26.11.2019
Acronis True Image is a tool for creating backup copies of entire disks and separate files. Thanks to this program you can perform Windows installation not in 2-3 hours with all programs and drivers, but in 20 minutes for example. In addition, you can restore absolutely all files that were on the system before removal and reinstallation. Using Acronis True Image after a system crash, you don’t have to worry about documents that you’ve been working on for a long time.
Acronis has free versions of the program for owners of Seagate and WD drives. Application functionality is limited.
Free versions of programs
- Bootable media for Windows 10 PE with programs and Acronis True Image 2017
The cloud is paid in Acronis. A Premium subscription with a 1 TB cloud costs 3,400 rubles per year. Another option is to rent or buy a server or other cheaper cloud storage (only it will not be as convenient as with the Acronis cloud).
Free data protection method
I use a free cloud and copy files there. For greater reliability, I delete the backup copies from the computer, while copying the files to a folder that I disconnect from synchronization. Open your cloud settings and find Selective sync or Set up sync. And disable synchronization of folders where your backup files are stored. Pros - free, cons - you need fast Internet and a large amount of memory in the cloud for copying. For example, if you managed to receive 1 TB as a gift in the Mail Cloud, then use it. No, then register several accounts in Yandex Disk for example.
The best option for the reliability of your data is to copy backups to external drive, not connected via network. This way, viruses and other infections will not get to the backup copy. By the way, this is relevant after an attack by a ransomware virus.
As an option, you can set up a backup to the network.
The advantage of your own server over the cloud is that the access speed over the network is many times higher than the access speed to the cloud (1 GB per second versus 100 MB per second, for example, this is in the best case). The files will be immediately available for recovery at high speed. But in this case, you can spend more than those 3,400 rubles on electricity in a year, so you need to think about whether you will need to save at all. Access speed is of course a plus, electricity costs are a minus. This is if you need to make backups at home for yourself; for companies, energy costs do not play such an important role. If the possibility of fast backup and minimal backup access time is preferable, then naturally your own server or external drive will be the best choice.
Backup encryption
Before you back up your data, you should know about some important features. The first is encryption. Before creating a backup, you can set encryption parameters and set a password for the archive so that no one but you can open the archives. To encrypt your data, click on Encrypt backup. Enter your password in the appropriate field and click Save.
The second method is more detailed; here you can already set the encryption method, and not just a password. Before creating a backup, click on Options and open the Advanced tab, open the line Backup protection. Here we enter the password and select the encryption method. The larger the number after AES, the more difficult it will be to crack the password.
Copy Schedule
Another great option for backing up your data. Decide how often you will do it data backup, determine which data needs to be archived frequently, and which once a month. And create different copies in the program. To configure the schedule, click Options and the Schedule option will open in the first tab. All parameters, except one, I think, do not require attention, everything is clear here, I think. But what is Continuous copy mode? This is a frequent backup mode; a backup of data will be created every five minutes. Therefore, do not use this mode to backup your entire computer, as backups will take up a lot of memory. Enable continuous backup only for very important data.
Spoiler - Using Acronis Nonstop Backup - Acronis Help
Using Acronis Nonstop Backup
Acronis Nonstop Backup makes it easy to protect your disks and files. With its help you can restore disks, files and their versions.
The main purpose of Acronis Nonstop Backup is to always protect your data (files, folders, contacts, etc.), but it can also protect partitions. If you choose to protect an entire partition, you can recover the entire partition by performing an image recovery procedure.
It is not recommended to use this feature as the primary method of protecting your system. To protect your system, use any other schedule. For examples and more information, see Custom Schema Examples.
Limitations of Nonstop Backup
- Only one continuous copy can be created.
- Windows libraries (Documents, Music, etc.) can only be protected using continuous disk-level backup.
- It is not possible to protect data on external hard drives.
- Continuous protection and Try&Decide mode cannot operate simultaneously.
Principle of operation
After running Acronis Nonstop Backup, the program will create an initial full backup of the data selected for protection. Acronis Nonstop Backup will then continuously monitor protected files (including open ones). If a change is detected, a backup copy of the modified data is created. The shortest interval between incremental backup operations is five minutes. This allows you to restore the system to any point in time.
Acronis Nonstop Backup checks for file changes on disk, not in memory. If, for example, when working in the Word editor, the save operation is not performed for a long time, a backup copy of the current changes in Word document will not be created.
