the 3 cloning options
Greetings.
Is there a good document that explains the three options when using the Cloning tool in ATI2021?
Couldn't easily find one. I am trying the third option to finish - clone to use as data disk - but I am feeling that it's not an image where I can restore to the same/different HDD or SSD ...
It will be nice if it can be an image to be restored to the same or different drive *and* also be able to restore only select files.
Any help in pointing me to the right document will be appreciated. Thank you!


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Thanks for the welcome Steve. I will read the link in your sig.
Since I haven't had time to read the link, this is a little premature but here goes as to what I want to achieve here: Wish we can backup to an external drive (1) restorable image *and* (2) a simple file copy of the data. Latter so it is simply a plug & pray to use File Explorer to restore individual files
On a Mac system & using an app called SuperDuper!, I am able to do that - image for catastrophic restores and file copies for select file restores. Will Acronis 2021 be able to do that if I partition an external drive to two partitions or will the CLONE process simply repartition to one partition on that device?
Actually, I don't use Acronis 2021; my friend does. I believe he upgraded a 2018 version to 2021. I was helping him to a clean install of Windows 10 Home and reinstall software including his Acronis 2021. Since he left the external SSD with me, I thought I'll "try" imaging and that is when I was presented with the three options.
You are correct - I must be misusing the lingo. I went to Tools and thought I saw the "clone" option ... didn't see the "image" option unless backup is inclusive of the image option/switch if I select that.
Although this doesn't matter, I personally do the #2 so restore is simple & without any software coming in-between. It is also easier to verify when the backup complete. Also for an old fart geek like me, reinstall of Windoze 10 is simple and it's just a matter of restoring the "data" into the user directories.
Thanks for your input!
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Tako, thanks for providing further information.
A further question is needed first as you have referred to both Windows and Mac PC's... where are you focusing on for these questions? On Windows or on Mac?
Caveat: I am a Windows user with no direct experience of using ATI on any Mac.
Next, in ATI (all versions), Backup is the feature that will create archive images where these are stored in special container files using the file extension of either .tib or .tibx. The latter, .tibx files, are exclusive to ATI 2020 and later versions and are used for backups of Disks & Partitions, whereas .tib files have been used by all versions of ATI and continue to be used for Files & Folders backups in ATI 2020 and later.
When ATI is installed in Windows, then the image files (.tib & .tibx) can be opened in Explorer by virtue of the Windows Shell integration with ATI on install. So the images can be explored and normal Copy & Paste controls used to recover data as / when needed.
The core purpose of ATI is to help make Backup & Recovery an easier task without needing to start again by reinstalling Windows then applications etc.
A backup image of a Windows OS disk drive can be created from within Windows by using the Microsoft VSS snapshot service, allowing for this activity to be scheduled regularly.
Recovery of a disk image is best performed by booting the PC from rescue media where this is created as Windows PE boot media for best compatibility and allows for recovery of a backup image to a bare-metal disk drive.
Users can stored multiple .tib / .tibx files on backup drives assuming the size of files allows for this. This contrasts to using cloning where a clone takes a whole disk drive and only one can be stored.
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Wow, Steve, this old geek is learning a lot from you - thank you for the details.
I am focusing on Windoze. FWIW, I'm device agnostic but if I were to rank it'll be Windoze at the top & the rest falling in place behind it.
I believe you gave me the answer: tibx for AIT >= 2020.
Windoze Shell integration so you can restore individual objects inside the tibx file seems nice on paper & hoping it is executed well; tibx file also is the image I assume?
I went into ATI2021 UI again. Finding the "clone" option was easy but without your reply, I would've never thought to try a simple "backup" option. Actually, I wasn't sure if "imaging" was buried in there this time around so I just ran it.
... and there it was, the .tibx file!
Upon inspection, there was a root folder with the computer name and 4 folders (equating to the 4 partitions?) within. The folder for the primary NTFS partition was explorable to individual file thus I believe I can restore select files. This being ATI2021 & .tibx file, I further deduce that with booting off the USB thumb drive (from Rescue Media Builder), can also be restored as an image to the same/new storage?
Thank you again for the continued dialog!
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Some reference documents for you to help you sleep at night if needed!
KB 65547: Acronis True Image 2021: how to restore files from a backup (Windows) and scroll down the page to 'How to restore files in File Explorer' which you should find easier to use if only wanting to recover some files, allowing you to use normal Copy & Paste commands.
KB 65539: Acronis True Image 2021: How to restore your computer with WinPE-based or WinRE-based media
KB 61844: Acronis True Image 2019, 2020 and 2021: How to delete old backups
KB 63516: Acronis True Image 2020: Incremental backups do not create separate files when using new backup format - and KB 63498: Acronis True Image 2020: new tibx backup format FAQ
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