idlebackup V1.16c

idlebackup V1.16c offers an effective tool which helps you to make a backup to hard-disk, USB drive or network (also compressed to a Zip file). Easy restore for data recovery, browse and select one or more file(s) and press restore (Mirror mode).

Did you know that there are less than 20% of computer users who actually backup their data.
Considering our hard drives are usually chocked full of important information, that's a staggering figure, especially since we are still working with electrical components with moving parts. Backup software automatic is hard to find as freeware, but Idlebackup can do this, download it here.

Overview of Backup solutions (only some are possible with IDLEBACKUP)

1. One dilemma for backup users is often where to put their backups. Storing them on your own C: hard drive is obviously not the best option. This is a list of possible backup solutions, although some of them are for professional users.
2. Tape backup systems is also a possibility, but not further mentioned  here.
3. Backup to CD/DVD:
   • Advantages:
   • • Backup to DVD and CD media has become increasingly common due to mature technology and cheap CD/DVD burners
     • Easy to use
     • Cheap media
     • Multiple backups can be made, and the media can be stored in multiple places.
   • Disadvantages:
   • • All CDs and DVDs will decay over time.
     • A small scratch can make the disc useless
     • Not very suited if the data needs to be updated regularly, this is not the case when using a R/W DVD, but these
     •   are slow but and not very reliable.
     • Organisation of multiple backup and updates
   • No automatic backup possible
4. Backup to internal 2nd hard disk (Possible with Idlebackup)
   • Advantages:
   • • Fast, easy, cheap media
     • A backup set can be easily updated, therefore suited for automatic backups
   • Disadvantages:
   • • A single hard disk (not RAID) has a certain MTBF and may fail, but is quite reliable
     • If a computer gets stolen or is destroyed or in the case of fire/accident, there is no backup
5. Backup to external hard disk (Possible and recommended with Idlebackup)
   • Advantages:
   • • Fast, Easy, cheap media
     • A backup set can be easily updated, therefore suited for automatic backups
     • Removable disk can be stored in a safe location
   • Disadvantages:
   • • A single hard disk (not RAID) has a certain MTBF and may fail, but is quite reliable
     • If a computer gets stolen together with the external disk, there is no backup
6. Online server backup or network backup
   • Advantages:
   • • Reliable if server has a RAID disk
     • A backup set can be easily updated, therefore suited for automatic backups
   • Disadvantages:
   • • Need of a server or 2nd desktop on the network
7. Online backups, Online Computer Backup.
   • Advantages:
   • • If a computer is stolen, you still have a backup
     • Cheap (free) if the backup is relatively small (< 2Gb)
   • Disadvantages:
   • • Expensive if large backups have to be made (> 5Gb)
     • More complex and for backup over internet you need a fast internet connection
8. Offsite backup over a network, through FTP or Specialised offsite backup:
   • Advantages:
   • • If a computer is stolen, you still have a backup
   • Disadvantages:
   • • Very Expensive
     • More complex and for backup over internet you need a fast internet connection
9. Conclusion
   • Good backup habits are essential to everyone who uses a computer with important information.
   • For most home users, a Backup to external hard disk is a good solution, this freeware program Idlebackup
   • can do this when needed automatically.
   • A good backup strategy and insurance for your data is "never rely on one backup". You can for example make a daily backup of
   • changed files to an internal second hard disk and a weekly backup to an external hard disk.
   • For a laptop backup, make a frequent backup to an external drive and some to your desktop.
   • Or even better use 2 external disks, put one in a safe place. And after a while swap the disks. For Windows backup you'd better use an image copy program like Ghost or Acronis True Server.

Major Features:

1. Easy to use backup program for both novice and professional users.
2. Backup medium = any backup drive/hard-disk/usb-stick/usb-drive or network.
3. Manual or Automatic backup (with a set interval time of 1 minute upto 99 days) either unconditionally or using idle time of the computer.
4. Easy restore, select directories and/or files to restore (with mirror backup).
5. 3 Backup modes:
   • Mirror backup (no compression used), selected directories and/or files are copied to the set backup path. This allows easy browsing through the backup set the Explorer. Each next start of the backup, new and changed files are copied (therefore fast)
   • Full backup zipped. This works like the mirror backup, but everything is copied to one zip file or (optional) a zip file for each selected directory .
   • Sequential backup zipped (Version backup or snapshot). Everything is copied to a new zip file with a timestamp in the file name. This can be done in Auto with a set interval of 1 minute upto 99 days.
6. Option "Synchronize backup" can remove unused files in the backup, so only files that are also present on the source hard-disk are kept. See backup description (not for zip files).
7. In Automatic mode Idlebackup can work invisibly in the background, and only if idle (no keys,mouse actions detected). A key or mouse click stops a pending backup.
8. The new option "Input activity check" allows now to switch of the idle activity check.
9. Backup status is visible by the icon color in the sytem tray and in the log screen.
10. When a backup is started manually, you can select to shutdown Windows afterwards.
11. Can also copy large files > 2Gb.
12. Backup mail data of Thunderbird, Outlook, Outlook Express (see page usage examples)
13. Normal windows installation/deinstallation. Executable can also be copied to any directory or USB-stick and started from there..

Enhancements:

• 5 backup settings can be memorized and recalled.
• Added a logfile mechanism. There is a logfile created for each day. The start/Stop time, eventual
• errors and when selected, all copy details are logged. The current day logfile is also
• presented on screen, see tabsheet 'Log'.
• Selection added for "Input activity check" for the Automatic backup.
• Filter for the drives in the explorer tree, allows to hide uninteresting drives.

Requirements: medium