[Moved to separate topic] - Acronis True Image Issues

Every few weeks I do a full backup to a second hard disk which is installed in my computer. After verifying that the backup image is good, I then plug in and copy the tib files to a removable USB hard disk which I use solely for storing two sets of full system backups. That USB disk gets plugged in only for this or for doing a full restore in an emergency. Every few days I also do an incremental backup to the second hard disk in my computer. This is mostly to assure that I don't lose more than a day or two of work should the primary hard disk in my computer fail. Anyway, I prefer backing up to a second hard disk since this minimizes the head movement on the primary hard disk if I was backing up to a partition on the primary hard disk. Thus my primary hard disk runs cooler during the backup process, and the entire process completes faster since the backup is being stored on a second hard disk.

I suspect that Galen is right re new malware programs. Recently I installed a freeware video editing program which, even though it tested as clean by Norton Antivirus, Malwarebytes' Antimalware and Spyware Doctor, apparently installed a system utility which did nothing but intercept and block a specific function call from going through to user32.dll. The result was that Comodo Memory Firewall would throw an error message saying that a function call to user32.dll was "unsupported" when it tried to launch during system startup. I uninstalled the software, ran CCleaner, rebooted, and still Comodo Memory Firewall wouldn't start without an error message. I tried several security vendor online scanners as well, and they didn't turn up anything. My point is that apparently there is malware out there that is so sneaky that they completely escape detection by all antivirus and anti-malware programs, maybe by making just one very tiny part or function call of the OS core services not quite function correctly. My only option, which was successful, was to do a full drive C restore using Trueimage.

I guess the moral of my story is that you should do an Acronis Trueimage backup to a removable external drive before you install any supposedly "safe" freeware or shareware which you download from the Internet. If any of your security programs suddenly start to act even very slightly flaky after installing new software such as freeware or shareware, at least you will have a backup to restore from.

I haven't looked back at comments for a while.

I had an issue 30 days ago where I got hit I think by trojans and had three computers down in less than 48 hours. I ran spinrite and reformatted the original main desktop harddrive (250 gbytes) and at this point the reinstalllation of TrueImage ver 11.8027_s_en seems to be running stable on it.

I had a fit on the second desktop. After zeroing out the second hardrive and doing the standard formatting and partitioning on the 80 gbite harddrive, I installed XP Pro fresh and everything seemed to be OK until I installed Acronis and tested it. I wound up with repeated error messages that either the image file was not a valid file or corrupted, in spite of using spinrite and reformatting. This is a hassle and too complicated for me.

I always save the complete C: drive. I don't bother with incremental backups.

I too usually don't bother with incremental backups -- prefer periodically doing a fresh full backup instead. I back up to another hard disk within my computer. Then, after verifying that the backup is good, I copy the TIB files to an external USB hard disk and then unplug the external USB hard disk so that its files can't get messed with.

Re Galen Manapat's comments about malware getting onto his computers, I would suggest that he install Comodo Memory Firewall (free) and configure it to kill and restart his web browsers every time CMF detects a buffer overflow attack when browsing a malicious web site. I also suggest that he install PCTools Threatfire (free, and very highly rated) to nip other types of malware attacks in the bud. Threatfire is designed to work in conjunction with whatever anti-virus software he wants to use.

I have an IT friend at the University of South Carolina who likes Malwarebytes, and uses the paid version although there is also a free version which I started using.

I went to the Acronis site and downloaded the latest version of Acronis 11 since I am a licensed user. I noticed that there have been quite a few version numbers since I first purchased it, at least 12.

Also all my used drives which are not obviously bad, go through Spinrite, and must pass and then I either zero out / or am experimenting with drive cleanser (which I am guessing does the same thing; then create new partitions and format them.

I also am experimenting with VM-Ware which allows another operating system to operate within Windows (or other systems.) This is to keep from getting bad things in the first place, I'm still getting used to it, but it is Windows within Windows, kind of like a second Presidential limousine as a decoy.

It can be 'attacked', but even if it is, non virtual windows (the original windows) is left intact.
Both windows can be set up identical; I set a different desktop background to distinguish it from the original windows.

It requires more processing power, which should not be an issue with the new processors. I am still running a 10 year old AMD Athlon XP Athlon. You should max out your memory if you use it. I went from 1 1/2 gigs 512 chips (3 slots on motherboard) to 3 1 gig crucial memory chips.

Also you have to set cache during the virtual installation. 512 is slow, 1024 is better, and if your memory is maxed out, I would go slightly higher.

I have laid down the law that my daughters must use VM-Ware when going to Twitter, Facebook, and My Space, etc.

I do not use it for Earthlink normally or Banks or standard shopping sites. But I will use it for anyplace else I do not trust.