This tutorial covers the basic operations for making a Full Image Backup to an external drive with Acronis True Image Home v 10

Acronis has many other features, but some users find the manual heavy-going, so this simplified version may assist you in making your first backup.
It also includes the Recovery procedure if disaster strikes.

The difference between Cloning your PC's hard drive using Norton Ghost and making Full Image Backup Files using Acronis True Image Home.
Forum Question
I'm Using Norton Ghost to clone my PC hard drive.
I wanted to make a total copy of my C drive to my 250 GB external HDD, so I followed the wizard, but the last message said that all data would be overwritten on destination drive, so I stopped.
Does this mean that it will wipe the external drive clean before cloning the C drive to it, which I obviously do not want as I will lose stuff that I have on the drive.

Forum Answer (courtesy of Mike on CA forums).
If you clone your "C" drive to the external drive using, say, Norton Ghost, it will literally create a clone with the destruction of any existing data on the drive.
If you create an image file of your "C" drive using, say, Acronis True Image Home, this will co-exist with any existing files on the external drive.

Acronis True Image Home v 10 – Full Image Backup Procedures

To clarify the contents of the following screenshots, I have three partitions on my PC hard drive :-
NTFS (C) Partition.
Fat16 (Dell Utility Partition) … hidden.
FAT32 (Dell PC Restore Partition) … hidden.
I have elected to back up all 3 partitions at the same time, although you may decide to backup only the partitions you want.

In addition to the actual program, I also installed the recommended, optional Acronis Secure Zone partition on to my PC hard drive, to cover the possibility of failure in either my PC or External Drive.
This SZ partition is a dedicated one that cannot be accessed by Windows or any other program.
Note that when this SZ partition is installed, it grabs a large chunk of your (C) drive. However, if you are short of space on (C), there is a very simple procedure within Acronis, to automatically re-allocate some of this space back on to your (C) drive.

I have a Seagate external 250 GB, USB hard drive for my backups … Drive (J).
Most new external drives have a default FAT32 File System that supports a maximum file size of 4GB.
In this case, if you decide to make a full backup of your PC hard drive, your backup will then consist of a number of files associated with your backup.
My backup was made on a FAT32 external drive, so I have several files associated with this backup.
Acronis automatically adds consecutive numbers within each file name
This is not a problem, as Acronis will automatically treat these individual files as a single backup.
Instead, you may first decide to reformat your external drive to an NTFS File System. Your full backup will then consist of a single file.

Before you start, I suggest you run full checks on your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs.
Spring clean your hard drive … run CCleaner to remove garbage (including Temporary Internet Files), run chkdsk and then defragment your hard drive.
Disconnect from the Internet and disable your Screensaver.

I'm assuming that you have an external hard drive, and that you want to carry out a full image backup of your PC's hard drive on to your new external drive.

In the event of your PC failing, you may find that Windows cannot load, so you would then require a bootable CD to allow you to boot and run the Acronis Recovery option.
Acronis includes a facility for creating this "Rescue Media" – see Boot Disk below.
If Windows boots OK, you can open Acronis as normal via the Start button to use Recovery etc. This is the preferred option.

You will have to check that your boot order is as follows (as per mine) … and adjust if necessary, so that you can boot into Acronis Recovery from your CD/DVD drive if you have to (if Windows cannot load).

1) Onboard or USB Floppy Drive … if you have one.
2) Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive
3) USB Device
4) Onboard SATA Hard Drive
5) Onboard IDE Hard Drive (not present) … in my case.

You can check your boot sequence by accessing the Setup (BIOS).
While you boot, you normally press either the F2 or F12 or Delete keys to access your BIOS.
You will then be able to follow the simple instructions to change your boot order if necessary.
Take a note of your existing boot order prior to making changes.
If you are using a wireless keyboard and mouse, you will probably find that in the absence of the Windows OS, you cannot use them. so you will have to connect hard-wired ones.

Boot Disk
You should then create your boot disk as follows :-
Open your Acronis programme.
In the Tools menu, click the "Create Bootable Rescue Media" option.
On the Acronis Media Builder wizard, click the "Next" button.
Ensure there is a tick on the "Acronis True Image Home (Full Version)" option and then click on it. This confirms on the RH pane that this version includes the drivers that you will need for your new external drive. Click the "Next" button.
This gives you the window "Bootable Media Selection". Click to highlight the optical drive in which you have inserted your blank CD/DVD-R (or RW) disk for burning. Click the "Next" button.
Then click the "Proceed" button to burn your boot disk.

Then confirm that all is OK by putting your boot disk in your CD/DVD-ROM Drive, and restart your PC. You should find that you boot into the Acronis programme and are then able to use the Recovery facility.
Store your boot disk in a safe place ... and hope you never have to use it.

If you have elected to create the optional Secure Zone on your PC, during this install you will be given the option to "Activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager" (recommended).
In this case, during bootup you will now receive an additional prompt window with the option to press the F11 key to access and start the Acronis Loader.

