can I delete data on external hard drive that is part of a primary partition backup

Consider a couple alternatives.

1. Your attachment shows no names on drive C and the 1T.
Right click on drive C and select properties and assign a name to the disk such as
Win7-C
2. Right click on 1T disk and select properties and assign a name to that disk such as a name of your choosing 8-11 chars--no spaces or symbols. HotEagle1T could be an example.

3. Examine your system disk inside the Windows Disk Management graphical view. Your attachment shows 3 partitions but you may have a non-lettered partition as well. When doing your backups, you should use the "Disk Mode" option so as to include all partitions inside your backup. I would do a screen capture of the disk management graphical view and printout the picture so you have a copy of the partition sequence and which partition is marked as the active partition. This information could be important should you ever have need to create a replacement system disk.

4. You can never have too many backups. Don't take the risk of backup deletion. Copy the files from CoolMax to 1T. The used disk space on the CoolMax is only 28GB and the free space on 1T is 799Gb so space is no issue. Your Windows 7 should be able to handle the plain windows copy from one disk to the other disk. Inside 1T create a new folder and assign a name of your choosing such as "CoolMax-original-backup" . Copy all the files from CoolMax disk into the CoolMax folder inside the 1T disk. Be sure and use the copy function. DO NOT USE THE MOVE OPTION. Or, you can also use a free program such as REPLICATOR which will work very well. After the copy is complete, you could use the TI Rescue CD and validate the copies in their new position. Never delete unless you are proof positive that you have proven restoreable good backups elsewhere. Once you have verified the copy function had no issues, then you can delete as you see fit.

5. I have not addressed how you manage your backups which is up to you and a matter of personal choice based on your needs and how frequently a backup is needed. Don't forget, it is never good to put all your eggs in one basket. You do need to use both external disks for some duplication of coverage so if you lost one external, you would still have coverage in the other.

6. If you have not checked your system disk for disk errors lately, now might be a good time to if not done in the last few months.

http://forum.acronis.com/forum/28705

Good luck.

Hello Grover,
Thank you for your excellent comment. I have done what you suggested but am unable begin backing up using Acronis.
I am unable to perform a Backup. The screen that allow you to configure backup does not show all the options and
does not have the "backup now" screen. Do I delete and redownload Acronis? Thanks
attached: 2 files showing Acronis backup set up screens.

On your attachments, note the upper right corner, click the option "switch to disk mode".
The resulting screen will list the disks (not partitions) and the first disk listed will most likely be the
windows os.

As listed in the previous post,
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/28705
this link will show you how to create a task which will enable you to create a backup. A backup can only be achieve after the task has been created. You will need to work your way from beginning to end and after completion of the task creation, you will have the "Backup Now" option as shown in figure 18.

At any point should you feel the need to re-install TrueImage, one easy way is to restart the downloaded install program and after the install program is started, it will provide a repair option. The repair will overwrite your existing install with a fresh copy of the program.

Thanks again for you comments and help Grover,

Success.

I needed to contact support. Acronis was cleaned up and reinstalled. Glad I did...a couple problems were discovered. Anyway, success. I have completed my first backup and created an ISO boot disk. I have not tested the boot disk yet. Still reading to find out how to do that without actually using it.

There were 2 things I was unable to select creating my backup: save 1st copy of backup, boot disk automatically in 10 seconds, and
the option screen for @date@ @exec@ so I just added those manually. Why I was unable to select these is unknown. Support is aware of the 10 second problem but did not comment. Oh well, it should work if ever needed. I have saved the printout of drive info from disc management and
backup screen which will go with the backup disc.

Really appreciate your help. Lyn

I have completed my first backup and created an ISO boot disk. I have not tested the boot disk yet. Still reading to find out how to do that without actually using it.

At the very least, boot from the TI CD and copy a few files from the backup onto a test folder on your computer. This will proved that your CD will see the required disks. This link will show you how.

http://forum.acronis.com/sites/default/files/mvp/user285/guides/2012_co…

There were 2 things I was unable to select creating my backup: save 1st copy of backup, boot disk automatically in 10 seconds, and
the option screen for @date@ @exec@ so I just added those manually. Why I was unable to select these is unknown.

1. I believe your 10 second question relates to the creation of the bootable media. In order for the 10 second option to work and automatically boot into TrueImage during the CD bootup, the correct options during CD creation must be selected. Note the attachment.
http://forum.acronis.com//sites/default/files/mvp/user285/misc/create-b…

2. Relating to the @date@ @exec@ question, I have found there is only one location this can be properly entered into the tib backup file name and that is when assigning the actual name to the backup file from inside the target folder. I do make a practice of separating the commands with underscores and using the provided window has always worked for me (English version) as per this example. If the _@date@_@exec@_ is not entered as part of backup name inside the folder, I backtrack and do the file name again. The task name is a separate entity.

http://forum.acronis.com/sites/default/files/mvp/user285/2012-5545/7_ta…

I was unable to select creating my backup: save 1st copy of backup,

Can you clarify or explain further?

