Zip Backup to CD by Datahjealp is the least expensive data backup software we reviewed but may not be a bargain—the program has limited features and is a challenge to use. We were pleased with the amount of features it did have for a product with its price tag. However, this product hasn't been updated in quite some time, so it remains to be seen if there are any improvements on the horizon. You can still download or purchase the program, but it hasn't been updated since 2006. This is a troubling sign for the likelihood that you will use this program over those that have regular, sometimes daily, updates.
Zip Backup to CD can backup your specific files and folders, the registry and even your Windows settings and preferences-a feature few backup programs offer.
Another unique feature—Zip Backup allows you to change the archive bit manually; this piece of data allows the backup program to track which files have been backed up and when. If you wanted to include a folder that you had excluded from a previous backup, you could manually reset the archive bit to include that folder.
We liked the CD/DVD section of Zip Backup to CD. The program automatically detects what kind of CD or DVD burner you have installed and lists the types of CDs and DVDs your burner will support—a convenient perk.
However, Zip Backup to CD doesn't offer email backup, address book backup or Internet Favorites backup. Zip Backup doesn't encrypt backups, create a bootable backup or a full image backup, and can't backup to remote FTP locations.
We had no problems installing and setting up the program, but we were haunted by access errors.
We found the flow of Zip Backup to CD choppy; it was easy to go off course. The program has a different tab for each job but doesn't show you what to do next or how to complete all the steps in a task.
For example, when trying to restore a backup, we found where to input the destination for the restore, but couldn't find how to input the location of the actual backup file. After some hunting, we found the necessary information on a dropdown menu.
This product backed up perfectly. But, when restoring to the hard drive, we received an access violation error. We closed the program then reopened it hoping to skip the error by starting over—but the error remained.
Finally, the third time we reopened it we succeeded—Zip Backup to CD restored files to our selected location without an error message. Even though we did some troubleshooting, we still don't know why we received that error message or how we got past it.
The help files include a glossary and a search tool. You can also follow a link to the Datahjealp website, view hints or register your purchase in the help section. Zip Backup to CD's help document is excellent; we used help frequently.
Something Zip Backup to CD didn't include that would make the help section even better is a troubleshooting guide that explains all the errors that pop up in Zip Backup.
We don't recommend Datahjealp's Zip Backup to CD for beginners. The design is troublesome and may frustrate even seasoned professionals, but there's plenty of help available along the way.
