Re: How to clean install XP Home with Acronis True image 11


"Alex" <ad1979@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:c645aa33-5cec-4081-bffc-ace2726421b0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks Anna for the step by step instructions. Great work! I followed
them while checking all steps in acronis TI Home 11 and it answered a
few minor questions/doubts that I still had. The acronis help file is
so unstructured, as if random articles were thrown together. I was
reading the following in the program's help file and I can't seem to
find it in the restoration wizard, neither in your step by step
instructions. It does sound very important though so maybe you can
help me out:

quote:
"Changing the Restored Partition Type
When restoring a partition, you can change its type, though it's not
required in most cases. By default, the original partition type is
selected.You can choose one of the following:
? Active - active partition is used for loading an operating system
from it. Selecting Active for a partition without an installed
operating system could prevent your computer from booting.
? Primary - if you are going to restore a system partition, choose
this parameter. Acronis True Image Home automatically corrects the
boot.ini file and Windows Registry during restore of the system
partition to make it bootable even if it was restored to a non-
original partition (or disk).
? Logical - logical partitions are used for data storage. If you
restore a system partition to another hard disk with its own
partitions and OS, most likely you will need only the data"
unquote.

I am figuring this should belong somewhere in step 9 of your
description on how to restore the image:
quote:
"9. After a few moments the "Restored Hard Disk Drive Location" screen
opens.
Select (highlight) the HDD to be restored, presumably "Disk 2", and
click
Next."
unquote
But I can't find the option/checkbox. I assume that by highlighting
the disk 2 this drive will automatically be configured as a primary or
bootable partition?

PS: my images are on the external usb drive and I would do the test
backup towards the internal secondary D drive, that's why I said the D
drive my be formatted anyway but I guess you overlooked this. It's
common sense that you cannot restore to the same drive that contains
your disk image files (source=destination won't work)


Alex:
Thanks for looking over my step-by-step instructions for the Acronis True
Image Home v11 program. Actually I've done a fair amount of revisions since
the original draft I posted. I'm really not that familiar with the ATI v11
program since I prefer (and generally recommend) the Casper 5 disk-cloning
program as a comprehensive backup program for most users. So I haven't
worked very much with the ATI program over the past few years. I prepared
the basic instructions for using the ATI version 9 & 10 programs some time
ago in response to both customer & computer club member requests, virtually
all of whom were interested in a reasonably simple-to-use comprehensive
backup program that was capable of creating straightforward disk-to-disk
clones or (in the case of ATI) as well as using the program for its
disk-imaging capabilities.

Yes, you're right...somehow I was under the (mistaken) impression that you
were storing the backup files (archives) on the internal HDD that you were
planning to restore.

As to your query...
I really don't think you (or virtually every other user of the ATI program)
need be concerned with partition-type changes. In virtually every case the
program will handle this aspect quite well without user intervention in the
normal course of events where the backup "archives" are disk-images of
one's entire system and the user will simply be using those disk-images for
restoring their system to a functional state. But perhaps someone coming
upon this thread who is more familiar with the Acronis program than I am can
better respond to your specific question re that aspect.

Here's the revised draft that I prepared re the step-by-step instructions
for using the disk-imaging process of Acronis True Image Home v11. Would you
be good enough to look it over and again I would appreciate learning from
you (or anyone coming upon this thread who is familiar with the ATI v11
program) whether this revision contains any errors or lack of clarity.
Thanks again.

Disk Imaging: The following are step-by-step instructions for using the
Acronis True Image Home 11 program to create disk images for backup purposes
and using those disk images for recovery of the system...

Note: The recipient of the disk image, presumably a USB external HDD or an
internal HDD, ordinarily must be a formatted drive and have a drive letter
assigned to it.

Before undertaking this disk imaging process it's probably best to close all
programs running in the background including your anti-virus and other
anti-malware programs. It's also best that the only storage devices
connected to the PC are the two hard drives that will be involved in this
disk-imaging process - the "source" and "destination" hard drives.

It's also a good idea to create a folder on the HDD where your backup files
("archives") will be stored.

1. With both your source and destination hard drives connected, access the
Acronis program and click "Backup and Restore" on the main menu.

