Test recovey/restore on sleek new laptop
Hi,
The best backup solution/strategy/process is useless if in emergency situation
the restore/recovery from backup does not work.
Therefore a testing of restore process on regular basis is recommended.
However as each process also the test data restore from backup can fail.
If it runs this way one does not have neither the original data nor the usable backup.
That's the reason why myself is always swapping the in-real-use data storage against another one
but identical or enough similar one for the duration of the test.
How well does it work with sleek new laptops/notebooks - while in warranty - where
frequently the user/owner is not allowed to open the device case?
Does it mean such tests are in case of those devices as good as not possible?
You are right the only way to be 100% sure a restore would work is, well, to complete one.
BUT, a very good test is to simply restore a couple of files from a disk and partitioni backup (not a partition).
Than in order to ensure 100 per cent chance of success in case of emergency (a real restore is needed)
- the partial success will invalidate the sense of the backup orgy* -
one has to ensure the mass storage used for backup files is always healthy,
it means free of file system errors, hardware errors. How are the best practices here?
Especially in case of private use. A reference to entry point of good knowledge will be sufficient enough.
*) this is my opinion because in case of partial success no one has the guarantee
that uncritical part of data only is affected by the fail.
Chrizio,
It is correct that backup files are a bit worse than any other file. They can go corrupt over time. The only way to avoid these issues is to do fresh full backups on a regular basis, to diversify the storage media (for example, rotating disks), and, for irreplaceable content, have redundant backups using different technologies. There is no silver bullet for complete peace of mind, but I would not over think this.
As a rule of thumb, your latest validated full Acronis backup should never get so old that you'd never consider back to it if you had to get your content back.