Deciding on a backup procedure using 3 drives

[AL D]

Thank you.

Al D

 

[Peter]

Acronis True Image

I have a copy of True Image Deluxe (Not sure which Ver number as not on
this system that I'm currently using) and one problem I noticed, which
may be an issue, is that I couldn't back up my XP O/S partition whilst I
was using it. It kept telling me that it was in use and that I would
have to close any applications that were running. I tried closing every
process and application that I could do and yet it still wouldn't let
me. This means that in order to back up an NTFS partition you're going
to have to whip out the drive and put it alongside another drive with an
XP install on it. A bit of a pain.

Does anyone know if this problem has been sorted with any later versions
or how to get around it with this or any other imaging software?

 

[David Maynard]

You mean like have your OS *and* your programs all on one drive, and
keep a full copy of that drive on another drive? Yes, I can see the
sense in that.

Well, yes, I generally have the programs on the same drive but even on
separate drives if you lose the O.S. partition you're going to lose the
registry so programs of any sophistication aren't going to work whether the
files are still on the other one or not.

I don't keep a 'copy' of my drive. I have another 'near equivalent' system
that has all the 'important' programs but not necessarily the others and
vice versa.

Can you explain what is the difference between a simple
backup of a disc's contents and an 'image'? Thanks.

An image is a single file that contains all the information needed to
reconstruct the partition, or disk (depending on what kind of image one
made), including contents. It's also usually compressed to conserve space
and you don't need a hard drive to save it. It could, for example, be
spanned across multiple CDs.

 

[Mxsmanic]

I have a copy of True Image Deluxe (Not sure which Ver number as not on
this system that I'm currently using) and one problem I noticed, which
may be an issue, is that I couldn't back up my XP O/S partition whilst I
was using it. It kept telling me that it was in use and that I would
have to close any applications that were running. I tried closing every
process and application that I could do and yet it still wouldn't let
me. This means that in order to back up an NTFS partition you're going
to have to whip out the drive and put it alongside another drive with an
XP install on it. A bit of a pain.

Does anyone know if this problem has been sorted with any later versions
or how to get around it with this or any other imaging software?

Version 8 does not have this problem. I routinely back up my first
drive (the OS drive) to my second drive while the system is running,
with applications open. I believe the current version takes snapshots
to get around the problem.

 

[AL D]

So, am I right in concluding that the only advantage of an "image"
over a completely duplicated disk-contents, is that the image takes up
less space and is quicker to produce? Is it as reliable as a copied
disk? I guess it it quite easy to backup an entire 80gb of data onto a
second disc; you can set that process in motion in the evening and
come back next morning to find it (hopefully) completed. Or use a
backup program that only copies files that have been changed, to make
the process quicker, yes?

Al D

 

[David Maynard]

So, am I right in concluding that the only advantage of an "image"
over a completely duplicated disk-contents, is that the image takes up
less space and is quicker to produce?

It is encapsulated so there's no chance of 'forgetting' to copy a piece of
it, there's less chance of 'oops' modifying one, and it can be archived to
a permanent medium.

They can also be modified (obviously not on a permanent media, though) but
it's a deliberate process and not something one 'accidentally' does.

Is it as reliable as a copied
disk?

It's more reliable on permanent media.

I guess it it quite easy to backup an entire 80gb of data onto a
second disc; you can set that process in motion in the evening and
come back next morning to find it (hopefully) completed. Or use a
backup program that only copies files that have been changed, to make
the process quicker, yes?

That applies to most all backup mechanisms.

 

[Peter]

Version 8 does not have this problem. I routinely back up my first
drive (the OS drive) to my second drive while the system is running,
with applications open. I believe the current version takes snapshots
to get around the problem.

Cheers. Just found V8 online for 12UKP. This is not the deluxe version.
Just says Acronis True Image V8. Is that the same one?

 

[Mxsmanic]

So, am I right in concluding that the only advantage of an "image"
over a completely duplicated disk-contents, is that the image takes up
less space and is quicker to produce? Is it as reliable as a copied
disk?

Not quite. An image also contains information that a copied disk does
not (unless the copy was a direct physical copy--an image).

I guess it it quite easy to backup an entire 80gb of data onto a
second disc; you can set that process in motion in the evening and
come back next morning to find it (hopefully) completed.

True Image will do that in about ten minutes, for a full image, faster
if you only do an incremental image.

 

[Mxsmanic]

Cheers. Just found V8 online for 12UKP. This is not the deluxe version.
Just says Acronis True Image V8. Is that the same one?

I don't believe a deluxe version exists. Acronis describes only one
on their Web site (although there is a "corporate" version, whatever
that is).

 

[Peter]

I don't believe a deluxe version exists. Acronis describes only one
on their Web site (although there is a "corporate" version, whatever
that is).

Cheers. Thought as much, but always best to double-check first. ;-)