Advice for backing up a 2 disk system (2010 version)
I have two physical disks though the first has 3 partitions - its an HP laptop with recovery partitions.
Whats the best strategy for backing this up?
Right now I am doing a disk and partition backup for my C: and D: drives (which excludes the recovery partition and "HP_Tools" (E: and F:)
The Acronis documentation doesn't help with any recommendations.
I'm wondering if I should include my E: and F: partitions on the C: backup also.
If so, how to do that? Partition backups of C:, E: and F:. Then for my D: drive which contains most of my user data like documents and pics , music etc, should that be a file mode backup instead of a partition backup?
I don't really feel safe with these backups barbecue there's now way to know if it works unless a drive fails and then its too late to make changes!
I believe you can recover an individual file from a partition backup so I'm not sure which is the best strategy.
Any help would be welcomed.
Keith
I have two physical disks though the first has 3 partitions - its an HP laptop with recovery partitions.
I'm wondering if I should include my E: and F: partitions on the C: backup also.
You should include ALL the partitions that are on your system disk. If you find that backup too big, you CAN exclude the folders (not the entire partition) that you want to backup some other way.
If so, how to do that? Partition backups of C:, E: and F:. Then for my D: drive which contains most of my user data like documents and pics , music etc, should that be a file mode backup instead of a partition backup?
That could work. If you have mostly big, rarely changing, already compressed format files (like MP3, MP4, AVI, VOBs, JPE, PDF, etc), you'd better use some sync software for this content: there is no point putting them in a proprietary file format like .TIB. Storing them "flat" is the best way, IMO. I recommend SyncBack SE because it has some cool retention rules for older versions.
I don't really feel safe with these backups barbecue there's now way to know if it works unless a drive fails and then its too late to make changes!
IMO, you should paranoid about irreplaceable files like pictures and home videos. Back them up in different locations, offsite/onsite, using different backup technologies. If you use simple copies, use file comparison software to make sure the copies are accurate.
I believe you can recover an individual file from a partition backup so I'm not sure which is the best strategy.
Yes, you can. You have 4 different ways:
- 3 from Windows: (a) you can mount the image and it shows as a new disk, (b) you can double click on the TIB file and copy/past, (c) you can use ATI "explore and recover"
- 2 from the Acronis Recovery CD: (a) recover files and folders, (b) mount the image.
Make sure you test your Acronis recovery CD. Boot your computer on it and restore a couple of files.
Hi Pat,
Thanks so much for your input - sorry for the delay in replying - Im just getting back to this after the holidays.
Ive heeded your advice and created a new backup that includes all the partitions on Disk 1 (C:,E:, F:) as well as Disk 2 (D:)
Now I'm not quite clear from your response if you think D: - which contains my important data files - should be a file or partition backup in Acronis.
The biggest files here are my itunes library (MP3 and M4a), JPGs and PDFs and DOCs. I looked at the website for Syncback SE. So you are suggesting a backup like this which copies the files as they are and so can be restored by just dragging and dropping files and not needing special restore sw like Acronis? I haven't tried an Acronis file mode backup. Does that still keep the files in a "tib" file? presumably so...
Does Syncback have a process that runs all the time and backs up any changed files in real time? Thats what the name suggests to me? I prefer to be able to run it manually say, once a day rather than have it kick off during the day.
Also, do you have any experience with these "cloud" backup programs like carbonite. I like the idea of having some backs stored in a separate location in case the place burns down or something !! Is that paranoid enough?? :)
Thanks for your help again.
Keith
Hi Pat,
Thanks so much for your input - sorry for the delay in replying - Im just getting back to this after the holidays.
Ive heeded your advice and created a new backup that includes all the partitions on Disk 1 (C:,E:, F:) as well as Disk 2 (D:)
Now I'm not quite clear from your response if you think D: - which contains my important data files - should be a file or partition backup in Acronis.
The biggest files here are my itunes library (MP3 and M4a), JPGs and PDFs and DOCs. I looked at the website for Syncback SE. So you are suggesting a backup like this which copies the files as they are and so can be restored by just dragging and dropping files and not needing special restore sw like Acronis?
Syncback features a restore function as well, if you want to restore older versions. Otherwise, a simple copy back would suffice
I haven't tried an Acronis file mode backup. Does that still keep the files in a "tib" file? presumably so...
You can set it to put it in a TIB or in a ZIP file. I didn't try the ZIP option. The fact is that it is not worth the trouble to put compressed files in a compressed container. In a ZIP, if you have verified you can open it outside of ATI, I would be fine. In a TIB, which requires ATI to be installed or a recovery CD, that is not my preference.
Does Syncback have a process that runs all the time and backs up any changed files in real time? Thats what the name suggests to me?
There is an option like this, but the standard approach is through a schedule.
Also, do you have any experience with these "cloud" backup programs like carbonite. I like the idea of having some backs stored in a separate location in case the place burns down or something !! Is that paranoid enough?? :)
For irreplaceable content, you cannot be too paranoid. I use as well iDrive. The features are good, the bandwidth is good, and I like the fact they don't count the older versions and deleted files as part of their space quota.
Thanks again Pat,
Thanks again Pat,
Well I have since done a test restore of an individual small folder of pictures from my disk backup by booting from the recovery disk and running the Linux (I believe) version of ATI on the recovery disk and it worked great.
However on the ATI home screen, it still says "Your system is not fully protected. Perform the following operations: Back up My System". When I click the link, it wants to backup the C: partition which I have already backed up. Can I assume this error is the result of a bug and shouldn't be reported?
So now, whats the difference between a disk and a file backup? My understanding is that from what you said, disk backups only go to tib files and of course the entire volume is backed up, whereas file mode backs up to tib or zip files and of course you can just back up a subset of files, like maybe some work DOC files that change often and you want it to record every change with a nonstop backup in case you want to back out of a version and fall back. Seems to me like I might as well just do a complete disk backup as my files don't change that often.
I had a quick look at IDrive and it seems you have to download and run yet another backup program. Is that right? So you run Acronis for your system image and idrive as well as syncback for data files? That sounds like too many backup programs to manage to me :)
Keith