5 Reasons to use Idlebackup to backup your data

Idlebackup is a backup solution for Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7. Typical use is backup files such as photo's, mp3's or backup data, such as databases.

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Idlebackup is a backup solution for Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7. Typical use is backup files such as photo's, mp3's or backup data, such as databases.

Idlebackup can 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).

5 Reasons to use Idlebackup to backup your data

1. Automatically backup in idle time
Most people simply forget to make a backup or are not willing to spend time on it. Idlebackup can make the backup, once setup, in an unused moment (idle) of your computer. That is where the first part of the name 'Idle' comes from. Most other programs can only be started manually or at a set time which is very inflexible. Idlebackup will make the backup in an unused moment of your computer, if set to automatic mode.

2. Manual backup and shutdown
With Idlebackup it is possible to start a backup manually and let Idlebackup switch off the computer when the backup is ready. To do so, press the Shutdown button after you have started the manual backup.

3. Synchronize backup
Synchronize backup is not often found in freeware backup programs. It may be used incidentally or continuously to clean up the hard-disk with directories and files not found anymore on the source file.

4. Easy browsing through backup set
Since the backup consist of a one to one copy (mirror) of the source, you can easily browse through the backup set with My computer, explorer or the built in explore. This is however only possible with 'Mirror' type backup set. For the other type 'Full' and 'Sequential' you have to use an external ZIP program.

5. Sequential backup
Besides Full backup, which updates the ZIP-file each time it is started, there is Sequential backup. This also called Version backup. Everything is copied to a new zip file with a timestamp. In this way you have all files that belong to each other from a certain point in time. For example you can make each day a backup of your database. So you could roll back the situation of the database to a few days back in time. The program can also delete automatically zip files that are older then a set number of days.

The Three Backup Modes

1. Mirror backup (Normal Full backup):
New or changed files are copied on a one to one base (mirrored). The next time a backup is started there are often not so many file to copy, therefore this works very fast. Very well suited to run automatically when the computer is not used (idle). If during the automatic backup the user presses a key or mouse the backup is interrupted and will be retryed later again in an idle moment. Disadvantage : Only the latest verions of files are available in the backup set.

2. Full backup zipped:
Everything is packed in a single compressed zip archive. New files are added, changed files are updated Disadvantage : Only the latest verions of files are available in the backup set. Less suited to run automatically when the computer is used. (not idle)

3. Sequential backup zipped:
Every time when started, all files are stored in in a time-stamped zip backup. Each backup contains therefore all the files present at a certain point in time. In this way old versions of files can be traced and restored, Disadvantage : Consumes quit a lot of space, each time everything is copied. Less suited to run automatically when the computer is used. (not idle)