Salta al contenuto principale

Best Acronis backup strategy to fix Windows OS problems ?

Thread needs solution

I've recently encountered a problem with a Windows 8.0 installation which just couldn't be repaired. It seemed to be associated with corruption of the Windows Update service that couldn't be switched off nor would the program actually run.
The Microsoft fixit tool wouldn't run and the Windows restore function failed despite the fact there was a perfect restore point where I knew the system was ok.
This all brings me to the point where I thought I could use my daily Acronis full disk backup however the dilemma was how to get the data up to date from a date some two weeks ago.
One option I guess was to do a full disk restore from two weeks ago then manually select the data from the latest backup and overlay it onto to that. But how could I be sure I'd select everything ?
As it turned out I had the option to fix the problem with a free Windows 8.1 upgrade ( which actually worked fine ) but what about the future ?
I'd considered running a "data file" backup alongside the regular disk backups but how can I be certain it would pick everything up - there's so many programs that are now writing data to areas other that traditional "documents & settings" folders.
Anyone found a good solution to this ?

0 Users found this helpful

I recommend that you leave the OS, Apps, and user folders on a "system" partition or disk, and you put your user content on a "content" partition or disk. You can change the location of the documents, music, videos, pictures under each user by right clicking on them and indicate a new location on the content disk for convenience, but I would not change the downloads, desktop and other ones.
I would also leave all the windows files (hibernation, page, windows search index and others). They can be relocated, but it is a bit problematic in certain situations.
That way, you are pretty sure it is safe to restore the system disk/partition and preserve data consistency.
This is de facto now a common configuration: users use an SSD for system, and regular disks for content. They backup their system with a disk image, and they backup their content with Windows 8 file history, or some sync software that leave each file "flat" in the backup (no wrapper).

Thanks for the reply, yes that looks promising I didn't realise the File History tool in Windows 8 could do that.
Whilst I always keep large data files on a separate partition, and archive other large files to attached drives I am always aware that some programs are annoyingly writing to sub folders of their respective program folders and there's no way to re direct them.
I believe some elements of Apple iPhone and ipad do this although the main content can be specified.
I'll try out the Win8 File History tool and see how it can be configured to catch as much as possible.
Thanks again