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Clone versus backup

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Try to be short...hard for me!

HP is replacing my computer - it's had lots of issues - lemon deal. Anyway, I have the new computer and the old computer right here right now - but I have to SOON send them back the old computer.

I have lots of high end software that are getting po'd at me because I keep reinstalling my software and they are getting suspicious! No, not illegal stuff....just that HP reformats hard drive every time they work on your computer! So, my solution seems to be both so I don't have to keep begging Adobe, MS, and Corel to let me install AGAIN, AND take days for me to reinstall all my software....is to clone. But I have been reading here that that may not be what I want or need to do.

HERE'S WHAT I WANT: I want to have everything on my current computer go on to my new computer INCLUDING (very important) ALL MY SOFTWARE PROGRAMS - not just data, pics and stuff. I can do that easily. I want my PROGRAMS installed. The new computer is so new I haven't even logged in yet.

Should I go ahead and go through the installation processes for the new computer? Should I use clone or backup to a hard drive (which I have a couple)? How do I know if it was successful? I always thought a backup just did files but did not put installation files back on?

Lots of questions, but I don't want to screw this up. Tried to contact Acronis before my 'free' support went out, but didn't get a response.

Thanks. Please help. I don't have much time before I have to send this one back.

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You should backup your current hard drive using a disk and partition backup. All partitions on the system drive should be included. Some partitions are hidden from you when you open your computer using Windows explorer, but you can see them with ATI. A sure way of including all partitions is to switch to multiple partitions and disk mode display when you create your backup. This will allow you to select the entire disk when you specify what to backup.
You should also backup the new computer the same way. So that you have a way to restore it if things don't work out the way you want.
Follow this guide for the backup process: http://forum.acronis.com/forum/28705
A disk and partition backup will allow you to restore everything you need for your computer to work. It uses the same technology as the cloning process. The only difference is that the information is temporarily stored in an archive TIB file, before you restore it on a new disk.
You also need the Acronis recovery CD. You need to boot your computer on it and try to restore a couple of files from the backup you just created.
Once you have this, simply do the restore using the recovery CD.
Follow this guide for the restore process: http://forum.acronis.com/forum/29618

Thanks. Tryint to keep it all straight. So I need to make an ACronis recovery disk on both my old and my new computer? My new one came with a 'system restore' disk, my old one did not. ACtually, my old one is less than a year old. It is an HP Pavilion dv7t with 1T hard drive, 8 memory, etc. etc.

this is scaring me to death! Of course, I guess the worst case scenario is that I have to reinstall all my software anyway and in that case wasted the money on Acronis, lol! I'll have to read the instructions over and over again. Even then I sometimes MISS something. One time my independent nature had me putting together a Wally World cheap desk. I was so proud of myself! Until I realized that I put 2 of the parts on backwards! I did not take it apart! It just meant that the nice looking cheap wood was on the bottom of 2 parts rather than on top, lol!

Gotta go clip horses for a show, but when I come back in, I'm taking a deep breath and trying to do this!

Goldie, the instructions you have received from Pat are great. You only need to create one Acronis recovery disk. It can be used on both systems. As far as wasting money on Acronis, it is an excellent backup and imaging software application that can be used to maintain backups of your systems after doing all the work your have ahead of you. I find that a $50 program that can save my rear end is always a good investment.