You'd think that with backup speeds like this, the storage would fill up immediately. There is no need to worry because Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation creates backups only the so-called “deltas”. This means that only the differences between the old and new versions, rather than completely modified files. For example, when using Microsoft Outlook or Windows Mail, the PST file you have can be very large. Moreover, it changes with every message received or sent Email. Backing up a full PST file after each change may take up too much storage space, so Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation performs backup only the changed parts of the file in addition to the original backup file.
Storage rules
Acronis Continuous Protection saves all backups from the last 24 hours. Consolidation of older backups will be done so that Nonstop Backup will keep daily backups for the last 30 days and weekly backups until all are used. free space continuous backup storage.
The merge occurs every day between midnight and 1 am. The first merger will be performed after Continuous Protection has been running for at least 24 hours. For example, Non-stop protection was turned on at 10 am on July 12th. In this case, the first merge will occur between midnight and 1 am on July 14th. The program will then merge the data every day at the same time. If the computer was turned off between midnight and 1 a.m., merging will begin when the computer is turned on. If Nonstop Backup has been disabled for some time, merging will begin when it is enabled again.
[collapse]
Copy method
If you are really concerned about the safety of your data, you need to decide how often you will make backups. If you select Continuous copy mode, you do not need to configure a schedule.
Full copy – a full copy of all selected folders and files is created each time.
Incremental backup - each backup saves only changes that occurred since the previous copy was created. The disadvantage of this method is that to restore files you need to keep all backup copies. If you delete one copy, you cannot restore the files.
Differential Copy – Here, each of the following copies retains the changed data after a full backup is created.
Spoiler - Full, incremental and differential backups - Acronis Help
Full, incremental and differential backups
Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation offers three backup methods.
Full backup
The result of a full backup operation (also called a full backup version) contains all the data that existed at the time the backup was created. Example: Every day you write one page of a document and you back up that document using the full backup method. Acronis True Image saves the entire document every time you perform a backup.
1.tib, 2.tib, 3.tib, 4.tib are full versions of the backup. 
Additional Information
The full version of the backup forms the basis for subsequent incremental and differential backups. and it can also be used to create an offline backup. Creating an offline full backup may be the best solution if you frequently return your system to the initial state or don't want to manage different versions backup copies.
Incremental backup
The result of an incremental backup operation (also called an incremental version of a backup) contains only those files that have changed since the LAST BACKUP OPERATION. Example: Every day you write one page of a document and create a backup using the incremental backup method. Acronis True Image saves new page each time you perform a backup. Note: Always created first full version backup.
- 2.tib, 3.tib, 4.tib are incremental backup versions.
Additional Information
Incremental backups are most useful if you want to frequently create backup versions and be able to return to a point in time. Typically, incremental backup versions are significantly smaller than full or differential backup versions. On the other hand, incremental backup versions require more work from the program during recovery. In the example above, to restore all work from a 4.tib file, Acronis True Image reads data from all versions of the backup. If an incremental version of a backup is lost or damaged, all subsequent incremental versions of the backup are useless.
Differential Backup
The result of a differential backup operation (also called a differential version of a backup) contains only those files that have changed since the LAST FULL BACKUP CREATE. Example: Every day you write one page of a document and create a backup using the differential backup method. Acronis True Image saves the entire document except the first page, which is stored in the full backup version. Note. The full version of the backup is always created first.
- 1.tib is the full version of the backup.
- 2.tib, 3.tib, 4.tib are differential versions of the backup.
Additional Information
The differential method is intermediate between the two previous ones. This approach requires less time and storage space than a full backup, but more than an incremental backup. To restore data from a differential backup version of Acronis True Image, only the differential version and the latest full version are required. Therefore, restoring from a differential version will be easier and more reliable than from an incremental one. An incremental or differential backup created after disk defragmentation can have a significant impact larger size than usual. This is because the defragmentation program changes the location of files on the disk and these changes are reflected in the backup. Therefore, after defragmenting the disk, it is recommended to create a full backup again. To select a backup method, you must set a custom backup scheme.
[collapse]
How to make a system backup
By default, when you start the wizard, a full backup is configured, so in the first window you only need to select the location to save the backup.
