Acronis True Image 2010

Acronis True Image 2010 is a backup and restore program. It can take an exact copy of your PC for a full backup, or just copies of your important files and application settings. Think how much time you may have put into adjusting the settings for programs like Microsoft Office, iTunes, or Windows Media Player. With Acronis True Image 2010 these settings are quickly restored. Backups can be incremental or differential. For example, instead of taking a full copy of a set of files during each scheduled backup, the program will check to see what changes have been made and only record those changes. This saves on time and on storage space.

A wizard will guide you through the process of setting the program to perform tasks automatically, so that backup and restoration is easy, even for beginners. You won't notice a backup is in progress - it is possible to continue working without noticing that the process is in operation.

Acronis True Image Home 2010 includes several useful key components. With Try & Decide, you can install new software and, if after testing you don't want the software or it causes problems with your system, the new program is easily removed. This feature can also be used to recover your computer from unwanted applications (often known as malware) that might sneak onto your computer while you are browsing the internet.

An image, or exact copy, of your hard disk can also be kept close to hand. With Secure Zone the program saves an image of your system in a special, hidden partition on your hard disk, where it may be accessed when the system is being restored.

The Acronis Online Backup feature also gives you the option to automatically backup valuable files over the internet to a secure location, so you can access them online if needed.

• Compatible with Windows 7
• Backup and restore the entire system or individual files, folders and categories
• Live backup - keep working right through your backup for maximum convenience
• Choose from incremental and differential backups - both capture the changes made since the last backup, and with Acronis data compression, both save disk space
• Acronis Secure Zone® - protect your system by saving an image to a special hidden partition on your hard disk where it can be accessed when the system is being restored
• Set and Forget feature - configure once and perform backups automatically
• Reserve backup copy - store multiple copies of the backup in another pre-defined location in a pre-selected format
• One-click protection - create a backup strategy of the system and implement it with just one click
• Try and Decide feature gives you risk-free testing of new applications or websites in a safe environment
• Privacy tools provide reliable data destruction of files, partitions, or volumes
• Acronis Startup Recovery Manager - Boot and restore a system after a failure. Start the recovery process simply by selecting the F11 key, even if your operating system has failed
• Windows®-style interface

• Operating system: Windows 7, Vista, XP SP2, Windows XP Professional X64 Edition
• Pentium processor 1GHz or faster
• 256MB RAM
• CD-RW/DVD-RW drive for bootable media creation

Verdict:

Excellent backup but users may find it difficult to understand its nuances