My references is to the English version of TrueImage Home 2012. This link may be helpful in the creation of a backup task.
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/28705

Hi Grover, thanks again for your informative reply.

first: Quote:
I was unable to select creating my backup: save 1st copy of backup,
Can you clarify or explain further?

your document: Backup from within Windows, figure 4 page 2 = make this media bootable
and , figure 11, page 6 = do not delete the first version of backup

I was unable to select these items when setting up initial backup

More importantly, my Rescue CD does not work. I'm wondering if that's because I cannot select make this media bootable
(my H drive Eagle_1t). i have tried creating a rescue CD 2 ways, one is an ISO image, the other is bootable from F drive (CD rom drive).

When I put the CD in bay a list of files is shown, non of which are able to locate any files anywhere on computer or in backup.

I have attached some screen shots. I hope all this info is not overwhelming. I'm really stuck on how to create a rescue CD...what I'm doing is not working. What do I do now???? I have followed your instructions very carefully. Would you be able to provide some basic or detailed step-by-step instructions on creating a Rescue CD please. Thanks...Lyn

I don't have time right now but regarding the creation of Cd.
Compare your first attachment above with mine below. You will see that in your upper left corner, nothing is checked. You need to check all items there and highlite the 2nd line before working the seconds.

http://forum.acronis.com//sites/default/files/mvp/user285/misc/create-b…

If creating the CD via the iso file.

Right click on the downloaded iso file and choose the option to burn as an iso or however the option reads.

I will read more later.

Regarding your attachments 3.4.5.6,7
As a backdrop, it appears you are working your way through my guide which illustrates how to create a backup task when TI is installed inside Windows. There is no tie or relationship to using the bootable media during that process.

That specific guide shows how to create a backup task. User must select what is to be included in the backup(source) and must select the target or destination where the backup is to be stored. This destination target or storage device is preferred to be a hard drive (internal or external). It can be a blank CDR if only a few files or folders are to be backup up. Or, it can be a DVD (or multiple DVD's) for larger number of folders or files.

Backing up to a CD or DVD is NOT the preferred target for a backup. If the backup is to be stored on the optical disk (not recommended), then the blank target disk is inserted into the optical tray as the destination. Nothing in this paragraph relates to the creation of a bootable media CD although the user can checkmark "make CD bootble" which is only applicable to the blank CD destination target-not the CD used as the bootable media.

Purpose of the TI bootable media CD:
Once the CD has been properly created via either the "Create bootable media" option; or via the burning the downloadable ISO, it can be used to
1. An alternate method to create a new backup from the CD with the user making all the selections (no pre-created backup task is used).
2. Restore a prior backup image or files from a prior backup.

Usually, most backups are much too large to use a CD or DVD as a target for backups which is why the hard disk (external or internal) is the preferred target for backups due to their larger storage capacity.

The intent of my backup guide was to illustrate where the options were located and how to proceed step by step to create a backup task. After the task was create a backup could be performed either manually or via a schedule.
During the task creation, user needs to
---A. select the source as to what is to be included in the backup
---B. select the destination target where backup is to be stored
---C. Construct the backup scheme with all the assorted options.
---D. Save the task by choosing "Backup Later"
---E. Now the task can be run via a schedule or manually by choosing the "Backup Now" option.

Along the left margin of this webpage is several good help articles on the use of 2012. A review of these could be helpful.

SUCCESS ------ SUCCESS ------- SUCCESS

Hi Grover,

Thanks so much for you help. I only need to test my rescue media then will have completed all backup operations. I apologize for making this such a conundrum. It's really not that hard once you know what you are doing.

Here is what I have completed:

I did create primary and incremental backup with both external hard drives as destination while both drives are in the "ON" position. I have not tested either one of these to see if I am able to retrieve any files. I'm not certain how to do this even with all my reading. I have e-mailed support for help with this.

In my reading I found the 228 page ATIH_userguide_EN was the most helpful document. So was 2012-HowToBackup written by you. Thanks for the link.

1) In disc management on my computer I printed a copy of the main screen showing status, volume capacity, free space of every partition and drive on my computer. On the back of this sheet I wrote all the information about this backup such as ATi version number, options selected, where rescue media is stored and on what.

2) Using Acronis Media Builder I carefully went step-by-step to create rescue media. I selected USB thumb drive as destination for rescue media.

3) Because my external disc drives will be off most of the time I turned off automatic backup.

4) I EDITED Backup options in the data for my initial primary full backup by DE-SELECTING automatic cleanup in hopes my Initial and only Backup so far will not be deleted again by Acronis.

6) This is the most scary. I just turned off both of my External Disc Drives....THEN turned them back on about 1/2 hour later. SUCCESS !!!!! All my backup files and information are intact. Selecting auto cleanup in my case was a mistake.

7) I had a lot of changes since initial backup so began a first incremental backup. It proceeded without any problems. SUCCESS AGAIN !!!!!