Ideally, it is better to use an external drive for saving, since even if the computer is infected, the data will not be deleted from the external drive. In this case, recovering from an external drive will not be difficult. When selecting a FOLDER to copy, copy all backup files either to an external drive or to the cloud. Otherwise on exit system disk fails - all files will be lost, including the saved backup.
After entering all required parameters(encryption, maximum file size, compression ratio, enabling image verification, etc.) click on Create a copy.
Depending on the size of the files, the time it takes to create a backup will depend.
How to backup files
Backing up your files is very easy. We do the same as for a system backup, only instead of the entire disk, we select the desired folder and files.
Hard drive cloning
To completely copy the disk, in the backup parameters, check the Archive in sector-by-sector mode checkbox. Also, if you need to create a more exact copy of the disk, and not just the files on it, check the Archive unallocated space checkbox.
Next, click on Create a copy. In general, to make a copy of all files and hard drive in Acronis True Image 2017 no further actions are required. To restore a disk or individual data from a backup, you will have to perform a couple more steps, which, of course, is unlikely to affect the speed of data recovery. Everything will be restored quickly, in any case, you will spend 2-3 times less time than standard installation Windows.
How to restore the system completely
To restore the system, you need to write it to a flash drive or ISO disk True Image bootable media image - download the image from this link - https://yadi.sk/d/UYKGvGZe3JVPKa
Or go to Tools - Create Wizard boot image. Select image parameters and save method - ISO image or write directly to a USB flash drive.
To restore from a backup, use the computer from which the backup was made - otherwise the system may not start and there will definitely be problems with the drivers, or use exactly the same computer, with the same processor, maternal memory and a video card.
We insert the media into the computer and boot from it. To do this, when you turn on the computer, open BIOS program or UEFI and configure boot priority. Depending on model motherboard V system unit and laptop model it can be – F1, F2, Del, F10, Esc, etc. Or just press the keys immediately to select the boot source before loading Windows – F9, F11, F12. Depending on the motherboard manufacturer and laptop manufacturer, the hotkeys will differ. When checking all system devices - many different white letters when turning on computers - the keys to open must be indicated BIOS settings and selecting a download source.
After loading from the media, launch Acronis True Image. From a media with Windows 10 PE, look for Acronis in Start - All Programs - Backup and Restore - Acronis True Image 2017. From booting from Acronis media, simply click on the name Acronis True Image and wait for it to download.
Click on the Recovery - Disks option, since we need to restore the system disk. Accordingly, to restore individual files from the entire backup – Files and folders.
In the next window you need to select the backup file from which all data will be restored. To do this, click on the Browse button and look for the system backup file in the file explorer. Connect external media if you need to recover from external hard disk for example. Click Next after selecting the backup archive.
Here you need to select the volumes that will be restored. Be sure to check the box in front of the disk where Windows is installed and in front of the boot disk (area) - here it is usually signed Reserved by the system in parentheses. Be sure to uncheck the section where the backup is stored. Click Next.
Select the disk to which the recovery will be performed. Click Next.
After selecting a disk for recovery, all disk partitions that will be recovered will be checked. During setup, you can change their size, letter, and change the partition type. We will not do this, because we want to get exactly the system that we had before the breakdown, before the action of viruses, for example. These are the parameters old system are now installed by default in the backup settings. We won’t change anything here and in the next windows we simply click Next all the way to the Completion window.
Click Finish and begin system recovery. 
When restoring, do not change any parameters; the system will create a complete copy of the disk automatically. In most settings you only need to click Next.
I have a system restore with all files, settings and installed programs with drivers in the test bench it took only 10 minutes. How much would I spend installing everything? in a standard way? 2-3 hours, this is a good program for system recovery.
Plus, a full backup of the system does not have to be done in a program installed in Windows; it is enough to boot from bootable media and make a backup. The only downside to using bootable media is that you cannot automate this process to copy the necessary files and documents.
Data recovery
To restore files from a backup, find the backup file made in Acronis True Image and double-click on it. The file will open in Explorer as a folder and you can drag and drop the necessary files onto your computer with your mouse. The main thing is that you have Acronis True Image installed on your system, otherwise the backup files will not be opened.
This was one of the file recovery options. Now open Acronis True Image, click on the copy from which you want to restore files, this can be either a complete copy of the system or a copy of individual files and folders. Click on the Recover files button.
In Acronis Explorer, select the necessary files and folders to restore. On the left side of the window we look for the folder that needs to be opened, on the right side we select folders and files to restore. After selecting the data, click Next.
