any reason to NOT also make a Windows backup- for extra protection?
After my recent trauma- due to a failed Win 8.1 update which crashed my system- and my initial failed effort to restore from an ATI 2015 backup, due to the restoration process not having a "Next" button, after I found the .tib file on my WD external drive- since I had read about ATI 2015's trouble seeing some external hard drives--- and eventually, I managed to right click on the .tib file which initiated the restoration.....
So, after I recovered from that trauma, I thought that maybe, just maybe, it might be sensible to also make a Win 8.1 image directly from within Win 8.1- the thought being that if for some reason the Acronis backup failed, if I also have a recent Windows image- that might save my **s.
But, I just want to be sure that creating a Windows image won't cause some problem? I can't think of why it should- just checking here with you experts.
My system is a Dell from last November. I recently created a Windows recovery environment on a USB flash drive- but this is a Dell designed recovery media produced from within a Dell applet, apparently- and after testing it, I don't like what I see- I think it's just a variation of the Win Recovery Environment that I see described in the book, "Windows 8.1 The Missing Manual" which shows the screens you'll see if you create a Windows recovery environment as part of creating a Windows image from within the Control Panel's System and Security- these screens are more user friendly that what I see with the Dell Recovery Media.
I'm probably misunderstand something about all this- for those of us who don't do IT work for a living, it's not easy keeping up on all these techniques.
Anyway, so, is there any reason I shouldn't make a Windows image from within Windows to supplement my ATI 2015 image?
thanks,
Joe
Grover, what's confusing me is that on this high end Dell system from last November- Dell creates a Dell Recovery Environment which is different than the Windows Recovery Environment- I wish Dell didn't do this- though I suppose the Dell RE can more easily recreate the original Windows setup from the hidden partition it created- since they don't give us Windows disks. But, with Acronis, any effort to recover from the Windows backup would only be if the Acronis restore failed.
So, creating a Windows backup in no way messes with an ongoing series of Acronis backups?
When I had my trauma due to a MS update failure- I was able to restore my boot drive with an ATI 2015 backup- I'd presume it would therefore have no trouble with a replacement drive- regardless if it's MBR or GPT. I think, but could be wrong, that new drives (and this is an SSD) are usually GPT, whatever that means. The restore process just worked with no effort on my part- amazingly- other than the fact that once I found the .tib file on my external WD drive- I clicked on it- and nothing happened, making me think it wouldn't work- since there was no NEXT button- I later, after many tries, discovered that it works if you right click on the found .tib file- I sure hope Acronis fixes this.
Joe
You can do a Windows image without interfering with Acronis backups. Recovery partitions are often iffy... Sometimes they simply don't work because of some modification of the boot records, or some corruption of the data... Plus they take you back to factory install, prior to cleanup, updates, installations, etc.
Pat, OK, just to be sure I understand this--- in the book "Windows 8.1 The Missing Manual"- it does imply that creating a USB Recovery Disk will first create a partition before it creates a USB Recovery Drive. This is something I certainly wouldn't want- I'd like that USB Recovery Disk but not a new partition on my book drive with who knows how many gigs it'll take. So, is that the case, it really creates a partition on the drive?
I will also ask about this in the MS forums, a more appropriate place to ask this question - but I always seek out info. from as many places as possible.
thanks,
Joe