TI 11 + 2 Partitions = 2 backups?

[Pallas]

On my HP 6910p Laptop I use Acronis TI 11 for backup. There are two partitions on the HDD of this Laptop, one for the system and the programs and one for data only.
Usually I made two separated backups of the two partitions, but now I was wondering if it might be better in a case of restore just to have the two partitions in one backup.
Any advice?

[MrMorse]

Hi,

I prefer one image for one partition.

Ti can create one image with multiple partitions (= whole disk) but consider about this:
If the disk-image is corrupted then you lose all partition-backups.
When you have an own image per partition then it is improbable that all images are corrupted.

[shieber]

Lots of us prefer to make a full hdisk image. Fewer Backup files to keep track of, for one thing. It's a matter of preference, not right or wrong. With so many manufacturers putting utilities or OS installation files or both in hidden partitions, it's sometimes best to restore an entire disk rather than just a partition. But usually you can go either way and you just have to pick one and try it. When you restore from a full disk image containing multiple partitons, you have the option to restore one or more of the partitions or the full disk (shich incudes the full disk and MBR).

I think (but I've not tested this) that ATI does not read the entire tib file when you only restore a portion of it, so if the portion contianing the partition you don't want to restore is bad, that probably won't muck up your chance to restore the rest. The file won't validate since that requires reading the entire, but it might partially restore. If ATI read the enitre file jsut to restore, say, a 2GB partition form a 40GB tib, that would seem to be unnecessarily onerous and it's hard to believe Aronis would have programmmed that way.

Of course, if you're chronically getting bad backups, you have bigger probs to address;-)

[tuttle]

I agree with shieber. I prefer full disk backups. That way everything is captured. Especially for laptops which often have hidden partitions, a full disk image is simpler and safer.

[Pallas]

-{ Quote: "With so many manufacturers putting utilities or OS installation files or both in hidden partitions, it's sometimes best to restore an entire disk rather than just a partition." }-
This is a good point.


-{ Quote: "Of course, if you're chronically getting bad backups, you have bigger probs to address;-)" }-Not yet, fortunately...

[DwnNdrty]

And you MUST try an actual restore preferably to a spare hard drive to be 100% sure you are able to restore your backup.

[Pallas]

For sure. Forgot to write that. The ATI backup from the Laptop goes to an external USB-HDD.

[MrMorse]

-{ Quote: "I think (but I've not tested this) that ATI does not read the entire tib file when you only restore a portion of it, ..." }-
Recently we had a thread where somebody is wondering that for a restore of one partition only 7 (of 11) DVDs are reading by Ti.
That is an evidence for your assumption...