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| Overall Rating: | Not rated (0.0) | Features: | Not rated (0.0) | Support: | Not rated (0.0) |
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Featured Reviews
Does not work at all under Snow Leopard 
- Version: 3.1, 11/20/2009 09:05PM PST
(1 of 1 users found this comment useful)
Kerry Dawson
I've used Data Backup without trouble for at least two years without incident until Snow Leopard came out. The introduced 3.1 for Snow Leopard compatibility. It still isn't compatible. In fact, I finally realized the backups were doing strange things like running at odd times, more than it should on the schedule and thus I had no confidence in the backups it was creating.
Support has been responsive but they have been telling me this is going to be fixed soon and Snow Leopard came out 3 months ago. The 3.1 still has not been updated with a fix. The last I heard from support is that its going to be fixed soon but I had this odd feeling the developer has gone a missing.
This is not cheap software. I decided to get Get Backup 2 which complements Time Machine nicely and works fine with Time Machine. In fact, everything I have worked with Time Machine shortly after it came out. SuperDuper, another excellent backup and cloning software was Snow Leopard compatible almost from the get go.
I used to be a Retrospect user before Data Backup and switched to Data Backup as I liked its rotational capability. I tried Retrospect v8 which is Snow Leopard compatible but it really is overkill for my needs. If Data Backup worked like it used to, it would be great. However, it doesn't and I am left with little confidence in their ability to deal with this issue of making their software SL compatible. This is backup software and its used for safety. This is appalling that this program is being marketed on here as Snow Leopard compatible. If you buy it, check your logs if you have it doing scheduled backups or even just manually backup. You'll find the time stamps in he logs make no sense. So how can you trust anything that is backed up if it has to be restored.
I'd stay away from this program even if they paid you to take it let alone you paying them.
Support has been responsive but they have been telling me this is going to be fixed soon and Snow Leopard came out 3 months ago. The 3.1 still has not been updated with a fix. The last I heard from support is that its going to be fixed soon but I had this odd feeling the developer has gone a missing.
This is not cheap software. I decided to get Get Backup 2 which complements Time Machine nicely and works fine with Time Machine. In fact, everything I have worked with Time Machine shortly after it came out. SuperDuper, another excellent backup and cloning software was Snow Leopard compatible almost from the get go.
I used to be a Retrospect user before Data Backup and switched to Data Backup as I liked its rotational capability. I tried Retrospect v8 which is Snow Leopard compatible but it really is overkill for my needs. If Data Backup worked like it used to, it would be great. However, it doesn't and I am left with little confidence in their ability to deal with this issue of making their software SL compatible. This is backup software and its used for safety. This is appalling that this program is being marketed on here as Snow Leopard compatible. If you buy it, check your logs if you have it doing scheduled backups or even just manually backup. You'll find the time stamps in he logs make no sense. So how can you trust anything that is backed up if it has to be restored.
I'd stay away from this program even if they paid you to take it let alone you paying them.
Beware! This program spams your computer with thousands of files! - Version: 3.1, 11/19/2009 11:30AM PST
kposer
After giving Data Backup a try I found out that this program has put one invisible folder ".indelible-info" with one file "indelible-backup-des-info.xml" into each and every folder on my hard drives. Altogether I have now 13,508 ".indelible-info" folders with 13,508 "indelible-backup-des-info.xml" files in them on my hard drives. Yes, 13,508 (thirteenthousandfivehundredandeight) each. Moreover, the xml files have very restricted permissions (-rw-r--r--) which makes it more or less impossible to get rid of them in eternity.
When I contacted Prosoft's support department about this (with a screenshot that shows everything) they first acted as if Data Backup would only put one single ".indelible-info" folder onto a hard drive and that it would be possible to delete with the "rm" command. After I wrote back that this is not about one folder but 13,508 and that I would like to get rid of them they stopped communicating with me.
I would be very careful with this application!
When I contacted Prosoft's support department about this (with a screenshot that shows everything) they first acted as if Data Backup would only put one single ".indelible-info" folder onto a hard drive and that it would be possible to delete with the "rm" command. After I wrote back that this is not about one folder but 13,508 and that I would like to get rid of them they stopped communicating with me.
I would be very careful with this application!
Most Recent Replies: View All 1 Replies
- Re: Contact with Support
Hangs at "Connecting to Executor" - Version: 3.1, 11/1/2009 05:15AM PST
c.g.wagner
Well, from the looks of things, this problem may have returned. I have an up to date Leopard installation, including all patches (1 Nov 09) and the software will not completely load. I'm happy ProSoft seems to be monitoring this (from the 2007 post anyway). Will look elsewhere for an immediate and temporary solution, but since I bought this product, I'm hoping there's a solution on the way.
Most Recent Replies: View All 1 Replies
The software is just fine... - Version: 3.1, 9/16/2009 03:59PM PST
(0 of 1 users found this comment useful)
tracy valleau--2008
The problem with "Warning..." type reviews is that the author assumes what happened to him is universal and will happen to everyone. That is seldom (not "never" but "seldom") the case, whether it's this software or something else.
I've been using DB for several years without any such problems. But I can't say "Buy this! You will NEVER have problems!" either.
So, to balance things out: this product has worked flawlessly for me for years now. Hence: 5 stars.
I've been using DB for several years without any such problems. But I can't say "Buy this! You will NEVER have problems!" either.
So, to balance things out: this product has worked flawlessly for me for years now. Hence: 5 stars.