Next, you can manually specify a folder to save the recovered data. By default, the folder is selected as in the created backup. To change the path, click Browse and select the desired folder. Click on Restore.
We wait a while for the files to be copied to the selected folder.
The same can be done using bootable media.
Bootable media users often use it in critical situations, when a serious failure occurs in Windows, and it stops loading. Using bootable media with program functionality, the operating system can be restored from a previously created backup copy. However, the bootable media True Image includes not only the system recovery function, but also other tools that are presented in the desktop version of the program that operates inside Windows.
These tools include a backup function.
How is True Image bootable media beneficial for backing up Windows and other data stored on your computer? How does this process occur through the bootable media interface? We will examine these issues in detail below.
Benefits of working with bootable media
Working with Acronis True Image functionality on bootable media will be of interest primarily to system specialists working with several computer devices. By purchasing a program license for only one computer and using it to create bootable media, you will be able to solve problems with an unlimited number of computers in the future.
And on all these computers you won’t have to bother with installing the program on the system.
In the case of low-power computers, the process of creating a backup copy on bootable media will be faster, since hardware resources will not be used by the operating system and software background processes.
Working with bootable media– this is also a solution to the problem of incompatibility between versions of the Acronis True Image desktop program and Windows versions. Not only the latest versions of True Image 2015 and 2016, but also many other programs in their current versions incompatible with old Windows XP. However, some people still use this system, and bootable media could be a temporary solution until such users are ready to upgrade to Windows 7, 8.1 or 10.
Software tools like Acronis True Image– software is far from secure, so that it can be easily accessed without a password account administrator. If children, new users, or a whole group of people in an organization have access to the computer, their unconscious experiments with the program's functionality can have negative consequences. While bootable media is an alternative to using the program's capabilities, available only to computer experts.
Finally, regarding the actual process of creating a backup using True Image bootable media. It is not necessary to restore Windows that won't boot. You can create a backup copy to save the necessary data, and install the operating system itself on a formatted disk partition. For example, we have a situation where the user wants to install a more recent Windows version. From a previously saved backup copy of the old one (non-bootable) Windows will later be able to extract program settings and user files that were stored on the system partition. In already new system Windows image backup copy Windows old Using the Acronis True Image functionality, you can connect it to be displayed in System Explorer as a separate disk partition.
Creating bootable media
To create bootable media, we will use a licensed desktop program. On the official site Acronis You can download and use the trial version of the program for free for a whole month. However, the functionality of bootable media created using the trial version is limited. In particular, this limitation applies to the backup process.
In the True Image window, move to the tab. We need "Bootable Media Builder".
– will it be flash drive , CD- , DVD or ISO image to store the file on your computer. The latter must be chosen if we are dealing with BIOS UEFI . Acronis True Image can burn CD-, DVDs and burn regular bootable flash drives. To create a bootable USB flash drive UEFI you must first create ISO-file and then write it with special program, able to write such flash drives (for example, Rufus or WinSetupFromUSB ).
Creating a Backup
After creating the bootable media, set it to BIOS priority to download from it and enter the interface . The choice of program capacity in most cases will not be important.
On home page We have a choice of two main functions - backup And recovery. Let's choose the first one.
The next window is the choice of what we will actually reserve. There are two options - data (that is, separate folders and files) , and disks And sections. In our particular case, a backup copy of Windows will be created, and this, accordingly, system partition disk. Therefore, we choose the first option.
In the list of available partitions, select system WITH . If the boot record is displayed as a separate partition MBR , select it too. Click "Further".
The choice of further action presents options for creating a new backup and updating previously created ones, that is, adding to an existing archive. To begin with, we will, of course, choose to create a new backup copy, and in the future we can add changes to it.
– this is the location on a computer disk or on a network resource where the backup copy will be stored. Let's indicate it by clicking the browse button.
The storage location in our case will be a non-system disk partition. We will set the name of the backup copy using naming templates . Click "OK".
We check everything carefully and can press the button "Proceed" . But you can also press the button "Options" and perhaps choose a different backup method.
Descriptions of backup methods are provided below their name and checkbox.
You can schedule a backup to be created at night or before leaving the computer for a long time by checking the automatic shutdown option in the operation window.
The next time you turn on your computer, you can immediately enter the BIOS and configure it to boot from the hard drive.
Download Acronis True Image 2016 from the official website.
