You saved the file an hour ago, and now it's overwritten with the wrong version. Or your laptop and desktop have drifted apart and you can't remember which one holds the latest copy. FileBack PC is built for exactly these situations: it copies your files to another drive or a network location and keeps earlier versions of them.
Quick facts
- Version: 4.1
- Platforms: 32 or 64-bit Windows (98, Me, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista)
- Licence: shareware; the trial version is fully functional
- Listed price: $40.00
Key features
Go back to an earlier version of a file
FileBack PC can keep multiple versions of each backup file. You can restore files to the way they existed at an earlier point in time, and set how many versions to keep and for how many days.
Back up files within seconds of saving them
The program can automatically back up files shortly after you save them, so you don't depend on remembering to run a job.
Use the drives you already have
You can back up and synchronize to hard drives, removable drives or network drives. That covers mirroring a disk, keeping a notebook and desktop in sync, or copying documents to a network server for central storage.
Run backups on a schedule or on a trigger
You can write scripts that start a backup on a schedule or when an event happens. Examples are inserting a disk or switching the computer to battery power.
Store backups plain, compressed or encrypted
Backup files can be kept in their original, compressed or encrypted format. The program also offers automatic network drive mapping and e-mail notification of backup status.
Who it's for
It suits you if you want to protect documents, music, email and pictures on a Windows PC. It also suits you if you need to keep two PCs in step, or want per-file version history without a large backup suite.
Pros and cons
- Pro: it keeps multiple versions of each file.
- Pro: the trial is fully functional, so you can test it on your own files.
- Pro: it supports many triggers, including schedules and hardware events.
- Con: one review site says its complexity may put off novice users.
- Con: it does not support .ZIP compression; it uses its own compression.
- Con: it is aimed at older Windows releases, up to Vista.
FAQs
Does it work over a network?
Yes. It can back up to and from network drives, and it can map them automatically.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. It is shareware, and the trial version is fully functional.
Does it work on Windows 2000?
Yes. Windows 2000 is among the supported versions.
Does it send my data anywhere?
The vendor says the automatic update feature sends only the minimum needed to fetch an information file from its server.
System requirements
- 32 or 64-bit Microsoft Windows (98 / Me / 2000 / XP / 2003 / Vista)
- Long filename support
- 12MB RAM