Time Machine for Windows?

I am looking for a tool that I can use to go back to previuos versions of
files on my Windows PC. Basically I would like something like the "Time Machine"
that will be part of the next MacOS. All tools I have yet seen do not create
transparent versions the way I want them to. Either they require user interaction
(like most document management and source code management systems),
or they run periodically (once an hour or so). I frequently find myself having
screwed up or deleted or overwritten a file, a presentation or a letter,
by accident and I want to go back to the original. I don't think I need
the functionality to roll back the whole system to a particular point in time.
Probably using "My Documents" or something below that would be sufficient. After
it might be a question of the storage space at some point.

VSS = Volume Shadow Service aka Volume Shadow copy, etc.

It makes copies of your files.. works great on Windows XP and 2003 server. heh.

Not much you can do aside from backing up your own files.

You will want to check this out if you're interested in Apple's Time Machine and have a Windows platform OS.

http://www.genietimeline.com

Beta to be released soon... You might wanna sign up for it... Can't wait to get my hands on Genie Timeline...

Apparently, its features include Realtime CDP, endless file versioning, automated backup, window's integration to the core... I've been waiting for this kind of software to be released on Windows for ages...

shadow volume copy feature should do the trick

You might want to try TimeTraveler:

http://www.bearsontheloose.com

With its timeline plug-in for Windows Explorer, TimeTraveler provides easy access to previous versions of files and folders on all Editions of Vista and Windows 7. Move the time cursor to view, compare or restore files from a prior point in time.

Full Disclosure : I work for Altaro Software.

Hi - Just saw these posts.

We are a new software company (Altaro Software – www.altaro.com) and we are developing a backup software product / version control product called 'Oops! Backup'. Oops! Backup is a hybrid between a traditional backup product and a lightweight version control system. Oops! Backup automatically tracks changes to documents, photos and other files and allows you to backtrack to any point in time. To a certain extent it's the equivalent of Time Machine for Windows

You can see product screenshots at http://www.altaro.com/screenshots.php

Features at http://www.altaro.com/time_machine_for_windows.php

We will be going into BETA soon and are looking for BETA testers - anyone willing to give it a try check out http://www.altaro.com/download.php

Your opinions and constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated (would love to hear the bad stuff ... more than the good stuff)

Sorry for the plug!!

David Vella - david@altaro.com
http://www.altaro.com

I tried Genie Timeline and it is a great program in principle, but not on my computer. It takes quite a while to do the original backup (which is tolerable), but the timeline feature did not work. Timeline would lose files, claim not to find the backup drive and simply not reinstall the lost file.

Timeline comes with a more regular backup feature, which did not have these problems. It found my deleted files and restored them with not problem, but the cool features (and there are quite a few nifty ideas behind this software - probably copied from Apple) did not work at all.
So, it's back to my old copy of GeniePro for me.

Hey Ceg,

Just want to let you know that Oops!Backup has been released yesterday

You can download a free 30 day eval at http://www.altaro.com/download.php

We also received some testimonials from beta testers - http://www.altaro.com/testimonials.php

Thanks