Difference between Windows tib creation and boot disk tib creation

Essentially, there is no difference. The backups from Windows is a "snapshot" in time of a busy system with open files.

Some users believe the backup from within the CD is more "pure" as it has no open files. Some users never install and work entirely from the CD.

For the most part, it is a matter of personal preference.

When restoring however, it is best done when booted from the CD bootable media.

It is important that you have a backup which includes all your partitions. In Windows, this is under the "disk mode" option. From within the CD, it is having the disk option checked.

Are you saying that if my primary drive has the "C" partition and also an "F" drive partition...I should image the whole drive...including the "F" drive ?

So far I have only been backing up the "C" partition and boot record...and as yet have not had any issues I know of ? What is the issue if I don't include the "F" partition in my tib files ?

Thanks....

Tim R,

This is a good question. What you have read from Grover is the best and most generic recommendation across all user proficiency levels: in many cases, system disks have hidden partitions that can be essential for proper boot upon whole/partial disk restoration.

For a user who knows how partitions work, how boot records work, etc., the recommendation is still valid although it doesn't result in an optimized backup size, for example.

In your case, I don't see any hidden partition. If the C:\ partition is the active partition, you can include it alone in the backup. Of course, you need to make sure that will not ask ATI to restore both the C:\ partition and the MBR+Track0 at the same time, or you will lose your data partition. You would have to restore first the C:\ partition alone, then the MBR, if needed.

To avoid the risk above, you could include the F:\ partition, but exclude the file/folders you don't need in your backup, because they are protected some other way. This way when you restore your entire disk, your partitions will be as before, although only the included content will be restored in the data partition, while everything else will be erased and will need to restored from your data backup.

Also make sure you have protected your data some other way...

Pat L wrote:

Tim R,

This is a good question. What you have read from Grover is the best and most generic recommendation across all user proficiency levels: in many cases, system disks have hidden partitions that can be essential for proper boot upon whole/partial disk restoration.

For a user who knows how partitions work, how boot records work, etc., the recommendation is still valid although it doesn't result in an optimized backup size, for example.

In your case, I don't see any hidden partition. If the C:\ partition is the active partition, you can include it alone in the backup. Of course, you need to make sure that will not ask ATI to restore both the C:\ partition and the MBR+Track0 at the same time, or you will lose your data partition. You would have to restore first the C:\ partition alone, then the MBR, if needed.

To avoid the risk above, you could include the F:\ partition, but exclude the file/folders you don't need in your backup, because they are protected some other way. This way when you restore your entire disk, your partitions will be as before, although only the included content will be restored in the data partition, while everything else will be erased and will need to restored from your data backup.

Also make sure you have protected your data some other way...

Pat L wrote:

Tim R,

...Of course, you need to make sure that will not ask ATI to restore both the C:\ partition and the MBR+Track0 at the same time, or you will lose your data partition. You would have to restore first the C:\ partition alone, then the MBR, if needed....

Thanks as always Pat...I "think" on my last tib restore on this system I did chose both the C:\ partition AND the MBR+Track0 together...and all went well ? Also on one of my 1st attempts with Acronis there was a similar issue:

http://forum.acronis.com/forum/21669

...Thanks guy...I was able to get the backup tib file to recover properly. When I read the getting started help pdf...It shows the option to restore the MBR file as unselected when restoring...I tried the restore with mbr selected and it worked fine ?
I am assuming then when you restore a tib file...you chose both options...including checking the MBR option...?...hope I have this right ?
Thanks....Tim
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It depends. If you restore to a blank disk, you need the MBR+track0. If you restore an image to the same disk and you include the MBR+track0 with all partitions, it will erase all existing partitions.

In this previous past issue I also had a second partition on the same drive for storage...etc.

I will try the same tib WITHOUT the MBR option and see what happens

Thanks....TRinAz

I made a mistake. You would lose your partition if 2 conditions are true:
- you made a complete disk backup,
- you then created a partition,
- you restore your initial partitions with the MB+Track0.

In your case, restore C with the MBR will not overwrite the partition table. But again, there are seldom cases where you need to restore the MBR.