Misleading title
To me desktop backup is a tool which backups your desktop (icons and positions). So the title is really misleading.
The problem arises in Vista when you unplug your external screen from your laptop. All the icons are messed up. Iconrestorer is the only one I found. In it's free version it's a bit limited. Sure bates rearranging your icons every time.
The other problem is loosing the graphics setup of two screen. For this I have found the backup possibility directly in the Intel graphics and media control panel.
If you're talking now about simple free non expert backup tools, Coobian backup is my favourite. Il will backup a "corporate" PC with encrypted disks. With these backup tools, watch out about compression: who knows if you will have the means to decompress when you need the data. Maybe your PC, with the program and all was scratched. I frefer uncompressed in that case.
If you have a personal PC which you might need to restore, the best is to create a disk image with windows or with a tool like Paragon or Acronis. This weill be of no use if your hard drive is encrypted.
Syncback is nice if you are 110% in control. Warnings however:
1. Who knows where your windows progrem has stored info, registry, Progrem file, program data, your /user file the common users file ?
2. Sometimes I saw Syncback make copies of size 0. VERY NICE.
Syncback requires a lot of configuration. It's not for the lazy.
So for the lazy with a non encrypted disk: disk image to a dige bigger that your target PC.
With an encrypted disk: Cobian saving all which is possible. Good for most. To get more info still, create a specific admin account for backup. Stop all processes, programs, unplug internet, stop security software and run coobian.
Professional choice: get a support contract or pay a backup program. In any case, don't trust them, try to understand what's happening.
