http://www.versionbackup.eu/
Reviewed January, 2007
 

What’s it do?

 Automatically backs up data by saving it separately from the previous backup and archiving it to CD, DVD, or FTP server.


Does it Do What It Promises?

Reviewer 1: Yes. It is not simply backup software in the traditional sense that makes copies but a complete backup archive system that will not only keep the backups of the last copy run, but will make and store a separate backup file version daily as an archive which will remain available indefinitely on a network, FTP, or external data. It offers data compression, encryption, scheduling, and automatic retry.

Reviewer 2: Yes, it does. The Web site gives more than complete information on all the features of the program. The program does exactly what is described. The descriptions of the program features are factual and well-written. VersionBackup Master makes backups in many different ways, both full and incremental. It also provides choices for backing up to any type of media including via FTP. Included with the program is a module called the Backup Browser that allows complete control over all your backups, backup versions, files, archives and more.

Reviewer 3: My experience with Version Backup Master was poor. I installed it and performed a full backup of my data followed by a scheduled incremental backup series. When the health of some of my business financial files was in question, I used this program to attempt to restore the files in question to a new location. While the needed files were shown as included in the backed-up files, the restore program ran and reported that the files requested could not be found.

Reviewer 4: The essential purpose of backup software is to keep an extra copy of the data that you create with the programs that you have on the computer. It is the electronic version of a carbon paper copy, or a photocopy, which you file in a safe place, in case you lose the originals. Unfortunately, we often place too much value in the infallibility of our electronic gadgetry, and assume that disaster will only happen to the other guy. Recently I became another "other guy." Fortunately I did have some backups – they were not completely up-to-date, so I did lose valuable information. When I first started using this program I wasn't sure that it would have functions that other backup programs do not provide. This is the claim at the top of the VersionBackup Master Website: We provide more than other Backup Software: * Backup creation without overwriting already existing backups; * Old backup versions will be kept as long as you need; * In the structured backup archive, all old backups are easy to find. At first, I wasn't sure that this could all be done relatively easily, but, in fact, I find that I like the program more as I get used to it. And yes, it keeps all three of those promises.

Reviewer 5: The program backs up files as any backup program would do. Additionally, it saves files incrementally. Recalled files from both full and incremental backups appeared to be fully and accurately reconstructed and I found no errors. All features performed as promised.


Was It Easy To Install?

Reviewer 1: No. While it was a fast 4.05MB download, there were issues with the installation wizard (full screen and can not be reduced), EULA (End User License Agreement)—see below, icons (placement without the users input), and registration (which must be done at the Web site and is not apparent until one digs through a help file tree and even then offers a link that is not clickable); all of which made the installation unnecessarily cumbersome and tedious.

Reviewer 2: Yes, there was no problem at all. The EULA is short, to the point and does not include any suspicious passages. One of the best I’ve seen in a while.

Reviewer 3: Installation was quick and simple. Version Backup Master attempted to add itself to my startup group without notifying me or asking for permission. This was detected by other monitoring software on my system. The license restricts installation to one computer at any time

Reviewer 4: Yes. Installation took less than one minute, and was done in the normal, standard way. The EULA (End Users License Agreement) states that one license allows you (and the other users of that computer) to use it on one computer. You will receive up to three years of support by email. There was no particular difficulty with registration. When you do register, you are reminded of the limit of the license you have purchased.

Reviewer 5: Yes, the download/installation process was a snap. The file is less than 5 MB, so downloading is reasonable even for those with dialup connections.


Good Points.

