True Image 2010 offers a more streamlined interface and a few additional options.
(Credit: Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET)Excited about Windows 7 but not sure if your current XP computer can handle it? Maybe it's a good idea to make sure you can go back to the operating system you used prior to the upgrade. This is where system backup software such as that made by Acronis comes into play.
The company announced Tuesday the latest version of its backup software for home users, the Acronis True Image Home 2010, which supports Windows 7 as well as previous versions of the OS.
Like previous iterations, the True Image Home 2010 features Acronis' patented disk-imaging technology. It creates a full image of the whole system, which, once restored, brings the system back to the state when the image was created.
I personally have lots of experience with Acronis backup software and find it among the best for backing up the whole system. The software allows for creating full, incremental, or differential backups.
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This powerful application offers extensive utilities to improve your system's performance and protect your privacy. Glary Utilities' well-organized interface allows users to easily choose from several tools. It cleans unwanted junk files and removes invalid and broken shortcuts, freeing up valuable disk space.
There's a registry cleaner that allows you to scan, remove, and back up faulty entries. You also can wipe out Internet Explorer traces and tweak start-up programs and memory optimization. Privacy-conscious users will certainly appreciate the inclusion of a government-standard file shredder to securely delete data. Users who are looking for an effective and easy-to-use application to keep their system in tip-top shape should try this one out.
Freeware driver back-up utility DriverMax gets a full point upgrade, but the big feature promised for this version doesn't seem to be quite ready for prime time. DriverMax Agent, which is supposed to bulk out the program with a customizable driver update check, currently only works on the Windows Vista 32-bit operating system. Sorry, XP users.
DriverMax Agent works well on Windows Vista--but not at all on Windows XP.
(Credit: CNET Networks)The irony of this product update coming during a week when Redmond has spectacularly backtracked on Vista isn't lost on me.
The agent does seem to work well on Vista, in so far as I can both manually check if my drivers are out of date and have the agent automatically scan for new ones. However, none of my Vista drivers were out of date, so I was unable to test the download and installation features.
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CNET Networks)
Other than the agent, there's nothing new in the program. It feels like it runs a bit faster from when I last looked at it back in October, but that's empirical and hasn't been benchmarked. Without a doubt, DriverMax is a good program, with both driver backup and restoration features, and those work well. Until the Agent is extended to Windows XP users, though, there's not much that sets it apart from its freeware competitors.
A great tool for when you're mucking about with reinstalling an operating system or just want to have several fail safes going is DriverMax, which backs up your drivers one at a time, a few at a time, or all at once. From registration to implementation, DriverMax works fast, runs smooth, and even does more than mere safe-checking.
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What's better than Nero 7's suite of multimedia apps, which bursts with tools to record, edit, save, and distribute audio, video, and data CDs and DVDs in a dozen permutations?
The so-new-you-can't-buy-it release of Nero 8. Tune into the First Look video below, and watch this space on Monday for a full review.
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