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Hard drive specialist Western Digital's Anywhere Backup is a smooth and efficient backup utility that can protect your computer's data from crashes. With a simple process and a great design, this tool takes a tough job and makes it easy for anyone.
The program's interface is a real treat to operate, breaking down a complex process into easy stages with the help of a simple three-step wizard. We never felt lost or in need of any more instruction than what was currently onscreen. You can choose a destination on your hard drive for backing up data, or choose an external backup device such as an external hard drive, USB stick, or iPod drive. This surprisingly simple process required no real computer knowledge to accomplish. It's just as easy to select a folder or an entire drive to back up. The process of actually saving all this data took up to several minutes, depending on how much data we were saving, but that hardly seems excessive. When it was finished, the program laid out all the data for future reference. WD Anywhere Backup is so focused on its task that it omits any extras. Not a problem, but an additional perk like an encryption option would have been nice. Nevertheless, it's a near-flawless way to back up your critical data.
WD Anywhere Backup has a 31-day trial limit. It installs desktop icons without permission. We recommend it.
Publisher's Description
From Western Digital:
With WD Anywhere Backup, you can choose what files and folders to back up. Store different types of files in different places (destinations), and back up one file in several places for added convenience and protection. You can choose to back up items to any folder on any computer on your network, an external hard drive, or a removable storage device.
If the backup destination is unavailable (for instance, if you have removed a USB drive you are backing up to), WD Anywhere Backup keeps a list of files that are pending backup, and WD Anywhere Backup backs them up as soon as the destination becomes available. WD Anywhere Backup keeps as many versions of the file as you choose, so you can revert to a previous version of the file or see how a file has changed over time.
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All versions:
1.9 starsout of 13 votes
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Current version:
1.9 starsout of 13 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Stops backing up. Upgrading does not repair"
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
The pros do not matter if it cannot be relied upon to backup files
Cons
Like others have said, you go for months and see that it has no filespace recognized from the source drive. You do more checking and it says your source drive is unmounted!
It will not backup folders of choice. A folder at the root drive level had to be put into Documents for it to backup.
Upgrades don't improve the situation.
It slowed computer extensively. The activity monitor showed 100% CPU usage EVEN WHEN the WD backup drive was unmounted! When I uninstalled the software, U could open large folders instantly, instead of waiting 5-10 seconds.Summary
I am looking for alternate backup software.
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"Do not use this product"
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
Backups up data upto 5 computers
Backup data as you workCons
Can not retrieve backup data.
Summary
Purchased WD network worldbook backup drive it came with this software. After 30 days it will ask you to purchase for $30 which is dum dum dum. Then when my HDD crashed and I had to use my manufacture restore disk to new PC spec. Then when I tried to restore my backup data the software told me that it was not able to restore my data. This happened on two of my computers. DO NOT USE THIS OR ANY PRODUCT FROM WESTERN DIGITAL. Purchase software from 3rd party vendor.
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"Hates backing up files!"
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
none (adding characters)
Cons
Really complex to set up as it defaults to NOT letting you back up user named folders. You have to override this block later down the line. Terrible - unless you only want to save 'My Docs' and 'My Pics' default folders. I also have a sneaky feeling I will get a pop up in 31 days to buy it (but nowhere is this mentioned)
Summary
Its a bout as clever as the ESATA port on a WD drive - i.e doesnt work with most connectors as its too recessed!
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"Not a reliable backup solution"
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
Price -- free with WD product
Cons
It isn't a reliable backup solution
Summary
Everytime there's a problem with this software, the general support comment is to delte your backups, reinstall the latest version and create all new backups. This can take weeks!!! Thus, this backup solution isn't a backup solution at all. Value=worthless
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"Don't Buy It"
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
When it is working, backs up good
Cons
Back up plans disappear
No supportSummary
Gives you a false feeling that everything is great and backing up fine. Firstly the back up plans disappear. You try to reactivate them and its says they are active. Finally you try to create a new back up plan and it won't even do that. In the end you are dragging files across to back them up like you would a cheap little stick. There is absolutely no response from support. They take your money and that is it.
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"Dangerous software - do not install!"
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
easy installation
came with my WD World Boook ProCons
Does not protect your data although pop-up says it does
lies to to you everyday that you are protected!!!!!Summary
I needed to restore one file today and that is how I found out that it stopped backing up my data moths ago! WOW!!! I restarted my machine to see whether this pop-up saying that my data is backed up shows up again or I am delirious. Pop-up shows up saying how many files I backed up and that I am safe! Incredible!!! I double checked my back-up plan settings, whether the plan is active or paused in any way. I stopped searching for reasons after I realized one thing: this software is about piece of mind and it cannot be trusted - why would I care what is the problem with it? Looking for another software now! BTW - it is built by Memeo - I will remember to stay away from any of their products.
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"Uggh. It does work, I guess."
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
Simple Setup
Works when workingCons
Minimal troubleshooting capabilities
Difficult to access advanced features
When not working, troubleshooting is nearly impossible
No network or drive statusSummary
Maybe it's me, but I just don't like this piece of software. It seems simple on the surface, but when it stopped backing up one day, I found it nearly impossible to fix. There was just a message that said "Destination Unavailable." But my router was assigning the drive an IP address, I could access it in my browser. But there was nothing within the software that would allow me to troubleshoot or fix any of it. The Help section was quite possibly the most poorly written tech document in the history of software. Ultimately, I unplugged everything, restarted my computer, and miraculously it began working again. But the software was no help at all.
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"Good at what it does."
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
It works! Scans selected locations for changes and keeps a backup on a seperate drive.
Cons
When I added a new hard drive, the drive it was instructed to keep a copy had a different letter. I had to redo the settings, and deleted the backed up info to be safe.
Summary
It works, I couldnt get it to install on my x64 but I got around that by looking for the installer in the directories in the CD and eventually came across it. It runs in the background and keeps a copy of your files. Great in case your hard drive gives out.
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"good at first but then fails every few weeks"
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
easy to install
Cons
every couple of weeks it will not load. I have to uninstall it and start the back-up from scratch, which takes may hours. Occasionally is also causes by XP to crash.
Summary
good Idea, but still too many bugs with this program
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"Free, no 64 bit support - limited capabilities"
Version: WD Anywhere Backup 4.00.5239
Pros
Was relatively easy to set up and runs quietly in the background
Cons
No 64 Bit support - meaning when I need to restore my Vista backup from a crash onto a Windows 7 machine - it won't run the software. I had to get an old xp computer and use that to extract the restore. Lame.
Summary
Do not use this software. It isn't a full backup, just your user files, meaning if you have a catastrophic failure, you still get to reinstall every bit of software etc. Also, it is not future-proof. My computer had a catastrophic death - so I bought a new Windows 7 64 bit computer and now I can't use it to restore the Vista backup? That's absurd. Spring for a better, full-backup system that would let you restore your entire system - or get a mac that has Time Machine built in. This thing is half-a&&ed and cheap.
