Time
Machine is a utility Apple introduced for the Mac OS starting with 10.5. It
backs up the entire system, programs, settings and documents, allowing you to
restore your system if necessary. It also stores previous versions of a file
for you, letting you return to a previous version if necessary, either because
the file becomes corrupt or you changed your mind regarding the most recent
revision. The good news is there are similar programs available for Windows.
Some of them even have features not available in Time Machine.
Save Modified Files: FileHamster
does things a little differently than traditional backup programs, which are
set up to run at specific intervals. After installation, you tell it what
folder (or folders) to monitor and it will keep track of all the files it
contains. When a file is modified or saved, it creates a backup version. This
means that if you save your files regularly and something happens to them, or
you want to revert to a previous version, you can lose significantly less time
than even on a one-hour backup schedule. The free version only backs up to your
internal drive, so I’d recommend purchasing the Plus version to backup to an
external disk or using it in combination with a program that does.
Remote backups: Another option to add to your backup routine is
Bonkey. It provides you with the ability to customize when and what
files it backs up and the backup location. However, in addition to an external
disk, you can also backup to Amazon S3, FTP, SFTP and Windows shares. Why would
you want to backup to a remote location like S3 or an FTP server? Think about
it, an external hard drive might save you from headaches if your drive fails,
or you lose your laptop, but what if the worst happens? A fire, flood, or break
in could be the end of all your data, files and records. It might not make
sense to backup your entire system (including programs) to an Internet
location, but you can backup your documents and important files.
Genie Timeline: Another Time Machine alternative,
Genie Timeline is still in beta status. However, let me stress that
using a program that is still being tested for your critical business backups
is a bad idea. I’d suggest keeping an eye on this program because it does have
some excellent features, including backing up to an external drive and
automatic hourly backups.
Cloning: Let’s say your hard drive does crash, or you have a technical
side and want to upgrade the drive yourself. Reinstalling Windows isn't your
only option. There are programs available that can be used to clone your drive
or make an exact copy.
Drive Backup has two options that make it very convenient to use. It
allows you to continue to use your computer while the program clones your hard
drive. This is an unusual feature since many cloning programs require you to
restart and boot your computer using a special CD or DVD. It can also create a
bootable CD, DVD or Flash drive, this way if you do need to restore from the
clone, it’s easy to start up your computer.
Regardless of what you decide to use, it’s important to backup your mission
critical files on a regular basis. There are plenty of backup alternatives
available, both free and commercial. What backup solution works for you? Feel
free to share it in the comments section.
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