Backup4all Review

Introduction

Softland was founded over 10 years ago, back in 1999, and focuses on file backup and PDF creation software. Softland also has runs http://www.software112.com/ which specializes in hosting freeware and shareware software to download.

Enough about Softland, the focus of this review is their backup program Backup4all.

Backup4all comes in four flavours: Backup4all Portable; Backup4all Lite; Backup4all Standard; and Backup4all Professional. The interface is basically the same amongst all versions. However, a few minor feature differences exist - see for details http://www.backup4all.com/en/compare-products.html

Ease of Use

When Backup4all is opened a “Getting Started” window loads that displays lots of useful information, such as: how-to guides, video tutorials, help file shortcuts, etc. The “Getting Started” window is a brilliant feature – that is sure to provide plenty of help to Backup4all users.

The standard interface for Backup4all is a complicated beast, that has lots of choices and options, and it will cause a considerable learning curve.  The information displayed about each backup job is complicated. If you click “Restore” it is not always obvious what files you’re restoring, and if errors occur they a presented in a notepad file.

Finding the Help options is difficult once the “Getting Started” window is closed in Backup4all. The help menu is in small writing that is not easily seen at the top. In addition, once you click ‘Help’ your presented with a list of options, if you click “Support Request” nothing happens - a flaw.

Another fault is that the default window size is too small for the actual button bar – the scheduler button was hidden, I had to manually resize Backup4all to view the program properly.

The Backup4all process of creating a backup job involves:

1. Naming your backup
2. Selecting “Where do you want to save your backup?”
3. Selecting “What do you want to backup?”
4. Selecting “How do you want to backup?” which involves choosing from: Incremental, Full, Differential or Mirror. It also involves selecting wether to encrypt it with a password.
5. And lastly selecting “When do you want to backup.”

Each aspect of creating a backup job in Backup4all is simple because of the step-by-step approach that guides you.

Overall, Backup4all is a difficult application to use.

Features

Backup4all is limited as it supports only file-based backup & recovery. If you want to perform more advanced backups like creating a “Bootable Image” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_image) then you’re out of luck with Backup4all.

Backup Types: full, differential, incremental and mirror.

Volume Shadow Copy: even open files (on NTFS partitions) can be backed up.

File Filter: filter files to backup using a combination of attributes.

Scheduler: you might be a thousand miles from your computer but with this scheduler you can organize automatic backups to take place.

Command Line: a command line version is available that lets you run backup operations using various parameters.

Backup Storage: You can store the backup in a local folder, on another computer in the same LAN, on media such as: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD±R (single/dual layer), DVD±RW (single/dual layer), DVD-ROM, HD DVD-R, HD DVD-RW, HD DVD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE (single or dual layer Blu-ray disc) on USB drives or other removable media, or on FTP.

Performance

Backup4all was able to backup 605 files (21 GB) in 21 minutes and 15 seconds to an external hard drive. I also tested restoring the files and it took 12 minutes and 14 second. However, I was annoyed that no obvious notice came up to say it was finished.

Backup4all is a good file backup program but doesn’t have enough backup options. The lack of drive backup and boot disc creation are significant drawbacks for Backup4all. I’d like to take this opportunity to also emphasis that using Backup4all was not fun – it is a tedious and unfriendly program.

Help & Support

Email

I emailed This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and they responded the next day with an answer to my question. I asked if the trial of Backup4all had limited functionality: and they responded that the trial download of Backup4all is fully featured – but will expire in 30 days from installation.

In short, I found Backup4all email support to be helpful.

Video Tutorials

Video tutorials are one of the best ways to learn – and there are 9 that focus on showing you how to backup and restore with Backup4all. See: http://www.backup4all.com/kb/12/

Knowledgebase

There are over 100 articles regarding Backup4all at http://www.backup4all.com/kb/

Forum

The Backup4all forum at http://www.backup4all.com/forum/ contains just over 1000 posts – so it isn’t that popular. However, it seems almost all posts are replied to by Backup4all support – therefore the Forum seems like a helpful place.

User Guide

Clicking Help or pushing F1 in Backup4all will open a detailed User Guide.

Conclusion

File backup programs are redundant and they only keep your files safe. Instead you need data backup software that protects your entire computer (files, operating system and applications). I recommend looking for a data backup program with the following features: drive-based backup, file backup, continuous data protection technology, off site backup (online), and boot disc creation.

Backup4all is old-fashioned as it’s just a file backup program. It is also difficult to use. I recommend investing your money in data backup software that is capable of protecting your entire computer.

Cost/Value:		2/5
Overall rating:		2.6

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