Fast and Easy System and Data Backup

True Image

A normal complete installation (os and softwares) would take nearly 4 long hours to accomplish. This is a routine you have to face every time your os crashed, no matter what caused it.  Do you really have all that time?  Crashed os is a big pain somewhere, especially over the head. Everbody hates it. What if i say i can get my os ready in 20 minutes. How bout that ?

I’m talking about Acronis True Image. One of the most user-friendly and powerful applications in its class. A disk imaging software, that allows a user to create an image of a disk as backups and recovers using a previously ‘captured image’ when facing a disaster. You dont even need computer skills for this. Everything is graphical, just follow the wizard.

Let me tell you something. My os crashed a lot due to my bad habit. Software tests, registeries and anything i thought would be fun to mess with. My worst day? like i have 3 to 4 crashes(os failure) in a day and i would rather eat and sleep than just sitting there 12 hours for os installations. Come on, 12 hours? that’s crazy.

But, when i found out about the ‘magic spell’, i just don’t care if it crashes. Not a big deal.

What should i do?

Creating a ‘backup image’ is one time operation for an unlimited time ‘restore’ operation? you can ‘restore’ once a month, once a week, everyday? What ever makes you happy.

You better start with a very clean evironment. No viruses, a fresh windows with no errors, drivers, printers, installed your favourite softwares , configurations are good, everything. Ok, create a backup image now, restart your pc and boot from acronis true image bootable cd. Select ‘backup‘ and  ‘full backup‘ to create a new image for drive C (os partition). Save it somewhere safe like on other partitions.  This image is what you need when something goes wrong. When you need it, use the boot cd again,  select ‘restore‘ operation and browse to the ‘backup image’ you saved.

Backup and Restore

Rules you must follow

Never save or store you important files in C drive. NO ! not in My Documents, not on desktop. Just leave it alone. C drive should only holds operating system and softwares. This is a good practice if you really love your data and time. At some point where your os crashed, you dont need to worry about your files coz you stored them on other partitions. You can just put in acronis bootable cd and do the restore operation. Your pc is back to normal as soon as you finished your dinner.

How fast is it? the backup and restore operation

My personal experience (on a 7200rpm sata disk/os and softwares only)

Approximately 20 minute to backup or restore a 40gb partition, a 100gb partition took about 45 minutes on a healthy disk. Isn’t that better than 4 hours? However, estimated time for ‘backup and restore’ process will vary depends on your drives speed and how much data on the disk. In other words, an older disk plus tons of data would take longer.

What if

What if you have created more than one ‘backup image’. A windows XP, windows 2000 and Windows 7. Is that means you can change your os in 20 minutes? Who knows.

Unbelievable?

well, believe it. Check out this os installation date.  With our current situation in this IT world, viruses, trojan downloader, worms, malwares, spywares, everything you can put on the list. Do you really think this person’s windows xp could last 3 years.

Installation date

I don’t think so. Explanation?  The ‘backup image’ was created 3 years ago. He restored the same image he created 3 years ago. Every single time the OS failed. Get it? I really hope you do.

So, i think i’ve mumbled too much this time. Glad to share this with you guys. Thanks.

Tags: tools