Acronis Questions on Back Up Need Help
This is a newbie question down loaded and installed Aconis True Image 2016. Applogize for the long post. Been reading the PDF help files and a bit confused. Probably over thinking this. My knowledge is a bit limited help is greatly appreciated.
O.S. 7 Ultimate 64 Bit.
Hard Drives
C: 240 GB SSD OS, AV and some programs.
D: 480 GB SSD used for Microsoft Flight Simulatior X Only Has files in C:/Users/Name/AppData/Microsoft/FSX/F: drive User Name Documents/C: Drive all users documents & RegEdit Tree. C: All Users My Documents
E: 480 GB SSD for Microsoft Flight Simultor X Add Ons is Scenery files and weather engine. Not concerned about these folders can be pointed to FSX. Folders on E: drive do not need to be installed when instaloing DSX a second ot third time.
F: My Ueser Name_My Documents Location moved from C:User Name_My Documents.
G: C: User Name to G: Drive/Music/Pictures/Videos.
H: 1 TB back up drive.
I: Removable 2 TB USB Drive second back up.
Step 1 is to back up the system.
1. Tap Entire PC
2. New Panel Opens Back Up Source/Right Pane check marks in Drives
C: Local Disk SSD
D: Programs
E: Programs
F: Documents
G: Media
Un Checked (No check in H:) is primary back up drive. Same for I removable H.D.
Reporting estimated back up 785Gb = approximatley a 30 percent compression rate? Can the compression be changed?
1. The back up includes the following: Chipset drivers, Drivers All, AppData and RegEdit Tree?
2. Flight Simulator X can be corrupted easily by adding a addon required to be in the root directory of FSX. Added installs requires a finger print for proof of purchase. Is it possible to run the back up for FSX only would include AppData, My Documents User name and All Users My Documents, C: drive add on finger prints for varification? Cannot just copy and paste back into FSX have broken threads.
3. Tap Tools/More Tools/System Clean Up.
A. Is system clean up ok to run on SSD? Typicaly use Intel Tool Box? Windows 7 supports Trim.
B: Does clean up remove all data on the hard drive or clean the unused sectors on the hard drive?
Imediatley after windows installed turn off UAC, Bitdefender, auto up dates and System Restore. Acronis is very beneficial in case of a oops.
Back Ups:
1. Virigin OS install no Chip set drivers, Drivers or up dates.
2. After chip set driver and drivers are installed.
3. After each O.S. up dates has completed.
4. After software is installed.
5. After the O.S. is tuned & FSX is working properly.
Again there is times when FSX needs to be re installed from a oops. Manual install of FSX including add ons and test between each add on takes aproximatley 67 hours very time consuming. Purchasing Acronis to shorten the instalation time of FSX in case of a oops and to back up system.
Thank You
LarryA.
I may have to come back to this in a couple of parts.
I'm slightly confused by drive/partition D that has a path beginning with C: - typo perhaps?
How many physical drives do you have and if more than one drive which partitions are on which drive?
Assuming for the moment you have more than one drive. I would make an image file of each complete drive not one large image as this could increase the chances of a corrupt file and then your whole system is not recoverable.
Even if all your partitions are all on one disk, I would be inclined to image your OS partition separately from your other partitions.
Could you perhaps post a snipshot of how your disk(s)/partitions are layed out as shown in Windows Disk Management? This would allow a more customised answer to your questions.
I may have to come back to this in a couple of parts.
I'm slightly confused by drive/partition D that has a path beginning with C: - typo perhaps?
How many physical drives do you have and if more than one drive which partitions are on which drive?
Assuming for the moment you have more than one drive. I would make an image file of each complete drive not one large image as this could increase the chances of a corrupt file and then your whole system is not recoverable.
Even if all your partitions are all on one disk, I would be inclined to image your OS partition separately from your other partitions.
Could you perhaps post a snipshot of how your disk(s)/partitions are layed out as shown in Windows Disk Management? This would allow a more customised answer to your questions.
