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Newbie please help.

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ATIH 2010

I have a full backup in tib format.

I have 2 partions - one for win xp - one for my data ( inc my backup file )

My OS failed and I re-installed Xp before restoring the backup from within windows. Worked fine.

My question is - did I waste my time installing xp ? Could I have restored the backup from the partition some how without having to install XP first ?? If so what is the procedure please.

Any help appreciated.

tia
Dave

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Yes you wasted your time reinstalling Windows. A disk and partition backup (not a file backup) in ATI, containing all the partitions on your disk, and a working recovery CD (you have booted your computer on it and you have actually restored a couple of files) is all what you need to protect your OS, apps and content.
When you restore to the same disk, there is no need to do anything with the target disk in the vast majority of cases. If you restore to a bigger disk, or if you restore to an SSD an image coming from a platter disk, or if you restore an image to another computer, this is a different story. In any case, you never have to reinstall Windows before restoring: always restore from the recovery CD.

Yes you could have restored everything, without installing XP first, if what you had was a disk and partition backup. See http://forum.acronis.com/forum/3426 section 3AA and BB.

Thanks to both of you, especially Pat L for the detailed explanation. It all makes much more sense now and no more installing Windows in the event of the next OS failure. Feeling pretty secure now thanx to Acronis :-))