Hello, friends! I bring to your attention an article in which I will show you how to make a backup copy of all partitions of the hard drive of a new laptop with installed Windows 8 in the Acronis True Image 13 program. I want to say that in this program you can make a backup copy of any partition of the hard drive separately or all partitions together (as you wish).
In the second part of the article, we will look at restoring a laptop from this backup in case it does not boot due to any errors. The True Image 13 program is paid, but nevertheless, letters with requests to make it detailed review(especially when working with new laptops and hard drives GPT style(GUID Partition Table)) comes from you a lot.
This is what they say on the official website of the program!
Creating a backup copy of a laptop hard drive in Acronis True Image 13
Note: A full backup of your laptop's hard drive or simple computer can be done not only using Acronis True Image 13, there are several more free ways. For example, or, if interested, follow the links and read the articles. It will be very great if you play it safe and periodically use at least two methods to backup the hard drive of your computer or laptop.
In this article we will talk about the Acronis True Image 13 program, which, in my opinion, deserves a special mention on our website and here’s why.
I am sure you will be interested in our new articles about Acronis True Image.
Firstly, Acronis True Image is specially designed to create backup copies of operating systems and restore from these backup copies, under the most unfavorable circumstances, for example, you can recover even when your computer or laptop does not boot.
Secondly, Acronis True Image 13 is compatible with the new Windows 8 operating system.
Acronis can create a backup image of all or any partition of the hard drive (including Windows) of your computer or laptop, netbook separately and restore it (them) in place if necessary.
For comparison, if you use the built-in laptop to create a backup Recovery program, then using it you can only backup all partitions of the hard drive together and restore them together, which will entail the loss of all information on the computer, laptop, netbook.
If you use built-in tools to create a backup image Windows archiving 8 and Windows 7, then the created image cannot be renamed and transferred anywhere, and the hard drive after creating the image cannot be further divided into partitions, since after this there is a high risk of not being restored from the backup image.
WITH using Acronis True Image, you can create a backup copy on anything and transfer it anywhere; when restoring, Acronis will definitely find its backup.
Acronis True Image can move your operating system to another hard drive partition, or to another hard drive altogether, or even to another computer. The backup copy can be divided into parts and renamed. Once upon a time, many years ago, I became acquainted with this program and still work with it, do not consider this as advertising. Imagine, you install an operating system, then install about a hundred programs into it for working with text, video, graphics, the Internet, accounting, and so on, almost every program has its own installation features, and it sometimes takes you several days to do everything. And in the end, you create an archival backup of everything that you may have to work with for several years and then work calmly without fear that your operating system for some reason it will fly off or become inoperative. You can restore it at any time using the program... Acronis True Image 13 Nowadays, most computers and laptops are sold with Windows 8 installed and the UEFI interface instead of the BIOS, therefore, the hard drive on such devices has a new style of placing GPT partition tables (GUID Partition Table). The latest version of Acronis True Image 13 works stably with such devices. But even if you do not have new computer and the hard drive has an outdated MBR partition table, then Acronis True Image 13 will handle it even better.
On the official website http://www.acronis.ru/ you will find more information about the program. Choose "For Home"
and you will be able to download and install a trial version of the program for free, with which you can create an archived image of the operating system, consider all its capabilities, but you cannot only do one thing - restore from a backup image. To do this you will have to purchase the program. Creating a backup image in Acronis True Image 13 In the main program window, select Backup and Restore.
Backup disks and partitions.
Look carefully out the window Managing my laptop's disks, you can see two hard drives, the first Disk 0 has four partitions:
The first partition: System, hidden, capacity 1.00 GB, healthy (Recovery partition), this is the service partition of the laptop.
Second partition: Unnamed, hidden, volume 260 MB Healthy (Encrypted (EFI) system partition) belongs to the operating system.
Third partition: volume 687 GB, installed operating system Windows system 8, that is, drive C:
Fourth partition: Recovery, hidden, capacity 10.75 GB, Good (Recovery partition), this partition contains files with the factory settings of your laptop.
Acronis True Image 13 offers to include all existing laptop partitions in the backup image. If you just bought a laptop or computer, then my advice to you. First of all, create a complete backup image of all partitions of your laptop’s hard drive, as the program suggests. To do this, it is best to switch to disk mode, but before that we look at what will be included in our backup image.
Click Switch to disk mode.
