Will recovering my system delete all partitions
Hello All,
I have a question about using Acronis True Image Home 2011. I have an HP that has a recovery partition on it from HP and I wanted to use Acronis to backup my entire system, because I just had an incident where I had to do a recovery using HP's recovery, and it took me back to the day I first got my computer. Being that it took all my programs off that I had installed I am trying to not have to install them all over again once I get them back on
What I would like to do is be able to create a backup of my entire system, once I get the some of my programs I use back on there. But I read somewhere that it said that when I recover that it would delete all my partitions, and I am afraid to delete the HP recovery partition, just incase I may need to use it again.
So the question I ask is it safe to create a backup of my entire system using Acronis True Image Home 2011, and use it to recover without deleting my HP Recovery partition?
Thank you for any help in this matter.
Thank you so much dev-anon for your quick reply. I was just concerned about that and did not want to chance deleting the HP Recovery partition.
So there is an option before I do the recovery to choose only the main partition? Is is on the screen that you see when you are about to begin the recovery?
Another question I have concerns creating bootable media. If I choose to back up to dvds, is it best to make those dvds bootable?
You don't need to make the dvds bootable. Restoring from an Acronis boot up disk will prompt you for the dvds.
Acronis will format the DVD's when they are inserted and then start writing the TIB file to them.
I would not recommend this method of backup though. It is not as reliable as an external disk. It has been been reported in the forums here that restoring from DVD involves multiple insertion and ejection of the DVD's.
In the recover wizard, there will be 'what to recover' tab, (after you select the archive and 'recover as partitions') where you can leave only one check - on the partition you need. I would rather make bootable CD and DVDs with backups separately.
http://www.recipester.org/images/thumb/3/3c/Recover_Windows_Partition_B… (bootable media of version 2011 looks like this screenshot of 2010, it's not a mistake)
Thanks for the quick response! The only reason I did it to dvds was because it was one of my laptops and I did not feel like connecting the external hd to it at that time, so it only took 2 dvds, which wasn't bad. But yes, I agree it was a pain swapping them in and out. The next time I will more than likely use the external drive. When I created the backup on the dvds, I told it to make them bootable not knowing if it was necessary or not.
How hard is it to backup to a hard drive on the network? like say either an external or perhaps another drive in another computer on the network?
G Lo
What dev-anon described in post #1 was the restore of a single partition on a multi-partition disk.
Responding to the original question. If your backup includes all partitions (including the recovery plus any hidden partitions), then you have the necessary contents to create to either restore a single partition or your entire disk or create a wholly new disk.
Backing up to a network or other computer can be either hard or easy. You won't know until you try. There are other postings about issues where this process can be troublesome.
I backup to other pcs on my network but I always use a cable not WIFI as WIFI is just too slow.
What dev-anon described in post #1 was the restore of a single partition on a multi-partition disk.
Responding to the original question. If your backup includes all partitions (including the recovery plus any hidden partitions), then you have the necessary contents to create to either restore a single partition or your entire disk or create a wholly new disk.
Hello there GroverH!
I don't think I understood what you just said. Ok, lets say I have 1 drive in my system, that 1 drive has the HP Recovery partition on it and also my C: with Windows on it. so when I go to do my backup, what should I tell it to back up if I want to keep my HP Recovery partition intact?
I backup to other pcs on my network but I always use a cable not WIFI as WIFI is just too slow.
Ok jehosophat, let me explain then. I have about 8 computers on my home network. 4 desktops, 4 laptops. All but 1 desktop is wired. Now one of the other desktops that is wired has a external hd attached to it, can I from another desktop that is wired also, save the backup to the other desktop that is wired with the external hd?
I also have 1 desktop that uses wireless to connect to the network, but it too has an external connected to it, can I use that external hd to backup to from one of my other systems?
Also, how do you stay logged into this forum? it keeps logging me out and I have to keep logging back in to read this thread.
Hello there GroverH!
I don't think I understood what you just said. Ok, lets say I have 1 drive in my system, that 1 drive has the HP Recovery partition on it and also my C: with Windows on it. so when I go to do my backup, what should I tell it to back up if I want to keep my HP Recovery partition intact?
The first link below is an example of backup which is referenced as a "disk" option backup (disk checkmarked) and since all partitions are checked, all partitions and all data on the disk will be included in the backup including any Recovery partition.
Examples shows a typical Win7 install with 4 partitions (first partition is non-lettered)
http://forum.acronis.com/sites/default/files/forum/2009/12/7027/Disk-op…
If your backup is as described above, when recovery times come you can use the above backup and :
the example below shows how to overwrite an old disk (or create an identical replacement) by restoring everything and the recipient disk would be identical to the original backup disk with all partitions restored.
http://forum.acronis.com/sites/default/files/forum/2009/12/7027/disk-op…
During recovery, the user also has the option to check only single (or more) partitions and only those partitions checked would be restored.
Note: The best chances of recovery is when recovery is performed when booted from the TI Rescue CD. Sometimes the CD will assign drive letters for identification purposes but these drive letters are not translated to Windows after the install. After recovery, Windows will assign the proper drive letters on those partitions where letters are normally assigned.
So what you are saying GroverH is that if I choose the "disk" option backup, then I will be able to go in and uncheck the partition I do not want backed up? or should I leave them checked so that it will back them up and then the recovery will put them back on just as they are now, so if I need to use the HP Recovery partition, it will still be there intact?
In order to be restored, they must be included in the backup. If not included and you do a disk option restore, the items not include in the backup willl NOT be on the new disk.
When performing a disk option restore, this wipes the disk clean and only those partitions included in the backup will be restored and appear on the disk.
If you want to restore only a single partition, then checkmark only that partition to be restored and all other partitions will be untouched and as before.
My personal preference is to include all my partitions on every backup. The overhead in space is very little.