Software Review Column: Backup Now Deluxe

By Kevin Cox

This column introduces and reviews lesser-known software that might be helpful to technical communicators. Major software applications, such as Word, Framemaker, etc. will not be reviewed here.

This month I’m going to review my choice for backup software, NTI’s Backup Now Deluxe. A backup system is an essential part of your computer setup. If you are not backing up your data at least every other week, shame on you! Backing up your data should be given as much attention as checking the oil in your car—if nothing else, for your own piece of mind.

After researching several backup programs, I decided on Backup Now Deluxe because of the recommendation from other reviews (see NTI’s Web site at http://www.ntibackupnow.com for a complete listing), and because of its convenience and many features. The $79.95 cost for the full version is kind of pricey, and there is a “lite” version called Handy Backup available for $30, but with the full features and convenience, I opted for the full version.

The Goods

Backup Now Deluxe has many features built for power users and convenience. It can save data to multiple drives and drive types (local or mapped), has the capability to backup or restore specific data, such as files and folders, and includes free-for-life technical support; it can also span multiple drives during a backup session. You also have the option of backing up incrementally or differentially. A key strength of the program is the way it walks you through the backup and restore processes. You can also schedule your backups. You cannot back up to FTP sites with this software, a minor drawback.

Backing up requires the following simple steps:

1. Choose the files or folder to back up.
2. Choose where to back up to (Backup Now supports almost any media).
3. Choose how to back up—all selected files, differentially or incrementally.
4. Click Start to begin the back up process.

Fig. 1: The What to back up screen (step 1) of Backup Now Deluxe shows the Explorer-like interface in the main body and the step-by-step interface to the left.

The software offers these additional features:

• Advanced file filtering for improved control of your backup jobs
• Advanced file filtering for improved control of your backup jobs
• Create a bootable emergency disk to ensure recovery in case of a system crash
• Extensive backup device support
• On-the-fly compression to increase backup speed and store 1GB of data or more on a single 650MB CD
• You can back up system files, the Windows registry, even hidden files
• Backups are easy to perform
• An intuitive interface

Fig. 2: The Where to backup screen (step 2) allows you to choose where you want to back up to.

I have not had the opportunity (or need, fortunately!) to restore files, but if the performance while backing up is any indication, restoring files should be pretty painless. Registered users of Backup Now will receive free tech support for the life of the product (via toll call, e-mail, fax, or the Web)—a very nice and increasingly rare benefit.

Fig. 3: The How to backup screen (step 3) allows you to choose if you want to back up all selected files or only new and changed files – differentially or incrementally.

With its convenience and plethora of features, Backup Now Deluxe is a powerful good program, and costs $79.95. See NTI’s Web site at http://www.ntibackupnow.com.

Kevin Cox has been a technical communicator for four years, and received a Certificate in Technical and Professional Writing from Portland Community College in 2002. Prior to becoming a technical writer, he was a desktop publisher for six years. In addition to his technical writing pursuits, he has a B.A. in Music and is a part-time composer, singer and percussionist. Kevin can be reached at knccomm@hotmail.com