The Add Backup button is the plus sign you refered to.  When you click there a new enrty will appear in the list which is then ready for you to input a backup name for the image file created.  After you name your backup then click on the default Entire PC on the right and you will see that it changes to Change source.  Click again and choose Disks and partitons.  A list will appear from which you can select your C drive which should be checked by default.  After you have veirified your desired backup source here click Ok.

You will need to go in the Options section next and define the backup as a Do Not schedule.  Then click the Exclusion tab and remove any items that you wish to include in the backup.  I always remove all of the C:\ folders shown but in your case you may not want to.  You can remove items in the list by click to highlight then tick the minus buttom at the bottom.  In the Advanced tab you have a number of options you can select.  I always choose the validation option but again it is up to you.

After you have entered your desired options click Ok.  This will return you to the GUI where you will see your source and target locations and a highlighted Back up now button at the bottom of the GUI.  If all looks good tick the button.  If soemthing is amiss click cancel and start again.

You want the "plus" sign (see attachment)- that will create a new name header where you can name it want you want.  Then select your source and destination and then proceed with the options you want for that particular backup.

Please take a look at the online tutorials and user guides - it's all spelled out in the instructions:

56607: Acronis True Image 2016: Backing Up Individual Disks or Files

Since you want full backups 4 different times, you need to configure 4 new backups this way, giving each one a different destination (I suggest having each backup in it's own folder). 

You can set each backup to run on a schedule or manually kick them off as you see fit.  

In the options for each backup, you can set the type of backup... full, incremental, differential, custom... how many version chains to keep (a chain is the full type... I.E if you do a single full and 5 incrementals, that is one chain).  

Incremental backups up just the changes since the last backup ran - it's nice for saving space that your backups take is reliable unless you plan on havnig nothing but incrementals into the future  (not a recommended IT practice). When you restore to an incrmentalal backup, it still restores everyting to that point in time - Incrementals are very nice unless you need full backups every single time.  In Practice, for my needs, I do a full backup at the beginning, then 4 weekly incremental backups and then have it do a full backup after that, keeping 1 version chain.  In this scenario, I basically get a full backup and 4 incrementals (approximately 5 weeks worth - chain 1), Then it does the same thing (giving me another 5 weeks - as chain 2 starts).  At the beginning of chain 3, chain 1 is completely deleted (based on the cleanup rule) and this occurs over and over again.  adn when thtWhen I reach the 3rd full backup, the initial version chain is deleted, leaving me one full bakcup and 4 inrementals plus all of the new backups that take place until the next full back runs again.

Here is the user manual for this as well (you're right though, it doesn't mention to click the plus sign)

https://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/ATI2016/index.html#…

357,

The GH11 example will create 4 versions but all in one folder--not in 4 separate folders. Ths is one single task peforming either scheduled or non-scheduled backups.

AFter the 4 full backlup, each successive full will auto deleted the oldest full automatically by the program and you will continue to keep just the 4 full backups on a rotationg basis. Beginning with the 5th full, each new full will delete the oldest full automatiacally.

Editing an existing task is not recommended. Rarely does an edited task perform to user expectations. It is usually better to start with a new task using a new non-identical task name and point to a new storage sub-folder so each task has it own storage folder/sub-folder. Old task can be stopped or deleted from the task listings.

GH11. Create Custom Full Backup Scheme w/auto cleanup.
...Store/Keep 4 versions (chains). Use whatever number best fits the individual needs..

Here are some links of interest.

http://forum.acronis.com/forum/100416

http://forum.acronis.com/forum/71342

CAUTON: IMPORTANT:

If you want the backup capable of restoring to a new replacment disk, a backup of C only will not do that.

To be able to create a replacment disk, you need a disk image backup (all partitions on the system disk) or also known as "Entire PC" backup.

Some other reference links.

/system/files/users/6816/1select_type_backup-source.gif

/system/files/users/6816/2select-dest1r.png

/system/files/users/6816/2select-dest2.png

/system/files/users/6816/3select-dest3.png

/system/files/users/6816/4select-dest4r.png

Thank You So Much. It looks like I got Acronis to do exactly what I wanted. I've been using Norton Ghost for many years and it has worked quite well for me. I don't know why Symantec discontinued it. 

But I think I got a handle on it now.

Hello Bobbo,

My question is about adding an existing incremental version-chain backup from a different external drive. When you choose the option of adding an existing backup, do you click on the first full backup of the chain or the last incremental?  

Thanks for your advice.

Pick the last one.  If it asks for others, keep pointing it to the one it asks for.  When all is done, run a validation as well - if it asks for any particular version, point to those as they come up.