How Long Should It Take To Create a Backup?
I've been using Acronis for the last few years and am now running the 2010 version. I recently backed up my C partition - I backed up (and verified) my 1 TB C partition (which has 648 gig used space) onto an external hard drive (backing up using a USB connection). The resulting .Tib file is about 503gb in size. It took a long time for the backup (and verification) to complete -- ten and a half hours! I then did a second backup of that same partition onto another external hard drive (again, using a different USB port) and it took about the same amount of time to backup and verify.
So, my question is this: is this a normal amount of time to take to do such a backup and verify job? I know that when I do a backup to my internal hard drive, it takes a lot shorter time, maybe 3 hours, to backup and same C drive. But should it take so much longer to back up and verify when I'm using an external hard drive via USB?
One other question: would this backup and verification process onto an external drive take less time with the 2011 version?
By the way, I've got a relatively new PC with Windows 7 Professional on it.
Thanks very much for input on these questions!
Jason
Jason,
Assuming USB 2, it sounds pretty normal. You could try eSATA or USB 3 if it needs to be faster.
On fast computers, the speed is usually determined by the drive interface or the drive itself. I doubt you would notice any difference with TI 2011.
If you look at the theoretical fastest speeds of interfaces that you really won't achieve in real life you get numbers like:
USB2 - 480Mbps
SATA2 -3000Mbps
So the internal hardware runs at a theoretical 6x faster.
USB2 and optical are now too slow for very large backups such as yours.
I've pretty well abandoned USB storage and use plug-in SATA caddies for storing off-line backups. eSATA and USB3 as mentioned by Mudcrab would work too but even then the backup will not be done in a short time for 648GB.
I would consider partitioning the disk to put OS and apps on one partition and data on another. If you have lots of data that rarely changes such as very large games, static video files or whatever then you might use a 3rd partition. This one would not have to backed up as frequently.
MudCrab and SeekForever have already responded but here are some variations or duplications.
A change of program will probably not reduce the transfer time. The time duration is limited by the amount of data and the type usb connection.
In order to improve the transfer time, the amount of data transferred must be lessoned or improve the throughput via a faster connection--also already mentioned before.
If some of the data included in your backups is static data, maybe you could either create a backup of itself and move it elsewhere; or back it up once/twice and bypass the data on future backups.
You can get closer to the shorter times of the internal drive transfer by using faster transfer methods as mentioned before.
You mention having internal drives so I am assuming that you have a desktop unit.
Here are but a few of your options.
1. If your motherboard still has some empty SATA connection, you could add a in-expensive eSata connector plate to the rear of your case.
eSATA connector plate
http://www.amazon.com/2PORT-Sata-Esata-Slot-Plate/dp/B000NPKGH4/ref=sr_…The internal connector would connect to the motherboard and the external connectores would be available for a eSata docking unit such as item below.
Combo esata/usb docking unit for Sata disks
http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-BlacX-eSATA-Docking-Station/dp/tech-d…The docking unit provides the capability to use loose internal SATA drives which are lessor expensive and easily inter-changeable.
2. If you do not have available SATA motherboard connectors, you would need to add a either a PCI or PCI-express (depending upon your MB) adapter such as item below.
esata interfact pci card
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-130823-eSATA-Design-Sismo/dp/B001MWHI0U/ref…
2. The new rage which really works nice is the new faster USB 3.0 interface.
For this, you would need
a. An usb 3 adapter for insertion into you motherboard such as
usb 3 pci adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Technology-DriveStation-SuperSpeed-IFC-PC…b. A usb 3 enternal docking unit such as
ST0019U usb3 docking unit
http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-5-0Gbps-Docking-Station-ST0019U/dp/te…
Or, instead of the usb 3 docking unit, you can get a external hard drive which has a usb 3 connector but I prefer the flexibility of the docking unit for easy use of multiple drives up to 2TB. Using either one or both, you still need the usb 3 pci adapter such as the Buffalo unit above.
Using the Docking stations is a nice solution and either the usb 3 solution or the eSata solution will enable speeds closer to the internal speeds and enable you to use both 2.5 and 3.5 SATA disks.
If more memory could be added to your desktop, this would also reduce the backup creation time.
There are other equipment available but these are some examples. I use both docking units and I am very pleased with them both.
Another option would be remove one of your 5-1'4" trays from your computer case and replace it with an Antec quick change Sata caddie. This would accept the normal 3.5" SATA disks and achieve internal speeds as the disk would be connected to the motherboard sata connectors.