EMC Retrospect Express 7.5 Backup Software Help

[burnselk]

Can someone give me a review of this product? I just received the link from WD and it directed me to the site to download this product. I imagine everyone who purchased, registered their WD HDD, and completed a "claim form" got this email.

This software is being provided to consumers who purchased WD HDD's within the past 5 years (March 22, 2001 and February 15, 2006) and is "the settlement" that was agreed upon as a result of a class action law suit brought against them. Orin Safier v. WD. Case no. 05-03353-BZ (N.D. Cal).

I downloaded this zip file today but have not installed it. I'll await word from someone who knows a bit about the software before I preceed. If indeed I do proceed. That will be dependent upon what I hear back from you guys. Thanks.

[Mr_Odwin]

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=112945

The above thread is related, I believe.

[burnselk]

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=112945

The above thread is related, I believe.

Thanks Mr_Odwin.....it is a discussion about this software, but there weren't any reviews of this particular software.

I saw somewhere before I logged on here that PC Mag or PC World choose it as the #1 backup software....this was not the general theme of the posts you directed me to....quite the opposite in fact.

[foxyshadis]

Retrospect, or Retrospect Express? I can't imagine the latter being chosen as best of anything (other than best useless OEM software?) but the former is a quite powerful professional backup engine. To be honest, Express is fairly easy to use and less buggy than other bundled backups, but it's so feature-free it's not worth using unless you have no other backups. (In which case, any backup is better than none!)

Start here:
http://www.google.com/search?q=retrospect+express+review

[burnselk]

Retrospect, or Retrospect Express?

My bad....it was the former....and it was not top anything....only in the top 100. Here's the release I dug up:

2006 Marks Second Consecutive World Class Award and Fifth Recognition in Two Years for EMC Retrospect by PC World
HOPKINTON, Mass — Tuesday, June 13, 2006 —
EMC Retrospect 7.5 backup and recovery software for small and medium businesses (SMBs) was honored by PC World with a 2006 World Class Award—one of The 100 Best Products of the Year. Winners were announced in the July 2006 issue of PC World which is available on newsstands today.

This begs the question, if Retrospect is so good why can't they make Retrospect Express at least user friendly and useful?

Thanks for making me clarify that foxy...and to tell you the honest truth....I don't have any other backup software.

[feedback]

Can someone give me a review of this product?
I have the Express version but don't use it. As a matter of fact, I uninstalled it. There are far better programs, IMO, that one should use for backup.

I personally use Acronis True Image version 9.0. It is as easy as pie to use and much better, in my opinion, than Retrospect Express or Norton Ghost for that matter.
Acronis has a trial version you can download so you can try before you buy. See the link below.

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Regards,

[foxyshadis]

This begs the question, if Retrospect is so good why can't they make Retrospect Express at least user friendly and useful?
The entire point behind "express" and "lite" software is to upsell you to the full version, like all crippled OEM software. EMC probably makes no profit on hardware-included products, or even loses money to get it included. (Which is why I called the WD settlement offer a marketing gimmick.)

[burnselk]

Acronis has a trial version you can download so you can try before you buy. See the link below.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/ Regards,

Thanks for the feedback....I have tried Acronis and liked it but my time ran out before I could really make use of it.

I did do a backup with it (but that backup does me no good until I buy Acronis True Image)....which I'm most inclined to do....I've been hearing good things about it.

At least now I know not to bother with the Retrospect Express 7.5. But as foxy said, since I don't have any backup software at all, maybe I'll try to use it until I can get the Acronis.

Does Acronis ever go on sale? I've been watching it....and it stays at $50....and no one sells it for less.

[feedback]

Does Acronis ever go on sale? I've been watching it....and it stays at $50....and no one sells it for less.
It must be your lucky day because $50.00 is what I paid for it in a retail store near to me. ( I wanted the bootable disk without having to burn one which is why I did not download Acronis).

Look what I found at Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832200204

BTW, I have never seen it priced that low before.

Acronis True Image 9.0 - Retail

Original Price: $39.99
Instant Savings: -$15.00
$24.99


$4.99 Three Day Shipping (Not available in HI, AK and PR)

Downloadable version also available

The first reviewer at that site indicted that "The rescue disc just doesn't work". He must be an idiot because I just used the rescue disk on my other laptop and it worked perfectly.

Regards,:)

[burnselk]

Thanks feedback, I just placed my order for a copy at $24.99 at NewEgg + $4.99 shipping. I appreciate the tip.

Now I'll have to see if I can learn to use it....that is when it comes, I didn't do the download either.

Appreciate your help.....I may be calling upon you for some assistance with my backup.....if you don't mind.

Did you read the reviews of Acronis on Amazon....about half like it and the other half seem to hate it.