We tick the hard drive of our Toshiba laptop, now we need to select the location of the image to be created, click “Browse”.
In the left window, select our portable USB hard drive My Passport (E:), left-click on it and click OK. Give the name of the backup copy in Latin or leave it as default, in my case – TOSHIBA MQ01. Click OK.
If you now click the Archive button, the process of creating a backup image of the laptop will begin, but before that, let's select the Backup Options button.
I want to say that they are configured optimally by default, but still some points are worthy of attention. For example, you can split the backup into several parts. I'll set this option to "Automatic"
Be sure to check the box "Archive in sector-by-sector mode"
And "Check the backup after it is created." Click OK.
Archive.
The process of creating a backup copy of the entire laptop hard drive begins.
After successfully creating a backup archive, we look at where exactly our backup image was created on the portable hard drive USB, folder E:\My backups\TOSHIBA MQ01.
Creating bootable media for Acronis True Image 13
Now be sure to create bootable media. The natural question is why. Friends, you need to create bootable Acronis True Image 13 media in case of an emergency. For example, your laptop will not boot due to errors and even our article will not help you restore it. Then we boot from bootable media (CD or flash drive) and restore our laptop from the backup image. How to do this is described in detail later in the article. But first, let's create bootable media.
In the main program window, click on the Create bootable media button.
I select the drive and create a boot disk with Acronis True Image 13. If you want to create bootable USB flash drive, connect it and it will appear in this window. Further.
Get started.
Bootable media has been created.
Recovery process using boot disk Acronis True Image 13
You can also restore Windows 8 using Acronis True Image 13 from a running system; run True Image 13 and select restore.
Caution: If you backed up only the C: drive, then all data on it will be replaced by the data from the backup copy. If you have created a backup archive of your entire hard drive, then all the information on your hard drive will be replaced with the data from the backup copy.
But usually, recovery using Acronis True Image is resorted to in extreme cases, that is, when the laptop does not boot at all and you cannot do without the program’s boot disk.
Let's imagine this situation: our laptop won't boot! This can happen for many reasons. For example, we were experimenting with creating new partitions on our laptop and accidentally deleted the service partition with files Windows boot 8. Or you decided to reinstall Windows 8 on Windows 7, but something didn’t work out for you and now nothing will load on your laptop except errors on a black screen. Or maybe you successfully reinstalled Windows 8 on Windows 7, but after using Windows 7 for a while, you decided to return the laptop to its original factory state.
For example, as an experiment, I deleted all partitions on the laptop hard drive
and now I will perform a recovery operation. I want to keep you from such experiments, no need to abuse your laptop unnecessarily.
Note: To restore from a backup archive, first of all you need to enter the UEFI BIOS of our laptop and disable the option " Secure Boot" (There is no need to disable the UEFI option! ),
otherwise, when you boot your laptop from the Acronis True Image 13 boot disk, you will receive an error. If you don't know how to do this, read our article ".
So, we boot our laptop from Acronis True Image 13 boot media (CD or flash drive). If you don’t know, follow the link and read.
For example, my laptop can be booted from disk if immediately after turning it on, I frequently press the F-12 key. Appears boot menu. I choose a DVD-ROM with an Acronis True Image 13 boot disk.
Select True Image
Sorry for the quality of the photos, but I carry out the operation of creating a backup archive, as well as restoring from it, on a real laptop, and not on virtual machine. So it's all for real.
Disk recovery.
Review.
We find the backup archive of Windows 8. It is located on our portable USB hard drive My Passport (E:), in the folder My backups\TOSHIBA MQ01
Select it with the left mouse and click OK.
Check the box "In sector-by-sector mode"
Check the box for "Disk 1" and all other partitions
Check the "Restore disk signature" option and click Next.
The program shows what will be restored and in what order. Get started.
The process of restoring our laptop begins.
Acronis True Image, the roads of backup life.
Hello, hello, dear friends. Let's continue to talk about our main solution for home users.
Acronis True Image is a product with its own rich history. We tried to listen carefully to our customers, and therefore the product has accumulated quite a lot of different kinds of functionality that is designed to protect user data in one way or another. Actually, in this issue we decided to tell you about different types backups that are supported by Acronis True Image.
Before diving into the variations of backup methods, let's briefly describe the general approach. All our backups are done through a snapshot: either our own or through the Volume Shadow Copy Service. Accordingly, you can continue to work with the computer, change or delete data - the backup copy will record the moment the snapshot was created.
