Can any expert validate my backup strategy?

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I have an Acer Travelmate 6592G PC with Windows XP SP3 and Acronis True Image 2010 Home installed.
I only use one OS and I don’t use any software that changes the MBR.
The HD contains three partitions:
PQSERVICE (hidden, created and used by Acer);
C: for OS and applications;
D: for Data.
My target is to protect PC from two events:
1. Block of OS (malware, virus, …)
2. Crash and substitution of the HDD

Here is the backup strategy.

Frequently I make two different backup operations (to limit time and dimension of single backup):
1. Backup_1 contains PQSERVICE, C: and D: ; but D: is “empty” (Files to exclude “D:\*\”).
2. Backup _2 contains only D: (full, without exclusions).

In case of block of OS:
- I restore from backup_1 ONLY C: (without MBR).

In case of crash and substitution of the HDD (probably with a bigger one):
- Without formatting the new disc, I restore from backup_1 the three partitions PQSERVICE, C: and D: “empty” (without MBR to enlarge, if needed, the dimension of the partition D:). So I recreate the “structure” of the disc.
- Then I restore the data from backup_2.

Can any expert validate this strategy or give me any advice about that?

Thanks in advance.

Do, 09/16/2010 - 08:36
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I would go for the following.

1. Complete disk image once a week - Always have week -1 available. In other words you'll have This weeks image plus last weeks image ideally.

2. Daily partition image of C:\ - . Either as one full per week + differential or a full with incrementals consolidated after 6 days.

I'm unsure why if D:\ is empty you include it with a file exclusion or are you just including it as a placeholder?

3. Daily or whatever schedule you desire for the D:\ partition.

I would leave the PQService partition as part of the weekly full disk image as if it is damaged you are not going to know until you want to use it, and restoring it as a separate partition might cause booting problems with the MBR.

If you have the space, I would make a complete disk image and then delete the PQSERVICE partition, as in theory having an image will override the requirements of this service partition unless Acer also put the OS installation files here and this is where Windows searches if it needs to be repaired.

If you decide on some sort of revolving pattern, you might want to look at the Chain2Gen script file that is in Grovers list of useful things. It isn't a must have, but some people have found it useful in automating what they want.

Sa, 09/18/2010 - 06:16
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Thank you Colin.
I agree with you that a weekly disk backup is ideal, with week-1 available.
The problem is the time to backup (more then 2 hours with the validation).

Now: I already have the data saved on two different external HDD; so I think I can avoid to backup data once more. The Backup of PQSERVICE, C: and D: empty might be equivalent to the entire disc backup, having data already saved elsewhere.

The D: empty would be, as you say, to hold the place in case of substitution of the HDD. But I don’t know whether, in case of a new disc, I can restore “PQSERVICE + C: + D: empty” without formatting and creating partitions on the new disc. If I had to format and partition the new disc, the backup of D: empty is really useless.
Can you tell me something about this situation (crash of the disc and substitution with a new bigger one)?

I do know nothing about Acer strategy on PQSERVICE and I don’t understand what you said about it.
So I think it’s better to restore the disc backup (with or without MBR?).

About MBR I haven’t yet understand if I have to back it up or not (either in case of restore of C: only – in case of malware – or in case of crash disc and substitution). I think MBR restoring is not necessary, but it isn’t clear for me.

If you think D: empty is useless, I could limit the weekly backup only to PQSERVICE and C: (only 25 minutes for backup and validation from rescue CD is OK for me). It would be the best solution for me.
If the OS is down I can restore only C: (without MBR).
But if the disc fails … what can I do to restore D: empty? I don’t really know.

Can you advice me about my doubts?

Thanks a lot in advance Colin.

So, 09/19/2010 - 13:56
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I agree with Colin's advice to simply back up the entire partition with PQSERVICE, C: and D: intact. Mine takes 2+ hours to run but I schedule it for the small hours of the morning or impromptu when I leave the house for that length of time. So far, I'm doing the back up daily.

Fr, 09/24/2010 - 20:34
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