GoBack allows you to take your computer back in time

GoBack is a software utility that allows you to literally take your computer back in time, to a time and place when it was functioning normally.  It will also recover files that you accidentally deleted or thought were changed forever.  Below is our review and recommendations for GoBack.

Few software utilities are really as good as they claim to be.  Most are the products of a marketing plan, whose value lies more on the surface than in the substance of the tool.  However, our cynicism proved no match for Roxio GoBack.

Running GoBack will help protect your computer from the mysterious gremlins that often overtake a system.  Whether you've installed software, been bitten by a virus or simply deleted a file, GoBack will restore your system by taking you back in time, giving you a second chance.

It's magic, right?

Well, not exactly.  GoBack simply keeps a record of every change that happens on the hard disk, from Windows system files to Word files.  Even before Windows loads, GoBack begins logging each change to a buffer on the hard disk (generally 10% of the hard drive capacity, but it's adjustable).  The software interface that provides access to this buffer is quite simple and allows you to restore to a specific point in time with only a few obvious mouse clicks.

So, what do you get for $50?

The marketing answer is "peace of mind," and to be honest, it's difficult to argue with that.  As the menu above states, GoBack lets you revert your entire hard disk to a time in the past, a time when the computer was running well.  A few examples:

• A volunteer accidentally opens a random email attachment, triggering hundreds of outgoing messages and the subtle destruction of the inner-workings of your computer.  The professional anti-virus folks would have you spend hours repairing this mess, but with GoBack, you simply click the mouse a few times, wait a couple of minutes and you're back in action like it never happened.
   
• Microsoft tells you to install the Outlook Email Attachment Security patch, which you trustingly do, causing your palm pilot to cease normal operations.  As there is no reasonable way to uninstall the patch, use GoBack to take you back.
   
• Your new tape backup requires you to install a SCSI card.  After completing the installation Windows continually locks up on restart.  Rather than stumbling blindly, use GoBack to start from scratch.

GoBack will also retrieve individual files from the past.

• You return from a long lunch with old friends, inspired to rework the grant application due out the following day.  After a lively afternoon of writing, you come in the next day to the realization that your grant application contains curious references to elves and how scary they'd be if they were just a little bigger.  With last night's backup overwriting the *good* version, you use GoBack to save the day.
  
• You're sharing files over the LAN and accidentally delete next year's budget from the bosses computer.  You quickly learn that the recycle bin doesn't work when files are deleted over the network.  Fortunately GoBack is running and retrieval is not only possible, but easy.

And the catch?

While GoBack's benefits far outweigh the costs, there are limitations.

• Running in the background, GoBack uses some system resources.  On older machines that are already struggling to keep up, the impact may be be noticeable.
   
• GoBack tracks a lot of activity and as such requires a lot of disk space (about 10% of your drive) in order maintain a history longer than about a week.
  
• At present, GoBack only works with Windows 95, 98 or ME.  It's not compatible with Windows NT or 2000.
  
• GoBack will  not work with compressed drives or boot management applications.  Fortunately, very few folks are using these kinds of utilities.
  
• If you roll your computer back, your email files will be rolled back as well, and any email you've received between now and the time you're rolling back to will be deleted.  Be sure to back up your email if you're going to roll back more than a few minutes, or be prepared to lose some data.

It is very important to note that GoBack is NOT a replacement for regular backups.  Solid backups protect against hard disk failure, while GoBack does not function if the hard drive is damaged.  And backups can (and should!) be stored off-site, protecting you against site-specific disasters (such as a fire or break-in).  GoBack won't help you if a thief steals your computer.

Summary

GoBack is quite simply one of the coolest, most widely appropriate software products available.  It doesn't do everything, but what it does do--let you start over--is invaluable and works very  well.  We think this $50 investment is a slam dunk, one sure to earn its keep.

Go Back is not an alternative to consistent, off-site backups, but will protect you from incidental mishaps and even some serious gaffs.  Use it on all of your machines, especially those that contain important data or are used by random people.

For more information

GoBack 

http://www.goback.com
 

06/29/01  

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