clone or image with atih 2011 under win 8.1

Hi, Welcome to the forum :)

I also use Acronis TI 2011 but I'm running Windows 7 on my PC's so I can't answer your question relating to Win 8 or 8.1

With Windows 8[.1], you'll probably have a "GPT" HDD vs the older "MBR" HDD. I'm not sure if Acronis 2011 products support GPT HDD's. Someone here will provide an answer to that.

Cloning and Imaging: It's a lively topic here and elsewhere :). I've been using both tools with 3 PC's with almost* no problems for about 3 years.

Both tools will result in the same thing, a complete HDD backup, OS, all programs, all of your personal items. They accomplish it in different ways. Both tools, my opinion, provide advantages that are unique to each approach.

Cloning:

It does what the name implies, copying your "Source" ("C" HDD for most PC users) to another HDD. All content is copied, resulting in an exact HDD replacement in the event of an OS issue, malware, user error, bad download, HDD failure.

The cloned HDD is usually referred to as the "Target" HDD. I think the Acronis cloning dialog setup screens refer to the Target HDD as the "Destination" HDD.

The requirement for Cloning is that you need to have a spare HDD available, preferably one that's the same size or larger than your Source HDD. There are ways to custom-clone to a smaller-sized HDD but I'm not familiar with those methods. I've always cloned with exact HDD's, 1 Tb size, except for one time when I cloned from a 5ooGb Source HDD to a new 1 Tb Target HDD.

Some PC users see the necessity of having a spare HDD on the shelf as a disadvantage. I see it otherwise as I have a plug-and-play spare HDD ready at any time in the event of a Source HDD failure or other situations as mentioned earlier.

There is a potential downside to Cloning (vs Imaging) although I'd never encountered a problem until recently. The risk is that, if an abnormality occurs during the Cloning process, both HDD's could be rendered unbootable. That said, until recently, I'd never encountered any problems with 3 PC's over a 3-year time span. My Cloning failure rate is about 1.3% (1 failure in 75 cloned HDD's).

Imaging:

This process backs up the entire HDD as Cloning but accomplishes it differently. Imaging copies the HDD contents into a file, ususally compressed, to an external storage device, like perhaps a USB external HDD, etc.

The compressed file is usually processed specific to the backup software, thus requiring the user to run the software (Acronis, etc) to restore the Image to a Target HDD in the event of OS failure or Source HDD failure, or in case other undesirable situations occur.

Imaging has several advantages:

- Provides multiple HDD backup files that can be stored on an external HDD
- Safety net, in case one Image file fails to restore the HDD, or in the event of a Cloning error.
- Provides the options of full-HDD, Incremental, or Differential Imaging.

Incremental Imaging is a "chain" image process. The user can run a first full-HDD Image and then can run subsequent Incremental Images which are associated with the original full-HDD Image file.

For example, after you have run the first full-HDD Image file, you can schedule or manually run periodic smaller Image files which will backup all items that have been added or changed since the previous Image process in the associated chain of backup images.

Differential Imaging: This backs up all new and changed data that has occurred since the last full-HDD backup image.

I don't use chain Imaging but it's just my personal preference to go with multiple full-HDD Imaging and Cloning. Chain Imaging is advantageous for many PC users.

My advice is, once you have selected and become familiar with whichever backup plan you choose, is to insure that you have multiple HDD backups available. I have several Images and 2 spare Cloned HDD's available to provide several points in time with which I can roll back my PC to recover from various situations at different time periods.

I also like to have several full-HDD backups available in case I encounter a rare Cloning error which may render both HDD's unbootable. That recently happened to me for the first time. I repaired both HDD's in about 10 minutes but had it not been possible to do so, I had several recovery options available regardless of Cloning issues encountered.

* I finally encountered my first cloning issue after about 75 cloning's over 3 years. I started another thread here about the topic and will post my experience there.

Only version 2014 and 2015 supports Windows 8.1.

Version 2011 is not designed for 8.1

Hi Scoop, Groverh,

@Scoop Tks a lot Scoop for very useful explanation...! it clears up my thoughts ! Great !

@Groverh Do you think that i need to upgrade to 2015 version ? If i use the option "PlusPack" , to install my backup on another device, will it work really ? i never tried it as to i bought it in 2011...

Tks

mozllo,

You're welcome :)

Here's an older link to an Acronis Knowledge Base article that lists the products compatible with Windows 8[.1]. It's an older list so the 2015 version isn't listed but as Grover mentioned, it's also Win 8 compatible. You'll need to purchase one of the Win 8 compatible Acronis products to backup your Laptop PC.

https://kb.acronis.com/content/31033

Regarding the "PlusPack", I haven't tried that either, "Universal Restore", or often referred to as "Restore to dissimilar hardware". I also have the "Plus" pack installed for my 2011 version but haven't gotten around to testing the Universal Restore tool. There's a good article among the Knowledge Base at this forum about this tool. I recall reading the article, well documented.

Only version 2014 and 2015 support Windows 8.1. Version 2013 supported 8.0 but not 8.1.

https://kb.acronis.com/content/44116

Restore to dis-similar hardware.
https://kb.acronis.com/search/site/Acronis%20True%20Image%202015%3A%20R…

Some have success and others do not. As you need to gather all the drivers together for the new hdwe and available for the restore, this sometimes can be difficult for some of the users.