NovaBACKUP is windows backup software that’s complex and flexible at the same time. This application’s interface is split into two views: a Simple View catered towards beginners and an Advanced View with features for data backup experts. The features from one view are slightly different from what you’ll find in the other. When you choose this application, you’re essentially getting two complex applications rolled into one. With a multitude of powerful features and an easy to use interface, NovaBACKUP is our
TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award winner for Windows backup software.
Backup & Restore Options:
The Refresh My Backup feature is unique to the Simple View. This feature updates your backups to incorporate any recent changes you’ve made to your files. Scheduling a backup of only the modified files on your hard drive accomplishes the same goal.
The Backup Wizard in the Simple View has two steps. First you have to choose whether to back up all the files on your hard drive or just the files in the My Documents folder. You can also have the software perform these tasks right away or schedule them for to occur at specified intervals of minutes, hours, days weeks and months.
The Advanced View version of the Backup Wizard provides additional options like data compression, backup verification, open file backup and virus scanning. The virus scanning option is especially helpful because viruses are often the reason you lose data. This option only makes you aware of viruses in your backups, it doesn’t clean, quarantine or delete them. For that you’re going to need a capable anti-virus solution.. As with the other basic Backup Wizard, you first have to decide if you want to back up all the data on your hard drive or limit it to pictures, emails, music or files in the My Documents folder.
After that, you can decide if you want this Windows backup software to perform a full, incremental, differential or snapshot backup. Incremental backups deal with selected files that haven’t been backed up previously or files that have been changed, and they are marked as having been backed up. Differential and snapshot backups do the same thing, except they don’t flag any files. You should always perform a full backup first and then update your first backup with subsequent incremental and differential backups.
NovaBACKUP has great options for recovering your data following an event that results in data loss. These recovery features have options for recovering data and creating bootable media, as well as performing, compressing and verifying backups. With backup compression, you can reduce the size of your backups until they’re more manageable. It’s better to compress your backups and save hard drive space than be forced to delete them because you’re running out. Verifying your backups might add more time to each job, but it’s a surefire way to ensure that your backup has been completed. If you don’t have this option enabled, you may encounter errors when you attempt to recover your data. The data-recovery options in this Windows backup software serve as an overall solution for users who want to safeguard their data against getting lost in a disaster.
Recovering your data with NovaBACKUP is even simpler than backing it up. While the Backup Wizard has two versions, the Restore Wizard is identical in both the Simple and Advanced Views. All you have to do is look inside a backup file and pick the files and folders you want to restore. Next, you have to tell the software whether you want the files you’re restoring to overwrite existing files and indicate where you want them to end up. It’s that simple.
Feature Set:
NovaBACKUP partners with several online storage solutions like Steelgate Technologies to provide shortcuts to their sign-up pages within the application. The advantage of looking for an online storage service through this Windows backup software is the sales they provide. You won’t be able to find these deals on online storage anywhere else. We did wonder, though, why Novastor doesn’t offer its own online storage service.
Ease of Use:
Help & Support:
While their user forums, knowledgebase, documentation and training videos provide an ample amount of information, the nuts and bolts of Novastor’s customer service options are only available in their paid support plans. The fact they charge for help and support diminishes the value of their outstanding customer service options.
Summary: