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Genie Timeline Basic 2012 Giveaway
$29.95
EXPIRED

Giveaway of the day — Genie Timeline Basic 2012

Genie Timeline 2012 Basic Edition is revolutionary backup software.
$29.95 EXPIRED
User rating: 532 99 comments

Genie Timeline Basic 2012 was available as a giveaway on April 19, 2012!

Today Giveaway of the Day
$49.95
free today
Helps you get back all kinds of lost or deleted data on Android devices.

Genie Timeline 2012 Basic Edition is revolutionary backup software that performs seamless automatic real-time backup for all your files and folders.

Simply install it on your computer and set it up in just 3-simple straightforward steps in which all your important documents, photos and music are backed up to a recommended backup destination.

Note that the best improvement idea will be rewarded with a license for Genie Timeline Professional 2012. Use Idea Informer widget to submit your feedback and do not forget to fill in your name and e-mail – otherwise the Developer will not be able to contact you in case you are the one to win!

System Requirements:

Windows XP/ Vista/ 7 (x32/x64)

Publisher:

Genie9 Corporation

Homepage:

http://www.genie9.com/shared/Upgrade_Give_Away_of_The_Day.aspx

File Size:

13.4 MB

Price:

$29.95

Comments on Genie Timeline Basic 2012

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Please add a comment explaining the reason behind your vote.
#99

follow up to my post that a moderator obviously thought was not worthy
I am still getting emails from genie asking for dashboard pics, seemingly to assist them, in modifying there program
i am starting to believe that gotd is in cahoots with genie re this DUD software promotion

and i am sure this post wont pass the moderators either, fineservice for gotd members, asking for our feedback, then monitoring heavily
obviously the majority are unhappy with this pseudo genie, and gotd dont want to acknowledge ther emistake.

Reply   |   Comment by Graham C  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#98

#98 wrote, "... you cannot re-download this free version so you cannot recover unless you buy the thing ..."

No, you can recover any way you want to without the software because the software "merely" makes a mirror image standard copy of your selected files and directories onto the target backup drive, and then you can browse there using Windows Explorer or any other file viewer, including the Microsoft Word File > Open command, or connecting the backup drive to a Mac and exploring, and so on.

However, the software does not make users aware of this standard benefit.

Funny, though, if we're smart enough to use standard tools to browse and restore from our backup, then we're probably smart enough to use standard tools to MAKE our backup!

RoboCopy, XXCopy, XCopy ... even drag and drop!

But, yes, in order to use the [ Restore ] properties of this software, you have to install this software onto your next computer system, the computer you run to after your main computer crashes, then what?

So, agreed, the software SHOULD make an install executable in the root of the backup drive for the express purpose of reinstalling a licensed version of the software on the next computer in order to restore using the intelligence database and tools of the software.

Except for Mo #39 above who never wants or expects to need to be able to restore to another computer after a crash -- so, can anyone explain why Mo backs up at all? ;-)

This is a fun thread, and I hope Genie9 gets great good insight here for their next product ... which they NEED to make available here at GOTD ASAP!

Reply   |   Comment by Peter Blaise  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#97

#82 try reading comments before commenting on them. I said the only way to restore after a crash, on any day except the day of the free down load requires a purchase. If you loose this program for any reason, you cannot re-download this free version so you cannot recover unless you buy the thing!

Reply   |   Comment by illegal-pete  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#96

If this free version is anything like the full version, forget it, it take too much time and computer resources. Too many free products out there that do much more for free....

Reply   |   Comment by Rich Cochran  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#95

(withheld? please post xxx) (& I hope Moderator allows another long post – thanx!)

FROM: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/paragon-backup-and-recovery-11-compact/#postcomment (#35)

I’d like to quote our (beloved | hated) (friend | enemy / Italian) Giovanni…

As a FREE ALTERNATIVE, besides cool disk imaging software like MACRIUM REFLECT and/or DRIVE IMAGE XML, I recommend you GFI BACKUP 2011, definitely the BEST FREE BACKUP SOFTWARE available on the market right now (even better than most shareware like today’s giveaway):

http://www.gfi.com/pages/backup-freeware.asp

Screenshots:
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/GFI-Backup-Home-Edition-Screenshot-129022.html

And for daily automatic backups of your most important files and folders, give this little FREE (portable) GEM a try:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/Daily-backups.shtml

Besides that, for backup purposes, you could also try the freeware “Comodo Time Machine”, which uses a different approach since it quickly restores your PC to an earlier point in time by taking a snapshot of your entire system (including the registry, critical operating system files and user created documents) literally with two mouse clicks:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/Comodo-Time-Machine.shtml

So to backup your files, folder, your entire HD and even your OS there’s no need to pay anything

Ciao
Giovanni

Comment by Giovanni — January 13th, 2012 at 7:17 am

Peace!

devnullius

Reply   |   Comment by devnullius  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-2)
#94

(withheld? please post this re-edit xxx)

For people really interested in command line document backup with the least amount of hassle and resource impact (except for setting up the scheduled tasks and the batch files), two short tips:

1. schedule the task to run when your computer has been idle for XX minutes (you decide:)

2. MOST importantly… Default xcopy(32) has its limits. Try robocopy. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robocopy

Again, peace!

devnullius

Reply   |   Comment by devnullius  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#93

(withheld? please post xxx)

I don’t get it… If one could explain?

Today my comment was down to -100. Wauw. I screwed up.

Still, before this GOTD launched, my referenced post had 135 hits. Now it’s over 2000 hits. In 13 hours… 2000 people, knowing what was to be found, were interested in Paragon’s backup system.

Still, I get comments that I’m a spammer, a kiddie that can’t think and judge for himself.

Ok, might be true? Doubt it, but never too old to learn.

So I googled for some Paragon reviews… They all agree it is NOT buggy.

In fact, it is so rock solid, that I use it to create master images. Just don’t burn live to dvd – that’s not smart. Restoration NEVER gives me problems. It just works. Different partition? No probs.

What I hear from today’s giveaway this program is a nice feature to have for Windows systems. Some sort of elaborate system restore specifically for your documents. Many compare it with Apple’s Timeline. I don’t like Apple :P And I don’t like scheduled tasks that just backup my files. Even if it has version support (does it really offer this?), I personally do not need this. As pointed out rightly by others – for just document backup simple cmd batch-scripting will suffice more than nicely. With the least amount of overhead. And when a system crashes – documents are the last thing lost. It’s the OS with all its installed apps that is important. Getting that back up and running – that’s the trick. Today’s giveaway appears not to be able to do this. It’s a program to restore accidental removal of files – not a backup of your system (like Windows System Restore (tries) to do)…

One points out that Paragon’s backup is slow. I don’t really think so. Even on high compression, it backups a complete system in a good hour (depending hardware, hdd speed, cpu usage, other activities). BUT while this is happening I AM USING MY LAPTOP / PC AS USUAL. No nonresponding system sheit. Also, Paragon is even smart enough to remove all ‘garbage’ that’s not needed, which gives for an optimum sized backup. Also, excluding folders is no problem. It’s boot environment (Linux based) is packed with convenient tools to help you out. For beginners and Experts alike – it’s a very good choice and only preference details can convince you not to use it…

So… Moderator… Do you guys check your IP logs when it comes to voting? For even I get paranoid… Comments and voting today really really really seems SCEWED!

(And as you know… I can take a punch – but if anyone WITH KNOWLEDGE can point out what went wrong in my advice today… Me and some others would like to know…)

Signing off while smoking peace pipe…

devnullius

Reply   |   Comment by devnullius  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-2)
#92

Mo (#39) -- too much coffee, Dude.

Reply   |   Comment by xpurt  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#91

In all the time I have been using GAOTD (I can't recall exactly how long, but about two years) I have never seen such a "controversial" piece of software. This alone makes me pause before bothering to give it a place on my hard disk.

As regards the possible "rigging" of votes, in general, I can understand that a comment only updates if you vote on it. But to see SUCH a change, as I did on some early posts, was truly phenomenal. One jumped from something like 38 negative to 35 positive! This was repeated with several comments, though not so big a change -- but still a very unusual polarity shift. I've not seen such huge swings before, and that's what makes ME suspicious.

So... although it MIGHT be good, I don't think I will invite trouble by installing this programme.

Reply   |   Comment by tranmontane  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#90

Installed it but there is no Tray Agent where it says you're supposed to enter the Registration Key. Closed it and restarted - same thing. This program is a MAJOR DISASTER!!!!

Reply   |   Comment by Jim Moore  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-4)
#89

This version simply gives you a taste of what you can get if you pay for a better version... it may as well be a demo. From their site, I see it has no really good features other than it backs up -- what it wants to (defaults), not what you want to back up. I will pass. I have plenty of cloud accounts and pay nothing for them. I use different ones for different file types and so far it is working out great for me. I also back up critical files to my external drives using a free back up program (zips the files too), but having an offsite copy is double security.

Thanks anyway Genie, and thanks GAOTD for all you do!

Reply   |   Comment by mahaal  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#88

Have never used a 'backup' program of any sort before so am hoping ever so hard that this is one that's easy for a novice to use (and easy to get any backed up info back into my computer after it goes poof! one day).

All the comments here are valuable - I simply picked and choose the bits that actually apply to the daily offer (ease of installation, ease of use, how well it works - or doesn't, etc).

Thanks once again to all our staff here and to Genie Timeline for the kind offer!

Reply   |   Comment by Mara  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#87

For the record, the Timeline family is Free, Basic, Home, and Pro. Basic is most likely a specially created version for GOTD and magazines just so that it looks like the readers are getting special treatment, while not really being given anything.

The GUI looks like it's designed with Windows 7 in mind, and I'm not really liking it. Things are buried too much. I'd like to know where I'm clicking instead of hovering all over the place looking for something I'm not sure what it would be called.

(I guess that's why really dumbed down software annoy developers. Devs know what they want and want it with as little fuss as possible.)

Reply   |   Comment by GMMan, A+, Game Modder  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+6)
#86

Commenter Peter Blaise is right on the money. Robocopy is a powerful backup and restore utility that is already part of Windows 7 and can be downloaded for free if not. Just google robocopy (both for program and command line parameters). I created a bat file using the command which I use Windows Scheduler to run at night. The command is highly customizable and is especially useful when restoring files to another computer that may have different target locations than the source computer. I use it to transport files between office and home. It also can purge files from destination computer when deleted off source computer. Keeps everything clean. I have set up several of these robocopy bat files using different backup locations so that my data is always backed up (and aged differently). One advantage of doing it this way is that it makes you think just where all of your data is located (e.g., in My Documents, AppData user folders, etc.). I try to always relocate a data folder into My Documents when installing any new program. I also recommend relocating My Documents to a separate hard drive from your operating system (especially since SSD real estate is so precious). This also has the added benefit of making system disc images faster and easier. In summary, operating system and program files on your C: drive and backed up via a disc imaging program. Data on a different hard drive and backed up to external drives using robocopy.

Reply   |   Comment by mlw99  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#85

Genie9 - This little package is so neat, clean and simple. Truly a genie. Yes, there are other good ones but not this simple and clean. But, I have the KEY from my email and can not figure out where to put it. Does anyone know?

Reply   |   Comment by Morgan  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#84

Why is there a Tweeter and Facebook link?
You want to annoy your friends every time you back-up your files?

Reply   |   Comment by Dan  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#83

FROM: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/paragon-backup-and-recovery-11-compact/#postcomment (#35)

I'd like to quote our (beloved | hated) (friend | enemy / Italian) Giovanni...


As a FREE ALTERNATIVE, besides cool disk imaging software like MACRIUM REFLECT and/or DRIVE IMAGE XML, I recommend you GFI BACKUP 2011, definitely the BEST FREE BACKUP SOFTWARE available on the market right now (even better than most shareware like today’s giveaway):

http://www.gfi.com/pages/backup-freeware.asp

Screenshots:
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/GFI-Backup-Home-Edition-Screenshot-129022.html

And for daily automatic backups of your most important files and folders, give this little FREE (portable) GEM a try:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/Daily-backups.shtml

Besides that, for backup purposes, you could also try the freeware “Comodo Time Machine”, which uses a different approach since it quickly restores your PC to an earlier point in time by taking a snapshot of your entire system (including the registry, critical operating system files and user created documents) literally with two mouse clicks:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/Comodo-Time-Machine.shtml

So to backup your files, folder, your entire HD and even your OS there’s no need to pay anything

Ciao
Giovanni

Comment by Giovanni — January 13th, 2012 at 7:17 am

Peace!

devnullius

Reply   |   Comment by devnullius  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#82

For people really interested in document backup with the least amount of hassle... (except for setting up the scheduled tasks and the batch files), two short tips:

1. schedule the task to run when your computer has been idle for XX minutes (you decide:)

2. MOST importantly... Default xcopy(32) has its limits. Try robocopy. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robocopy

Again, peace!

devnullius

Reply   |   Comment by devnullius  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#81

The license is without any use; I can not introduce the license I got into the software. This is an unprepared giveaway. It's great that it is a non-worst free software, but if I cand not use the benefits of the giveaway license ...

Thank you for your effort.

Reply   |   Comment by sustin.evolutia  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#80

In response to # 67 "... There is no link on the program screen to input the key. Someone can help? ..."

See my own # 34 above, "... Argh, I couldn’t find a way to insert the license number before it backed up something ..."

You have to backup something first, then when done, you can go to the main screen and enter the serial number ... somewhere, try [ Tools ]?!?

=====

In response to # 65, "... Now the ONLY way to recover is to buy the software. ..."

No, [ Restore ] is available from the main window, but ONLY AFTER backing something up.

==========

The "Main Window" changes depending on the program's whims, and makes no sense to me -- there is no consistent user interface, it's different each time I open the program, and things I saw last time, like "register" are now gone.

Some tools can't be seen until after the first backup.

This makes sure the first backup gets done (or the user tanks the program altogether).

But it is also disconcerting that the next time the program opens, it looks different, like getting in your new car and seeing a Volvo dashboard one time and a Mustang dashboard the next time -- argh!

=====

Earlier, someone may have written, "... Most people give thumbs up or down to the comment ... This is a way to avoid people posting opinions that are not useful for others ..."

No, voting "no this was not useful" is a meaningless offering for the GOTD web site to ask, and it should be removed, leaving only [ Like ], because negative voting is ambiguous at best and suspect at worst, get rid of it!

==========

Further criticism of the software:

-- When selecting what to backup, we cannot see specifics, only general categories, like "Bookmarks", but we cannot right-click "Bookmarks" to see the actual directories and files that will be processed

-- Microsoft calls them "Favorites", by the way, so am I getting Bookmarks or Favorites? Opera Bookmarks? Firefox Bookmarks? How would I find them before or after backup?

-- When I click on the "My Computer" tab to see specific directories or files to backup, nothing corresponding to the "Smart Selection" screen is checked in the "My Computer" screen, making me think that nothing I checked in the "Smart Selection" screen will be backed up.

It's a surprisingly slick program.

It's just too automated, and leaves me guessing what it will do or what it did.

I am unable to inspect, control, and confirm what it does.

It's interface is so "dancing baloney" inventive that it does not correspond to any other program in terms of linear movement from start to finish, finding all controls, auditing settings, and so on.

Simple? Yes.

Trustworthy? Hardly, but mostly because it's abstruse.

But thanks, I'll keep playing with it to see if I can wrangle it into submission so it behaves as neatly as a RoboCopy or XXCopy one-line command that produces a result that is 100% compatible with Microsoft Windows Explorer, search, drag and drop, File > Open commands in all software, and even the RoboCopy or XXCopy or XCopy one-line restore commands.

A zipped, super-compressed, one-file backup using a Stac * sub-operating system would be nice, but hey, where's Stac when we need them?

