From TNPC issue #3.22...

Indispensable Windows Utility - WinRescue

by Al Gordon
October 26, 2000

Some software reviews are remarkably easy to write. For WinRescue, you can pretty much do it in three words, "Go buy it."

Ray Guide's Super Win Software makes a number of useful utilities, including versions of WinRescue tailored to each of the several Microsoft Windows operating systems. Price is $24.95 for each, but if you own WinRescue for one version of Windows, you can get WinRescue for another version at $10 ($15 for Windows ME).

Guide says he did not try to create one omnibus solution; rather he did separate versions so that he could optimize performance for each flavor of Windows. Besides, he said, the file size for a one-size-fits-all product would have been ridiculous. This is in the best tradition of good shareware: a well-focused, well- executed, simple program.

WinRescue will back up your Windows Registry. For 95, NT4, and 2000, that alone is an essential because there is no such utility shipped with the operating system. Windows 98 and ME do have a Registry backup, but WinRescue has more flexibility. I have learned from hard experience over the years that when a software installation goes wrong, the uninstall program doesn't always undo the damage. However, restoring the Registry will provide the fix most of the time, allowing you to avoid more time-consuming repairs.

Plus, it does a lot more.

WinRescue will back up your personal profile (your shortcuts, favorites, etc.), which make your Windows installation truly yours. You can always reinstall your software, but these personal touches can get lost forever if not backed up and you suffer a crash. You can also set it to include any other files you desire in the backup package. For example, I make it a point to backup my Normal.dot and Personal.xls, along with some other key files.

The software also allows you to schedule backups at regular intervals. I have it do so daily. You have the choice of multiple levels of compression, and incremental as well as full backups. WinRescue creates boot disks, and you can create Windows shortcuts to run specific backup jobs with one double-click. There's also the requisite wizard for those so inclined, which walks you through the various processes.

And, of course, WinRescue will restore what it has backed up.

It's a must-have utility for all Windows users. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/322/tr.cgi?al1

You can reach Al Gordon at:
mailto:al@TheNakedPC.com

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Indispensable Windows Utility - WinRescue
by Al Gordon
(This article originally appeared in The Naked PC newsletter #3.22, subscribe at http://www.TheNakedPC.com)