8) Backup has been validated successfully.

thanks again Grover, this issue is RESOLVED, SOLVED, SUCCESSFULLY. Lyn

Grover, oops, I have a final question (I hope) :-) ----->

First here is how existing backup occurred:

start > first created initial Full backup with custom backup scheme >
this backup file will always be saved...do not delete first backup selected >
needed to edit custom backup scheme...deselected auto backup and deselected verify >
could not remember backup scheme name so that also changed during editing >
performed manual incremental backup after changes made >
created rescue media onto USB thumb drive >
validated initial Full backup and manual incremental backup >
don't recall if rescue media is validated or if that is necessary > end <

Following the order in which I did stuff here related to backup,
will my rescue media work? Will incremental backups be accurate? This is most crucial.
I'm concerned because verification was not made immediately after backup created
(except intial one), and a number of changes were made before rescue media was completed and
first incremental backup was created. I suppose I will know that when I successfully
test rescue media, but I don't want a lot of incremental backups made before rescue
test is completed.

I hope I explained this OK. I still do not have a complete understanding of the whole
picture, but I'm learning and continuing to read as much as I can.
thanks for your patience.

Again, I thank you (or anyone else) for your help when you have time to reply. Lyn

You are correct. You will not know whether you have been successful until you actually do restore some files.

In your notes about Windows Disk Management, it is important that you record which partition is identified as the "Active" partition. Should you need to create a new disk in the future, that is "need to know" information.

It is not a good practice to edit any of the backup tasks. The results cannot be predicted. Do your practice or whatever until you know the options you want and then create one final backup task with the desired options without any edits.

It sounds like you got rid of automatic cleanup so you will get incremental for the next six months? Here is an example of a cleanup task that works and you can adjust the 6 and 4 to your own needs and keep the original--your choice. If you try this, it must be done as a new non-edited task and the destination folder should be empty of any other backups.

sites/default/files/mvp/user285/guides/2012_copy_single_files_from_backup.pdf

Man did i screw-up with all my editing. Thanks for your info Grover. I don't like this, but it appears as if I need to delete
all my backups and begin anew and NEVER edit afterwards. Perhaps this is why my rescue discs are not working. I will examine
the auto clean up too. Didn't realize disabling that feature affected incremental backups. I will follow instructions in your photo.

Here is my understanding of how a rescue disc works:

You put the CD in cd-rom drive, it starts all by itself, a file opens so you select restore or whatever to
retrieve lost data. When I put CD in drawer nothing happens yet there is almost 300 MB of data
on the disc. The ISO disc does not work either. Data on my rescue disc and the downloaded ISO disc look similiar.

I won't be concerned about rescue media working properly until I have accurately completed a first Full backup
and successful incremental backup. I also understand new rescue media will need to be created once I create
this new Full backup.

I'll let you know what happens after I have created, verified, and examined my new Full backup and created/tested
new rescue discs. Will take a couple days.
Thanks again...Lyn

Clarification:
1. Re-Creating a replacement bootable CD is usually only needed if the program being upgraded to a newer build or version; or the CD is scratched. A new bootable recovery CD is not created every backup.

2. To use the Bootable media CD, the CD is put in the tray and the computer must be rebooted and boot into the Acronis program where the user can use backup or restore options. Before the computer will boot into the CD, often times the user must access the BIOS and select the proper boot drive (the CD device) as the first boot device. If the CD device is not user selected as the first boot device, the computer will boot into Windows rather than boot into the CD and when this happens, this is a user problem--not a computer or program problem.

Note: If TrueImage is installed into Windows, the use of the CD for backup creation is optional and the Windows installed version is used to create the backup tasks and it is the execution of a backup task which enables a backup to be created. This backup via Windows is covered in this link

28705: Grover's How to Backup 2012 from within Windows
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/28705

3. I never suggest that backup files be deleted unless you have a proven replacement. A backup cannot be created except from a backup task. If the backup task is no longer to be active, it can be set to non-scheduled or the task (not the backup file) can be deleted. If you are using the "My Backup" as the default storage folder, then inside that folder, create a new series of sub-folders to handle the backup files when new backup tasks are created. Each backup task should be pointed to an empty storage folder.

StrikingEagle:

Let's deal with issues separately.

1. Do not delete your existing backups. You can move them to another folder if you wish. To reclaim space, you could consider delete the older backups, making sure to preserve at least one full backup.

2. The Acronis True Image Home Recovery Media is a bootable CD-R or bootable USB flash drive. It is [b]bootable[/b], meaning a PC can boot from that CD-R or flash drive, rather than booting normally from the hard drive. It is not a CD that you insert and have things run automatically.

3. You must ensure that your computer is set to allow booting from CD-R (if you choose to run Recovery Media from a burned CD-R). Have you ever booted your computer from a CD/DVD? For example, try booting from the Windows installation disk. If you cannot, then you must edit the BIOS to allow booting from CD (or USB flash drive) before booting from the internal hard drive.

4. As Grover says, once you know that the bootable Recovery Media works, you don't need to create a new one unless Acronis issues an update and you want to use that updated version.