==========

* For history buffs, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stac_Electronics "... [ 1990's ] Stac sold several million units of Stacker [ disk compression operating system utility ] over the product's lifetime ... [ then ] in 2002 ... selling Stac's remaining technology assets ... and returning its remaining cash to shareholders before dissolving ...". It allowed me to actually cram 3 GB of slackless data onto two 1.5 GB drives at a time when Microsoft was less than 50% efficient ... I date myself! But those drives still work as my archive back to the early 1980s!

Reply   |   Comment by Peter Blaise  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-4)
#79

watch out - this is their very basic unit! you can get much better freeware backup software that will give you a lot more functionality for free elsewhere - not cool of these guys to try and sneak their software in like this!

Reply   |   Comment by Gus  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#78

#60, anne-ology, I use near-continuous backup as I mentioned earlier. There are a number of backup applications which can do it. I have my system volume and my documents and downloads volume backed up every 15 minutes, the process is very efficient (generally under 1 second, not counting VSS time) since it incrementally backs-up changed sectors, compresses and encrypts them. The data can be accessed by any installation of the backup program or a boot disk (I just leave mine in, it times out quickly if no one is present during boot). The package I use can do a hardware-independent restore to a different PC or to a virtual PC (all automatic, although I generally do some virtual PC configuration). My documents were on a RAID 10 volume, but the drives are going bad so I'm replacing all of my internal drives/volumes, even the ones which aren't otherwise backed-up, with high-capacity RAID 10 drives/volumes (ran out of time to do that yesterday).

#61, TK, wow, you're usually very smart. There are multiple, trivial ways to manipulate the votes. The votes are being manipulated today, I could prove it but that would take time. I have no reason to believe that the vendor is manipulating votes. There are vendors who manipulate votes, but today, like most days, there is a single individual who sits around all day, with no job and no life, manipulating GOTD votes. This has been going on for many, many months, GOTD has chosen to hand over the voting to this one individual (and the occasional other manipulator). It would be trivial for GOTD to stop this nonsense, there are simple solutions, but in the absence of willingness to do anything, the voting should simply be eliminated. I could deal with it on any comments I choose by relatively simple programming, but it's GOTD's problem and I have very serious work to do (I've spent too much time on this site today already).

Reply   |   Comment by Fubar  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-13)
#77

GOTD have been finally fooled after all these years
I have been unable to register my copy despite doing ALL the right things
there is absolutley NO ...
Open Dashboard > click on the "Insert license key" which is a link in the RED rectangle to the left

Genie9 Sales
1:11 AM (5 hours ago)

please inform me as to how i access the giveawayofthe day, DASHBOARD to register my genie9
I have the code, but canot find the DASBOARD tp o place the registration code in
this is the code

GTB3-03E0101****69F51B6
When you install Timeline Basic on your machine the agent will be installed in the system tray (the bottom right corner on your screen where the time/date is displayed); if you can't see it there click on the arrow pointing up next to it.

Right click the agent > Open Dashboard > click on the "Insert license key" which is a link in the RED rectangle to the left.

Please let me know what happens.

Regards,

Ruba .. who was quick to respond initially, and have now not hears from her

Reply   |   Comment by Graham  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#76

http://www.genie9.com/magazines/gtlbasic.aspx

Signup to get your free copy of Genie Timeline Basic

You will receive your license key for your FREE Genie Timeline Basic via email once you complete the following form:

Reply   |   Comment by Alex  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#75

If this is the same one offered last time, it had few options and didn't work when I needed it. The Farstone software was much better.
The Paragon giveaways haven't worked for me. I wish someone would redo
Go-Back, but have it store when you want to and keep old timelines.

Reply   |   Comment by benjie  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#74

I like it, been using it for a while, and its very stable, and easy to use, and lots of cool features, i do not know why people are whining here about getting PRO or other versions, while they are having this version for FREE, guys its FREE, so please stop whining and enjoy the free software, if you do not like it, do not use it, but stop complaining!!

