best freeware backup/restore software ???

Any opinions of the best freeware backup programs?

I am simply looking to backup crucial files to a CD on a periodic basis for recovery of essential data.

I tried MOB several months ago, but found it to be problematic. I have recently tried "backup4all" and "backup genie" and after a considerable investment of time, long story short, neither worked...

And I did first try some searches to attempt to determine the answer to this question, to no avail.

As a desperate measure after my external HD went defunct, I have minimally been backing up important components using MS Explorer, but lately have been encountering problems with even that bombing out (consistently on 'favorites'...), so I am now looking at freeware as a quick fix, but finding a huge offering of backup software out there and would like to save some time by getting some advice that will lead me to something that actually works from the getgo....

 

Try HP's Simple Backup. I have used it to backup entire drive and have done custom restore on specfic files/directories. Very easy to use. You can do a custom b/u of any particular part of your drive. Get it from Here . Down about four items on the download list "HP Simple Backup Update" 12.75MB. Not really an update will allow a new full install. Not sure if it will work with other brands of CD-RW's but worth a try.