1. Disk backup.
So, now let's discuss backup methods. The first and most powerful way that protects everything and everyone and allows you not only to save your data, but also to get back to work as quickly as possible is a disk backup. You can protect an entire disk, partition, dynamic disks, all kinds of raids are supported, etc. This method frees you from the need to choose what exactly to protect - just make a copy of everything that is, and come what may.
You can configure data rotation in different ways. For example, always create a full backup and overwrite the previous one:
Of course, a lot of storage space will be consumed.
To use space more efficiently, you should use an incremental backup: only the data that has changed since the last backup will be copied. But in this case, to restore data we will need the entire chain of copies, since new copies depend on the previous ones.
Differential backups do not have this disadvantage. They copy data that has changed not since the last backup, as incremental, but from the very first copy. Thus, the versions depend only on the very first backup. Accordingly, you can afford to lose some intermediate versions:
Backups can be stored on USB drives, network folders, FTP servers, CD/DVD, etc. Previously, we described creating a backup copy to the Acronis cloud.
2. Disk cloning
Disk cloning will make an exact copy of your disk on another disk in sector mode. This will allow you to return to work in case of problems with the first disk by simply booting your computer from the second disk. You don't even need to wait for data recovery.
3. File backup.
Well, the last way to create backups today is to copy your files. In this case, all the same options and options for storing copies as for a disk backup.
Why do you need file backups at all if you can make a full copy of the disk? There are possible options here. A disk copy can be made, for example, relatively rarely, and thus save storage space. But copies of your working files can be made every hour or even every 5 minutes (we’ll talk about this in detail in the next article). For example, this is exactly what I do:
How do you protect your data?
How to restore Windows that won't boot using Acronis True Image 2016 bootable media from a previously created backup? Creating a Windows backup with settings, drivers, installed programs and games - reliable way saving the system and data for further resuscitation in case of system failure, virus infection, deletion important files and a host of other problems. Despite the presence of standard system backup functionality in Windows, in most cases it is used for these purposes. third party software. And often intensive care Windows users trust Acronis True Image, which has been the market leader in data backup and recovery software for more than ten years. Having made a backup copy of Windows in advance using Acronis True Image, in case of problems with the system it can be revived by rolling back to the state from this same backup copy. Even if Windows won't boot, True Image bootable media will come to the rescue.
We will consider this entire process in detail below: we will create a backup copy of Windows in Acronis True Image 2016 and restore it using bootable media.
Free trial version of Acronis True Image 2016
IN latest versions 2015 and 2016, the True Image interface has become simpler and more intuitive than in its predecessor versions. Organization and appearance programs to match Windows 8.1 and 10: the interface design is dominated by simple lines and shapes, and large controls simplify touch control. Acronis even claims super-performance for data backup and recovery—as much as 50% faster than its competitors.
Acronis True Image version 2016 – paid software. By purchasing the program, you get not only Windows backup functionality, but also a lot of other features:
- several ways Windows recovery, including boot repair by pressing the F11 key;
- transferring Windows to a computer with different hardware;
- safe mode Windows operation sandbox type;
- other useful functions.
Acronis is offering a free one-month trial version of True Image with some limited functionality, which does not include Windows backup and recovery. Likewise, the ability to create bootable media is not limited. Let's use this free opportunity to the maximum, and first let’s download this one free version True Image 2016 on the official Acronis True Image website.
To receive a link to download the trial version, you must leave your email address. Subsequently, it will occasionally receive letters informing you about Acronis products, promotions, discounts, etc.
After installing and launching the program, we can close the login to the Acronis cloud storage account that is offered from the start and confirm the use of True Image in trial mode.
Creating a Windows Backup
In the True Image window we need the first section. Click "The whole computer."
In our case, only the system partition with Windows is backed up, so the next choice will be, accordingly, "Disks and partitions."
In the backup source selection window, check only system partition C. Click "Ok".
In the window for selecting a backup destination, you must specify the location where the copy of Windows will be stored. The program provides for saving a copy during its creation on:
- local computer space,
- removable media(USB-HDD),
- network resources, in particular in Acronis cloud storage.
