alexol

I've been using Acronis for quite a while for backing up locally to a NAS and have had no issues, and was able to restore data on more than one occasion when needed. I also use Backblaze for off-site data storage.


A couple of months ago, my C: drive failed.

My data is safe, but it takes quite a long time to set a PC up as I like it - arrange my desktop, general settings, various tasks like auto creating a daily restore point, means to sync my desktop with a laptop and so on. Nothing complex, just time consuming.

Lately I've been wondering if it is possible to create a cloned, perfect 100% bootable copy of C: drive so that when another failure occurs, I can just pull the old drive out, drop in the new one, retrieve updated data files, and carry on. Total downtime and frustrations minimized.

Is this possible with Acronis? If so, how? One of my concerns is that when you'd clone a drive (going back a while now, to a Norton program) the op/sys would be transferred and only the newly cloned drive would be bootable. I know that Acronis will clone a drive, not sure about both drives then being bootable.

My hardware of choice for this current computer is Samsung 1Tb SSDs.

Alex

Bill_de Loc: US

Google is your friend:

https://www.google.com/search?q=cloning+a+c+drive&ie=&oe=

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yes, Acronis will do it.
A few years ago my system (Win 7) warned me of an impending failure with C:, my boot drive.
I purchased another drive and cloned C: to the new drive.
I replaced the pending failing drive with the cloned one and when the computer booted it was like nothing changed. (Just that C: was larger.)
The cloned drive should be the same size or larger.
Since it was a few years ago, I don't remember the exact steps, I just used Acronis, it was one option.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Yes it is!! However, one may also create a differential backup of the C drive, and create a bootable rescue media on a flash drive. It's within "Tools" in Acronis (easy and fast). If the C drive fails, insert the flash drive, boot to it and Acronis will then allow you to search your externals for the desired backup file and recover your C drive either on the existing C drive (assuming no physical damage) or to a new drive that will become your C drive. I've done both within an hour and was back to running as if nothing had ever happened. Acronis Rocks!!! I've been using it for 15+ years.

The advantage (my opinion) over a clone is that the backup file will be as up to date as the last incremental backup of C.

Good luck
Mark

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Be aware that when you clone a drive, you're copying any problems or errors, so it's best to clone a good, clean setup.

Lots of info -

http://www.whatsabyte.com/P1/Acronis_Cloning_Review.html
http://www.apricorn.com/products/software/ezgig.html
http://www.howtogeek.com/223139/how-to-create-an-image-of-your-pc-before-upgrading-to-windows-10/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2847308/when-to-image-a-drive-and-when-to-clone-it.html
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-clone-a-hard-drive

Bayou

alexol

Thanks for all the answers. I'm using a four bay (4x 6TB) Synology RAID for incremental backup and for some storage, so no issues there.

The heart of my question - and I haven't found the answer yet - is: "I know that Acronis will clone a drive, not sure about both drives then being bootable."

What I want to get to is a situation whereby if my C: dies, I can undo the two screws holding the side cover of my tower case, pull the dead drive, plug in the new one and be back up in about 10 minutes. Most frequently used data, as well as TrureCypt volumes and my desktop folder (to sync desktops between PCs) is on Dropbox, so it would all auto-update in a few minutes.

Expressed more directly - if I clone my C: drive will they both be bootable, or is the operating system copied across in such a manner that ONLY the receiving drive will be bootable?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Cloning a drive dose NOT remove the bootability (or anything) from the source drive.
Both will be identical (except maybe disk size), the second one, a "clone" of the first.

alexol

Thank you.

The only time I've cloned drives previously was to upgrade capacity or switch to SSD, so both being able to boot wasn't a concern.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Now if you use one and not the other, the system (along with you) will create/update files in the disk, and they will no longer be interchangeable nor have the same information. Using one as a "backup" will result in old/missing information when used.

alexol

Thanks, but I'm not using the second one as an ongoing backup - have PLENTY of back-ups - other than in the sense of replacing a dead drive, as note previously.

My data is safe. This is simply to eliminate the time waste of time setting things up again, and getting it done much faster than restoring. I expect there will be a few glitches due to drive IDs (mapped network drives etc) but they should be minimal.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Longshadow gave you the answer. I've done similar when upgrading to a larger capacity SSD for my C drive. While I did not use a clone, I used a disk backup file for recovery. I then physically removed the smaller C drive, inserted and connected the new SSD and I was back as if nothing had ever happened.

I might also suggest that if Longshadow's response is not satisfactory "Chat" with Acronis. https://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/contact-us/
Mark

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

I preach to others, backup, backup.... the great sinner is me. The last two weeks have been problematic with computer sleep turning into death... I have to power down by switch or plug until the LEDs go out and then turn back on; otherwise, my dead computer that will not spin-up. So two days ago I backed up both C:/ and my photo storage drive. There are many good programs, but yes Acronis is excellent.

I am using this as an excuse to build a new computer altho I think it is time to replace the CR2032 memory battery on the MOBO which is probably 7 years old. Technology certainly has changed... Wow.

alexol

Yes, Longshadow's reply -

"Cloning a drive dose NOT remove the bootability (or anything) from the source drive.
Both will be identical (except maybe disk size), the second one, a "clone" of the first."

- gave me exactly the answer I was looking for, and for which I thanked him.

My message -

"Thanks, but I'm not using the second one as an ongoing backup - have PLENTY of back-ups - other than in the sense of replacing a dead drive, as note previously."

- was in reply to his inference that I might be using the drives interchangeably, which is not the case, just intending to replace a dead one.

Being totally obsessive about backups, my data is backed up in at least four different places, so it's just to avoid the inevitable irritation of rebuilding a C drive, particularly all the links, tasks, methods to synchronise desktops across multiple computers etc. I don't think many people do that last part - although it's quite easy to do if you use more than one computer - and it can be a real mess if it goes wrong, hence the interest in careful backups.

The data is safe. The most critical items are also stored on Dropbox (data, TrueCrypt vaults, plus means to synchronise desktops etc) so all that will update quickly, and allow me to be back up and running with a very short interruption.this

Losing your C drive can, as you know, be quite traumatic for the ill-prepared. Being prepared changes it from a major "oh crap" moment to a minor annoyance.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Just wanted to make sure by covering another base.