Reviewer 1: What separates VersionBackup Master from other backup programs and gives it its distinction is its “archive” feature which allows you to not only create backups—daily if so desired—but rather than each new backup overwriting the previous one, you can “archive” each individual backup. As a result, one can easily restore any previous “version” of one’s files as might be needed. In fact, if one would wish, you can keep each of these individually “archived” backups forever. Storage space is actually relatively small because each of these daily backups are incremental, not full, backups. So, why is this different than simply making incremental rather than full backups with your current backup program? Again, because each incremental backup is kept as an individual and accessible (and editable) file. Now you may be asking what in the world you would do with hundreds or thousands of files containing nothing but the incremental changes to your files—little bits and pieces as it were? This is where this software really shines: VersionBackup is able to reconstruct each of the daily stored incremental backups even if from several files into one full backup of your computer’s state on any given day. As a result, you actually have less storage space needed as you really need rarely do a full backup. The GUI (Graphic User Interface), while not the most attractive I have seen, is relatively intuitive and thus fairly easy to negotiate. There are adequate—although, not extensive---help files available as well as a sizeable FAQ on the developer’s web site. There is a moderate learning curve involved before becoming fully adept at the various ways to configure the software, but this is true of most full featured backup programs. As mentioned above, there are the full features you would expect from most good backup software including scheduling, compression, the ability to backup over a network, FTP, or using external media. There is a small and somewhat unique feature called the “Auto Retry” that allows you to configure the program to retry to copy any files it was unable to do so initially due to being unable top be accessed, etc. Think of it as an automatic redial on your telephone in the even of a busy signal. This is a nice touch. VersionBackup Master performed flawlessly during my use of over three months. The backup time was fast (of course this, in large part, depends on the speed of your computer), accurate, and worked as advertised. The software was stable, and did not consume excessive resources (although I think the footprint could be reduced a bit—see below). In addition to the program’s features, and my above mentioned installation issues aside momentarily, I must make notes of three excellent items not often found during software installation process, and one which is truly unique. First, and before beginning to install, you are provided a “Read Me Information” window as well as a “Hints for Installation” window. No longer do you have to hunt for such items in a help file or your program folder after you have downloaded and installed the program; VersionBackup Master provides this up front. Second, and this is truly unique and highly commendable, you are provided with a “Component Listing” which shows, in advance, the number of files that will be installed, the number of files that are executables, and even the number of .dlls. Again, this is to be applauded.

Reviewer 2: The Web site is one of the most informative I’ve ever seen. All the features of the program can be read about here, there is a FAQ listing both common and uncommon problems, several pages of very useful on-line help plus much more. This is an extremely good example of how a program should be presented to the user. The user interface is very easy to use and quite self-explanatory. The menus are easy to work with and there are very good helping texts for many of the choices in the menus. Error messages are not ”cryptic” and easy to understand. No obscure exclusive numbering systems are used for errors. You get an error message (with a number) but also with a short text explaining it or some help in making a choice to resolve the error. The choices for backups are probably the best I’ve seen and all the choices can be “fine tuned” in many ways. VersionBackup Master can make both full backups and incremental backups. This means that you only need to backup files that have been changed, and this can be done both manually or automatically at a pre-set date or time. Along with the program, you get another module called the Backup Browser. With the browser you have full control over all the backups you’ve made and you can recover any or all of the files of your choice. Recovery is fast and efficient. All actions are logged. This feature is common with all backup programs, but the information contained here is quite extensive. The archive feature allows making an extra copy of backup files to a CD or DVD. I tried changing the order of the different backup paths to see if the program could handle skipping a backup where the network wasn’t available or if the FTP connection wasn’t up. I even tried backing up to a network over an encrypted connection over the Internet. It worked well. The program goes through the different paths incrementally and skips those that aren’t accessible and then informs of the omission at the end of the backup procedure. All in all, there are more choices for making and customizing backups than I’ve ever seen in a program like this – and I’ve tried quite a few over the years.

Reviewer 3: Based on not being able to restore files from full and incremental backups when needed, I have nothing positive to report about this program. No set of features can compensate for this critical failure.

Reviewer 4: The first time that you start the program you are immediately presented with a help screen, which says in part: VersionBackup is designed to save the files, which you have created or you are working on, in an optimum way. To do this, VersionBackup needs information, where those files are located. It then points you to the place where you will set-up your first "Backup Path". This is accomplished by a Wizard that guides you through the required steps. The layout is quite plain, and functional, without too much glitz and glitter; but, it is very thorough, with a lot of instructional material to explain in great detail and in a straightforward process what you are doing. If you do not have much previous experience with backups, one of the more confusing bits of terminology to understand and use efficiently is the difference between full backup and incremental backups. VersionBackup Master explains this process very well to you, suggesting when to do a full backup, then proposing a reasonable number of incremental ones before the next full backup. Each step of the way, you are presented with options and informed of the advantages of each. Two shortcuts (icons) are installed on the desktop, Version Backup and the Backup Browser. The Backup is just that: the complete backup process. It includes all the options possible: scheduling backups to occur automatically, determining where to send the backup information (to a backup folder on the same drive, to a different drive on the computer, to a network drive, to an FTP site), archiving of old backups, access to the Web-site, to support, and to help. Within the program you can also click on an item called "Access to the Backups", which is the same as the Backup Browser. The Browser lets you have access to all your backups. When you first run the Browser, it will create a database of all the backups that you have done, on all the drives that are available to the browser at that time. This will give you quick access to any file that you have backed up. It is like an expanded Explorer tree, with extra columns and symbols, not only where the files are located, but also what Version each one is. This means that either you can choose the files at a given date, or you can choose the date of the files. In other words, you can choose the Version of the file that you want to restore. As far as I know, this feature is unique to VersionBackup Master. As you move the mouse over all the different parts of the window, (the toolbar buttons at the top and the bottom, the menu items, the different windows) a one-line explanation appears in a "tips bar" at the very bottom of the screen. In some cases, an additional "tips balloon" will appear just beside the cursor. I found all this to be very useful, particularly when I was first using the program. Like everything else in VersionBackup Master, the help information is very detailed and complete. Support is an essential component of any software program and with VersionBackup Master, support is available by email to registered subscribers. The response is usually received within two to three days and is complete and thorough.

