Using Acronis True Image Home 2011
I'm doing a system image of my whole drive. My dell laptop hard drive is failing and they are going to have a new hard drive installed for me preloaded as it was when I first started my laptop. Everything is the same all the same hardware just a new hard drive (same size). So if I am correctly reading I can then after the new hard drive install, reinstall Acronis and restore my computer to the exact state is in now, as if they never replaced the hard drive?
I'm also backing up to DVD. Unfortunately I don't have enough room on my external hard drive to back it up on. I just want to make sure that this will work. I will however back up all my files ect, on the external HD. I should have enough room for that on there. Just in case the image disks don't work for some reason.
Mel

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I would strongly support what Scott has suggested. You need a full disk backup and that backup must include all partitions. If you have XP, this may only be 1 or 2 partitions. If you have Windows 7, it could be 2-4 partitions but it is best that your backup include all partitions. It is best that the backup be stored on some type disk (such as an external) so the entire file is stored in one folder.
You do not need to install TrueImage. Your restore will clear the disk of its existing contents so it becomes blank. It is best that your restore be performed when booted inside the TI Rescue CD. If you have not created one, then revisit your registration page and download the optional "Bootable Media" download. This download can be burnt to CD as an image and can be used as an alternate Rescue CD.
Assuming that you have created a Disk Option backup (everything--all partitions), using either Rescue CD, you can perform a disk option restore (disk checked) which will replace the entire contents of the new disk with the contents of the backup.
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Unfortunately, I do not have any money to get another external hard drive at this time. DVD's were what I had to use. But had some issues with my laptop going into suspension or hibernate mode. So I basically wasted 8 DVD's. So now I'm trying to make some room by going through the external hard drive that I have right now and deleting what I absolutely do not need any longer. I tried using the DVD's but my laptop after so long hibernates and it cancels the back up. It says it will take 9 hours,but probably would take a little less. But I do not have all day to sit and watch my computer so it doesn't go into hibernate mode or suspend mode. I'm trying to figure out how set it up so that it does not do that. But then my concern is leaving it on for that long to make the backup being that they told me that my hard drive is failing. It seems to work fine now, but do not know how much longer before it just dies.
Mel
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