Reply   |   Comment by Asn  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#73

Since Genie Timeline Basic 2010 was coded in Visual Studio 10, it installs the INTERNATIONAL version of Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable. It installs DLLS in Chinese, Spanish, Dutch, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, etc.

For advanced users only, you can navigate to the C:\windows\system and C:\windows\SysWOW32 folders and delete the following files IF YOU'RE STRICTLY using the English language version:

mfc100chs.dll
mfc100cht.dll
mfc100deu.dll
mfc100esn.dll
mfc100fra.dll
mfc100ita.dll
mfc100jpn.dll
mfc100kor.dll
mfc100rus.dll

For people with a deep understanding of the registry, you can navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedDLLs and delete those entries as well.

I've tested this personally and all runs fine

Reply   |   Comment by reghacker  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#72

to #58.

You may be right when your comment gets down-voted but most people do not complain about the giveaway as it is, more the way how the giveaway is offered, especially the features in details, there is no chance to see a comparison table between BASIC und the Free version. Also there are Home, Professional and Server versions available as Trial downloads on their homepage but no Free nor Basic version, kinda odd, isn't it? That might be a good reason to complain, but not the only one.

Reply   |   Comment by hOORay  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#71

Comment by MikeR —
Excellent analysis from Peter Blaise at post #34 but unfortunately, GAOTD is seriously suffering technical gremlins today: Peter’s post was already marked down with one ‘minus’ vote when I read it, and then when I upvoted it in appreciation of the time and trouble he’d taken to make such a useful contribution to GAOTD, his rating promptly changed to minus 4.
___________________________________

My comment:
The "yes/no" counts aren't updated on your browser until YOU vote. Then you see your vote AND the other peoples votes that have occurred since you opened your browser.

Test this out by just watching, but not voting on a comment with lots of votes for awhile. It won't change until YOU vote.

GATOD should make this clear at the top of the page or have the voting results automatically updated once in awhile.

Reply   |   Comment by olrowdy01  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#70

#62 "Edu" quote

Most people give thumbs up or down to the comment, not to the software giveanaway. This is a way to avoid people posting opinions that are not useful for others considering to download and install the software. Useful opinions are those relating the ease of use or instalation, features of the software, and so on. “I like it” or “thank you” are comments that make no difference, these are the down thumbs.

This is just the way you think you have to vote. But I vote the way I think I have to vote. We are both entitled to vote the way we want. Nobody is better then the other. You cannot claim you are right about your way, neither can I. But we are both entitled to do it the way we want.

Unless you can show me the specific rules that are in place here. May peace be with you.

Reply   |   Comment by bigbrain  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-3)
#69

My notes:

- Installed ok on Win7 64bit. Registration requires going to the company's web site to get a key emailed to you.
- It didn't ask where to create the Start menu entry, but it did ask which directory to install to.
- The program has crashed twice so far while changing settings.
- When selecting what to backup, there are two tabs: "Smart Selection", which contains items like Email, Desktop, My Documents, etc., and "My Computer", which lets you select individual folders or entire drives. I switched to "My Computer" and selected a single folder to test with, but didn't realize that the checkboxes on the "Smart Selection" tab are used also -- so it backed up 30,000 files before it got to the folder I selected.
- There is no scheduling in the Basic version, so when you create a new backup, it starts running immediately.
- The exclusion filter lets you enter a list of file extensions, but not directory paths or file attributes. I entered ".ncb;.sln" similar to the example, but it backed those files up anyway.
- The default settings are to exclude hidden files and several specific folders, which is a problem if backing up an entire machine.
- To backup the registry, you have to upgrade and get the Disaster Recovery feature. It then allows you to create a boot disk, and backs up several system folders every 24 hours.
-
Summary:

It's not stable. It tries to do more than what I tell it to, and less than what I tell it to. It's meant to be run in the background every few hours, to continually backup files as they're changed. It might be ok for novice users that just want to backup important documents, but it's not meant for advanced users that want to backup their entire machine, or backup on a timed schedule.

Reply   |   Comment by Russell G.  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+18)
#68

Two errors on installation

GenieTimeService was unable to start.