Backup Procedure
Connect your external drive and switch it on, then open the Acronis programme.

Acronis True Image Home


Select the "Backup" option in the "Pick a Task" window.
This gives you the "Create Backup Wizard" window.

Create Backup Wizard


Click the "Next" button.
This gives you the "Select Backup Type" window.

Select Backup Type


On the "Select Backup Type" window, select the option "My Computer". Click the "Next" button.
This gives the "Partitions Selection" window.

Partitions Selection


Tick the boxes of those partitions you want to include in your backup. If you have the Acronis Secure Zone, its' box should be left unticked.

In the above structure, do not tick Disk 2, as this is the external drive. You should have a similar drive displayed.
Click the "Next" button.
This gives you an "Information" window.

Information


Read it then click the "OK" button.
This gives window "Backup Archive Location".

Backup Archive Location


Select and highlight the option for your external drive [in this example, it is SEA_DISC (J)]
Type in, say, "My First Full Backup 16.10.07" in the "Folder" box as shown.
My external drive is (J:\) … obviously you will type your own external drive letter.
Click the "Next" button.
This gives you the window "Select Backup Mode".

Select Backup Mode


Select the option "Create a new full backup archive", then click the "Next" button.
This gives you the window "Choose Backup options".

Choose Backup Options


Select the option "Use default options" and click the "Next" button.
This gives you the window "Archive Comments".

Archive Comments


Type in a description that will be meaningful to you when referring back to this backup, and click the "Next" button.
A list of Operations is now displayed on the window "Create Backup Wizard".

List of Operations


On the Wizard window, you will now see a list of operations to be performed.
If you want, you can right-click on the pane and copy this list for your records (or take a screen capture).
Click the "Proceed" button to start your backup.
This gives a window displaying a progress bar for "Operation Progress".
After a surprisingly short time, you should see an "Information" window displaying "The operation was successfully completed" message.

Now run the Validate Backup Archive tool … which is self-explanatory.
If your external drive has a FAT32 File System, you only need to select the first of the multiple files to validate the backup.
Acronis automatically recognises that the archive has been split..
You will have to select or type-in the automatically appended additional number within the file to activate the Next button, or it will remain greyed-out.

You should then be able to try a Dummy Run by selecting the "Recovery" option in the "Pick a Task" window. Obviously, you should not click the "Proceed" button on the final window.

Disk Management

Per : Start >> Run >> type compmgmt.msc >> OK >> select the Disk Management option.
or Start >> Run >> type diskmgmt.msc to go directly to Disk Management.



If you have elected to install the optional Acronis Secure Zone partition during installation, it will be displayed as above.
As you can see, it grabs a large chunk of your (C) drive. That is, 106.40 GB in my case.
However, there is a very simple Manage Acronis Secure Zone procedure in Tools, that can reduce the size of the SZ partition, and automatically re-allocate this space back on to your (C) drive.
Acronis recommends that you install this SZ partition. You can then also install a full backup on this partition. The SZ partition is a dedicated one, and cannot be accessed by Windows or any other programmes.
This now gives you a belt and braces option, covering the possibility of failure in either your internal or external drives.

I'd recommend an external drive of a minimum 160 GB, in which you can also store music, photos, etc, as well as your backups.

Restoration from a Full System Backup on External Drive on to PC Hard Drive (C)

1) During bootup, if you created the Acronis Startup Recovery Manager, you will be prompted to press the F11 key to access the Acronis programme if you require. However,
2) If Windows is able to load normally during bootup, the Recovery procedure can also be carried out by opening Acronis per the Start button and selecting the Acronis program. This is preferable.
or
3) If Windows is unable to fully load, (and you were also unable to receive the F11 key prompt at bootup), but you are able to access your CD/DVD optical drive, you can also access Acronis Recovery by using your Acronis Bootable Recovery Media Disk (CD/DVD).

( Note : If the archive is located on removable media, e.g. CD / DVD, first insert the last CD / DVD and then insert disks in reverse order when the Restore Data Wizard prompts you ).

To make it easier to compare your system with my own, I have three partitions on my PC hard drive :-
NTFS (C) plus 2 hidden partitions Fat16 (Dell Utility Partition) and FAT32 (Dell PC Restore Partition).
I have elected to restore all 3 partitions at the same time.
I had also previously installed the additional, recommended, optional Acronis Secure Zone partition.
Note that when this SZ partition is installed, it grabs a large chunk of your (C) drive. However, if you are short of space on (C), there is a very simple procedure within Acronis, to re-allocate some of this space back on to your (C) drive.
I have a Seagate external 250 GB, USB hard drive for my backups … Drive (J).

Select Recovery Option


In the Pick a Task pane, select & click the Recovery option.
This opens the Restore Data Wizard window.

Restore Data Wizard


Click the Next button.
This opens the Archive Selection window.

Archive Selection


In the LH pane, select and highlight your External Drive. In my case it is SEA_DISC(J).
Type-in or select the backup file you wish to restore from the pop-up menu .. as per above. This backup file is now displayed in the RH pane.