Thank you Colin for the reply must apologize for the confusing post do my best to clarify. Appreciate your help. I understand each hard drive needs to be backed up since the My documents folders and Media folders have been moved. No Partitions/physical hard drives.
If I need to clean D: Drive FSX and use Acronis to reinstall FSX are the threads to various hard drives broken?
C: Drive is OS and some programs. Drive D: for FSX and some add ons require being installed to the root folder of FSX. The add ons will change folders on the C: drive /AppData/ProgramData/RegEdit. The D: Drive program FSX becomes corrupted or D: drive stops functioning and you want to image program FSX using Acronis back on to a new D: drive. Are the threads broken to the RegEdit tree and other folders on the C: for FSX? One folder named Flight Simulator X Files installed by FSX to the F: drive My Documents.
It depends on the add on if it needs to be installed to the root folder of FSX then it is installed to the D: Drive FSX. If the add on does not require being installed to the FSX Root folder then it is installed to the E: Drive FSX Add Ons.
Microsoft Flight Simulator X must be installed out side of the C: Program Files (X86). FSX & some add ons are installed to D:_E:_F: drives. Depending if the Add On requires being installed to the Root folder of FSX and some add ons can be installed out side of the Root Folder to a different hard drive is the E: Drive. Improves read times and processing. E: drive does not require a new install add ons for FSX.
D: Drive =FSX Root Folder My primary concern broken threads to C: When using Aconis to image FSX back to the D; Drive. FSX Folders on the C: drive and RegEdit Tree. Cannot link these folders manually. Must be installed with the add on wrapper or FSX.exe installer.
E: Drive = Out side of FSX Root Folder These threads can be broken. Can link the folders back to FSX on the D: Drive manually. Some add ons add folders to the C: & D: FSX.
F: My Documents has 1 folder installed from FSX Install. Can Link this folder back to FSX root directory manually.
I keep a Virign Back up of FSX. Then with each add on change make another back up. Plus back up each RegEdit with any changes to FSX.
If you have to do a fresh installation of FSX to the D: drive manually it takes about 68 hours and a lot of testing to insure not any corrupted files can cause FSX to crash to the desk top. A simple corrupted windows up date can create huge problems for FSX. If FSX becomes corrupted can be difficult to diagnose the issue. May require a clean install of the O.S. thru command prompt. That is why a solid back up plan is required.
Total of 6 physical hard drives no partitions + 1 External USB Drive.
Thank You again Colin for taking the time to read the post and providing assistance. Have a Great Day
Larry
Larry,
Restoration will keep all links. The only thing you need to be aware of is software that uses a disk ID or serial number to lock the install to your PC, when you recover an image you need to ensure that the original ID option is selected so that your licenses don't think you've installed the software onto a new PC. As the OS partition/drive is normally where node locked software looks for authentication info, this should only be a possible problem if the C:\ partition is restored to a new drive.
I assume all you programs enter themselves into registry, that being the case, so long as you don't install anything or alter registry, all links will be OK, even if they are kept on files on the actual game drives.
Larry,
Restoration will keep all links. The only thing you need to be aware of is software that uses a disk ID or serial number to lock the install to your PC, when you recover an image you need to ensure that the original ID option is selected so that your licenses don't think you've installed the software onto a new PC. As the OS partition/drive is normally where node locked software looks for authentication info, this should only be a possible problem if the C:\ partition is restored to a new drive.
I assume all you programs enter themselves into registry, that being the case, so long as you don't install anything or alter registry, all links will be OK, even if they are kept on files on the actual game drives.
Hi Collin,
Appreciate the information and wanted to make sure restoration will keep the links prior to installing any add on to FSX. Yes sir all add ons to FSX D: have fingerprints on the C:Drive Programs and or C:/Username/Roaming/AppData/Microsoft/FSX includes product verification and or folder locations. That was my other concern if the finger prints would be lost. Create a situation of breaking the Eula policies and or force a new installation of the Add On Software to FSX desperately trying to avoid.
Been reading the PDF instructions and the information you provided really clarified a lot of my questions. Collin again sir I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to help with these questions. Pretty impressed with the quick replies.
Have a Great Day
Larry