AlanHo Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 There have been many warnings on this forum about not taking a regular backup of your computer - especially by pops who recommended Acronis many moons ago. I took his advice and raided the piggy bank. Since then - I have been using Acronis True Image version 8 to take a weekly incremental backup onto an external hard disc of my first internal hard drive (which is partitioned into C: O/S and programs and D: documents).I also use a program called Second Copy to take incremental backups of “Documents and Settings” to a second internal hard drive. This programme runs automatically each time I close down the computer so I don’t have to think about it – that day’s changes are automatically saved. It only adds a short time to the shut-down sequence and is well worth it. This programme is set to retain 2 archive versions of each document so I can recover a previous version if required. It is easy to do using Windows Explorer.See further details hereThis procedure has proved its worth – on two occasions I have had the need to restore my C: drive using Acronis and several times I have been able to recover an individual file that was either corrupted or I wanted to revert to a previous version using Second Copy. One note of warning to potential Acronis users is that you need a wired mouse for a restore operation – it will not recognise my cordless one.I recently noticed (after clicking on the advert in the forum header) that Acronis is now on version 9 – the new version being able to write to DVD’s without other burner software. It also has the ability to take document back-ups as opposed to full images and may well offer the same features as Second Copy. I therefore decided to buy it and have ordered it from Here which is just the CD in a sleeve plus the serial number for installation – no manual. I downloaded the manual from the Acronis site – all 81 pages – and am in the process of wading through it.One thing I noticed in the manual which I had not realised before - and which explains some strange backup file sizes I have observed, is that an Acronis incremental backup created after a disc is defragged will be considerably larger than usual because the defrag operation changes file locations and the Acronis backup reflects these changes. I use Diskeeper running in the background which keeps my hard drives defragged – it must be this which is causing some incremental backups to be so big.I am not sure whether there is a way round this and would welcome any advice availableAnyone not using Acronis should give it serious thought – I find it a superb program that is easy to use and well worth the outlay for the peace of mind and security it gives you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 QUOTE: One note of warning to potential Acronis users is that you need a wired mouse for a restore operation – it will not recognise my cordless one.NOT necessarily true. I have NO problems using my TRUST wireless mouse and keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Like andsome, I have a MS cordless mouse and keyboard on one machine which works OK with Acronis v.8.I'm still on v.8 as I don't necessarily go seeking out the latest versions of software unless it has definite advantages - I can't see that the later Acronis version has an advantage for me. I would never entrust a backup to such a delicate medium as a DVD and for document backups I use Windows backup at the end of each day.Regarding your last paragraph, Alan, I thoroughly agree.Anyone not using Acronis should give it serious thought – I find it a superb program that is easy to use and well worth the outlay for the peace of mind and security it gives you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted August 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 QuestionYou say that your cordless mouse is recognised by Acronis. So is mine when I am making a backup or using the program in Windows. However - when I boot from the Acronis disc to restore my hard drive it is quite a different matter and the cordless mouse is dead. Are you saying your cordless mice work when you are restoring from the CD? - if so - what is the secret? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester1 Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 QuestionYou say that your cordless mouse is recognised by Acronis. So is mine when I am making a backup or using the program in Windows. However - when I boot from the Acronis disc to restore my hard drive it is quite a different matter and the cordless mouse is dead. Are you saying your cordless mice work when you are restoring from the CD? - if so - what is the secret?I to would like to know the answer to this, my Microsoft cordless will not work when restoring from a CD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Serif are offering true image 8 at £9.95 no post and packing if ordered before the 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Regarding restoring via the Acronis CD. Do you mean by this the orginal Acronis CD that has the program on it or a recovery disk that you made yourself?I know that the original Acronis disk can be used as a general recovery disk but I thought that a homemade one (which it instructs you to make at first use) was designed for the system it is being used on.Don't forget folks, there is the Windows Forum special offer on Acronis Version 9.Check it out here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted August 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Regarding restoring via the Acronis CD. Do you mean by this the orginal Acronis CD that has the program on it or a recovery disk that you made yourself?Check it out here.I refer to the recovery disc I made myself - it was made with the MS cordless keyboard and mouse in use but Acronis seems to have installed the standard windows drivers rather than the cordless ones.Just to double check - I created a new recovery disc last evening and have just tried it out on booting this morning - yet again I have had to use a corded mouse.It's not a big deal other than the fact that I disposed of my corded mouse ages ago and discovered the problem the first time I had to use the recovery disc. I had to pop down the road to borrow a mouse from a friend. I now keep a corded mouse connected and tucked away behind the tower for future emergencies.I infer from your question pops that your system can be recovered with a cordless mouse - it will be interesting to see how others have fared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 I have used my home made recovery disk in an Acronis backup install on several occasions. I no longer posses a traditional rodent. I have NO problems using My Trust mouse and keyboard, both of which are cordless. I have also used the same mouse and keyboard in complete format and re-installations of Windows, on several occasions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 I may have the answer. Not all motherboards have USB drivers incorporated into their BIOS and rely on Windows for this. The USB drivers loaded by Acronis may be limited in their capabilities - which don't extend to cordless peripherals.With the cordless machine I have, the keyboard and mouse both work in the BIOS i.e. before Windows loads but only on the motherboard USB connectors. An additional USB PCI card is dead until Windows is fully loaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted August 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 popsThat is most interesting and would seem to be spot on. How can I tell whether my BIOS loads USB drivers - I cannot recall seeing USB mentioned during my trips to the BIOS set up screens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 No idea Alan. I know my M/B does because it said so in the specification :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 No idea Alan. I know my M/B does because it said so in the specification :)An interesting thing worth noting when buying bits and pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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