Newbie Question - My Disks (Partition image) Vs. Files/Folders Backup - which do I use?
I'm using TIM2010-bld: 7046 on Win XP Pro. I have been using the My Disks - partition image method for backing up both my OS drive and non-OS drives. For my data drives this creates huge full and incremental backup files which take forever to run. I also see that these incremental .tib files contain ALL of the files from the drive being backed up. I thought incremental files only contain copies of those files which have been modified since the full backup was made. For example in a recent .tib file I see a ,jpeg file last updated in 2005 - I click on it and the picture opens for view so I know the whole file is there. So what's up with that?
Please tell me your suggested method for backing up data drives.
Thanks,
Steve
Steve,
The Incremental file on the drive will contain only the new data, but when you explore or mount the Incremental image you are looking at the entire partition at the time of the Incremental backup. This includes any files that exist in previous Incrementals and the base Full image.
Doing incs saves time, mos of the time, and disk space because the changes since last backup are recorded. However, it's slightly riskier than doing only full backups -- if any inc becomes corrupted, then ati will treat the backup set up to and including that inc as invalid/corrupted.
Also, doing only full backups is much simpler.
Also, if you want to keep a really old version of your disk/files, then you might want to archive the backup to a remote disk that you can sotre on another site. and then make a newer full backup, starting a sfull-incs set anew. It all depends on how much data you can afford to risk, going how far back, etc.
Thanks guys! OK - so what you experienced users are telling me blows away the hype from Acronis about using incremental to save time and disk space. Here is my understanding:
1) Only use full partition image backups for most drives
2) For drives containing mainly image files just make image file copies using win-explorer.
Is that correct?
For my photo image drives one advantage I see using file/folder backup method is that TI would keep track of ONLY backing up newer files, but again that would entail the use of dreaded incrementals. How do you know which files to copy without a time-consuming check of each file's dates across many many folders? Do you use a folder-sync tool like Allways? Do you have other suggestions?
Thanks,
Steve
For a few more examples of how others use TIH, click on my signature index below and check out the listings in index item #12.
Many photographers have multiple copies of their files (not compressed--straight from the camera) stored on multiple hard drives--not attached to their system.
I don't want to overstate the differences. Many folks use incs successfullly and happily. there are definite advantages and disadvantages to doing either Fulls-only or doing incs. Incs are slightly riskier for the reason stated. Fulls are much simpler and, imo, a better choice for beginers for that reason. Once you are comfortable with the program, tailor your taks to best suit your needs. And remember the first principle: always one or maore complete backups on hand in case of whatever. ;)
good luck.