Because hard drives eventually fail, it's crucial that we have backup software installed on all of our computers. In the event that your main drive fails, you can rest easy knowing there’s strong Windows backup software to fall back on.
So in this article, we’ll review the best Windows backup on the UK market to choose from, to protect your business or personal data.
Table of Contents:
- The Selection
- 1. ⚡💽 IDrive
- 2. ⚡ R-Drive
- 3. ⚡ Acronis
- 4. ⚡ Perfect Backup
- 5. ⚡ Retrospect
- 6. ⚡ Backblaze
- 7. ⚡ Microsoft
- 8. ⚡ Arcserve
- 9. ⚡ SpiderOak
- 10. ⚡ Livedrive
- Buying Guide 💥📚
- Common Questions
- Conclusion
10 Best Windows Backup Software (UK) ☄️: The Selection
Microsoft could provide Windows customers with a robust tool similar to Mac’s Time Machine.
This allows users to back up their whole system and restore it with no effort. It’s as important as using trusty antivirus for Windows.
Instead, Microsoft provides a hodgepodge of options for backing up your data: including system restore points, recovery discs, file backups, and even the retired System Backup (Windows 7), which was likely phased out due to its tendency to crash when running on incompatible hardware.
While there are online backup services, desktop clients often provide greater customization options. Keep reading for our recommended items. If you're looking for advice on what to look for in a Windows backup tool, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
For when a comet strikes… we have a rundown of the top external drives you can buy.
Our research is great for Windows users because there are a variety of reliable backup solutions to choose from.
1. IDrive 💽: Review — Long-Established Windows Backup Software
From small businesses to big enterprises, you can benefit from IDrive's simple yet powerful (and well-priced…) Windows cloud backup service.
Put simply, it's excellent backup software.
Why IDrive is So Highly Rated…
Here’s why. IDrive's capabilities are unparalleled. In terms of usefulness, it meets every expectation—it's the best cloud-based backup service for home and corporate users alike.
There are sync and sharing options included, making it competitive with not just backup services but also leading cloud storage solutions like Dropbox.
The system is effective because it provides a broad, complete range of options for backing up, securing, and restoring data. Check this out:
Create Full Disk Images Across Data Sites ☁️
You can make copies of your files and folders or just the files themselves.
It also lets you create a full image of the hard drives to ensure that your data is safe in the event of a disaster.
Any amount of information may be safely stored in several locations, including the cloud (IDrive is one of our favourite cloud storage services full-stop, check out that link…), on-premises servers, mobile devices, and local hard drives.
You can back up your computer's desktop, photos, movies, music, and documents after you log into IDrive.
Using the backup tab's modify button, you may manually delete and re-add these directories. You may also choose to do an ad hoc backup with the touch of a button using IDrive's backup service. If you don't want to bother with making a manual backup of your hard disc, the latter is a fantastic alternative.
Strong Data Recovery… 📀
IDrive's restoration tab is just as feature-rich as its backup functionality.
To restore files, you may either drag and drop them to a new location on your desktop or use the radio buttons to choose the original backup device. A right-click on the file will provide a menu with a “View Previous Versions” option. You may choose the version of a file you wish to work with from among those that have been saved.
The snapshots are another highly praised feature of IDrive. This function displays a timeline of the backup set's history and is geared at resolving ransomware issues. In the event that your hard discs fail, you may also restore your data at any point in time by going back through the timeline. The total backup capacity does not include this.
Verdict — Winner: Giant Storage Space & Powerful Service 👑
We spent a lot of time researching cloud storage options before writing our IDrive review, and our findings confirm that IDrive is among the finest.
It provides top-notch safety and privacy for whatever data you save in the cloud and comes filled with capabilities for cloud storage as well as cloud backup. With a strong connection, the download and upload speeds were still below average.
IDrive's plans are reasonably priced in light of the amount of space they provide, however, there are no unlimited options. Since the service currently provides enormous amounts of storage space on the vast majority of its plans, this may not be a serious issue for many users.
2. R-Drive Image 7: Review — Best Windows Backup Software
Canadian software developer R-Tools Technology Inc. created R-Drive Image.
