Backing up question - full drive backup and system state

[GSS1]

Hi,

I am using trueimage and it is a great product. Just one question I have, and that is that I do a full backup of my C: drive (will be incremental upon the next scheduled backup), but do I need to backup system state as well as the entire drive to ensure that, if I lose all my data by some means (touch wood it would never happen), I can restore the partition and get back to normal? Obviously I don't need to backup application settings as they are stored within the programs, which are backed up.

Also, if I do need to backup the system state, I'm assuming this has to be at the same time as the drive backup. So I can't backup the drive, and then install a bunch of programs, and do a system state backup. The state won't correctly represent the drive then.

Thanks

[wtsinnc]

Hello GSS1;

Using Acronis, a full backup will include everything on the on the drive; in effect, a clone which will include "System State".

[shieber]

I wouldn't assume that program settings are contained within programs -- much can be within the files that make up the registry.

[wtsinnc]

shieber;

Perhaps I wasn't completely clear with my response.

Using Acronis in the full backup mode meant employing the option to copy the entire disc or partition. Using this mode, everything including system state and the registry as it exists at the time the action is performed will be backed up in totality. I have used Acronis for this specific task on at least 100 occasions and only once has it resulted in an unusable backup. My apology for any misunderstanding due to any lack of clarity.

To GSS1;

In response to the second paragraph of your op;
you are correct, at least in my experience. In order to include after-the-fact data, an incremental backup needs to be performed.