Reviewer 5: The most important feature is the ability to make incremental copies ordered in such a way to allow easy version manipulation and management. As files are backed up they are automatically compressed in zip format to save space and they may be encrypted. Files can be saved to a local drive, an external drive, CD, DVD, FTP server, to a network, or to another computer. The typical incremental backup took less than two minutes and ran in the background. If the program senses an error, it will automatically retry the backing up process. Since the various backup versions are archived separately, at some point it will be desirable to purge the unneeded older versions. This can be done manually or scheduled after a specified period or number of backups. Configuration is assisted by a helpful wizard. Rather than an entire directory, certain files can be specified. An efficient browser locates clearly ordered folders and recalls backups that will automatically be reassembled and reconstituted, keeping intact the various file versions. The program proved very stable and did not interfere with any of the many programs I have running at any given time. It has proven to be reliable and is very unobtrusive, in a small package with some nice programming.


Weak Points.

Reviewer 1. There is an old saying about the devil being in the details and rarely have I sent this old axiom more apropos that with VersionBackup Master. In fact, it is because of these “details”—the fine print, as it were—that I will not recommend this otherwise excellent program. I am not certain whether the developer(s) have suffered from too much litigation or if one of them may has previously been in the business of writing insurance policies, but I don’t believe I have ever seen so many statements of exclusion and/or exception written in a EULA (End User License Agreement) in all my many years of testing software programs. And it is not just in the EULA—which, by the way, is linked separately and can be read by going to www.versionbackup.eu/eula_master_english.html  or a pdf version at http://schroeder-bergen.de/sb-aw/Download/EULA_ME.pdf  --, but throughout their Web site. In one such instance not found in the EULA, there is actually a disclaimer in the support section of the web site which states, and I quote: I know and agree, that SB-AW cannot take any liability for the content of the answer. If there will be any harm or damage, putting the answer into action, I will renounce any kind of compensation. As I understand this, if a response provided by the technical support staff causes your computer to explode, you will not ask them for any compensation. You have just agreed to sign away your rights as a consumer! Unconscionable! As to the EULA, and I cannot urge you strongly enough to read it carefully before deciding to download this product, in the last statement VersionBackup Master refuses to guarantee its software to be virus free! When, in this day and age, entire Web sites that deal in software downloads can and do make such guarantees, there is absolutely no excuse for a developer to be unable to do so. As a result of just this single issue, I will not recommend this software.

Reviewer 2: If you want to make a backup directly to a CD/DVD you have to have so-called packet writing software installed to write directly to a CD. Several media packages (Nero, RecordNow, etc. offer this, but the program advises against it, since using a CD as a primary backup medium is not as safe as writing to an extra hard disk.. The need for packet writing software is not made immediately clear in the help files; it is there, but you have to look for it. Sometimes the backups were a little slow in comparison with other backup programs.. The reason for this is not evident, but it’s something one should be aware of.

