How to backup entire pc minus the document folder
I do like to backup my entire pc but not any of the files in the document folder. What would be a good way to backup my entire computer but not back up my document folder? So if my computer crashes I could restore my entire computer minus the document folder where all my files are in.
Is it the files and folder backup option? Do I just use this one and then uncheck where the documents folder is in? And would that then backup my entire computer, just not the document folder?
I am just kind of new to this and in the past I would always backup my entire computer, “so I would pick the entire pc option” but if I could back up my computer and it's entirely minus the document folder that would be the most handy for me cuz I have a huge folder in my document that I backup up seperately..
It would be nice to be able to save everything but leave my documents in the document folder, yet it would still backup my entire computer around that? So is it possible to do and how would I do it? Am I right and saying I just picked the file and folder option then just uncheck the documents folder, and would that then backup my entire computer still?
Thank you for anyone who can help me.
Hello Steve I had one more question for you. I have read a lot of the Acronis manual but I still confused on one point… Lets say I want to save my entire pc minus my documents folder how would I do this? I only have one partition on this pc.
1) Do I use the back up source “Entire pc” then under the “options” then pick “exclusions” and add the “C:\Users\HP\documents” to this list so it does not copy this file but the rest of the pc?
Or
2) Do I use the back up source “Disks and partitions” then under the “options” then pick “exclusions” and add the “C:\Users\HP\documents” to this list so it does not copy this file?
Or is it something else altogether?
Thank for anyone trying to help me…
Darryl, both options should give the same results. I tend not to use the 'Entire PC' option as this can include any other disk drives that may be connected to the computer at that time. I find it cleaner to click on the Source panel and select by Disks & Partitions, then ensure that I am only selecting 1 disk at any time.
The Exclusions are set on the separate page tab in the Options for the task and will have a number of default entries set already that you can then add in your Documents path to.
The size of the data to be backed up should reflect that the exclusions are being applied for the backup task, especially if your documents folder is very large.
Like Steve, I avoid "entire PC" as the frequency of changes to what is on various HDDs can be highly variable. I backup my system SSD each day (local, cloud and NAS) and the data partition on my main PC in the same way. I only do manual backups of the partition on which I store software installation files.
Ian
I realise that I am not answering the question, but I have dealt with your challenge in a way that gets around the problem and that meets the suggestions from the others.
I keep all of the document folder stuff, and as much of the "userdata" as possible on a separate data drive. (I see that IanL-S uses a separate data partition, which amounts to the same thing.)
Then I can do as the others suggest and do a “Disks and partitions” without having to create too many filters. I can actually backup the whole boot drive because it is very small, <140GB.
I can then create files and folders backups to handle my much larger "data" drive.
There are several reasons why I prefer the two-drive approach, the first being that I can keep my operating system on a fast and small (512GB) solid-state drive.
Then I can put all my data on a second, regular moving bits hard drive.
I gather that this approach is pretty widespread in these days of relatively expensive SSDs and cheap as chips HDs.
As I said, no answer to your immediately question, but a long term approach that makes life easier in many ways.