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My Backup Decision

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I have asked questions and read several postings and have decided that incremental backups are not the way that I wish to back my data, since one corrupted file in the string results in the probable abitity to fully recover, so I started with the initial backup and a differential backup every week. Because of the amount of data in the backup, it fills a external drive rather quickly, and I need to manage that issue. In order to keep my backup to a manageable level, and the time that it takes to remove them from the backup, I want to develope a plan to keep what is absolutely necessary to restore my system, if necessary.

I think that I understand that I MUST keep the initial backup. But lets say that I have the initial and six differential backup in the external......what MUST I keep in addition to the initial, to be able to totally recover all of my system ?

As you can likely tell from this question, I know how to operate a computer, but not smart enough to figure an answer to this question. I would appreciate advise as to how to accomplish what I want to do.

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Hello Charles,

Let me help you and answer your questions.

In order to restore your 'chain' of backup archives (the initial full one and several differentials) you need to keep only the first full backup and the last differential archive.

Additionally, you can use Backup Locations feature that is available in Acronis True Image 11 Home to avoid drive overfilling. Please have a look at this KB article and in the Chapter 8 of the User's Guide.

Please reply to this thread if you need any further assistance.

Thank you.

First, let me say Thank You for your responce. If I understand you correctly, all that I need to keep when the external starts to get full is the inital "Full" backup and the last "Differential" backup.

Is there ever a time that I should wipe the entire backup and start again with a "Full" backup and then "Differential" after that and continue with the deletion in the same manner, or will the initial "Full" backup even need to be updated, assuming there are no other changes made to the computer and the programs on it.

As you probably detected, I am not totally sure of my computer abilities and Acronis will be there to assist me if I do make a major mistake.

By the way, I purchased Acronis on the recomendation of the Geek Squad at Best Buy... Now I think I understand a little more about the use of the program....Again...Thanks !!!

Hello Charles,

It will be better to start a new 'chain' of backups, i.e. delete all old archives and then create a fresh full backup and subsequent differentials.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Thank you.