How do you schedule a regular image?
I needed to replace my Hard Disk so I used Acronis True Image to clone a new disk and it worked well. But now I want to schedule a regular image to be created instead of backing up files. If the new drive fails, I want to have a current image I can use so that I don't have to reinstall my programs. All the reviews and the box say that it does imaging, but I find no options in the menus to do imaging. All choices are for backups.
As I understand it, backups will not help me recreate a disk which includes a working operating system in the event of a failure. Am I misunderstanding something?
So how does the program create an image? Is that something I have to do manually every once in a while?
Or are you telling me that the "Entire PC" backup IS an image?
Also, I don't see options there to recover an "Entire PC" backup.
I think I found most of my answers but I think I may be overdoing my backup system.
Right now, I've scheduled an Entire PC backup using a version chain scheme once a month, a System Disk backup using a version chain scheme 3 times a week with a full version every six backups, and am currently running an Entire PC sector-by-sector backup (image). I did set version clean-up, but I can't see it in Edit Settings to tell you what I set it to.
Am I being a little overzealous? There was 1 day 40 hours and 50 minutes remaining for the image so I killed it for now. :(
Hello? It's been a month. Am I being a little overzealous?
Postiangs on the forum get answers mostly from volunteeers.. You need to contact support if you are looking for answers from Acronis (first 30 days of purchase). Note left margin contents.
AS for remaining backup time, this is a projection and notoriously wrong. It can be ignored.
For about 99% of the users, a "sector by sector" backup is not needed unless you are a user of other than
Windows type files A "sector by sectort" backup is a backup of both all data AND ALL BLANK SPACE which means you the size of your backup file will be the size of your hard drive. The normal backup for most is NOT to check the "sector by sector" option and the backup size will be about 70% of used space and much quicker
Refer again my post #1 for my examples of backup schemes. I recommend that you NOT use the standard version schemes because the standard versions type do not include automatic cleanup and standards require manual deletion of files by the user. I suggest you use my examples which include automtic cleanup and are all are type "custom".
Editing or changing the settings is not recommended but you can use the edit settings function to look at your settings previously set. Be sure and use the cancel option to back out of a visual check of existing settings.
This video by Youtube could help. It is about a file backup but the disk or partition backup procedures are similar.
YouTube Video by Office Orbiter
How to backup your computer with Acronis True Image 2015 (File type backup)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjgaVahkZXc
More than one backup scheme is a good idea. You should have more than one choice.
Thank you for your help, GroverH
Refer again my post #1 for my examples of backup schemes. I recommend that you NOT use the standard version schemes because the standard versions type do not include automatic cleanup and standards require manual deletion of files by the user. I suggest you use my examples which include automtic cleanup and are all are type "custom".
Maybe I'm missing something, but the only examples you've given are to the standard Entire PC backup and the Disk backup. There don't appear to be any of "your" examples of custom schemes with automatic cleanup set.
More than one backup scheme is a good idea. You should have more than one choice.
You haven't mentioned the "Version Chain" scheme which does automatically delete backups after 6 months. I've set up my Entire PC to use Version Chain the last day of every month and a Differential backup of my system and data partitions with a full version after every 5 differentials, storing only 5 full version chains maximum (automatic cleanup section). Does that sound good?
Once I get this figured out, I can set up my spouse's computer. That's another headache. She's networked to my computer, but Acronis doesn't want to save to the backup disk attached to my computer. It keeps asking for a network password and there isn't one. But that's not an Acronis problem, however, if you have a suggestion, I'll listen. :)
Here are some of my examples of automatic cleanup.
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GH64. 71342: 2015 How to save a non-scheduled task.
Depending upon the type of backup scheme you wish to create, here is an example of each type. These can be set up for Disk image, or Partiton, or Files-folders backups. These example show how to set up automatic cleanup so the program will do the deletion after it reaches your set goal of how many chains to retain.
Editing an existing task is not recommended. Rarely does an edited task perform to user expectations. It is usually better to start with a new task using a new non-identical task name and point to a new storage sub-folder so each task has it own storage folder/sub-folder. Old task can be stopped or deleted from the task listings.
