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.
Prosoft DataBackup
easy, powerful and flexible backups
Version: 3.1
Warning about this software
Feedback Type: Review
Contributed by: jeffnailen--2008 Sunday, December 07 2008 @ 04:41 PM PST
Product Platform: MacOSX
Used Product For: Over One Year
Recommend Product: NO
Overall Rating:
Ease of Use:
Support:
Features:
Quality / Stability:
Price:
Comments
Please contact our Support Team - jeffnailen--2008
Thanks David, but the problem was not that I was not contacted; I did get replies to my tech support emails but it was not tech support to help with the executor problems I was having which was preventing any backups from occuring; it was a sales pitch to upgrade to version 3 while the problem I contacted tech support about was totally ignored, leaving me with no backups in the interim--I did not appreciate that regarding critical backup software from a utilities company. I eventually did get tech support for this problem only after I persisted. The problem was then cleared up after getting the belated tech support. But then after I did upgrade to version 3 and it's 5 minor updates anyway I ran into another problem: 'internal errors' while trying to perform backups but with no explanation as to what those internal errors were, so no report or clue as to how to solve the problem--and again no backups. Headaches and no backups. I have since deleted it from my hard drive and moved on to use other backup software that, so far, has all worked just fine without any hitches at all. So don't worry about it. Just please try to improve your software and your tech support so this doesn't happen to other people who buy your product. If this were just a game or a productivity app I wouldn't go to these lengths to warn people about it. But this is critical backup software so I am warning fellow Mac users and it has gotten your attention so perhaps the software will be improved as a result. I do like the other products from your company like Drive Genius.Wednesday, December 17 2008 @ 06:52 AM PST
Please contact our Support Team - Prosoft Engineering
We would still offer to look into this issue, in fact we would like to have you contact us so that we can get the needed information in order to diagnose the problem.Please contact us at 925-426-6306 or support@prosofteng.com and if you'd like to speak with me, just ask to be transferred. If I'm not immediately available I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Friday, December 19 2008 @ 08:37 AM PST
Please contact our Support Team - Prosoft Engineering
Hi, this is David from Prosoft Support, please contact us back, we'd love to help you out and we're especially concerned that you may not have been contacted back in the past and we want to see why that was happening to you.You can reach us between 7AM and 5PM Monday to Friday PST at 925-426-6306 or by email to support@prosofteng.com.
Reply to This
Tuesday, December 09 2008 @ 10:09 AM PST