MaryL said:
I just read your instructions more carefully, and I guess I should get a
smaller and cheaper external CD for cloning because Acronis apparently
will wipe out all existing data. I want to be able to continue keeping
multiple copies of data on the one I am using.
Again, thanks for the detailed information. That would have been a shock!
MaryL
MaryL:
Well, still using the Acronis program there is another backup/recovery
strategy you can employ so that your USB external HDD can contain your
existing data as well as the backup data. Or you could use your secondary
HDD as the recipient of the disk image as described below. Either another
internal or external HDD can serve as the destination drive.
In lieu of undertaking the direct disk-to-disk cloning process that I
previously described, you could create a "disk image" (essentially a file
representing a backup archive) and store that disk image onto your USB EHD.
This "backup archive" is a compressed file, a "disk image" of your source
HDD.
Here are some step-by-step instructions re this disk imaging backup &
recovery process. (Again, the instructions relate to version 9 of the
Acronis True Image program. I assume the process is identical or
substantially the same with their version 10 program).
NOTE: The recipient of the disk image, presumably a USB external HD or an
internal HD, must be a formatted drive (unlike the case in a disk-to-disk
cloning operation where an unformatted or “virgin” HD can be used as the
destination disk).
1. With both your source and destination hard drives connected, access the
Acronis program and click “Backup” on main menu.
2. The “Create Backup Wizard” screen opens. Click Next.
3. “Select Backup Type” screen opens with two options:
a. The entire disk contents or individual partitions.
b. Files and folders.
Select a. and click Next.
4. “Partitions Selection” screen opens.
Disk 1 and Disk 2 are listed with their drive letter designations.
Check Disk 1 – the disk to be backed up – and click Next.
5. An informational message appears recommending an incremental or
differential backup if original full backup had previously been created.
Since this will be the first backup we will be selecting, just click OK to
close the message box.
6. Next screen is the “Backup Archive Location”. In the “File name” text
box, enter your backup drive letter and enter a file name for the backup
file, e.g., “F:\Backup 10-28”. Acronis will append the “.tib” file extension
to the filename. Click Next.
7. “Select Backup Mode” screen opens. Select “Create new full backup
archive” option and click Next.
8. “Choose Backup Options” screen opens with two options:
a. Use default option
b. Set the options manually
If you select the b. option, you can select various options listed on the
next screen. Two of them are of interest to us:
Compression level – Four options – None, Normal (the default), High,
Maximum.
There’s a “Description” area that shows the estimated size of the backup
archive depending upon the option chosen, and the estimated “creation time”
for each option.
(In this example, the actual size of the data to be backed up is 20 GB).
None – 20 GB and estimated creation time of 1 hr 40 min
Normal – 11.96 GB “ “ “ “ 50 min (Default)
High – 10.46 GB “ “ “ “ 1 hr
Maximum – 10.2 GB “ “ “ “ 1 hr
Backup priority – Low, Normal, or High
Low – “backup processed more slowly, but it will not influence other
processes running on computer.” (Default)
Normal – “normal speed but backup process will influence other processes
running on computer.”
High – “normal speed but backup process will strongly influence other
processes running on computer.”
(As an example, I selected Normal (default) compression level and High
backup priority. The backup archive totaled 15.8 GB compressed from 20 GB;
took 16 min 15 sec to create. Creating a disk-to-disk clone would probably
have taken no longer and possibly a bit faster.)
NOTE: You can set the defaults from the Acronis Tools > Options > Default
backup options menu items.
9. “Archive comments” screen opens allowing you to add comments to the
backup archive which you can review during the Recovery process. Click Next.
10. The next screen summarizes the backup operation to be performed. Review
the information for correctness and click the Proceed button.
11. The next screen will display status bars reflecting the progress of the
backup operation. After the backup operation finishes, an informational
message will appear indicting the operation was successfully completed.
Incremental Backups
1. After the initial backup archive has been created you can create
incremental backups reflecting any data changes since the previous backup
operation. This incremental backup process proceeds considerably faster than
the initial backup operation. This, of course, is the major advantage of
creating disk images rather than undertaking the disk-to-disk cloning
process.
Note that you must create the incremental backup file on the same HDD where
you created the original backup archive and any subsequent incremental
backup files.
2. Access the Acronis program as detailed above and move through the
screens. When you arrive at the “Backup Archive Location” screen, click on
the original backup archive file, or if one or more incremental backup files
were previously created, click on the last incremental backup file and
verify that the correct drive letter and file name are shown in the “File
name:” text box. After clicking Next, the program will automatically create
a file name for the incremental backup archive file, using the original file
name and appending a consecutive number - starting at 2 - at the end of the
file name. For example, say you named the original backup archive file
“Backup 10-28”. The first incremental backup file will be automatically
named “Backup 10-282” and the next incremental file “Backup 10-283”, etc.
3. On the following “Select Backup Mode” screen, select the “Create
incremental backup” option, click Next, and proceed through the screens as
above.
Recovery Process
The recovery process uses the Acronis “bootable rescue media” (CD) that you
created when you originally installed the Acronis program. If you didn’t
create that bootable CD at that time, you can create it now from the Acronis
program by clicking on the “Create Bootable Rescue Media” icon on the
opening Acronis screen and simply going through the screens to create the
bootable CD.
1. With both the drive containing the backup disk images and the drive you
want to restore connected and with the bootable rescue CD inserted, boot up.
2. At the opening screen, click on “Acronis True Image Home (Full Version)”.
3. The program will open after some moments. On the “Pick a Task” screen
that opens, click on “Recovery”.
4. The “Welcome to the Restore Data Wizard!” screen opens. Click on Next.
5. The “Archive Selection” screen opens. Navigate to the drive containing
the backup archive file(s) and select the last incremental backup file or
the original full backup file if no incremental backup files were
subsequently created. Ensure that the correct drive letter and filename are
entered in the “File name:” text box. Click Next.
6. The “Archive Date Selection” screen opens. Select (highlight) the last
incremental backup file from the listing and click Next.
7. The “Restoration Type Selection” screen opens. Select the option,
“Restore disks or partitions” and click Next.
8. The “Partition or Disk to Restore” will open. Click on “Disk 1” and click
Next.
9. After some moments the “Restored Hard Disk Drive Location” screen opens.
Select the HDD to be restored and click Next.
10. On the next screen select the “Yes” option to delete all current
partitions on the destination HDD. Click Next.
11. On the next screen select the “No” option and click Next.
12. On the next screen you have the option to validate the backup archive
before restoration. Click Next.
13. The final screen before the restoration operation begins will open.
Confirm that the information as shown is correct. Click Proceed.
14. Click OK when the “Completed recovery” message appears following the
recovery operation.
15. Remove the Acronis bootable rescue CD and close the Acronis program. The
system will reboot and following the Windows “Found New Hardware” message
the “System Settings Change” message box will appear. Click Yes for a
reboot.
So give this process a try and see if it meets your needs.
Anna