The firm creates Windows, macOS, and Linux-compatible software for Home and Business users. Among its most well-known offerings are the data recovery software R-Studio and the protection security software R-Wipe & Clean.
R-Drive Image's main function is to let users build disc image files for use in disc cloning and other forms of data duplication…
Never Fails to Partition!
The logic is straightforward. The lightweight application has never failed to create partition or disc images in the almost twenty years we've seen it used. Almost every other backup application tried has malfunctioned in some manner.
Considering that you may not have a second chance, you can use R-Drive Image to back up and protect old hard drives.
Version 7 Boosts User Friendliness…
New features in version 7 include a new partition manager and an improved interface that makes the application more user-friendly, as well as the ability to back up files and folders.
The redesigned user interface is easily the most noticeable improvement in R-Drive Image 7. Its previous version served its purpose well, but its visual design was hopelessly out of date.
The new design not only has a more up-to-date aesthetic but also has a more user-friendly interface. You can compare the old and new versions down below, as well as my personal favourite, the character-based Linux interface that can be launched straight from the boot disc.
Tons of Capabilities & Support
To back up your data, R-Drive Image may make whole, incremental, or differential copies of your drive. Images may be checked for integrity, copied from one disc to another (cloning), and mounted as virtual drives so you can access and restore individual files and directories.
It supports the FAT (16/32) file system, in addition to NTFS and exFAT from Microsoft, HFS/HFS+ and APFS from Apple, and UFS1/UFS2, Ext2/Ext3/Ext4 FS (Linux), and ReFS in both Little and Big Endian versions.
With no preview or file-level access available, the application only supports other file systems on a byte-by-byte (all sectors) basis. In addition to software RAID (on Windows, MacOS, and Linux through mdadm), R-Drive Image supports hardware RAID (as individual volumes).
Images may be stored on any device or medium imaginable. The software can autonomously create CDs and DVDs. Optical media is still widely used in the archival process.
Trusty, Fast Performance 💨🦅
As mentioned, R-Drive Image has a strong track record.
Even faulty sectors may be avoided when copying the rest of the file, albeit this can be a very time-consuming process if there are many read errors.
Aside from that, the speed of R-Drive Image is impressive. In my tests, it managed to read, compress, and write 650GB of data to a SATA SSD and a network location at a rate of roughly 90MBps.
Please be aware that R-Drive Image often exaggerates estimated completion times. Occasionally by a humongous margin. It's certainly based on a worst-case scenario, such as regularly backing up incompressible data to a sluggish, obsolete hard disc.
(This disclaimer is to stop you from giving up before pushing the “start” button and then sending me an angry email.)
Verdict — Speeds, Protects, Only for Windows…
In our opinion, R-Drive Image 7 is one of the best programs available for protecting your data and speeding up your computer throughout the backup process.
We noticed a trend of customer complaints about sluggish backup and recovery performance, and it's only available on Windows.
3. Acronis Cyber Protect: Review — Top Runner-Up Windows Backup
It's not for nothing that Acronis is so well-known among backup programs…
In fact, it is the world's most complete data security suite. Formerly known as Acronis True Image, it’s powerful, adaptable, and trustworthy.
In addition to its unique backup capabilities, which are both powerful and user-friendly, it also incorporates security programs that safeguard users in real-time from malware, dangerous websites, and other online dangers.
Reputation for Comprehensiveness
When it comes to protecting and backing up your Windows computer, there is no better option than Acronis True Image 2021 Premium. Indeed, to our knowledge, no other solution brings together these two software domains into a single, simplified application.
The option to initiate a backup or block access to prior backups when malware is identified makes a lot of sense, even if the combination of anti-malware and backup first seems a little strange. Despite my initial scepticism when the firm originally embarked on this course, I've come to really like the idea.
Good Interface But Some Idiosyncracies…
Once you get accustomed to it, Acronis True Image's user interface is clean and appealing and it's simple to use.
The software has several weird organisational and operational idiosyncrasies and sometimes makes an apparent assumption when it shouldn't. Take a half hour to familiarise yourself (hint: move the mouse over items for explanations) before attempting any major tasks if you're just getting started.
True Image provides plenty of material for conversation. First and foremost, the application delivers on its name by making image files out of discs or partitions and also selected files and folders.
