[Macworld]

Post your comments for Bugs & Fixes: Dealing with Data Backup problems here

[Droid]

Ugh! You are really not selling this product well at all…
Backup software that goes flaky with updates and preference changes is not good.
A restore feature that doesn't restore!
An apparent reliance on Java Virtual Machines - that can be updated by Apple's Software update at any point (go back to point one).
Seriously, try SuperDuper! or CarboncopyCloner. Both will clone for FREE, or pay if you want scheduling.
I wonder how well Data Backup 3 fairs in the Backup Bouncer test suite
-> http://www.n8gray.or...backup-bouncer/
Now there's an article that would be worth making Macworld - The reliability of mac backup tools, too much like hard work I guess?

[leicaman]

You couldn't get me to choose that software for anything. Backup software and restores should work or not work. Not make you jump through hoops to make sure it sorta works.
SuperDuper, CCC and Retrospect are way better. And even OSX's built in terminal backup program would be a better choice.
Why not just review it like this:
"It doesn't work as specified. Don't buy it!"

[lewnelson]

I and a couple hundred clients have been using Chronosync for several years. Just one feature that would have helped, Ted, is ability to send email reporting any errors - including not backing up at all. All updates are free for ever.

[fastmac]

There was a very interesting review of Mac Backup Apps back in 2006, here:
http://blog.plastics...ftware-harmful/

[Droid]

fastmac said:

There was a very interesting review of Mac Backup Apps back in 2006, here:
http://blog.plastics...ftware-harmful/

It was that article that led to the backup bouncer suite of testing tools. It would be nice if it was followed up, unfortunately testing many versions of software on many different OS versions (and chipsets) is a huge task that is more than one person can manage. It could become a useful tool for weeding out software that is as flawed as this article describes.

[ted_landau]

Update:
I am now able to get Data Backup to run on my MacBook Pro again. Reinstalling Data Backup did the trick. This replaced an apparently missing Executor startup item.
The mystery is that I had previously reinstalled Data Backup several times; doing so never succeeded on these other occasions. And I am sure that I checked on the Executor item on previous occasions and it was not missing.
Not sure why things were different today, but at least it all works again.

[consumer_x]

So I have an SATA 1TB drive that I will be installing into my desktop to use for backups. Before I start backing up to the drive I wish to check to make sure that it is a-okay. SpinRite is a well-known DOS utility for checking the physical integrity of a HDD, and I have read that people will check new drives using that application. Is there a similar utility on the Mac side of things that I may use to 'check' my new drive before putting it into service (something more than S.M.A.R.T. verification)?
thanks!

[nyip11]

While I agree with the posters' comments in general, the first two bullets to check that the backup actually happened, and that you can restore from the backup are vital checks that everyone should do for all backup programs. Just assuming the backup program will work as advertised will almost always give you a nasty surprise.

[JeffNailen]

Thanks Ted for this article. I've also had major problems with Data Backup over two versions: version 2 and the new version 3. I've really wanted to like this app as a highly recommended alternative to Retrospect. But I've had a series of problems including executor problems and 'internal errors' once I finally got past the executor problems. What's worse, when I contacted tech support they just wanted to sell me the upgrade to version 3 rather than help with my problem. I had to be persistent and send more emails before they would actually provide tech support. Bad sign.
Like a fool, I went ahead and upgraded to version 3 after this problem had been solved only to encounter 'internal errors' when making routine, albeit extremely slow performing backups with version 3.0.5. When this happens the backup stops. When you resume the backup it doesn't pick up where it left off, but starts over making it extremely slow. But it never finished a complete backup due to 'internal errors' that are never explained so there's no way to solve the problem.
Needless to say, I no longer use it because it simply doesn't work and tech support is slow and unresponsive. After doing much research including reading Joe Kissell's excellent Take Control eBooks, I now use dedicated apps for dedicated backups: Time Machine + an Apple Time Capsule for automatic hourly archive backups; the excellent SuperDuper for automatic bootable duplicates, and CrashPlan Pro for automatic offsite backups over the Internet. Once it's all set up as explained in Joe's ebooks it works consistently like a charm with no hassles so far.