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GUARD is a portable, screen-reader-first backup, system-imaging, and app-inventory utility for Windows, published by PlanetLinux98 and currently available at version 0.5.5, one of five released versions. Falling into the backup and data-protection software category, it requires no installation: the release ships as a self-contained portable folder with the .NET 10 runtime and Windows App SDK bundled in, so it can run directly from any location. Its purpose is to protect user data and simplify system recovery by backing up chosen folders to any destination, including local drives, external disks, or network shares, while also creating full bare-metal system images using Windows' built-in wbadmin tool. Typical use cases include routine personal or professional file backups, disaster recovery preparation with scheduled or on-demand system images, and post-reinstall restoration, aided by a recovery-media wizard and an inventory of installed applications that can be exported and reinstalled through winget, optionally preserving their settings. Copy operations are built on Robocopy and support additive and mirror modes, one-tick and custom exclusions, dated backup versions with pruning, and a dry-run preview, while automation options cover scheduled and run-on-connect backups. Accessibility is a defining characteristic: GUARD is designed screen-reader-first, offers native dark-mode theming, and maintains itself through a built-in checksum-verified updater. Together these capabilities make it a compact, install-free solution for users who need reliable data protection, full-system imaging, and streamlined application recovery in a single accessible package.
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