Acrnois True Image and RAID

mark66 · 28 May 2006 at 20:47

I am wanting to re-format my pc as it was last done in December 2003 and its really running quite badly!

I currently have 2x80GB SATA drives in RAID0 with 4 partitions over the total 160GB. I only want to format C (Windows) & D (Installed Software), leaving E (Media) and F (Files) untouched.

After formatting down C & D and re-installing XP and all my base software I want to take an image of C & D, so I can return to a fresh install in the future more easily, but is something I have never done.

I have read quite a few posts and it seems that Acronis True Image is highly regarded and more importantly supports RAID. So I am wanting to know if anyone has made an image of a partition on a RAID array with Acronis and if it is all ok? Can I select single partitions, rather than imaging the entire array?

Thanks for any input

jbloggs · 28 May 2006 at 22:26

mark66:

Am running 2 x 74GB Raptors in RAID0 on ICH5R cont.. I have it partitioned as follows:

C:\ - 10GB for Windows XP + Programs.
D:\ - 64.2GB for My Documents, Data etc.
E:\ - 64.2GB for Games.

I made a Backup Image of my C:\ partition using Acronis True Image 8 Corporate Workstation, and store it on a non-RAID0 HDD. I have used the Acronis image on a few occassions running both from Windows XP and from a boot CD to restore my C:\ partition when occassion has called for it, ie when I have messed things up. Acronis has NOT failed to restore on any occassion.

Can I select single partitions

Yes, you can.

aelitaman · 29 May 2006 at 15:14

I have 2 raptors striped to run windows and programs and then two hitachi deskstars 250gb mirrored for data files. Acronis backs up both raid arrays to an external usb HD. It also does an incremental backup every night and automatically deletes old backups if the external drive becomes full.

Never had any problems great software.

aelitaman · 29 May 2006 at 15:16

Also forgot to mention that yes you can backup individual partitions and you can back up individual partititions to a single back up drives with different names, no problem.

smids · 30 May 2006 at 12:47

I have a RAID0 array and Acronis True Image Home 9.0. I have windows on the first 10GB and the rest for Programs + Games. I backed up and restored my Windows partition independently and without any problems whatsoever.

mark66 · 30 May 2006 at 13:30

Excellent, looks like Acronis is just what I need then!

Thanks for your input chaps

LordVader · 31 May 2006 at 14:12

smids said:
I have a RAID0 array and Acronis True Image Home 9.0. I have windows on the first 10GB and the rest for Programs + Games. I backed up and restored my Windows partition independently and without any problems whatsoever.

But surely when you restore your windows partition when you try and run the games they wont work?

smids · 31 May 2006 at 15:27

LordVader said:
But surely when you restore your windows partition when you try and run the games they wont work?

Well actually games are pretty self sustaining and don't necessarily need registry entries as I've found (Steam, FarCry and Command and Conquer Generals haven't) but I do actually keep 2 separate images. One is of my windows install immediately after activation and without any programs or drivers so it portable to any drive without fuss and takes account of my constant upgrades

. The other is a full drive backup including partitions which is kept incrementally updated. When I restored last, I only needed to restore windows as I hadn't installed any major programs or updates but managed to install some buggy 3rd party software so I just restored the Windows partition and started again.