TSGL: Acronis Full HDD Backup Question

[Lee Bunyard]

Thanks for the reply, Don.  I'll recheck what Acronis actually saved on 
my external HDD as well as the options Acronis allows as to creating an 
image vs a backup.   When I opened Acronis for the first time, I don't 
recall seeing anything specifically on making an image as opposed to a 
backup but I may have missed it.  Just before I started the backup 
however, I was asked to assign a file name to the stored file being 
created.  There was an option to let Acronis create a file name, which I 
selected.  I remember that the file name Acronis selected used the 
extension .tib.  Whether that means that I was actually doing an image 
of the desktop HDD rather than just a backup, I have no idea.  Since 
Vista came pre-installed on my new desktop pc, I don't have a Vista 
installation disk.  So if an image is what I would need to do a complete 
replacement of the HDD with the Vista OS intact and all settings, then I 
need to be sure I'm doing an image rather than just a backup.  I'll 
check further when I have time and let you know what I find.  Appreciate 
your input however, and that of Shymal earlier.
Lee in the Mountains of Northern California

Don Penlington wrote:
> Lee wrote:
>   
>> the Acronis manual indicates that doing a full HDD
>>     
>>> backup will include ALL files on the HDD, including the OS (Vista
>>> Premium Home version is on my new desktop).  When I look at the files
>>> stored on the external HDD, how can I tell whether the Vista OS is
>>> included??  When I look at the files, I can't tell what is what.  How
>>> can I tell if the OS itself is included in the backup??>>
>>>       
>
>
> A backup is different from making an image. You will not be able to 
> reinstall the OS from a simple backup, as the registry will not be properly 
> indexed or "addressed" to connect to the separate files. The NTFS file 
> system contains unique physical addresses on the HD for every file, and 
> these won't be duplicated on a backup copy.
>
> If you have the original Vista installation disk, a backup is possibly all 
> you need, as you could reinstall onto a new HD from the Vista disk. But 
> that won't restore all your current settings, and you'd have to reinstall 
> all your programs and drivers.
>
> If you wanted to replace your entire HD onto a new HD, with Vista intact 
> with all your settings etc, you would need to make an IMAGE of the HD in 
> Acronis.  An image is different from a backup, in that it replaces the HD 
> in all respects, with everything replaced in its exact same address, so 
> that the new HD is an exact replica or clone of the old one, with all your 
> settings and installations intact.
>
> Acronis can do that, but you must make an image, not a backup.
>
> The Acronis image file will be a compressed .tib file, which is proprietary 
> to Acronis. As far as I know, you can't see the actual contents. (Acronis 
> might have the facility to enable you to see the contents, but I haven't 
> looked).  When you open the .tib file, Acronis will take over and ask you 
> whether and where you want to restore.
>
> If you can see the files, I think you've made a backup instead of an image. 
> So, although you have a copy of the OS individual files, they won't be much 
> use to you in case of a failure. It's like a jigsaw puzzle before all the 
> pieces are assembled.
>
> In brief----- a copy or backup is like an unassembled jigsaw puzzle. It's 
> only good for replacing missing pieces. An image, or clone, is like an 
> assembled jigsaw puzzle.
>
> Don Penlington
>
>
>  From the Beach at Surfers Paradise in sunny Queensland.
> Computer tutorials, local scenery,  and other things at my website:
> http://users.tpg.com.au/deepend/index1.html
>
>
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