The application was unable to start correctly

Uninstalling.

Reply   |   Comment by reghacker  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+9)
#67

I will be trying this out but I would never ever buy it because I very strongly object to the fact that in the USA I would, apparently, pay $29.95 whilst here in the UK I'm expected to pay £29.95. At the current rate of conversion $29.95 is £18.66 and to ask a Brit to pay £29.95 is unfair, unreasonable and, frankly, insulting. Funnily enough, I was looking at the advantages of buying the pro version but then noticed that I would have to pay £44.95 and not $44.95 or £28. No chance!

Reply   |   Comment by John Saunders  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+16)
#66

FOR AMANDA OF GENIE TIMELINE: Installed and working fine. Got the key promptly. There is no link on the program screen to input the key. Someone can help?

Reply   |   Comment by Adl  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#65

OK, you download this free (no free technical support; no free upgrades to future versions) program that can ONLY be installed today; you put all your faith and files in it; you have a hard drive crash tomorrow.

Now the ONLY way to recover is to buy the software. Why not just buy software in the first place, from the developer of your choice with free upgrades and technical support and the right to re-install the software after a crash?

One MUST be able to rely on backup software, long-term, under the worst-case scenario. This is a baaaaad idea!

Reply   |   Comment by illegal-pete  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+14)
#64

55.I always vote thumbs up because we get commercial software for free. That is very good.

There is no reason to vote thumbs down, so don’t, this is not polite.

Some do not care to vote at all; it would be better to vote but somtimes people are just in a hurry. We should be able to excuse them.

The best thing would be to count the number of downloads as the number of thumbs up. And count it as percentage of the total number of unique website hits. This will show the amount of apreciation I think.

Comment by bigbrain — April 19th, 2012 at 10:18 am

BIGBRAIN. Most people give thumbs up or down to the comment, not to the software giveanaway. This is a way to avoid people posting opinions that are not useful for others considering to download and install the software. Useful opinions are those relating the ease of use or instalation, features of the software, and so on. "I like it" or "thank you" are comments that make no difference, these are the down thumbs.

Reply   |   Comment by Edu  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#63

I personally use Carbonite to backup my systems so I really don't care about today's offering one way or the other, but I have also noticed that the posters who are criticizing today's software offering are receiving countless no votes to their posts. I have to agree with #59 that this looks VERY suspicious. Companies who are using GAOTD to offer their wares need to leave the posters alone and let the chips fall where they may in a fair manner. Shame on you Genie! It make YOU look like a childish brat throwing a temper tantrum. Lame.

Reply   |   Comment by The Cat Lady  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+7)
#62

Just 2 words: GFI BACKUP!!

Much more powerful free backup tool than this poor version of Geenie Timeline...

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/GFI-Backup-Home-Edition.shtml

Reply   |   Comment by Mario  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+20)
#61

If my thinking is faulty, please let me know.

Although backing up ones files is important, backing up programs is silly since if the hard-drive goes bad, the back-up will not restore these programs onto another machine's hard-drive.
Therefore the simplest method - saves time in the long run - is to save files on another drive, or whatever, off the computer; in this way, you have what's on the machine as well as an up-to-date system of files elsewhere.
The few seconds needed to save the file(s) twice is nothing compared to the hours required to use these silly back-up programs.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts as to why this simple method is faulty,

Reply   |   Comment by anne-ology  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#60

This software was okay, but I uninstalled because there are better are at least two free versions that I use and look better. My previous post did not appear and must have been censored. So have my previous posts that were uncomplimentary to the GAOTD Software over the last 2 weeks??? Notably, I am collecting tracking data and it looks like much too much activity from a few IP addresses? Also, there is a trend that posts that do not positively evaluate the software are getting censored (backchannel communication result). Also, voting patterns look fixed. Expressions attacking Giovanni and others that critically evaluate software (vs acquiescers) are noted, including one today accusing of bias against GAOTD software (when evidence indicates the exact opposite - clearly a rationalization to justify censorship). SHAME ON GAOTD!!! (Although they will censor this, so I will document...). BEWARE GAOTD. There are lots of other sites where you can be reviewed and many will be posting reviews if this continues.

