Everyday Autobackup (freeware). Very simple. Just identify the folders to backup and the software backs up the data incrementally. You also have various options on the schedule of backup.Shez

One advantage of a full image backup using the clone method is your backup is available immediately without a restore process. My SATA drives are in cartridges which fit into nests in my midsized desktop. If one goes down I can boot off the other as long as only one is powered up. If needed such as with PATA drives it is easy to swap drives between the nests. The only time both are powered up is when cloning is performed using a bootable CD of utilities.Those that use two drives (one is an extended partition) in a non-RAID setup have to clone each one requiring a bit of disk swapping. With cartridge mounts that is easy to perform.One disadvantage of auto backups is that a corrupted or defective file will automatically replace a good copy on the backup.I use the original VANTEC EASY SWAP product described in this list:http://www.vantecusa.com/en/product/pro_list/62and purchased from newegg.com. Later versions are more appropriate for faster SATA buses.

I can only say everything good about Acronis - I was able to boot it from CD, though stopped doing it (threw my CD away) since I made my 512MB USB-Stick bootable with Acronis on it and now I have everything on that stick. I can make a backup with it, restore, restore files and some basic disk operations like some checks and partition management. Even from networked computer or to it (router), and also external USB drives. It gave me all that I ever required. Strongly suggest you get it.

As an XP user, I use Acronis Migrate Easy for cloning and Disk Director 10.1 for other operations booting off the utility CD. Both operated for me flawlessly. I upgraded to Disk Director 11 Home. The first problem was building the utility CD did not work for the common Linux quick boot. I then built a Windows PE (Pre-install Environment) boot CD (not an easy process) and then performed a clone. The clone would not boot. They then made a download .iso file available for a DD11 boot CD. The CD booted, the clone did not.Getting finally to a higher level tier of tech support I performed a diagnostic sent to me in .iso format and they agree that something is wrong with the clone's MBR (Master Boot Record). I also proved that although I requested an As Is clone, partitions were realigned. However I was able to boot the clone from a Win boot to HD Emergency Floppy so realigning the partitions of the preferred OS boundaries does not appear to be the problem. Using Microsoft's knowledge base I was not able to repair the clone's MBR.Once above version XP of Windows, DD11 must be used and not the two successful utilities I mention in the first sentence. (DD11 includes a cloner.)On another note, their upgrade advertising did not make it clear that all of the features in Disk Director 10 would not be available in Disk Director 11 Home. Their answer is that they will have a later "full" version.In summary I have nothing bad to say about the previous versions. The marketing and viability of the new 11 version has been a disappointment to me.So, if you are an XP user or below you are safe with the combination of Migrate Easy (cloning) and Disk Director 10 run off a boot media in the safe mode versions of those products. The reference to boot media and running safe versions is by both user experience and recommendation from their tech support.

I can only say everything good about Acronis - I was able to boot it from CD, though stopped doing it (threw my CD away) since I made my 512MB USB-Stick bootable with Acronis on it and now I have everything on that stick. I can make a backup with it, restore, restore files and some basic disk operations like some checks and partition management. Even from networked computer or to it (router), and also external USB drives. It gave me all that I ever required. Strongly suggest you get it.