14 Comments

Top Free Backup Programs for Windows 7

Written by:  • Edited by: Bill Bunter
Updated May 16, 2011 • Related Guides: Windows 7 | Backup Software

Here you find the best free backup programs for Windows 7 including Windows 7 Backup and Restore as well as FBackup, and on our candidate watch list for top free Windows 7 backup program we have Comodo BackUp, GFI Backup, Drive Backup Free Edition, TrueSafe PE as well as AceBackup for example.

Introduction

Windows 7 ships with an integrated backup solution which can be found Control Panel, yet one size doesn’t fit all. We have been looking for the best free Windows 7 backup programs based on what’s around for Windows Vista, yet many vendors have either seized producing new backup software, or no longer provide freeware. Therefore, the majority of entries in our top free backup programs Windows 7 list have been candidates. Our list of free Windows 7 backup programs currently comprises (random order):

  • Comodo BackUp - http://backup.comodo.com
  • GFI Backup - http://www.gfi.com/backup-software-for-business no longer free!
  • FBackup - http://www.fbackup.com
  • Drive Backup Free Edition - http://www.paragon-software.com no longer freeware!
  • TrueSafe Personal Edition - http://www.qpointsoft.com
  • AceBackup - http://www.acebackup.com/download.htm
  • Cobian Backup - http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cbnew.htm
  • Karen's Replicator - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp
  • JaBack - http://www.hiteksoftware.com/jaba/index.htm
  • Windows 7 Backup and Restore – Control Center of any Windows 7 based computer

Comodo Backup
Rating Excellent

Comodo Backup greatly outperforms Windows 7 integrated backup. You can, for instance backup and restore from network locations, something which has now been reserved for users of the Windows 7 (expensive) flagship editions and upsets users of Windows Vista when upgrading from Vista which didn't restrict networked backups to Ultimate or Enterprise editions as explained in our article Backup: What's New in Windows 7?

Comodo Backup, which is completely free but can be extended to include online storage, has much more to offer than Windows 7 Backup and Restore Center. Find here all in Bright Hub's article Comodo Backup 2.0 Review - Free Top Backup Software for Windows and Windows 7.

FBackup
Rating Good

FBackup is a top free backup software which has been successfully tested on 32 and 64-bit Windows 7 RC. The main features of FBackup are ad-hoc as well as automatic backups, ZIP compression backups, 1:1 backups, multi-language support and saving open files trough volume shadow services. On top of that does FBackup support multiple backup destinations and various plug-ins for applications.

Windows 7 Backup and Restore Center
Rating Average

All Windows 7 editions ship with an integrated backup and restore utility. Please find Windows 7 backup and restore including system imaging discussed in depth in Bright Hub’s article How to Use Backup and Restore in Windows 7.

Bottom Line

This list of top free Windows 7 backup programs has been last updated on 13 May 2011, when it was found that Cobian Backup in version 10 supports Windows 7, however the software has not yet been tested by us.

From the available current choice of Windows 7 compatible software we recommend Windows’s 7 integrated system (state) imaging found in Backup and Restore center in conjunction with Comodo Backup.

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Comments

Showing all 14 comments
 
Andy Nov 1, 2011 12:11 PM
RE: Top Free Backup Programs for Windows 7
In a case such as mine where u attempt to save the Backup to a RAID array larger then 2TB the system image generation fails 100% of the time.Microsoft knows of this and so looks to not be planning to fix it
Jeff Bryant Jan 17, 2011 10:26 AM
GFI Backup
I have been using GFI backup with Windows 7 and I have not had any problems when backing up data or restoring data.
Mikerudot Nov 10, 2010 3:59 PM
RE: Top Free Backup Programs for Windows 7
What about ZenOK ? I thinks this one was for 34 usd a year, but is ti reliable?
Mike C Jun 21, 2010 10:44 AM
Comodo is kind of clunky
On the recommendation of this column, I gave Comodo a try. One problems out of the gate: requires Admin account to run, but if you select "Backup Mail" or "User Settings" it only backs up the mail/user settings for the Admin account. Those of us who run a normal account with reduced privs for security lose that functionality. It would have been smarter to allow the program to start up for non-admin, but disable functions like system-state backup that do require Admin privs.