Support for Databackup - Version: 3.0.5, 9/4/2009 08:31AM PST
(0 of 1 users found this comment useful)
malcolmgb
I was new to the programme and wasn't sure exactly how to proceed. The support at Prosoft was perfect and advised me exactly what to do, step by step. I now have a perfect clone of my hard drive and the confidence and knowledge to update it when needed.
Top-notch support - Version: 3.0.5, 4/15/2009 08:51AM PST
(0 of 1 users found this comment useful)
SJG70
This backup software does all that I want (backing up my harddrive, cloning, maintaining a copy of my PDF library on a Flashdrive). I think their support deserves some praise: they recently very efficiently resolved a problem I was having, providing me with very clear, comprehensive information. In fact it is probably the most professional best support experience I've had.
Warning about this software - Version: 3.0.5, 12/7/2008 04:41PM PST
(1 of 1 users found this comment useful)
jeffnailen--2008
I've had major problems with DataBackup over two versions: version 2 and the new version 3. I've really wanted to like this app as a highly recommended alternative to Retrospect. But I've had a series of problems over the years including executor problems and 'internal errors' once I finally got past the executor problems. What's worse, when I contacted tech support they just wanted to sell me the upgrade to version 3 rather than help with my problem. I had to be persistent and send more emails before they would actually provide tech support. Bad sign.
Like a fool, I went ahead and upgraded to version 3 anyway (hoping it had been improved with the upgrade) after the executor problem had finally been solved by tech support only to encounter 'internal errors' when making routine, albeit extremely slow performing backups with version 3.0.5 (on a system I keep clean and running smoothly by performing routine weekly and monthly maintenance with the best utilities and no hacks).
When this happens the backup stops. When you resume the backup after having to quit Data Backup and restarting, it doesn't pick up the backup where it left off, but starts over making it extremely slow. But it never finished a single complete backup due to 'internal errors' that are never explained so there's no way to solve the problem.
Needless to say, I no longer use it because it simply doesn't work and tech support is slow and unresponsive. After doing much research including reading Joe Kissell's excellent Take Control eBooks, I now use dedicated apps for dedicated backups: Time Machine + an Apple Time Capsule for automatic hourly archive backups; the excellent SuperDuper for automatic bootable duplicates to an external drive; and CrashPlan Pro and BackJack for automatic offsite backups over the Internet. Once it's all set up as explained in Joe's eBooks it works consistently like a charm with no hassles. That's the way it should be.
Don't buy this product; there are better ones out there with better tech support.
Like a fool, I went ahead and upgraded to version 3 anyway (hoping it had been improved with the upgrade) after the executor problem had finally been solved by tech support only to encounter 'internal errors' when making routine, albeit extremely slow performing backups with version 3.0.5 (on a system I keep clean and running smoothly by performing routine weekly and monthly maintenance with the best utilities and no hacks).
When this happens the backup stops. When you resume the backup after having to quit Data Backup and restarting, it doesn't pick up the backup where it left off, but starts over making it extremely slow. But it never finished a single complete backup due to 'internal errors' that are never explained so there's no way to solve the problem.
Needless to say, I no longer use it because it simply doesn't work and tech support is slow and unresponsive. After doing much research including reading Joe Kissell's excellent Take Control eBooks, I now use dedicated apps for dedicated backups: Time Machine + an Apple Time Capsule for automatic hourly archive backups; the excellent SuperDuper for automatic bootable duplicates to an external drive; and CrashPlan Pro and BackJack for automatic offsite backups over the Internet. Once it's all set up as explained in Joe's eBooks it works consistently like a charm with no hassles. That's the way it should be.
Don't buy this product; there are better ones out there with better tech support.
Most Recent Replies: View All 3 Replies
- Please contact our Support Team (3 replies)
Prosoft Tech Service - Version: 3.0.5, 10/20/2008 11:21AM PST
(0 of 1 users found this comment useful)
gensoup
Had a problem setting up a bootable clone of my internal hard drive to an external firewire drive, mainly because I was unfamiliar with the program and the directions in the manual were a bit confusing. Emailed Prosoft tech support regarding the problem and heard back from them within a day with a clearer explanation which helped. Appreciate the quick turnaround.
The program itself seems to work as advertised.
The program itself seems to work as advertised.
Conflict between Log Me In and Data Backup 3 - Version: 3.0.5, 9/13/2008 05:01AM PST
Frank19
This conflict happened after downloading v3.0.5 and trying to delete v3.0.4 - it resulted in having to use the program in trial mode only, as my serial number was not remembered from one program opening to the next.
The support team at Prosoft sent me the solution in under 24 hours and it worked instantly!
I can recommend their support, as this is not the first time that they have given fast assistance over the several years I have used their programs.
Frank J. Pycroft
The support team at Prosoft sent me the solution in under 24 hours and it worked instantly!
I can recommend their support, as this is not the first time that they have given fast assistance over the several years I have used their programs.
Frank J. Pycroft
Also, although there is a caveat regarding successive versioned backups it wasn't clear to me exactly what the practical ramifications would be to all the other files and folders stored on the hard drive. It became clear when they all disappeared and I had to call tech support.
On the other hand, I have called tech support twice and both times they were very patient and knowledgeable, willing to take as long as was necessary to resolve this knucklehead's issues. Especially this last time when John helped me recover the folders/files that went hiding.
Once I understood better how to use the software I find it to be simple and effective. Time Machine is a fine adjunct to Data Backup and I would recommend it to anyone.