Differential, Incremental, and Full Backups are all viable options (everything since the initial backup). The premium edition additionally allows you to notarize backups made from your phone or from distant shared network locations using Blockchain.
High-Performance 🚀
In most cases, True Image is as fast as it gets. We’re quite pleased with the swiftness of the backups.
We’ve made local folder backups to hard drives, single BD-R/M-Disc optical backups, and cloud backups of selected data. Everything went well and swiftly. In general, we don't put much faith in backup programs that have had problems.
Quicker program startup is one area where I'd like to see improvement. It's likely that some of the delays may be attributed to back-and-forth with Acronis's servers.
True Image is not for you if you like a closed system that does not communicate with the outside world. Furthermore, I'd want the system tray applet to be more customizable, including the option to disable it entirely.
True Image generates a large number of background processes (12 to be exact). Anyway, it didn't seem to slow down my computer too much.
You shouldn't either, especially not on a modern computer. Many applications seem to be unable to deal with the speed with which True Image enumerates network locations. In addition, it remembers your login information. Nice.
Verdict
At under £80 each year, True Image's tragedy-prevention package is unmatched in the industry. Given its versatility, the asking price is reasonable.
Obviously, not everyone will appreciate the breadth of the software or the sheer volume of processes it maintains. Many people will be satisfied with just adhering to best practices, and safety is an issue over which there is little room for debate.
4. Perfect Backup: Review — Best Free Windows Backup
Windows has its own built-in file backup capability called Windows File Backup, but it's becoming less user-friendly and straightforward with time.
As far as anybody can tell, there is no explanation. Even while there are many of options, they might be challenging to track down or implement. Because of this, we recommend that you begin with Perfect Backup, especially if you’re running an online business.
While it would be a stretch to label Perfect Backup “perfect”, the program does get high marks for its no-cost availability and simple, intuitive design. Further, it supports both the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and internet services, and boasts dependable performance and a wealth of customization choices.
Integrates Well & Has Great Features 📊
While R-drive pictures copy the whole partition, Perfect Backup just replicates the data you choose. Because of how simple it is to set up and restore the software in recent versions of Windows, it is appropriate for most people.
However, there are other routes available. Actually, there are a plethora of them. Files may be compressed into a common zip format, and you can choose the number of versions to maintain and the number of incremental backups to make before making a new complete backup.
It also offers contemporary backup software, email reports, traffic shaping (when utilising CPU), and granular scheduling and log settings.
But the ability to back up to other cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box is still our favourite. It would have been preferable to have software that allowed for numerous destinations per job. It's feasible to make a duplicate and then change where it's going, but it's usually a hassle.
The network folders and FTP servers are also backed up by Perfect Backup. When backing up to a network location, make sure that it is mapped to a local disc in Windows.
Very Strong UI…
The terminology and language used in Perfect Backup's UI are its strongest points. While much of the UI is either incomprehensible or written in jargon, Perfect Backup's labels and explanations are clear even to the layperson. On the other side, we don’t appreciate the logical progression or assistance, but we believe it’s fantastic.
Though, the terminology used in Perfect Backup's UI is often less scary and more simple to beginning users. You won’t have to spend too much time comprehending ideas and analogies. But it's a bummer that there's no downloadable PDF version of the user manual, just an HTML online one.
Simple & Fast Performance on Windows
In testing, Perfect Backup worked well every time. In any case, on a standard desktop computer. When using Parallels to install Windows 11 on Mac, there was trouble connecting to the internet in the past. But that’s not very common, and you’re unlikely to run two OSes simultaneously.
We tried Zip compression and standard file backups, and although zip file compression worked fantastic, it didn’t seem too overwhelming. Furthermore, recuperation was simple and fast.
Perfect Backup is helpful and practical enough to make you question why this program is free. The creator of Perfect Backup has said that they would give the programme out for free for at least two years, and that existing customers will always have access to the program at no cost.
It is intended to provide the software at no cost and generate income from selling licences down the road.
Verdict — Strong Recommendation
Perfect Backup surpasses expectations. When compared to other backup applications, Perfect Backup is not only the most reliable and convenient but also the most cost-effective option.
Perfect Backup is also great if you've ever made a bad recovery image.
