NEW mutli-SSD/HDD setup with VMs... how to backup?

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Hello everyone, I'm new to the forums and need expert advice ASAP.

I've done some quick searches on dual-boot and multi-hdd backups, but need EXPERT advice on my complex system build so I don't screw things up.

I plan on running D-Ban on my regular HDDs and SecureErase on my SSD later this week/next and start FRESH again.

Hardware and OS I have:
-- Acronis Backup & Recovery 2014 Premium Edition (3 PCs) ... (1 used on another PC)
-- 1x SSD (256GB OCZ-Vertex3)
-- 1x HDD (500GB WD-Black)
-- 4GB RAM
-- Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
-- Virtual Box --> Windows XP Professional (32-bit)
-- Virtual Box --> Ubuntu v13.04

How things are setup TODAY:
SSD => (C:) Currently has Windows 7 OS/Programs only
HDD => (D:) Currently has Windows 7 USER/Temp/Page files only

NOTE :: The reason I have User/Temp/Page files on my HDD is to reduce write cycles on my SSD, as I do a lot of media data transfer, file DL, and file extractions from zip/rar files.
I also have a 2TB HDD, but that's for all my personal files, and I have a mirror external backup of that drive.

NOTE :: I have yet to install my XP and Ubuntu on my current system (today) using a VM program (Virtual Box), but from what I've read, isn't that complicated. I know I should have more RAM, but the brand-new extra 4GB I got for my OCed system were RMA and could not be returned because i got them off ebay... (will never do that again!) Lastly, I don't feel like buying a separate 8GB module that cannot be OCed just to gain another 4GB of RAM, or spend $$$ to build a new system with SATA6, USB3.0, and overall better performance.

How I WANT things setup:
SSD => (C:) Windows 7 OS/Programs

HDD => (D:) Windows 7 User/Temp/Page
HDD => (D:) VM install of Windows XP
HDD => (D:) VM install of Ubuntu 13

I plan on using Windows 7 as my main working environment, but I still need access to Windows XP and Ubuntu as well.
The performance increase on those 2 OS won't bother me as much, so I'm putting them on the HDD along with any future VM OSes.
I plan on making a backup soon after all my OS is updated and drivers are installed, but BEFORE any programs are installed on any system.

Now... the big questions:
Q1) How do I backup a complex system like this?
I would "LIKE" to backup both the SSD and HDD on DVDs, but from what I've been reading, it seems I need to do a full SSD/HDD backup, not just the data files?

Q2) Will Acronis backup the VM data files without any issues?

Q3) Will backup using the standard method be alright for getting the data off the SSD and HDD, or do I need to do a full backup of the SSD and HDD?

Q4) If I need to RESTORE my system... will I be able to do so in the same setup (SSD OS with HDD Data) with the backup media?

Q5) Do I need Universal System Restore for this setup (I thought it was auto installed in the premium edition)?

Q6) When I did a backup of another system using Acronis 2014 about a month ago, I saw an option in the advanced tab asking along the lines "create media with acronis program data" or something like that... Is this necessary?

Any other information you guys feel I should know before I start doing this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Thu, 12/19/2013 - 02:59
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Posts: 87
Comments: 9259
mvp
Hiroshi Hayashi wrote:
Q1) How do I backup a complex system like this?
I would "LIKE" to backup both the SSD and HDD on DVDs, but from what I've been reading, it seems I need to do a full SSD/HDD backup, not just the data files?

DOn't use DVD's to backup. Backup to a USB disk. Because you have some system files on the HDD disk, you should backup everything related to your Windows 7 installation in the same backup.

Q2) Will Acronis backup the VM data files without any issues?

Yes. The only drawback is these are big files that change everytime you use the VM. For Windows XP, you might have more efficient backups if you backup your Window XP installation from within the VM, but it might be worth your trouble.

Q3) Will backup using the standard method be alright for getting the data off the SSD and HDD, or do I need to do a full backup of the SSD and HDD?

I don't understand the question.

Q4) If I need to RESTORE my system... will I be able to do so in the same setup (SSD OS with HDD Data) with the backup media?

You would restore partitions. It would be easier if you had just put certain user folders on D:\ (like documents, videos, music) and left the rest of the user folders (including desktop and downloads) on the SSD. Desktop and downloads are bit more messier to fix upon restore, but it is doable. In that case, you'd have only "content" files on D; and you could use some sync software like Syncback SE to back it up with versioning, including your VM files (this is what I do).

Q5) Do I need Universal System Restore for this setup (I thought it was auto installed in the premium edition)?

Universal restore is only needed when you restore the image of Computer A to Computer B.

Q6) When I did a backup of another system using Acronis 2014 about a month ago, I saw an option in the advanced tab asking along the lines "create media with acronis program data" or something like that... Is this necessary?

Yes! you absolutely need to create your recovery medium and test it. I suppose this is what you mean.

Any other information you guys feel I should know before I start doing this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I'd say leave your page file, user folder on the SSD where they were. Only move certain user folders to your D:\. This will make your life easier when you restore, reinstall or upgrade. I have been there.

Fri, 12/20/2013 - 04:33
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