WinRAR?

I've long used WinRAR for my data backups. I like the multiple backup profiles and being able to schedule them individually, meaning I don't have to think about backups, they are all completely automatic. But I absolutely loathe the user interface and I'm very reluctant to install it in my shiny new Win 7 setup. It needs a complete redesign first.

Question - is there an alternative that I can use in Win 7 64 bit that has broadly equivalent functionality to WinRAR but won't raise my blood pressure every time I have to use it? Backup is so important I'm happy to pay for the right program.

 

I think you can download custom themes for WinRAR if that helps, you can get them here:

http://www.rarlab.com/themes.htm

 

Thanks, but it isn't WinRAR's appearance that makes me apoplectic, it's the ridiculously clumsy way profiles are created and managed.

 

What about Cobian backup?

 

I do have Acronis v2010, which does have everything I need and more, but I've been reluctant to adopt it permanently because it puts the backups into a proprietary container - a tib file. That means that without an Acronis rescue disk you may not be able to recover your backups. WinRAR uses non-proprietary formats such as rar and zip so you can recover your files using any of a number of free utilities.

However a successful overnight test of Acronis in my Vista system has persuaded me that it's probably a bit daft not to take full advantage of its capabilities, as up to now I've only used it manually for full system backups.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway

 

I do keep the rescue CD available in case I can't boot from the HD at all, but normally when I want to create a new image or restore a previous one I boot the CD ISO straight off the hard disk. It's like 50 times quicker, but you can't do it using the Windows boot manager

I can't really see the point of removing Acronis from Windows, as it can't do any harm there, and keeping it installed allows you to create backup schemes and schedule them automatically. I need that facility in order to be able to replicate what WinRAR presently does.

My backups are stored on an eSATA drive, and automatically repeated to a NAS drive daily using Task Manager. It all works very well, but I shall be glad to see the back of WinRAR.

 

Try 7Zip, man.. It totally rocks.

 

Thanks for the suggestion but I already have and use 7-Zip. However it it isn't suitable for this purpose as it lacks most of the features necessary for a customisable automated backup system.

 

Hi Halo

I see the post about Time Shuttle has been removed so would you mind also removing my reply to it please, currently #10. Thanks

The topic of this thread isn't really live anymore. I've got my system and data backups organised the way I want them and won't be changing anything for the time being.