2. On the following "Backup and Restore" screen click Backup.

3. The "Welcome to the Create Backup Wizard!" screen opens. Click Next.

4. The "Select Backup Type" screen opens. Select the default "My Computer"
option and click Next.

5. On the next "Data to Back Up Selection" screen select the default "Disks
and partitions" option. By so doing you will be backing up your entire
system. Click Next.

6. The "Partitions Selection" screen opens listing all connected drives.
Assuming your "source" HDD (the drive you want to back up) is "Disk 1",
click its box to insert a checkmark. Click Next.

7. On the next screen - "Source Files Exclusion" - do not check any of the
boxes; just click Next.

8. An informational message appears concerning the incremental or
differential backup process. Since this operation is the first backup of
your system, just click OK.

9. On the "Backup Archive Location" screen that opens click (if necessary)
on the "+" symbol next to the "My Computer" item so as to list all the
drives connected in the system. Select (highlight) the disk and folder you
want to serve as the destination for the disk image. We'll assume you
previously created a folder named "Acronis backup archives" on the
destination drive. The program will enter the drive letter of that disk
(we'll assume it's E: in this example) and the folder name in the "File
name:" text box at the bottom of the screen. Enter a file name for the
backup file, e.g., "Backup 2-04" so that the entry reads "E:\Acronis backup
archives\Backup 2-04" and click Next. Note that the Acronis program will
automatically append the ".tib" file extension to the filename. Click Next.

10. The "Select Backup Mode" screen opens. Select the "Create a new full
backup archive" default option and click Next.

11. The "Choose Backup Options" screen opens with two options:
"Use default options" and "Set the options manually".
If you select the second 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.

Backup priority - Three options - 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 - "...maximum speed but backup process will strongly influence other
processes running on computer."

With respect to the compression levels, we've found that when using the
Normal option the original data is compressed by about 20% - 25% (in most
cases in our experience closer to the former than the latter) and that the
High and Maximum options will result in a compressed backup file only
slightly higher. However, in general the amount of time to create the backup
files when using the High or Maximum compression level is substantially
greater than when using the Normal compression level. So unless disk space
is very tight on the destination drive, i.e., the drive where the backup
file will be stored, we recommend using the Normal compression level (at
least initially). Afterwards you may want to experiment with selecting
different options.

We generally select the "High" backup priority & "Normal" compression level
options.

NOTE: You can set the Compression level and Backup priority defaults from
the Acronis Tools > Options > Default backup options menu items.

12. The "Archive Comments" screen opens allowing you to add any comments you
may wish to make to the backup archive and which you can review during the
Recovery process. Click Next.

13. The next screen summarizes the backup operation to be performed.
Carefully review the information for correctness and click the Proceed
button.

14. 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 (Disk Images)
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 a major advantage of
creating disk images rather than undertaking the disk-to-disk cloning
process. Then too, since these created disk images are compressed files they
are reasonable in size. And because the incremental disk images can usually
be created very quickly (as compared with the direct disk-to-disk cloning
process), there's an incentive for the user to keep his/her system
up-to-date backup-wise by using this disk imaging process on a more frequent
basis than they might otherwise do using the disk-cloning process.

Another advantage of the disk-imaging process is that it facilitates the
maintenance of "generational" copies of one's system. This allows the user
to create a copy of his or her system at a particular point-in-time and more
easily allows users to restore their systems as of a *specific*
point-in-time.

Note that you must create the incremental backup files on the same HDD where
you stored the original backup archive and any subsequent incremental backup
files.

2. Access the Acronis program as detailed above and navigate 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, folder, and file name are shown in the
"File name:" text box. Click Next.

3. The "Select Backup Mode" screen opens. Select the "Create an incremental
backup" option and click Next.

Note that the program will automatically create a file name for the
incremental backup archive file, using the original file name and appending
a consecutive number to the end of the file name. If, for example, on
February 4 you created your original (first) backup archive file and gave it
the filename of "Backup 2-04", the first incremental backup file (regardless
of the actual date created) will be automatically named "Backup 2-042" and
the next subsequently-created incremental file "Backup 2-043", etc.

