Hi!
Before I lose everything and I mean by that mostly the website I worked so hard to build, and many programs installed over the years, also over on hundred games, I really think it's time to get a backup program. Unfortunately, I've never used one, I don't know anything about them even though I've read pages and pages on the subject in the past couple months.

Actually it confused me more than it helped. I heard of Winclone, Acronis True Image, Spotmaun.

This morning the comp started with the magnificent blue screen of death. It scared the devil out of me. I can't afford, nobody can, to lose everything. I need to get on it asap. Backup program as fast as I can.

I have an external HD. I can get another one. I'm working on an iMac, Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. Windows XP, SP3 Home, 2.79 GHz, 2.98 GB of RAM, 60.2 GB free space. The external HD has around 39 GB free space but like I said I'll get another one.

Any idea? Someone using a good backup program here?

Thank you for your help.
Lucie

I suggest Cobian Backup; specifically available at
http://www.cobiansoft.com/cobianbackup.htm.

I've been using it (ok, the 'beta' version) since it came out earlier this year.
Previous versions have protected my laboratory data for years...

It's simple, reliable and most importantly, it makes (as a default) a direct copy.
No custom formatting; no special extension.
It was great to use it to move from XP to Vista
<soapbox on>
...gosh, thanks, Macro$loth!
Why didn't you just go ahead and make an imcompatible backup/restore program between Windoes editions. Oh, that's right, you did.

Anyways, <soapbox off>
Cobiansoft.com is where to go.

I use Norton Ghost which you can setup as a normal backup system or you can have it actually Ghost your machine which allows you to do something similar to a Factory Restore, only this gives you the option to just restore your files (not system) as it was when you did the save. Pretty slick.

You\pays your money you take your choice!
Personally I use Acronis true image, I find it a lot less fiddly than Norton Ghost.
It has never let me down so I love it!

Greg

Hi
I use Allwayssync, and make only copy of my desired files.
Example: I work in a ship and at office monthly (one month ship, one month office) and use a external disk with all company data. I only work on external and AllwaysSync make a copy to my laptop and on shore synchronise with the desktop. It's free but I use the paid version.
Regards

http://allwaysync.com

Thank you all so much for your help. I am almost sold to Cobian, which has a glorifying 4.5-star review on Cnet. Every suggestion was helpful and they all had good reviews, except for Norton's customer support that seems to be nonexistent, but the product itself has very good reviews. Acronis True Image 2010 seems to be complicated for someone like me (not comp savvy) and I would have to install something else due to the HD installed on my iMac (not sure what it is about yet) but it has a dazzling 5-star review on Cnet (better than the previous version). As for Alwayssync, I had a hard time opening the website. It took several attempts to load it. It makes me a little nervous but I liked what I read about it.

Once again thank you.

I use a little program called Almer Backup
http://www.almersoft.com/products/backup/
Max Almer has always answered any of my questions.