Handy Backup Reviewer's Comments

Handy Backup by Novasoft, Inc. is a good data backup program, but you must purchase additional plugins to get some basic features. For the price, we feel these features should be included with Handy Backup.

Feature Set:  

We liked the ability to add a timestamp to backup files and the added security offered by encrypted backup passwords. But most other features we had to purchase.

Handy Backup cannot make differential backups and, without additional purchases, cannot backup email, address books, Internet Favorites or the registry. Handy Backup can't perform drive spanning, create an emergency recovery boot disk, do a full image backup or run an error-check verify the success of a backup.

Ease of Use:  

Handy Backup's processes are complex. You must find the right steps for each task without much help from Handy Backup's organization. All the program features took time to find, and it was difficult to discover each new step and to navigate through them in the right order. Novasoft should consider adding mouse-over descriptions to give viewers an at-a-glance understanding of tools.

Backup/Restore:  

The backup and restore tools in Handy Backup were excellent. All the data was backed up and restored as expected and without errors.

Help/Documentation:  

The Handy Backup help files are simple; these include a glossary and a search tool. The help files also show details on available Novasoft plugins.

Summary:  

Novasoft's Handy Backup was missing a few key features. The most attractive features are found in plugins you must purchase separately. This aside, Handy Backup did a fine job.