5. Retrospect 17 Solo: Review — Powerful Windows Backup Software
Major companies have used Retrospect, one of the most thorough backup applications available, and are confident in its newest iteration, Retrospect 17.
The Solo version has all the features many have come to rely on, including online storage, support for storage pools, and file backup and disaster recovery from a wide variety of media types, featuring sophisticated capabilities.
On the other side, though, this application may be too advanced for certain people.
In addition, there is a learning curve associated with the interface mostly due to the specialised vocabulary it employs, which will be hard if you’re not a medium or big business with its own payroll services and technical department of IT specialists.
If You’re a Technical Pro, This is a Powerful Windows Backup
A 250GB data collection testing Retrospect on both a primary NAS machine and local media (external hard drives and SSDs) was positive: no problems whatsoever with backing up or restoring, and speeds that are on par with or better than the alternatives.
These days, even when using a lot of compressions, computer performance is seldom a problem due to the incredible speed of modern processors. Despite requiring the aforementioned download, making the recovery CD did indeed operate as described.
Extremely Robust Windows Backup
The previous versions of Retrospect, one of the most thorough backup applications available, means many are confident in its newest iteration, Retrospect 17.
In addition to the tried-and-true file backup and disaster recovery and wide media type compatibility, the latest version of Solo offers modern conveniences like online storage, storage pool support, and more.
However, the functionality of the application may be superfluous for certain users. It takes some time to get used to the interface, especially because of all the unfamiliar phrases.
Verdict
If you need more control over your backups than what comes standard with Windows or macOS, Retrospect Solo is a fantastic alternative.
Using one of the online storage providers that offer immutable data support is a great bonus, and the new anomaly detection is a great safeguard against ransomware.
6. Backblaze: Review — Top Cheap Windows Backup Software
It's no secret that Backblaze is a major player in the cloud backup market…
There are other providers with more functionality, but few can match Backblaze's ease of use and low pricing for backups.
It’s why we’ve reviewed Backblaze before, as it holds up for its Windows performance.
Sign Up in Under a Minute…
The process of signing up for and installing Backblaze took me less than a minute.
The backup progress report and buttons for restoring and changing settings are all that the control panel window needs to display.
The limitless cloud storage that Backblaze provides is fantastic. There isn't much in the way of backup software for Windows 10 that can say it can accomplish all you need it to.
User files are backed up, but not system or application data. More than one PC isn't supported, either. In the event that you own several computers, you need purchase individual plans for each one. Like any good online backup service, Backblaze will automatically back up any data you want to back up, as well as any new data you add to the location you've selected to back up from.
After the first setup, you won't need to do anything more to ensure that your critical data is safely stored on Backblaze's servers.
Non-Stop Continuous Backups ⚡
That being said, the finest part is:
The non-stop, automatic backups provided by Backblaze remove the need to manually schedule backups.
Nonetheless, besides this particular backup-scheduling choice, there are others.
High Encryption
Data is encrypted using AES 128, and you may take further precautions by creating a private encryption key and using it with Backblaze. But if you misplace the key, you'll never have access to those files again.
Web-based controls simplify the restoration procedure. You may get your data from Backblaze on a USB flash drive or USB drive, or you can download it via the web.
If you choose postal delivery, you must pay for the cost of returning the USB flash drive or USB drive within 30 days, and you are limited to no more than five requests per calendar year.
If you ever misplace your laptop, Backblaze's Locate My Computer tool will come in help by pinpointing its whereabouts.
It works with Windows 10, 8, 7, and XP. The Backblaze team does not provide telephone assistance for technical issues. If you have any questions or concerns, however, you may reach out to the support staff by email or live chat.
Swift Speeds 🦅
When using Backblaze, data transfers are swift. Approximately 2 hours and 38 minutes were spent uploading 16 GB of data, including media and paperwork.
The quickness of the download was also a plus in my book. To get 1 GB of media files, I needed roughly 9 minutes.
Both the first backup and the subsequent ones occurred at a typical rate of computer speed. Using Backblaze at home is strongly suggested. It may be used quickly and forgotten about just as quickly. That's great news, by the way!
