various modes of backup, cloning, restoring and rescuing
Like many newbies, I can get confused by the various methods and options available to me for backup, cloning, etc. Some of these things need to be implemented before they're needed in a crisis. Sometimes, I find out about the best practice for what I should have done while in the middle of a crisis.
Mostly to get my own head around all this stuff, I've been compiling an incomplete list. It'll all seem obvious to veterans, but I bet it'll be an eye opener for newbies.
I think this would be good to have somewhere that others could modify it, wiki style, but not sure about how and where to put it. I'm open to suggestions on that, and to additions and changes to the content.
I'm planning on noting which things are either a recommended best practice, or something that you need to implement ahead of the crisis. Neither one of which do you want to hear about after the fact.
-Dave
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Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office - various modes of backup, cloning, restoring and rescuing v1.0
ACPHO backup
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backup to local and/or cloud
complete - the whole shebang
differential - changes since last complete backup (you only need the complete backup and one differential to restore; takes up more space)
incremental - changes since last incremental backup (this type is more delicate since it relies up the whole chain of backups since the last full backup; takes up less space; this is the typical backup to the cloud)
- restore lost files
- move to a new drive: back up your old drive and recover to new one (migration option 1)
Replication
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ACPHO mirrors a local backup to the cloud exactly
much faster (I hear) than doing separate backups locally and to the cloud
NB: one time I waited too long to recover something and it had aged out of my local backup. It would thus have disappeared from a replicated cloud backup as well. Luckily I wasn't using replication and my separate cloud backup still had my data. So, replication has its pluses and minuses.
Clone Disk
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This utility helps you clone your operating system, applications, and data to a new disk (migration option 2). The new disk will be identical to your old one and the system bootability will be kept. Note boot mode when cloning: If the backup contains a BIOS system, then boot the bootable media in BIOS mode; if the system is UEFI, then ensure that UEFI mode is set.
Rescue Media Builder - Acronis Media Builder - bootable media
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Created a bootable media so that you can recover your computer if it becomes unbootable: CD, DVD, External drive, USB flash drive
Can create:
- Acronis bootable media: recommended for most users
Simple (configured to suit this computer best):
- WinRE-based media with the Acronis plug-in (Windows Recovery Environment; can add drivers; does not require WADK, but can only be used only on the computer where it was created or on a computer with the same operating system.
Advanced (adjustable to suit this or a different computer):
- WinPE-based media with Acronis plug-in: for when Acronis bootable media does not work (Windows preinstallation environment; can add drivers; requires WADK: Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit) (needed for pre-Windows 7)
- Linux-based media
Acronis Universal Restore - Acronis Universal Boot media
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Linux based media: CD, DVD, USB flash drive, ISO image file
Before you start recovery to dissimilar hardware, please create Acronis Universal Restore media with this media builder.
Acronis Universal Boot media is used to make your computer bootable after recovery to dissimilar hardware. Refer to Acronis Universal Restore for details.
Acronis Startup Recovery Manager
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F11 to run ACPHO if Windows won't boot (previously installed; will wipe out GRUB; see kb1504 on how t have both)
functionality is similar to Acronis functionality in Windows
functionality is identical to Acronis Bootable Rescue Media
activate or deactivate the Acronis Startup Recovery Manager at any time from the Tools menu
while in Startup Recovery Manager you can perform:
Disk/partition and file/folder backup;
Disk/partition and file/folder recovery;
Managing Acronis Secure Zone;
Deactivating Acronis Startup Recovery Manager;
Disk clone;
Add new disk;
Data destruction on hard disk with Acronis Drive Cleanser.
MVP Assistant: Rescue Media component
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Builds WinPE and WinRE media with a lot more flexibility


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This seems like a good time to put in a shameless plug for the MVP Assistant.
The MVP Guidelines section is highly configurable to create links to the various user guides, knowledge base articles and documents which can be an invaluable resource. You can completely structure the table of contents as you'd like, add items, move them around, etc. It will even handle importing items.
Give it a go.
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