Reply   |   Comment by Mike M  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+26)
#59

The exact function of today's offering is not very apparent as it appears to be a special somewhat crippled version for this site.

As I use the free Comodo Time Machine I have been reluctant to install today's program in case it clashes with it. It does not use an external drive but restores to the main drive.

For backing up to an external drive I have used MaxBlast which is free when used with a Maxtor/Seagate drive, and according to Hal #23 a similar program also available for Western Digital.

Both the above programs have served me well and I would recommend anyone to use them, links as follows:-

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/Comodo-Time-Machine.shtml

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=MaxBlast_5&vgnextoid=7add8b9c4a8ff010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

MikeR #38
Not vote manipulation just a refreshing of the vote count!

Reply   |   Comment by OldScotty  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#58

After reading all comments, why many of you former leechers are so unthankful of what GOTD and their partners offers you? You troll about having Paragon here and there. What do you think, that you will have the Paragon Hard Disk Manager Suite 2012 here for free as giveaway or the other big flagships of other big companies? No, you will get "Compact" or "Special Edition" or clipped versions. That is from the first day the way how GOTD works, so why complaining about it? If you will have the best programs with the best reputation just open your wallet and do your obligatory when you buy it, to support the developers, the companys and future versions. Simple as that.

Reply   |   Comment by kin0seC  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-14)
#57

"I guess, you are a linux guy and a command shell kinda guy!! people want simplicity...never worry about it again"

I use Deja Dup Backup. GUI comes up, I specify where, when and what. Once a week a box pops up, says "back up done" and that's it. (I have it set to a server on our net.) Command shell, pffft! That was last century.

On my wife's Windows machine (groan) I use GFI Backup; a little confusing to set up, but it works. Cloud backup is getting bigger & cheaper so I back up there too. Back up your backup!

Reply   |   Comment by Col. Panek  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-7)
#56

I bought Genie back up pro and I can honestly say it was useless,it took an eternity to do a back up so i cut my losses uninstalled and purchased a different back up software.
Don't take my word try it and I guarantee most people will get rid within a day or two

Reply   |   Comment by daniel tyrer PHD  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+21)
#55

I always vote thumbs up because we get commercial software for free. That is very good.

There is no reason to vote thumbs down, so don't, this is not polite.

Some do not care to vote at all; it would be better to vote but somtimes people are just in a hurry. We should be able to excuse them.

The best thing would be to count the number of downloads as the number of thumbs up. And count it as percentage of the total number of unique website hits. This will show the amount of apreciation I think.

Reply   |   Comment by bigbrain  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-32)
#54

Please make the help offline!!!

Reply   |   Comment by Cybexp  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+9)
#53

Please make ur description more informative that displays all important functions and features..

Reply   |   Comment by Cybexp  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+8)
#52

Several people have asked whether restoration really works - with the previous version, the answer is definitely "yes". I have used it to go back to an earlier version of a Word document that I had modified and saved.

And if the timeline explorer didn't work (which it does) you can always go to your backup directory. Each copy of the file is in a separate ZIP archive. Not, perhaps, the most efficient storage, but easily accessible.

Reply   |   Comment by KStock  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+8)
#51

The JUMP in the vote count when voting is the AjAx updating only when we click, so other folk's votes in the background over time won't register on our screen until we refresh the entire page or until we refresh an individual vote count by voting ourselves.

I just voted [ Yes ] on every post above (which I believe to be true -- I'm grateful for everyone's feedback, and I learn a lot about what makes them happy or not), and each time I voted, the number count incremented randomly 1 or 2 or more numbers each, sometimes 5.

Reply   |   Comment by Peter Blaise  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+25)
#50

is this offering similar to 'comodo's time machine which i have installed it's much like window's 'system restore' but lots better (as you can go back months) but, probably not as good as an external full backup since it resides on the computers hard drive

Reply   |   Comment by walt  –  11 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+7)
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