15-Minute Reviews :: NikSaver v1.6.2b197
Hello all and welcome to another 15-Minute Review! Today’s title is NikSaver version 1.6.2 build 197 by Nikolai Kurkov – An application to back up your application settings, both registry and file-based.
Software Description
As Giveaway of the Day states:
“NikSaver is a program that will help you backup all your settings in case you reinstall the operating system or move them to another computer. It will backup everything you need: from icons on the desktop and bookmarks in the browser to the settings of installed software and games. Do not waste your time and nerves on what can be done automatically!
If you want to reinstall the operating system or move your settings to another computer, you are sure to face some difficulties: each program stores its settings in a unique location and you need hours and hours to find those settings and then manually copy them. Or you have to put up with the lost settings and data (e-mail, bookmarks, passwords, etc.) and configure everything manually.
There is another way out! Just use this program. It will automatically copy the data and settings you need and then easily restore them.”
Quick Pros
- Interface is fairly simple to use
- Long list of applications supported out of the box
- Ability to add more applications – Adding registry keys a bit awkward
- Can manually handle backup scripts for more control
Quick Cons
- Crashed during attempts to back up on one system
- Seems to detect applications that do not exist
- Did not detect a lot of applications that are on the list
- FeedDemon and Trillian both give ‘Save Error: Program Configuration not saved’ errors
- Got an Invalid floating point operation error during backup of games
- Progress window looks glitched on both test systems
- No way to zip the backup files within application or multiple backup solutions
Expansion
Upon launching the application for the first time, you are greeted by a collapsable two-pane window. On the left is an Outlook-style area with a small button bar header. There are three sections here – Programs, Games, and System. Each one of these areas will display the detected items that fit in them. Upon clicking each one, you will see further information on the application show up to the right, including buttons to get to the install folder and in some cases the product homepage. At the bottom of the screen is a small (3-line) status window with a scrollbar which does not appear to be resizable. The interface is relatively easy to get running via the few buttons above the Outlook-style area, or you can move into the menus for a few more options. While the application is easy to use, the default skin which looks nice, seems to also make viewing a bit more difficult.
Besides just being able to backup and restore settings of applications already configured by the author of the application, you can also use the application to add new programs yourself. This is pretty handy and works pretty good too, except when it came to adding registry entries; There is no browsing feature here, you have to know the location prior from a registry editing tool. Adding files, folders, and files with extensions is pretty easy however.
Reading through the helpfile (which does seem a hair scattered), you will quickly notice you can actually manually build or adjust the configuration files for each program – You will find these inside your installation directory under Configs. This could be good for those who want that extra little control.
The results on the workstation were a little better, but did bring up more concerns. Upon running the application the first time on the work station, it was quickly noted that there were applications in the lists that did not exist on this system – All of which never have been on this system. Delphi 6, Delphi 7, WinZIP and Counter-Strike have never been on this system. Out of those four, the only one that did exist in the past was Delphi 7, but that was quite a while ago and 2 or 3 system reinstalls ago. Checking the folders after I did the backup to see what it did find for the Delphi applications, the Files folders in each are empty, and the registration files are empty (No keys – Just pointers to where the registry keys belonged).
Besides these oddities, I reviewed the list and compared it against the list of supported applications and quickly found a few glaring issues; While the application did pick up 21 programs and 1 game, it seems to have missed a number of other applications – Too many to list. I do not know if this is a version issue, or if it truly missed the applications.
During my first attempt at a backup, this time everything went a lot smoother except FeedDemon and Trillian – Both come back with “Save Error: Program Configuration not saved” errors. Neither did manage to back up anything either, and the error doesn’t help much at all. During backup of Counter Strike to see what it would create, it would fire back a “Invalid floating point operation error” every time – Would gather this is caused by Counter Strike not existing but can not confirm this.
Other than the issues noted above, the backups do appear to be in good shape (the ones that did occur on real applications that is). Not going to brave a loading of the configuration on the workstation, so that will have to come later. Even without this application, it is theoretical that you could restore the backup manually (Albeit more work).
The final note to put here is that all the backup configuration gets tossed in your Documents folder in a folder structure. This isn’t too bad, until you decide you want two different backups of a specific application (Say you decide you want to back up two different layouts or similar) or if you want to make sure one doesn’t corrupt. You will have to manually move/rename folders to do another backup. There is also no built-in zip or backup functionality such as burning to CD, SFTP or otherwise. The point of a tool such as this one is to relocate your settings to a secure home so that if you do crash, you’re not spending days redoing everything. This application you will need to make an effort to take the next steps yourself.
Final Verdict
The application does show promise – I have always wanted an application like this for the ‘other parts’ of a backup, without doing an entire drive image to get similar results. That said, with the bugs, glitches and so forth, I definitely could not put my trust into a tool like this until it gets significantly more stable as well as accurate with its detection. That said, I would have hoped to have seen an application such as this one more regularly kept up-to-date, but according to here the last time the application was officially updated was May, 2007. While free, it may be fun to play with and see how it does with your system – I wouldn’t rely specifically on it however. As for paying $34.95, this tool would definitely be worth it if it were a bit more stable and accurate – It could be worth more if it would step up the features as well.
Posted by BladedThoth on Tuesday, February 05, 2008