You can test Backblaze risk-free for 15 days with their free trial. It has straightforward pricing, and unlike its rivals, it can be acquired on a month-to-month basis.
- Business and personal subscriptions both cost under a fiver per computer each month.
- For an annual subscription, the price drops to £50.
- However, a business plan for two years costs £90, while an individual plan costs near the same.
Verdict
When it comes to automated backups, few products beats Backblaze. A big plus is that it provides limitless cloud storage at a low price… You should give it a go if simple backup software is what you're after.
7. Windows File History: Review — Free Windows Backup
The built-in file-level backup in Windows is very handy, invisible to the user… meeting many backup needs for Windows computer owners.
File History, built into Windows itself, is one of the greatest file-level backup applications available.
It's true that it's not as comprehensive as Apple's Time Machine, as it lacks a disaster-recovery feature (which may be obtained elsewhere).
On the other hand, it provides the same hassle-free CDP and file restoration capabilities so that you don’t lose important business tax and personal data that you absolutely need.
It Incrementally Copies…
File History is a persistent, file-by-file backup system.
Meaning, after the first backup, it makes incremental copies of everything that has changed (files, folders, etc.) to your backup media, rather than just doing a full backup every day or week.
Real-time backup, a more sophisticated and resource-hungry kind of continuous data protection (CDP), is not something File History performs. The utility may be programmed to run at any frequency from once every day to once every 10 minutes.
As a general rule, many settle on an hourly schedule. Losing an hour's work is tolerable, and the number of versions of your work documents can stay manageable if you frequently save changes.
How many versions are there? Because of versioning, Windows File History allows you to revert to an earlier version of a file and restore it to its original glory if you botch it up in the editing phase.
The timeline browser seen in the featured image of this critique shows how these versions are organised in relation to the last time they were backed up.
Setting Up File History in Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide
Have an external hard drive hooked up to your computer.
If you want to regularly back up your information and revert to older versions of frequently updated files, a storage device with 500GB of space is ideal.
Ready? Here’s how to use Windows File History:
- Open your Windows Settings and choose Update & Security.
- Select Backup on the left navigation panel, then select Add a disc under Backup using File History.
- Choose the drive you wish to use for backup.
- When you've finished setting up your backup solution, you can stop worrying about it. To automatically back up your data, just leave your external drive plugged into your computer or do so periodically. Under Backup using File History, you should now see a slider labelled Automatically back up my files.
- A new option, entitled Automatically back up my files through File History, should have appeared in the Backup section.
Verdict — ⭐ Your Go-to Free Windows Backup…
It's unfortunate that Microsoft eliminated the option to “add folder” to File History without offering guidance on how to back up non-standard places. To use a wording, I'll say that:
Regardless, File History remains a terrific, free, integrated, set-it-and-forget-it option to keep your vital data regularly backed up. Few users will need anything more.
For restoring to the same PC with the same hardware, Windows also has disaster recovery options (Recovery disc, System Backup (Windows 7)). However, check out IDrive or R-Drive Image if you want the pinnacle of trustworthy catastrophe recovery.
8. Arcserve ShadowProtect: Review — Best Windows Backup Software for SMBs
This continuous data protection and disaster recovery software is well suited for both small enterprises and IT due to its extensive support for virtual hard disc drives and computers.
For continuous data security, nothing beats Arcserve's ShadowProtect, which can be purchased for £80.
The image-based backup is competitive with Apple's Time Machine, although with a higher learning curve. As a long-standing backup solution, ShadowProtect is among the few some companies trust as much as R-Drive Image or IDrive. Furthermore, it has a few special abilities of its own.
Rapid Recovery Systems…
The primary takeaway of ShadowProtect is that it is geared toward providing simple and rapid recovery from a catastrophic event. All of the data on a disc or partition (volume) is backed up, but not the data inside of any specific folders.
If you want to restore certain files or folders from an SPX backup, you may do so by choosing a period in the timeline and then using the Mount Image icon in the window below to restore the backup.
In Windows, the resultant virtual hard disc will appear as a new drive letter. As with any other Windows drive, you can then go to it and copy files off of it as usual.