What's better? Cloud storage from the creator of the program is practically imposed on users, since this pleasure is paid. However, what cloud service from Acronis that any other web resource is not the most reliable place to store data, if not high speed internet. And how, in some cases, will a non-functional Windows be able to connect to the Internet? With connection to local network resources there may also be problems. The most reliable place to store backups is an additional internal or external HDD. A non-system partition on the same hard drive where the system partition with Windows is located is not best place storage, because if this disk fails, you will be left without backup copies.
In our case, there is no external hard drive, but there is a connected internal HDD, so in the backup destination window we select “Browse”.
One of the partitions on the second internal HDD will be specially allocated for storing backup copies of Windows and let's call this section Backup to make it easier to navigate when restoring. If, when choosing a storage location for a backup copy, disk partitions do not open in the tree structure of the computer, the specific path to the storage directory folder can be entered in the column at the top with the inscription "Save a copy to:". Having selected the storage location for the copy, click “Ok”.
Next we will see a window for starting the backup process. In the left corner at the bottom of the window there is the “Settings” option; this is Acronis True Image’s configuration functionality, which allows you to set flexible parameters - for example, set periodic backups on a schedule or select an incremental copying method, when only changes are made to each subsequent copy. Also in the parameters you can exclude from the backup copy certain types files or directories, set up a duplicate copy in an alternative location, select low priority Acronis work True Image for allocating computer resources in parallel to ongoing operations, etc.
In our case, resort to additional settings We won’t, but will immediately begin creating a backup copy. Click the “Create a copy” button. By the way, Acronis True Image allows you to delay this moment for several hours in the drop-down list of this button.
While creating a backup, you can check the box to turn off the computer at any time and go about your business.
After the operation is completed, the backup copy will appear in the window of the first section of the program. In the same section, you can start the process of restoring from a backup copy - be it Windows or individual files.
In our case, we will not run the Windows recovery process inside the installed program. Let's complicate the task and create bootable Acronis True Image media to look at the process of restoring Windows that won't boot.
Creating bootable media
To create bootable media, go to the “Tools” tab of the program and select "Bootable Media Builder".
Because it's free trial version Acronis True Image 2016 is limited to a one-month testing period; this process should not be shelved. By the way, bootable media will allow you to restore Windows, but being created as part of the free trial version of the program, it will not allow you to create a backup copy, as is provided in the full version of Acronis True Image 2016.
Choose the first type of bootable media.
In the next window, you need to select the media itself - a DVD, flash drive or ISO file for storage and subsequent recording on any of the media. If you select a DVD or flash drive, Acronis True Image will carry out the recording process itself. Keeping an entire flash drive for a rainy day will probably be an excessive luxury for many. It would be much more practical to allocate a DVD for these purposes or create an ISO file that can, for example, be stored on another computer and burned to a flash drive at the right time. Plus, Acronis True Image cannot create UEFI flash drives, and for computers with a UEFI BIOS, in any case, you will need software with the ability to create UEFI bootable flash drives.
In our case, we will select the ISO file and indicate the path to save it.
Click the “Proceed” button.
Bootable media has been created.
Windows Recovery
Let's say that rainy day has arrived and Windows won't boot. We go into the BIOS and set the computer to boot from a DVD or flash drive created in Acronis True Image. The startup window of the bootable media will offer several options for further actions, from which you must select launch Acronis True Image 2016 with the appropriate bit depth.
In the recovery window, click either "Update backups" so that Acronis True Image itself finds files of its format, or using the button "Searching for a backup" indicate the path to the required file.
As soon as the backups appear in the Acronis True Image window, call the desired context menu and click “Restore”.
Choosing a recovery method: in our case we are talking about Windows resuscitation, and not folders and files, so we choose "Recover disks and partitions". Click “Next”.
Selecting items to restore: in this window, check both the system partition C and the MBR boot record. Click “Next”.
In our case, no changes will be made in the window for specifying recovery settings, and, in principle, something will only have to be changed if Windows is transferred as a separate partition to another connected hard drive. Click “Next”.
If your computer has multiple internal hard drives, then Acronis True Image will ask you to specify one of them for recovery boot entry MBR. We indicate and click “Next”.
The preparation is complete, we can proceed directly to the Windows recovery process.
The recovery operation execution window is equipped with options to automatically restart and shut down the computer after the process is completed. If necessary, you can use them.
The restoration was completed successfully.
Now we can exhibit again BIOS loading from the hard drive and test the reanimated Windows.
Have a great day!