Because I have backed up all 3 partitions on my PC hard drive, there are 4 operations to be carried out to restore all 3 partitions at the same time. That is, the 3 partitions plus the partition structure.

Operation 1 : Restoring Partition ~~ Fat16 (hidden Dell Utility Partition) ~~ 23.50 MB
Operation 2 : Restoring Partition ~~ NTFS (C) ~~ 122.4 GB
Operation 3 : Restoring Partition ~~ FAT32 (hidden Dell PC Restore Partition) ~~ 3.999 GB
Operation 4 : Restoring Partition Structure

Note : You will see further below, that I have also installed an additional, optional, hidden partition on my PC hard drive (C). This is the optional Acronis Secure Zone partition (FAT32 106.40 GB), which is a dedicated partition that Windows cannot access.
This SZ partition can be easily adjusted to reduce its' size and automatically reallocate this space back on to the (C) drive.

This procedure assumes that all 3 partitions (but not including the optional SZ partition) will be restored at the same time.
The procedure can be adjusted, if you only want to restore a selected partition(s).
Each existing partition on the PC hard drive, will be deleted prior to the restoration of its' equivalent backup.
The optional Secure Zone partition would also be deleted during the full restore procedure.

In the event of your PC hard drive having to be replaced, the backup on your external drive can be installed on to the new drive so that you are quickly back to normal.

As you can see from above, my backup contains several associated files as I have kept this external drive as a FAT32 File System.
Note that an additional number is automatically inserted on each file name during the backup procedure.
This would only apply if your external drive has a FAT32 File System.
For example, the date 19.11.07 becomes 19.111.07, 19.112.07 etc. depending on the number of files in your backup.
Note : You would only have one file if your external drive has an NTFS File System.

Click the Next button.
This opens the Restoration Type Selection window.

Restoration Type Selection


Select the option "Restore disk or partitions".
Click the Next button.
This opens the Partition or Disk to Restore window.

Note : If you only wanted to "Restore specified files or folders", you would select this option instead.

Partition or Disk to Restore


I have elected to fully restore the full backup of all my PC hard drive components.
Insert a tick in the "Disk 1" box.
This automatically inserts ticks in the boxes for the 3 partitions plus the Master Boot Record partition sector (MBR).
Click the Next button.
This opens the Restored Hard Disk Drive Location window.

Note : If you only want to restore a specific partition, you would just separately tick the required box(es).

Restored Hard Disk Drive Location


Select and highlight the location for your backup. Obviously this is your PC hard drive … as shown above, underlined in red.
Also displayed, are the 3 partitions on your (C) drive (if you have additional partitions) plus the optional Acronis Secure Zone partition ( if you have installed one).
Click the Next button.
This displays the Confirmation dialogue box..

Confirmation


This indicates that if you have previously installed the optional Acronis Secure Zone partition, that this partition would be automatically overwritten during the Restore operation.
This SZ may have been used to store your secure backups, if you did not have an external drive or other backup media.
(or if you wanted to cover the possibility of failure of your external drive … that is, belt and braces).
Click the Next button.
This opens the Non-empty Destination Hard Disk Drive window.

Non-empty Destination Hard Disk Drive


Select the option as per above.
Click the Next button.
This opens the Next Selection window.

Note that hard disk drive image restoring is possible only if your destination hard drive (C in my case) is empty.
This could be especially significant for those who have a hidden PC Recovery partition.
This is why it is important that you have backed up all your partitions prior to running the full Acronis restore procedure.
It is also advisable that you have previously run the Validate Backup Archive tool after making backups.

Even if you are not running Acronis Recovery, it is still advisable to have a backup of your PC's Recovery Partition (if you have one .. in my case it is the Dell PC Recovery partition) to cover you if you ever have to reformat your hard drive. Otherwise, a reformat would irretrievably delete this PC recovery partition.
If you have been supplied with a recovery disk, this would not be critical, but many manufacturers no longer supply recovery disks, and provide a recovery partition instead.

Next Selection


Select the option "No, I do not"
(because I have previously elected to restore all the backup partitions).
Click the Next button.
This opens the Choose Restore Option window.

Choose Restore Option


Select the option "Use default option"
(unless you like to tinker and cock things up)
Click the Next button.
This opens the final "Proceed with Restoration" window.

Proceed with Restoration


When you click the Proceed button, pray that all will be OK, and your PC will soon be back to full efficiency again.
Note that your backups will be automatically defragged during this recovery procedure.

Each existing partition on the PC hard drive, will be deleted prior to the restoration of its' equivalent backup.
The above 4 operations display my 3 existing partitions … you may have more or less operations … or you may have elected to restore a specific folder, file or partition instead of the full contents of your PC.

I've never actually had to run the full Acronis Recovery procedure, but you should try a dummy run (like me) up as far as the above, but watch you don't press Proceed instead of Cancel.

Let me know if it works.

Good Luck, Spit