Another issue: the backed-up files don't get their Archive bit cleared on the original hard disk -- not a big deal for most users, but still lame for a backup program to ignore this fundamental.
Grant Watt Feb 11, 2010 8:17 PM
Windows 7 Backup
I have given up on Windows 7 backup. It worked fine for several months then stopped working with an error on the shadow volume. I went through various routines to find the error but couldn't so effectively it is useless. It is a common complaint and even microsoft admit that there are 'issues' with the W7 backup. I am suggesting to my customers to stay away from it for the time being. I am looking for suitable alternative now as I have to have reliable backups
Jeremy Bost Feb 3, 2010 1:31 PM
Windows 7's Backup and Restore
I personally just use Windows 7's Backup and Restore. It is integrated nicely with the File Properties window too.

Why bother with some other program, if what is already there works? :)
Mark Muller Dec 24, 2009 2:28 PM
@Praveen
Whereas Microsoft Windows Vista provided automatic backup functionality to all editions with the exception of Starter do, according to [1], all editions of Windows 7 include full backup and restore functionality as explained in Bright Hub’s article How to Use Backup and Restore in Windows 7.

In http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare [1] you will find "In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network" if you are using Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate.

So apart from network backups, all Windows 7 editions have backup and restore functionality.

better than arguing with India support center you may find top free backup software in Bright Hub's article Top Ten Free Backup Programs for Windows 7 - http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/articles/47759.aspx

Regards,
Mark
Praveen Shevade Dec 24, 2009 1:32 PM
Windows 7 Backup and Restore
MS India informed that though the Backup function is disabled in the control panel in Home Premium version, a third party software can be used to perform the backup.
Regards... Praveen
Praveen Shevade Dec 24, 2009 12:51 PM
Windows 7 Backup and Restore
I purchased windows 7 Home premium and since the Backup function was not working called up the Microsoft India customer service center. MS India service center confirmed that the Backup function has been disabled for Home Premium version.
Mark Muller Dec 24, 2009 5:43 AM
@Praveen
Praveen, where exactly did you hear or see that piece of information?
Praveen Shevade Dec 24, 2009 2:44 AM
Windows 7 Backup and Restore
As on Dec 24, 2009 Microsoft India confirmed that Back up and Restore function has been disabled for Windows 7 - Home Premium version .
DJMin Nov 15, 2009 7:09 AM
ZConverter Windows Backup Lite Edition
D.Kreil, thanks a lot for your interesting in ZConverter and your comment regarding our " one year free license".

We are going to continue to provide yearly base another "one year free license key" on ZConverter web site.

Why we are providing "ZConverter Windows Backup Lite Edtion" with only "one year free license" is because we want users who are using ZConverter Lite Edition revisit ZConverter web site at least one time per year and are informed of the latest updates.

Hopefully, my comment will be helpful for your understanding. Thanks again. DJ.
D.Kreil Nov 15, 2009 12:07 AM
ZConverter Windows Backup Lite Edition.
Hmm, I checked out the zconverter advertised above, but all it offers is a "one year free license". Not very reassuring for something to which I entrust my data...
Seriously, why is there a limit to the free license??
DJMin Oct 26, 2009 10:55 AM
Another Free Windows 7 Image Backup Program
I made a little suprise on a number of the free windows 7 backup already provided and thanks for your valueable information.

I would like to inform you of "ZConverter Windows Backup"
We are also providing the free backup for windows 7 since 9/15/09 sucessfully tested on Windows 7 RTM. - ZConverter Windows Backup Lite Edition.

The main features of ZConverter Lite Edition are live full backup through VSS, compression backup and one-click backup for beginners.

I will really appreciate if you visit our website www.zconverter.com and review ZConverter as a free backup candidate.
 
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