The latest backup software from Acronis offers some excellent features which we have been impressed with during testing sessions here at QualityChecker
Whilst reviewing the product, one of our favourite features was the ability True Image 2009 has to recovery from system failure (virus or otherwise).
Acronis 2009 has a very impressive patented snapshot technology, much better than the restore points in XP.
Acronis 09 keeps snapshots or images in a hidden location on your hard drive, even hidden from viruses. The concept is simple, being that, if system failure strikes Acronis 09 can easily make a full recovery for you, and will do so by using these super clever hidden snapshot images.
More on Acronis Snapshots later. Here are the main features of the product which we reviewed:
- Back up your entire PC
- Try&Decide
- One-click protection
- Full text search
- Auto backup based on destination
- Migration tools make upgrades easier
- Security, performance and privacy tools
- ZIP support
- Dual backup
- Protect your applications
- Consolidation
We’ve calved up the Acronis True Image 2009 beast into its key features, and for each feature we’ve given a usefulness rating.
Check out the usefulness ratings chart here»Backup your entire PC – 
Acronis boasts of the patented disk imaging technology, and frankly it is pretty good. Acronis 2009 allows you to take a complete disk image (also know as a snapshot) of your computers hard drive, this of course includes your operating system.
Try & Decide – 
This neat little function allows you to test out potentially imposing or suspect software. Once you’re happy, you can either accept of discard the changes.
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One-Click protection –
Ok perhaps its not rocket science, but it does mean you can specify a set of files and directories and have Acronis 2009 backup them up whenever you want, either manually clicking (err just once!) or by setting a schedule.
Full text search –
Pretty useful feature which allows you to search for files within the backup archives. Sorts out the typical quandary of ‘Where on earth was that file I backed up ages ago’. Doing a quick search and Acronis tells you where the files are. You can even use Google Desktop to search for your backed up files.
Auto backup based on destination –
You can tell Acronis 2009 that when you plug your external hard drive, it automatically starts the backup
Migration Tools –
These are tools for cloning a PC. So for example, you buy a new hard drive for your PC, this tool will copy everything onto the new drive, that way you don’t need to re-install windows.
Security, performance and privacy tools –
Here you’re getting Acronis Drive Cleanser, worth $50. It certainly adds value, this enables you to not just delete files, but makes them ‘really’ go away. You may already know that simply deleting files doesn’t actually destroy them.
Zip support – 
Perhaps not so exciting? Well some people were, so Acronis have incorporated it into their latest product, Acronis 2009. ZIP support is a universally recognised format. The benefits being you can backup to an external drive in ZIP format, then unpack the files on another PC without having to install Acronis 2009. The standard backup format is TIB, which is unique to Acronis
Dual backup –
Backup to two locations simultaneously. So complete your main backup, and backup to an external USB stick at the same time.
Protect your applications –
Acronis can be set to backup application settings such as Microsoft Office, iTunes, Windows Media Player and any other installed applications
Consolidation –
Define rules and have two backups merged into one. Saves a lot of disk space, and a good way to manage archives. So rather than keeping all those backups separate, Acronis 2009 lets you merge them together. Works well to reduce disk space
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Weak
Average
Useful
Very Handy
Stupendously Good
No need to re-install your operating system ever again. The Acronis 2009 patented disk imaging feature is a powerful solution makes your data extremely secure.
A disk image or snapshot is in essence a complete digital copy of your computers hard drive. When you perform a restore, its like going back in time, everything will be ‘exactly’ how it was at the time when you took the snapshot.
This is not like Windows XP snapshot restores, this is a sector-by-sector technology, which is much more advanced and robust. The snapshots are also differential, meaning that they use up much less space than plain disk images would.
What’s more, Acronis have a feature they call ‘active restore’. This means, after selecting to restore you can apply a snapshot or image to your PC, and carry on working at the same time. This feature is exclusive from Acronis 2009
Disk images or snapshots should always be kept in a very safe place. Its a complete copy of everything on your hard drive after all. Acronis provides a solution by putting the images/snapshots into a special hidden area called ‘the acronis safe zone’ This is a hidden partition on your computer hard drive which cannot be accessed by your operating system or by viruses. Its hermetic!
Try & Decide is like a instant disk imaging feature! Lets give a scenario. You download some software off the net. You’re not convinced its safe, you take the risk and load it anyway.
I’m sure we’ve all been there right! Try & Decide is a solution to this vexation. So going back to the scenario, just before installing, crank up Try & Decide by pressing the play button on the Acronis control panel. Now install the potentially dodgy software in confidence, and if you decide its infested with spyware or a virus or for any reason (its sucks!), simply click on the discard button. The Try & Decide feature will clean it all away, and that includes any viruses that escaped into your system during the install.
If on the other hand you are happy with the software you installed, Try & Decide will commit the changes to your system. This feature also makes use of the Acronis Secure Zone mentioned above.
Windows does not provide users with secure data destruction tools, so deleted files can be restored easily by using simple tools available all over the internet
Even a complete disk reformat can’t guarantee permanent confidential data destruction. Acronis privacy tools solves this problem with guaranteed and permanent data destruction algorithms. It allows you to select from a number of data destruction methods depending on the importance of your confidential information.
Think about all the information on your PC. Then imagine deleting it, and to your horror finding out years later, someone was able to recover those files.
So what about if you format your drive, and delete the hard disk partitions? Is the data really gone from the drive? The answer is NO!
Acronis privacy tools ensures the complete destruction of data on selected partitions and/or entire disks