, only PC's crash. Offensive because you use a Mac? In what way could that possibly offend you? lmao. Hey, if 95% of my readers find my post useful, I would be thrilled! Do you realistically think you can reach 100% of your audience 100% of the times?

  • 16 Posted by edvaughn358 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yeah, start writing articles that only 5% will find usefull. :-). Seriously, you're doing a great job. Thanks. I'm sure all the movies and such cater to the 5%. NOT!

  • 17 Posted by penegreen on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Not helpful. Was the article cut before being published. The link that I clicked led me to believe I would get information about a free backup, but, that was never mentioned or where to get the product. Instead, a box is shown that leads me to believe it's a retail product on a shelf somewhere???

  • 18 Posted by bettebowles on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thank you, thank you, thank you jamie_ for stating up the fact that not everyone has to settle on a PC. And yes, it does feel offensive to be omitted.

  • 19 Posted by isonf on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    On the mac, I use "Carbon Copy Cloner" program. I used it once to copy the entire contants of my 40gig hard drive to an external drive, then replaced the HD with a brand new 80gig HD, then cloned the new drive from the external one. Result: a new larger internal hard drive on my mac with the exact same contents as with the old drive: all programs, all data, even stuff like passwords, key chains, cookies, etc - 100% restored.

  • 20 Posted by rlen10 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sounds great but how do I download

  • 21 Posted by bharma on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is what I get when I click the link to Cobian Backup: Sorry, Forbidden. You don't have permission to access this URL on this server. ------------------------- Sorry, Forbidden Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Yahoo!, try visiting the Yahoo! home page or look through a list of Yahoo!'s online services. Also, you may find what you're looking for if you try searching below. ------------------------- I realize I can find it, anyway, but arrgh, all the same...

  • 22 Posted by mathesmnc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    95% of users? If that is all you have to complain about you need to get a life....

  • 23 Posted by option8 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Clearly, Mac users are overly sensitive.

  • 24 Posted by blueskyes66 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am with "penegreen" where is the FREE backup???

  • 25 Posted by luckowwr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    yep, i was going to ask where do you get this thing

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