You may also backup and save your files on a virtual hard drive format (such as Microsoft VHD/VHDX or VMware VMDK) that can be accessed in a virtual machine like VirtualBox or VMWare. ShadowProtect supports restoring to a virtual machine if you have a virtual machine environment set up. This is an example of the VM bonuses I mentioned at the outset.
Excellent Testing Results
During our research for this post, we found no problems with ShadowProtect's backup capabilities. Both the speed and dependability are excellent. Of course, we can't say the same for every backup service.
However, although the pre-built Linux-based recovery disc (there's a Linux version of ShadowProtect as well) booted without issue on physical PCs, neither VirtualBox nor Parallels were able to get it up and running.
The actual ShadowProtect application restores to VirtualBox or VMWare if they are there, so we can't really fault it for this blunder. The fact that the R-Drive Image recovery disc boots on every physical and virtual platform I've tested it on further increases my admiration for the software.
Attempting to make a Windows-based recovery CD was likewise difficult. To do this, a dedicated recovery function Object() { [native code] } software must be installed. After stated recovery builder was installed, I discovered that the “you need this to continue” dialog's connection to the Windows 8 ADK was broken. The ADK for Windows 10 was previously installed, but the recovery builder didn't see it. At this point, the tester gave up since the Linux installation media is sufficient.
Verdict — Borderline Entry Worth a Go…
Stick with Windows File History if all you need is continuous file and folder backup.
ShadowProtect SPX is a good, though pricy, option if you need something more robust that can be restored fast and simply and that supports third-party virtual hard drives. It's also a wonderful option for small and medium-sized businesses with Linux users or mixed setups.
9. SpiderOak One Backup: Review — Best Windows Backup Software for Privacy
Even though it's crucial that you back up your data, you may be hesitant to utilise an online backup service because of privacy concerns.
SpiderOak One Backup, with its emphasis on 🌴 user privacy, is a great option if you're the kind of user who takes security seriously.
We enjoy the no-knowledge policy, user-friendly desktop interface, and scalability to an unlimited number of versions.
Although the service's online storage fees are higher than those of its rivals, a single subscription may be used to back up an infinite number of devices.
The most significant drawback of SpiderOak One Backup is its lack of support for multifactor authentication for website logins.
Get Started With a 21-Day Trial, No CCs…
We like that the 21-day trial of SpiderOak One Backup doesn't call for a credit card number. If you're thinking about signing up, compare the monthly and annual plans carefully to see which one works best for you.
Here is a rundown of all of the various pricing options. These plans may seem costly, but they really allow an unlimited number of devices.
Be wary of any tech service that advertises “unlimited” features, since doing so almost guarantees the firm will impose some kind of restriction on your use if it turns out you're using the service in a way that significantly exceeds the company's intended purpose. A user may be in breach of the conditions if, for instance, they are using a service for “commercial” purposes even if the service specifies that it is for “personal” use only.
SpiderOak One Backup also supports backing up to portable media and cloning network volumes. Carbonite Safe and similar services charge extra for such features.
Updates Are a Bit Tedious
There is no complexity involved in creating a new account with SpiderOak One Backup. All you have to do to encrypt your backups is download the desktop program and provide your login information.
You can only use SpiderOak to upload files by downloading one of their programmes for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
It's important to remember that updating One Backup requires grabbing the newest build from the SpiderOak site. According to the business, “our difficulty, which we have not yet addressed, is to create a mechanism by which we can push out legitimate upgrades while making it technically and legally infeasible for an overzealous authority to force us to send out an update containing a purposeful flaw”.
The security-minded among us may welcome this rule, but others may find it inconvenient.
SpiderOak One Backup Provides Confidentiality and Safety
The robustness of SpiderOak One Backup comes from its stringent safety measures. According to its “no knowledge” policy, it will never look at or access any of your data.
This implies that in reality, all communications with SpiderOak servers are encrypted using TLS/SSL and are secured by certificate pinning (a method of preventing man-in-middle-attacks). Your data is safe from prying eyes and can't be seen by anybody except you.
Verdict — Popular Windows Backup to Consider for Privacy…
We haven’t placed this high up but it’s a proponent of user privacy.
So, if privacy is your major priority when selecting a backup solution, SpiderOak One Backup should be towards the top of your list. Its desktop application is likewise very functional and user-friendly.