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Version chain is not one that I recommend.
If it is not a custom with automatic cleanup, I won't recommend. For a backup plan to be effective, my preference is to have regular full backups. A backup plan with many incrementals (in my opinion) is a data accident waiting to happen. Too many users do not understand all characteristics of incrementals. See link GH25 below. If one incremental in a chain becomes unreadable (bad disk read--whatever) then all NEWER inc's in the same chain are worthless and non-recoverable.
GH25. Understanding differences between Inc and Dif for Safety
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Consider using a 64 or 128GB usb3 flash drive for the storage of your wife's backups. Use her computer for the plugin , or Maybe use the router if it has a usb3 connection.
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You have all kinds of links under my name.
https://forum.acronis.com/forums/acronis-true-image-home-discussions/be…
Thanks GroverH.
I used your examples to set up my backups. I am doing a monthly Entire PC and a twice weekly differential System disk backup. I'm keeping more copies than you suggested and I'm still having the GF's computer backup to my external disk through the network. I don't think a USB flash drive would hold enough backups, but I do have some spare hard disks that I can put in an external box if networking doesn't do the trick.
If you want a usb docking unit to plus your bare drives into (either size), I find this works very well.
This is easiliy used with multiple loose drive. Quick insert and removal and portable.
http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-SuperSpeed-Lay-Flat-Docking-ASM1053E/dp/…
Hopefully, your backup scheme used automatic cleanup and my signature link 5 provides some help about attachments.
If you have Win 7 or newerr, the capture snipping tool s included with your OS
Don't forget that each destination disk needs its own backup task.
The backup task only works with the target disk that was attached at time of task creation.
If you want a usb docking unit to plus your bare drives into (either size), I find this works very well.
This is easiliy used with multiple loose drive. Quick insert and removal and portable.http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-SuperSpeed-Lay-Flat-Docking-ASM1053E/dp/…
Thank you
Hopefully, your backup scheme used automatic cleanup and my signature link 5 provides some help about attachments.
I used your examples including the automatic cleanup
If you have Win 7 or newerr, the capture snipping tool s included with your OS
I have Vista which includes the snipping tool if you install the tablet features of Windows, but I don't know why you mentioned it.
Don't forget that each destination disk needs its own backup task.
The backup task only works with the target disk that was attached at time of task creation.
This is the statement that confuses me. What do you mean?
What I mean is that when you create a backup task, whatever destination path and disk is used in that specific task becomes the designated location for that task. Any path or device differences will cause the next backup to fail.
For example, you have a WD disk inserted when the task is created and you switch to a Seagate disk. The next backup will fail because the attached Seagate is not the same disk id as when the task was created. You can leave the Seagate attached and edit the task using the MOVE option and reconfigure the location from the WD to the new Seagate so the backups will continue. Without the MOVE change, the backups fail.
If you want to do backups toi both the WD and the Seagate, then each disk needs its own backup task. You wouuld need to create a new task with the SEAGATe attached in order for backups to the Seagate to work. I just use the two disk names as examples, any difference (such as a change of disk capacity) would cause the same situation. The task is expecdting and will only work with the specific disk ID and drive letter that was attached at time of task creation. Even if you have the same disk inserted but the drive letter differs, the backup will fail because the path is different.
The bottom line I am trying to say is that if you have two disks which you use for backup storage, you need a different backup task for each disk and each disk is a standalone destination. All tib files associated with a single chain (such as full plus incremental, or full plus differential) need to be stored in the same folder in order for the tib file to be fully restorable.
The mention of the snipping tool was just in case you wanted to do screen captures to show in your postings.
A picture is worth a thousand words--as the saying goes. It may not have been relevant to your posting.
I get it. That comment had to do with swapping disks. Thank you for clarifying that.
For now, her computer is performing the backups over the network to my external disk. When I get around to replacing her hard disk, I may just insert a second disk in her computer dedicated to her backups. I don't want to be doing any swapping. That defeats the purpose of automating the backups.