Easeus Todo Backup Free Edition

Everytime I backup to my 120GB HP drive it gets to about three quarters of the way through and then freezes; however, when I backup to what is the initial default folder, C:\My Backups, it works perfectly to the end. What is odd is when I cancel it (because it is frozen) I go back into the program and the Logs say the backup to F: has been Successful. I am doing a Full File Backup using the File Types (Documents, Music, Pictures, Financial, Videos) option. I am using:
EaseUS ToDo Backup Free 6.1
Windows XP SP3
I have 2GB RAM.
I have checked and there is enough space on the external drive.

 

It's possible that there is a problem with the external drive (I had a controller circuit go bad on one of my external drives) or with the USB cable connecting it to the PC (they sometimes break internally).

 

If that is the case, then how come it backs up manually?

 

I'm not sure of exactly what's going on with EaseUS. Personally, I either use Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper to image my "C" drive. I've not had a problem with either. I prefer AOMEI because of it's speed and smaller image size. I don't just do data files though. I image everything but with smart sector copy (free space is free space and doesn't need to be copied).

 

Have you ever used Easeus?

 

I've not used EaseUS but it sounds to me like the program is freezing during the "verify" stage of the backup process (verify "on" is probably the default setting on scheduled backups). That would account for the existence of the intact backups that you're finding after the program freezes up. Look closely at the program settings to see whether there is an option to "verify after backup". As to why the program is malfunctioning I haven't a clue, but if it continues you should switch to another backup program. There are a lot of good freeware backup programs available from the Major Geeks website.

You might also think about regularly using a disk imaging backup programs. Disk imaging is different from simple file backup, where you merely copy individual files to another location without copying the important information needed for your operating system to boot and run (MBR, hidden system files, partition tables, etc.). With disk imaging, you make a perfect byte for byte copy of your entire disk (at least the parts that hold data) and store that image on a different disk. If your system is later rendered unbootable for any reason (malware infection, file deletion, registry corruption, MBR destruction, etc.) you will be able to copy your stored disk image back onto your system disk, overwriting it entirely and thereby restoring your system to the exact state it was in when the disk image was created (clean, bootable, and functional). You accomplish this by booting from a pre-made rescue disk into a miniature version of a full fledged operating system (usually WinPE or Linux). The disk also contains your disk imaging software which will automatically be launched to begin the recovery process.

I use AOMEI Backupper, not only because it is free but also because it is simple to use, fully automated and profoundly reliable. The app is not yet available for download from the Major Geeks web site but if you're interested you can check out the Backupper homepage at: http://www.backup-utility.com

Should you choose to download the Backupper program, you will also need to download the Linux based "Live" boot ISO file from: http://www.backup-utility.com/download-iso.html

Other good disk imaging backup programs include:

Macrium Reflect (freeware) http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/macrium_reflect_free_edition.html
Paragon Drive Backup (freeware) http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/paragon_drive_backup.html
O&O DiskImage Express (freeware) http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/oo_diskimage_express.html
EaseUS ToDo Backup (freeware) http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/easeus_todo_backup_free_edition.html
Acronis TrueImage (shareware) http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/acronis_true_image_home_2013.html
NovaStor NovaBACKUP (shareware) http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/novabackup.html

Note that the download size of these programs is fairly large (50 - 220 MB). This is because you will not only be downloading a backup application but also a "mini" operating system that will be burned to CD and will constitute the means by which a user is able to access the hard drive of a non-booting system. For those of you who previously checked out AOMEI Backupper but were put off by the need to download the hefty (1.7 GB) Windows AIK for creating a live boot CD, you will be happy to learn that the authors have added an option for creating a Linux based boot CD, requiring a download of only 40 MB.

 

Yes, it was the first backup program I used on my current computer. Also, EaseUS was the first partitioning software I used. EaseUS todo Backup worked but, I wasn't impressed with it's ease of use or backup file size.

Since then, I've experimented with different versions of Windows and Linux because support for XP is running out and I wanted to find an OS that I was comfortable with and worked well on my computer (I'll be going to Vista Ultimate in a couple of days). I've also experimented with different backup and partitioning utilities and for me, the AOMEI products win out. I can't say that they would be the best for you though — there were a couple of posters to other threads that the products didn't work for.

rustysavage may have posted the information you needed and offers excellent suggestions for alternate programs should you decide to try any of them.

 

Two questions before I decide:

1) I have never used the Backup and Restore utility for XP. Is that any good?

and a strange question:

2) Can I use Windows Easy Transfer as backup?

 

The ASR (Automated System Recovery) for XP is only available in XP Pro and requires a floppy disk as part of it. System Restore is available in all versions of XP and can be used to restore XP to a point prior to any problems that may have developed. But, you'd lose any recent apps you had installed AND any recent files you had saved.

Easy Transfer is like the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard of XP. It's used to transfer your files and settings to a new computer running the same version of Windows instead of having to manually do so. But in either case, if you want to back up the OS as well, you'll need to image or clone the drive. And as I stated in an earlier post, I prefer the AOMEI products for these tasks. But that's just MY personal opinion.

 

Not so. User files are unaffected by System Restore.

 

Maybe, on reflection, I wasn't letting it run for long enough. When it froze in the backup process, I noticed the time remaining kept on going up and down. Maybe I should have left it longer?
Could it have been that it was encountering a rather large file?

 

I lost downloads I hadn't yet transferred to an external hard drive and had to re-download them.

 

Or a rather large folder like one with a lot of images or the Windows folder itself. As long as that countdown timer is running, the software is working.

 

Even if the countdown timer is going up and down and the progress bar doesn't seem to be moving for a couple of minutes?

 

Straight from the horses mouth. System Restore does not touch non-system files and that has certainly been my experience.

 

Yes. What you're experiencing with EaseUS is why I wasn't impressed with it and chose AOMEI Backupper. It's faster AND if you image the drive the compression is better with AOMEI than it is with EaseUS OR Macrium Reflect. Plus with AOMEI, you can verify the image immediately after it's created.