NOTE THAT ALL YOUR INCREMENTAL BACKUP FILES MUST BE PRESENT FOR RECOVERY
PURPOSES. DO NOT DELETE ANY OF YOUR PREVIOUSLY-CREATED INCREMENTAL BACKUP
FILES FOLLOWING THE CREATION OF A CURRENT INCREMENTAL BACKUP FILE. YOU CAN
DELETE THE INCREMENTAL FILES ONLY AFTER LATER CREATING A FULL BACKUP ARCHIVE
AS DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION.

4. Proceed through the screens as you did in creating the initial backup
archive. Note that when the "Archive Comments" screen appears, you will have
an opportunity to add comments re this current incremental file (archive)
you're creating. You might want to do so should you find it useful to add a
comment concerning any significant changes you made to your system since the
previous backup.


Recovery Process (Disk images): We'll assume the recovery will be to either
a non-defective HDD that has become unbootable for one reason or another, or
to a new HDD. The HDD to be restored need not be partitioned/formatted since
the recovery process will take care of that function.

Note that in many, if not most cases you will be using the Acronis "Bootable
Rescue Media" (CD) that you might have created when you originally installed
the Acronis program. You'll need that bootable CD in the event you cannot
access the ATI Home program because of a defective source HDD or otherwise
unbootable system.

If you didn't previously create that bootable CD, you can create it now from
the Acronis program (assuming you can access the program at this time) by
clicking on the "Create Bootable Rescue Media" item on the "Tools" menu that
appears on the opening Acronis screen and then simply going through the
screens to create a bootable CD.

The Acronis True Image program installation CD is also bootable.

Note: If the recovery will be made to a HDD that is still bootable and
you're able to access the Acronis program on that drive, then you can
undertake the recovery process without the need for using the "bootable
rescue" CD.

1. The only drives (storage devices) that should be connected during this
recovery process are the drive to be restored and the drive containing the
backup disk images (archives). Boot to the "bootable rescue" CD (if
necessary) to access the program.

2. At the opening screen, click on "Acronis True Image Home (Full Version)".

3. The program will open after some moments. On the "Backup and Restore"
screen that opens, click on "Restore".

4. The "Welcome to the Restore Data Wizard!" screen opens. Click on Next.

5. The "Backup Archive Selection" screen opens. Navigate to the drive and
folder containing the backup archive file(s). If no incremental backup files
have been created following creation of the original full backup file
(archive), select that file (archive). If one or more incremental backup
files (archives) are listed, then click on the last incremental backup file
(archive) - assuming you want to restore the system as of the latest backup.
Recall that the backup file name(s) will end with the .tib file extension.
Ensure that the correct drive & file are reflected in the "File name:" text
box. Click Next.

(Note that if you want to restore the system as of a particular date *prior*
to the date the last incremental file (archive) was created, select the
appropriate incremental file (archive) from the list.)

6. The "Backup Date Selection" screen opens. Select (highlight) the
appropriate incremental backup file (archive) from the listing. This will
usually be the latest incremental file (archive) that was created, but if
you desire to restore a "generational" copy of your system as of a different
date, then select the appropriate incremental file (archive).

Note this screen will reflect the date the archive was created and any
comments you may have inserted in "Archive Comments" when you previously
created the backup file (archive). Click Next.

7. The "Restoration Type Selection" screen opens. Select the default option,
"Restore disks or partitions" and click Next.

8. The "Partition or Disk to Restore" screen will open. Click on the "Disk
1" box and click Next.

9. After some moments the "Restored Hard Disk Drive Location" screen opens.
Select (highlight) the HDD to be restored, presumably "Disk 2", and click
Next.

10. The "Non-empty Destination Hard Disk Drive" screen opens. Select the
"Yes" option indicating that all partitions on the destination HDD will be
deleted. Understand that any data on that drive will be lost. Click Next.

11. On the next screen select the "No" option (if applicable) indicating you
do not want to restore another partition. Click Next.

12. Navigate through the "Choose Restore Options" screen.

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 following completion of the recovery operation a message
appears indicating a successful recovery operation.

15. Remove the Acronis bootable rescue CD if it has been used in the
restoration process and close the Acronis program. The system will reboot. A
Windows "Found New Hardware" message followed by the "System Settings
Change" message box may appear on the Desktop. If they do, click Yes for a
reboot.
Anna



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