SpiderOak's online storage pricing are a touch steep, but all plans allow you to back up an unlimited number of devices and file versions. Nonetheless, we would appreciate the ability to back up mobile devices, and the service should include multifactor authentication for online logins.
10. Livedrive: Review — Good Windows Backup Service for Flexibility
Last but not least… Livedrive is a cloud storage service that offers two different limitless options, each of which may be adjusted to your specific needs.
We like that level of flexibility. Livedrive isn’t new to the scene either… it’s been around since 2008, serving over a million consumers in the process.
Not the Greatest Overall But Has Useful Extras…
Livedrive isn't the most inexpensive backup service out there, but it does provide a lot of useful extras. In addition, the customizable nature of the plans should make it simple to select one that meets your needs.
However, before committing to the cloud service, you should consider the main benefits and drawbacks…
Save Time Doing Auto Backups ⌚
One of our favourite features is the option to automatically back up selected folders in Windows Explorer's right-click context menu to Livedrive.
When doing a backup, you won't have to go into the settings menu and manually pick the folders you wish to transfer, saving you time.
If one of your backups is taking too long to upload to Livedrive, you may instruct it to stop uploading all of your data at once. It's also helpful if you're not in a rush to back up that specific file and would rather free up your upload space for something more crucial.
We discovered that our Livedrive account was consuming the maximum upload speed we had set for the software when uploading data (through the bandwidth controls). To sum up, we found Livedrive to be just as fast as any other backup service we've used when it came to uploading data.
However, it's important to realise that upload speeds are relative, depending on variables like the availability of bandwidth on your personal network.
Limited Options for Folder Selection
To begin, know that Livedrive is only capable of backing up certain folders. It's impossible to back up a specific folder or file on a certain disc. It's only possible to choose directories inside the software.
This implies that if you want to make sure that all the data in the root directories of a hard disc are backed up, you must select them and then choose “Back up this folder” from the backup menu.
We also don't like that, unlike other competing backup services, Livedrive doesn't back up every file you request it to, regardless of the file extension.
Some system and application files, such as cookies, browser cache, settings files, virtual machine files, application data, temporary files, and some system files, are never backed up. It's important to know this before committing to a backup plan, since it implies there are a few things Livedrive won't save for you.
Another thing we don't like is that Livedrive only allows you to save the last 30 versions of your files. Unfortunately, unlike with some other backup services, Livedrive will begin deleting previous versions of your data once 30 changes have been made to a given file.
Verdict — 〽️ Goes Above in Some Areas, Below in Others…
If you're in the market for a plan with extra capabilities that you won't get in a more expensive package, and you'd want to include cloud storage of some kind, we recommend checking at Livedrive (i.e. Livedrive Briefcase).
Best Windows Backup (UK) 💽 — Buying Guide
Let’s explore how to use and choose the best Windows backup…
How to Select the Right Windows Backup 💿
Just as with everything else, you shouldn't go crazy with your purchases. A system with unnecessary features may be slower and more difficult to use.
As an added precaution, it is recommended to examine the included software on any recently acquired external hard drive before using it for backup purposes. Several companies, like Seagate and Western Digital, provide backup software that should be sufficient for the typical user.
Automations ⭐
If you just need to back up your data and not your operating system or apps, then a tool that backs up only the items you choose is a huge time saving. The Windows library folders are used by several apps to choose the right files for you to work with (Documents, Photos, Videos, etc.).
Data imaging and storage
To restore either the OS or the data, all you need is an image, which is a byte-by-byte copy of the complete hard drive (often excluding the empty sectors). Imaging not only assures that no data is lost in the event of a system failure, but also that it can be restored quickly and easily.
Bootable media
You must have a backup method to boot into in order to access the recovery software in the event that your system fails altogether. It should be possible to make a bootable CD, DVD, or USB drive with any backup software. To be used as an alternative, if the hard disc is still functional, some will also build a restoration partition.
Scheduling
In order to ensure the safety of your data, you should do backups on a consistent basis. Scheduled backups are a feature of any reliable backup product.
Versioning
It's not backup if you're constantly replacing old data with new ones; that's called syncing or mirroring. When backing up files, you should be able to keep several copies of each backup. The best software will remember how long you want your backups to be kept and will delete them after that.