Reviewer 3: While testing this software, I had the need to restore Quicken files for my business. I located the files I needed in the “Backup Browser” and requested restoration to a new location. The program ran and reported that the files requested could not be found. I checked for the files in every instance of the full and incremental backups without success. I also used their utility to “repair database” and tried restoring the files again to no avail. I contacted technical support by email which is the only means of contact provided. The turnaround time for messages was just over 24 hours. While this would be fine for non-critical applications, this lag is too long in my opinion for a high-priority task such as file restoration. If you are attempting to restore files and are having problems, you probably do not have the option of putting your computer on hold for days. Telephone support from a live tech would be more appropriate for a serious commercial program. The reply from tech support was thorough and courteous. They asked a series of questions to investigate the issue. We found that the files in question had been copied by the VersionBackup, but could not be retrieved by it. Since VersionBackup compresses files in a .ZIP format, it was possible to retrieve the files by unzipping with another program. Apparently, VersionBackup had a problem dealing with my laptop’s secondary hard drive that was inserted directly into a dedicated bay. The program’s structure to browse for files and directories is awkward. Rather than combining the drives, directories and files into a continuous tree, they have a separate box to select the drive, another for the directory, and yet another for the subdirectories and files. There is no option to create a new directory from within the browser dialog. You have to go to an external program such as Windows Explorer to create one if you do not have an appropriate directory available. When I apparently interrupted one of my incremental backups, an error message was displayed, but then the program simply terminated with no options given for correcting the backup process for that day. It seems to me that the option to retry the backup process should be prompted.

Reviewer 4: VersionBackup Master stores the backed-up files in standard ZIP format so they are accessible through any unzip software. However, because they are being organized by version it would be very difficult to restore any files without the Backup Browser. This is actually essential for tracking the versions of the backups, and where they have been stored. The overwhelming amount of detailed information provided in the program, in the help files and on the Web site might discourage some people by its sheer volume. I would recommend a Users Forum as an excellent way to provide support and build a network of users who are willing to share their own tips and tricks and help out those who have less experience.

Reviewer 5: Similar to other very good, feature-rich programs, the help file is very large and surely will present a daunting read for some. I think the detailed instructions are necessary, however. And no other weak points come to mind.


Other Comments.

Reviewer 1: This reviewer will not recommend any software program that leaves open the question as to whether it might be infected with viruses or malware. The anti-virus and anti-spyware industry has become a multi-billion dollar business as a result, in part, of all liability regarding viruses and spyware being placed on the consumer or user. In any other business this would at best be seen as anti-consumerism and at worst illegal; but, it has become the de rigeur of the computing world. You can hold your electric utility company liable if their wiring burns down your home; you can hold your automobile dealer liable if the car you purchase explodes as you drive it off their parking lot. In fact, you can hold almost any supplier of a product or service liable for damages other than those same entities in the computing world. Instead, consumers and users are being forced into purchasing, what amounts to, product liability insurance under the name of anti-spyware or anti-virus software, when in all other venues product liability insurance is the responsibility of the business supplying the product or service. Uninstallation of this program was very sloppy and left 93 empty registry entries, six temporary files, the program file, and the uninstaller, indicative of very poorly written code.

Reviewer 2: Some of the texts in the help files and on the Web site are slightly strange as far as the English is concerned (the developer is German). It should be carefully edited before releasing the program on an international market. This is probably not a program for a novice because there is just so much you can do here. Whether this is a weak point or not is left to the reader’s discretion, but the choices available could be quite daunting, if one is not accustomed to working with a backup program.

Reviewer 3: There is a free 30-day trial installation available. Tech support is by email and is provided for three years from the purchase date.

Reviewer 4: What sets this program apart from other backup software is that it keeps all versions of your files and does not overwrite the older backups with the newer ones. VersionBackup Master allows use over a network, FTP backups, archiving to CD or DVD, encryption, detailed scheduling, email support, password protection and compression. A fully functional copy of the program, limited to 30-days use, is available by download as is a freeware version for personal computers.

Reviewer 5: A very nice, sleek , smart program. While similar programs offer some of the features of VersionBackup, they rarely incorporate all of these features and integrate them to run as smoothly and with such reliability in such a small footprint. The product is reasonably priced and really delivers.


Will You Continue To Use It?

Reviewer 1:  No.

Reviewer 2: Yes. I like this program and it gives me all the choices I will ever need for backing up and archiving my files. Good work!

Reviewer 3: No.

Reviewer 4: Yes, I will. Much of the work I do has to be kept for a number of years. Using VersionBackup Master, I will be able to archive it, and be able to retrieve any particular information I might need at a future date.

Reviewer 5: Yes, I most definitely will.
 

OPERATING SYSTEMS USED IN THIS REVIEW
Windows XP Pro, XP Home, XP Media Center

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