Feature Set:  

We liked the one-click backup button best; this made quick backups simple and convenient.

One perk for those who prefer automatic backups—the scheduling tools are exceptional. You can schedule backup intervals anytime, including startup or shutdown. The choices are infinite but simple to define.

Backup for One stores backup files on disk, including DVDs, CDs, hard drives—even on a hard drive connected through a shared network. However, Backup for One cannot backup to FTP locations.

We were disappointed that Backup for One cannot backup email files, Internet favorites, or address books. Also, you can't perform a differential backup, schedule drive spanning or encrypt backups. And if you burn backups to DVD or CD, you must have your own burning software. Backup for One doesn't compare the backup copy to the original to check for errors.

Ease of Use:  

Backup for One was easy to install and setup. Short descriptions on main icons identify controls at a glance.

You can click the Backup Now button on the opening screen and backup your entire system in one step. Restoring is easy too; options are self-explanatory.

One limitation—during installation you must specify a permanent backup destination folder. The only way to change the destination folder is to uninstall then reinstall Backup for One, then specify a new location. This requirement is inconvenient for those who change backup storage locations regularly.

Backup/Restore:  

When we tried to restore the first time, the restore tool didn't allow us to specify the backup location. Instead, we were asked to select a restore location. We figured out where the backup was stored—we specified a location during setup—but when we tried to restore, Backup for One appeared to restore the wrong files.

Our second attempt was better. Backup for One requires precision when specifying backup sets-not doing so muddied our first attempt. After the second backup was complete, the program restored everything perfectly.

Unlike the backup destination folder, which limits you to only one selection, you can change the restore destination anytime (so, restore data to a DVD instead of to a hard drive, for example) without uninstalling and reinstalling Backup for One. Once you understand this limitation and learn to be specific when selecting backup sets, Backup for One operates smoothly.

Help/Documentation:  

The Backup for One help file is excellent. Though the document is a PDF file that requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view, the help file has well-organized chapters that clearly explain all the features the software has to offer.

Backup for One has indexed Contents, a quick link to the website and an About section with manufacturer information. However, Backup for One doesn't offer automatic updates or email support.

Though there were some limitations, we felt Backup for One by Lockstep Systems was a fair backup tool that performed as promised. For a more complete data backup software, refer to our reviews of  Genie Backup Manager,   Acronis True Image and Migo PC Backup