Backup programs

Easiest and cheapest would be to use Windows Backup to do it for you.

Already built in and has few issues.

No sense paying for something you already have the ability to do.

Good luck.

I use Robocopy, free from download.microsoft.com

There are a few quantifiers to your question - but first a warning.

WARNING:
Backup to dosk is NOT a permanent backup solution! If you lose the hard disk, or the files that the data is stored in become corrupt - there is no longer a way to restore your data.

Backups are only useful if you can restore them, period.

The questions you should be asking yourself are:
- If I lose this data completely, what will it cost me in lost productivity, business loss, personal time, etc.?
- How long do I want to retain this backup data?
- What other features are available in the package (remote management, scheduled backups, disk to disk to tape, restore entire OS or just data files?
- How easy is the solution?
- What kind of support can I expect if something goes wrong (THIS IS HIGH IN IMPORTANCE)?
- Is support free, or will I be charged?
- How much is the charge for support?
- Is the software designed to work with my hardware/software?
NOTE:
Any halfway decent backup software will have available on their website a complete list of Supported OS's and Supported Devices. As Someone that has run a Tech Support department at a MAJOR backup software vendor, I can tell you absolutely, these are NOT polite suggestions. If the software vendor does not support it, THERE IS A REASON. Do you really want to risk your data?

That being said here are your responsibilities as a backup software user:
- Download the trial version and EVALUATE IT before you buy!
- Check your logs EVERY TIME A BACKUP RUNS (I cannot tell you how bad it sucks to have to tell someone that just lost all of their business critical data that the most recent backup they have is !NEVER! - let alone to be that person).
- DO NOT LISTEN TO A SALES REP FOR TECHNICAL ADVICE. These people are there to sell you the software - technical support is there to give you the real answer (if support lies to you, the product is a no no for protecting your data).
- TapeAlert is a standard developed by HP to stan

There are a few quantifiers to your question - but first a warning.

WARNING:
Backup to dosk is NOT a permanent backup solution! If you lose the hard disk, or the files that the data is stored in become corrupt - there is no longer a way to restore your data.

Backups are only useful if you can restore them, period.

The questions you should be asking yourself are:
- If I lose this data completely, what will it cost me in lost productivity, business loss, personal time, etc.?
- How long do I want to retain this backup data?
- What other features are available in the package (remote management, scheduled backups, disk to disk to tape, restore entire OS or just data files?
- How easy is the solution?
- What kind of support can I expect if something goes wrong (THIS IS HIGH IN IMPORTANCE)?
- Is support free, or will I be charged?
- How much is the charge for support?
- Is the software designed to work with my hardware/software?
NOTE:
Any halfway decent backup software will have available on their website a complete list of Supported OS's and Supported Devices. As Someone that has run a Tech Support department at a MAJOR backup software vendor, I can tell you absolutely, these are NOT polite suggestions. If the software vendor does not support it, THERE IS A REASON. Do you really want to risk your data?

That being said here are your responsibilities as a backup software user:
- Download the trial version and EVALUATE IT before you buy!
- Check your logs EVERY TIME A BACKUP RUNS (I cannot tell you how bad it sucks to have to tell someone that just lost all of their business critical data that the most recent backup they have is !NEVER! - let alone to be that person).
- DO NOT LISTEN TO A SALES REP FOR TECHNICAL ADVICE. These people are there to sell you the software - technical support is there to give you the real answer (if support lies to you, the product is a no no for protecting your data).
- TapeAlert is a standard developed by HP to stan

- TapeAlert is a standard developed by HP to standardize hardware error detection. There is nothing software can do to overcome broken hardware.

- When calling for technical support, realize that EVERYONE else that is calling is having a problem that involves the protection, restore, or archival of THEIR critical business data too, so it's an emergency for EVERYONE except the Support Tech. For them, an emergency is only when their building is on fire, everything else is just their jobs. They are not just blowing you off if they want to call you back (providing that they DO in fact call back), they may simply need some time to try to reproduce the issue, or to research it, and don't want to waste your time by staying on the line with you.

Now, if you're still looking, I would suggest the following (Disclaimer: the following is my opinion alone - do your job, test the software, and draw your own conclusions):

NTBACKUP:
It works (if you take the time to MAKE it work). Very basic.

VERITAS BACKUP EXEC:
Overpriced, and underperforming.

LEGATO NETWORKER:
Controlling EVERYTHING related to the backup is not necessarily a good idea. Overly complex and WAY outdated.

ARCSERVE:
It works most of the time. Can be cumbersome to administer on more than one computer, SLOW.

TAPEWARE:
The database on this one is more unstable than a troubled child on crack, but the feature set is nice, and the price is right. If you can live with deleting the database and recreating your backup job anytime the database corrupts (pretty frequently). AWESOME Technical support, their people are knowledgable, and (GASP!!!) in the USA!

YOSEMITE BACKUP:
This is a new product, so the track record isn't there, however in my testing I can't find any problems with it (I'm sure that I will, I just haven't YET). TONS of features, pretty cheap, and (again) AWESOME tech support.

There are many other backup products, but these are the major players in the market. These products are

There are many other backup products, but these are the major players in the market. These products are likely to represent the best backup solution you are going to find, and now it's up to you to go out there and figure out which one is right for you.

(WOW I had alot to say there. Sorry for the duplicate posts, it's late and I'm tired)