Image Backup Software Question

I was doing some research prior to installing Acronis Disk Director and came across this this post https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=1113872&postcount=4
about doing a full drive image backup rather than partition backups. As a recent convert to ShadowProtect I am interested to know if restoring each partition in a drive is the same as restoring an entire drive.

 

I believe the answer to your question is a qualified yes. Backing up each logical partition separately will essentially produce the same results as backing up the entire drive as long as your disk-imaging software captures Windows MBR when backing up the C-partition. While some imaging programs (e.g., Acronis TI) do this automatically, it's an optional selection on some others.

I prefer backing up my partitions separately because I backup my data/docs/pics (on my D-partition) more frequently than my system partition (as my D-partition changes more frequently)!

 

Pete, is your hidden recovery partition FAT32? My OEM XP home machine has a C: partition with NTFS while my small D: recovery partition is FAT32. Would this present a problem with imaging? My D: partition also has a System Volume Information and Recycled file in it so I guess I would have to restore the image of both together. Sorry for getting OT. Thanks

 

Good question. As everyone knows FD-ISR requires unequivocally & strictly the NTFS file system to store archives and/or to even run.

Since i been eons from the File Allocation Table system it's worth noting which Image Apps also are compatible for FAT systems also, especially on a dual-partition/drive setup with different file systems.

 

Thanks for looking although it must be NTFS from what Easter posted. Please do check when you get a chance.

Thanks, I didn't know that about FDISR. I also didn't know that about imaging apps. I have access to Paragon 8 Special Edition and can get the freebie ATI. I wonder if they will work? I guess I could switch the partition over to NTFS, but I don't know how the recovery, recycling or system volume info would perform . I guess I can thank MS and e-machines for this conundrum.

Cheers,
innerpeace

 

Yeah, $M definitely inserted a few curve balls in the mix. One of them i encounter since i like to divide up my drives into separate partitions is before i get a chance to turn off System Restore on a new install after creating 2 partitions is that Recycler & System Volume Information lodges in the other partition. The way i found around some of that is to set BOTH partitions inative via PARAGON hdm (Luv dat app!) and delete then create a new partition again and format w/ NTFS with Paragon. I then set THAT newly created partition to "Active" and the XP Pro install disc then identifies BOTH partitions and allows the choice to install on the new one.
The [MAIN] Active partition will always show highlighted in the dual-bootup screen, i regularly add another line in the boot.ini file to both then to reflect either partition (1) or (2).
This of course assumes one hard drive or rdisk(0) =Hard Drive or Volume as it terms it.
It confuses me sometimes, especially when i work with 2 hard drives with partitions, changes then have to go to rdisk(0) or (1). But i finally got this little quirp fairly down now.
I like partitioning, it's in my nature and i make the most from it as much as possible.

 

Thanks for the quick responses. I figured I was safe with SP...just waned to make sure.