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Pick Your Backup Software

Dantz's Retrospect Professional does it all, but the interface takes time to master. We also liked the budget Argentum Backup 2.1, for its straightforward approach to backup.

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TrueImage 7.0 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

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Acronis TrueImage 7.0

Supported media: Optical discs, hard drive, Backup formats: Image, Backup types: Incremental image, Price: $50

Bottom Line: Well designed, easy to use--one of the best disk-imaging programs we've seen. Also works from within Windows. Not for general backups.

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NERO 6 ULTRA EDITION CD/DVD BURNING SUITE (Ahead Systems-160006) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

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Ahead Software NERO 6 ULTRA EDITION CD/DVD BURNING SUITE (Ahead Systems-160006)

Supported media: Optical discs, hard drive, Backup formats: Traditional, native, Backup types: Full, incremental, differential, Price: $100

Bottom Line: The backup component of Nero 6 Ultra Edition practically guarantees compatibility with optical drives. Doesn't support tape.

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Backup 2.1 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

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Argentum Backup 2.1

Supported media: Optical discs (only with third-party packet writing software), hard drive , Backup formats: Native, native compressed (.zip), Backup types: Full, incremental, Price: $25

Bottom Line: Attractive program makes it easy to back up computer settings, files, and user data like Favorites and Outlook e-mail. It uses .zip file compression.

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BounceBack Professional PCW Rating: 67.0PCW Rating: 67.0PCW Rating: 67.0

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CMS Products BounceBack Professional

Supported media: Hard drive , Backup formats: Traditional, native, Backup types: Full, incremental, differential, Price: $79

Bottom Line: Can create a bootable copy of your hard drive without imaging. It's fast, but its design--with a multitude of single-function modules--is confusing.

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Retrospect Professional Win 6.5 (Full Product) (Dantz-PU10A006500) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

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Dantz Retrospect Professional Win 6.5 (Full Product) (Dantz-PU10A006500)

Supported media: Optical discs, hard drive, tape, Backup formats: Traditional, native, Backup types: Full, incremental, differential, Price: $129

Bottom Line: The most expensive program here has advanced features, like scripted backups and automatic system shutdown, but a rough-edged interface.

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WinBackup PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

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LIUtilities WinBackup

Supported media: Optical discs, hard drive , Backup formats: Traditional, native, Backup types: Full, incremental, Price: $50

Bottom Line: Exceptionally simple to use, with a pop-up wizard, and an interface that describes the software's functions in plain English.

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NovaBackup 7.1 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

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Novastor NovaBackup 7.1

Supported media: Optical discs, hard drive, tape , Backup formats: Traditional, native, Backup types: Full, incremental, differential, Price: $80

Bottom Line: Full-featured program, but it lacks disaster recovery. The company says that this feature will be in version 7.2, due this fall.

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Backup NOW! 3.0 (Full) (NewTech InfoSystems-430003) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

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NewTech InfoSystems Backup NOW! 3.0 (Full) (NewTech InfoSystems-430003)

Supported media: Optical discs, hard drive , Backup formats: Traditional, native, Backup types: Full, incremental, differential, Price: $80

Bottom Line: Constant CD/DVD driver updates make it a strong choice for optical users. But for $20 more, you can buy Ahead Nero 6 Ultra Edition with Nero BackItUp.

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StorageSync Pro 1.4 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

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SimpleTech StorageSync Pro 1.4

Supported media: Hard drive , Backup formats: Traditional, native , Backup types: Full, syncing, Price: $19

Bottom Line: Nicely designed, easy-to-use program for backing up to, or syncing between, hard drives. Won't recognize network locations or mapped network drives.

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BACKUP MYPC (Global Marketing Partners-41671) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

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Stomp BACKUP MYPC (Global Marketing Partners-41671)

Supported media: Optical discs, hard drive, tape , Backup formats: Traditional, Backup types: Full, incremental, differential, Price: $60

Bottom Line: The interface is easy to navigate, and the program is packed with features. Still, we wish it could perform native file copying.

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