System Backup



System backup is essential if you can’t afford to lose time for recovery in case of HDD failure. Technologically, operating system backup is the most complicated area of backup. To back up OS you can't merely copy all system files from one drive to another. Firstly, this won't work because a large part of them will appear inaccessible for reading (Windows blocks access to system data through file system). Secondly, operating system, by definition, is launched at computer startup, i.e. system backup must include at least boot records – which are not represented as files at all.


To create a complete system backup, it is necessary to work with the hard drive directly on a physical level, instead of using file system queries. This technology is called disk imaging, and it assumes that the software doesn't use standard drivers to access files, but creates a "snapshot" of HDD sectors. This way you can back up hard disk or any of its partitions entirely, including backups of all system files and applications.


If you don't have either the need or opportunity to create complete system backup, you can also back up system settings that are stored in Windows registry. The registry contains data about all applications and devices installed in the system. By creating registry backup, you back up all preferences and configurations responsible for interaction of software and hardware with operating system, as well as personal preferences of Windows users. Handy Backup supports both functions.

Download Handy Backup - complete system backup software for Windows PCs! See download details...

  • Handy Backup Standard. Order System Backup Software

  • Handy Backup Professional. Purchase System Backup Utility

  • Handy Backup Standard + Disk Image Plug-in. Buy Tool for System Backup

See details on other editions of Handy Backup...

How to Back up System

It is highly recommended that the system partition that is backed up remains unchanged during the process. If you or your system modifies contents of the hard drive while Handy Backup tries to back it up, then the operation may fail. The best case is when you boot from a different HDD or disk partition and add image of the main system drive to the backup task. This selection is made very easily.


System Disk Image Backup image

All options available for common files backup can be enabled for image-based backup too. The data can be compressed, encrypted, verified, etc. and all operations can be scheduled to take place automatically. For the full list of options, please see Handy Backup features...


For details on the usage of the disk imaging feature in Handy Backup, please see Image Backup in the User Manual.

Handy Backup – reliable system backup utility for Windows OS.

Big Plus to Handy Backup

I picked this backup software because it had the compression capability. Big +!



Eric Tikili on December 30, 2009

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Handy Backup is certified for Windows Vista!
Handy Backup is suitable for MySQL backup
Handy Backup can run in Linux under Wine

What to back up

My Documents backup - one click backup of the 'My documents' folder including pics, videos, music, text files
Website backup - most reliable solution to protect your business's web representation
Disk Image Backup - back up your hard drive by creating a hard drive image and saving it to the storage medium
MySQL backup - simple, comprehensive backup of the MySQL database tables
ODBC Database Backup - back up any ODBC compatible databases including MySQL, Oracle, FoxPro, Interbase, MSSQL, DB2, MS Access, Postgre SQL etc.

Where to back up

Backup to DVD-R - record your backups to DVD-R with our in-built DVD burning tool
Backup to CD-R - record your backups to CD-R using data encryption and compression with one click
Backup USB - back up your data to any USB connected device such as USB flash key
Backup to FTP - transfer your backups to remote FTP server for more data security
Backup from FTP - back up data stored on a remote FTP server to your local computer or any removable storage medium

How to back up

Backup with ZIP compression - backup with 10 levels of Zip compression saves storage space
DVD backup verification - makes sure your data are restorable from DVD copy you made
Synchronizing files and folders - one click synchronization of files and folders across multiple locations including remote FTP servers
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Backup software for MS Windows®
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