Optics
While hard drives are supported by every backup tool, DVDs and Blu-rays are nevertheless useful for archival purposes despite their seeming antiquity. If you're concerned about the durability of optical media, know that M-discs have been tested and shown to last a millennium.
Resources 📙
Offsite backups protect your information from the effects of natural catastrophes like floods, fires, and power outages. Using an online storage service is a fantastic option for keeping an offline backup copy of your information. Having the ability to back up to cloud storage services like Dropbox is a plus.
File Transfer Protocol with Server Message Block/AFP
You may further ensure the security of your data by creating an offsite copy, or at least a copy that is not located on the same device, by backing up to other computers or NAS boxes on your network or in faraway places (like your parent's home). Offsite transfers may be made using FTP, while local transfers between computers or NAS devices can be made via SMB (Windows and most OSes) or AFP (Apple).
Up-to-the-minute
When files undergo “real-time backup”, they are replicated every time they undergo a modification, often when they are saved or created. This method, which is also known as “mirroring” is useful for maintaining a current copy of rapidly evolving data sets in a convenient location. The benefit doesn't outweigh the cost for less dynamic data sets. It is recommended to utilise scheduling instead.
Always-on
In this context, “continuous” merely refers to backups that occur often, typically every 5 to 15 minutes. If you need to back up a large amount of data often, but the transfer speeds are too sluggish or you don't have the resources to run a real-time backup, consider using continuous backup.
Speed and efficiency
Consumers often don't care about backup speeds since most of them occur in the background or during downtime. However, time is of the essence when backing up several devices, to various locations, or extremely big data sets.
- Related 📗: How Secure is the Cloud?
In Conclusion
Data stored on a device, computer or server can be backed up safely with the help of backup software. When files are backed up, copies are made and saved in case of accidental deletion or corruption.
Here are tips for choosing the perfect Windows backup solution for you:
- 💽 Estimate the data recovery scope of your project before selecting a backup program to download and use. Not all of them, for instance, will back up numerous partitions concurrently.
- 💽 Investigate your software's security settings, with stronger encryption being preferable for more sensitive data such as business and customer data. (Each Windows backup software in this guide is up to standard).
- 💽 Verify that the operating system you use is supported by the Windows backup program. Keep in mind that the amount of information or the number of files that may be backed up may also be limited by if your plan is free or inexpensive.
We’ve ranked IDrive ✔️ as our most trustworthy Windows backup software, due to its usability for individual-level users and small moms-and-pops businesses, all the way up to enterprises. R-Drive ✔️ is a close runner-up with advanced disk image-building capabilities.
Common Questions 📚 — Top Windows Backup
How frequently should I schedule backups? ⚡
If at all feasible, you should back up your data on a regular basis. In cases when data loss may have devastating consequences, such as while working on a critical project, this is of paramount importance. It's a good idea to program Windows to automatically create backups of your data once each hour.
In what ways do cloud storage platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Windows' own built-in backup differ?
Cloud storage solutions include popular platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. The user is responsible for uploading their own data to the service's cloud. Using the internet's “cloud” is similar to storing data on a hard disc.
Meanwhile, Windows backup software ensures that your whole file history is continuously backed up and versioned. It will routinely and constantly copy over whatever data you specify. File encryption is only one extra layer of protection for your data that is available in Windows backup software. In addition, using these backup services, you may make a bootable DVD or USB drive to use in case of a system failure.
The features of a Windows backup application, such as continuous backups and versioning for many devices, are available via cloud backup services (different from those described above). Check out our list of the top cloud-based backup services to find out more.
How will Windows backup software impact the performance of my machine? 🤖
Windows backup software usually won't have much of an impact on system performance. It is possible to see a slowdown in performance when your system backs up particularly big data sets, backs up to many devices, or backs up to several destinations.
Otherwise, you probably won't notice any slowdown in performance since Windows backup software usually operates in the background or during periods of inactivity.
As an additional precaution, it's wise to use a continuous backup mechanism, if one is provided by the programme you're using. It will reduce the software's bandwidth and processing needs by just backing up the files you alter in real-time.
You Might Also Like:
