COMODO Backup v4.4.1.23

COMODO Backup is free backup software that can be configured to automatically backup your important data, from an entire drive down to individual files.

COMODO Backup can even isolate things like desktop email accounts and browser data for easy backup!

An advanced but easy to use restore function is included with COMODO Backup, as well as compression and encryption support.

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Note: This review is of COMODO Backup v4.4.1.23, which was released on October 08, 2014. Please let me know if there's a newer version I need to review.

COMODO Backup: Methods, Sources, & Destinations

The types of backup supported, as well as what on your computer can be selected for backup and where it can be backed up to, are the most important aspects to consider when choosing a backup software program. Here's that information for COMODO Backup:

Supported Backup Methods:

COMODO Backup supports full backup, differential backup, incremental backup, as well as synchronized backup.

Supported Backup Sources:

COMODO Backup can backup entire physical hard drives, individual partitions (even hidden ones), partition tables, individual folders and files of your choosing, registry keys and registry values, individual email accounts, instant messaging conversations, or browser data.

Note: The partition with Windows installed can be backed up while it's still in use, meaning there's no need to reboot to complete a backup like this.

COMODO Backup utilizes Volume Shadow Copy to do this.

Supported Backup Destinations:

Backups can be saved to a local drive, optical media like a CD/DVD/BD disc, network folder, external drive, FTP server, or sent to a recipient over email.

You can also back up to the cloud via COMODO's online backup add-on service.

You can see where COMODO's cloud backup plans rank in my Online Backup Services Reviewed list.

Backups can be saved to these destinations using the popular ZIP or ISO format, as well as COMODO's proprietary CBU format. A self-extracting CBU file is also an option, which is helpful if restoring your data might happen when COMODO Backup isn't installed.

COMODO Backup can also save backups using a regular copy function to avoid compression or conversion.

More About COMODO Backup

• COMODO Backup works with Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
• Setting up a backup is easy because it walks you through a wizard to ask you exactly what you wish to do
• Restoring data is simple with COMODO Backup because you're able to mount the backup as if it were a virtual drive to browse through like you would in Windows Explorer
• Any program can be launched before and/or after a backup
• The network and processor utilization that COMODO Backup can use is able to be adjusted to ensure performance isn't impacted too greatly
• You're able to exclude certain file extensions when setting up a backup, which allows for whole folders to be selected but also makes room for disabling certain files from being included

• Among the several backup settings available in COMODO Backup, you can quickly disable hidden and system files from being backed up
• Scheduling allows a backup to run at precise locations, like at every logon, once, daily, weekly, monthly, when idle, or every so many minutes
• A custom compression level can be chosen for a backup, like anywhere from no compression to medium or maximum
• Backups can be password protected and encrypted with an algorithm (e.g. AES, DES, or Blowfish)
• COMODO Backup will notify you with a popup message if there's not enough disk space to perform a backup
• An option can be selected in the settings to scan the backup source for malware before running the task, though you're unable to choose a custom antivirus program

• A backup can be split into chunks to fit on things like floppy disks, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs
• While a backup is running, you can choose to have the program shut down your computer when it's complete
• Instead of selecting a backup source from within the COMODO Backup program, you can right-click files and/or folders in Windows Explorer and send them to the program, from where you'll start the backup wizard on the second step to choosing a destination (you can disable this integration into Windows Explorer through COMODO Backup's settings)
• COMODO Backup can send an email to you if a backup has failed or succeeded
• Rescue Media is a bootable program you can have COMODO Backup make for you in case you need to restore your files but can't boot into Windows

My Thoughts on COMODO Backup

COMODO Backup is an excellent free backup program. The advanced options let you customize your backup in just about any way imaginable, all without over complicating the process.

What I Like:

Some backup programs can backup just files, and others allow partition saving but not individual folder backup. COMODO Backup allows for all of this by combining the best of several backup programs into one master suite.

Not only do I like the fact that I can use COMODO Backup to save files and folders to an FTP folder with password protection enabled and specific scheduling options, but it also lets me back up my entire hard drive, which means I don't need to install additional programs to add that ability to my computer.

The restore feature in COMODO Backup is absolutely wonderful. Instead of restoring all files and folders like some backup programs require, you can mount a backup as if it were a virtual drive and then copy out the files you wish to use at that time. Alternatively, you can restore the whole backup to the original location, so it's nice that the choice is there.

I find the interface to be simple to use because setting a backup is as easy as walking through the wizard.

What I Don't Like:

The biggest thing I don't like is that backup versions aren't shown side by side in COMODO Backup. What I mean by this is that when you're restoring files from a backup that has more than one version available from different times, you can't compare the two versions very easily. You're able to choose the specific backup to browse through, but viewing the multiple versions next to each other isn't the way the program interface is built.

During setup, COMODO tries to push you to install cCloud, their cloud storage program, alongside the install of COMODO Backup. If you don't want this program, you must uncheck the option before moving through the installer. Don't get me wrong, COMODO makes great software, but their cross-promotion is annoying at best.

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