Bare metal backups - There must be a better way

Minstadave · 8 May 2016 at 22:35

Currently all my machines are backed up to my WHS2011 server but the restoration procedure is terrible.

I tried to restore my laptop which doesn't have a LAN port and I gave up in the end, I simply couldn't get the drivers for the USB LAN dongle to work with the Windows Restore environment. I did manage to extract my files from the backup image so it wasn't a total loss.

What I'd really like a way of having automated backups that I could restore easily (preferably just by taking the latest image, putting it on an external drive and restoring from that) - does it exist?

Mr Blonde · 9 May 2016 at 01:11

Minstadave said:
What I'd really like a way of having automated backups that I could restore easily (preferably just by taking the latest image, putting it on an external drive and restoring from that) - does it exist?

Acronis True Image will do this and then some. A 5 PC licence would be £65.

The Universal Restore tool included in it could be very useful too. You can take an image of one machine and restore that to a different machine with different hardware in it.

Documentation : http://www.acronis.com/en-gb/personal/computer-backup/#block-nodeblock-2779

Trial version : http://www.acronis.com/en-gb/homecomputing/thanks/ati-local/

bledd · 9 May 2016 at 06:40

Macrium Reflect can do this too. Each backup 'set' of files can be copied to anywhere and you just point the restore tool at it.

If it's a full backup, it will just be one big file.

Acronis can do it too, as above.

h4rm0ny · 9 May 2016 at 08:12

Another vote for Acronis True Image. Very reliable, very simple to use, very capable. Worth every penny.

Rannoch · 9 May 2016 at 08:21

Macrium is superb, I use it backup loads of machines, simple and works every time.

Devrij · 9 May 2016 at 09:05

I use macrium reflect and it's very straightforward. Handy to create a few different backups (eg just after a fresh install and all essential apps and drivers are installed). Good kit to have.

Minstadave · 9 May 2016 at 11:34

Lovely chaps I'll have a look.

Skeeter · 9 May 2016 at 12:25

Could you use cloud storage to avoid the need? I have used a combination of OneDrive storage for all docudments and MS Account logins to mean that my families PCs don't need to be backed up any more. Everything they need is backed up in the cloud.

Obviously not an option if you have loads of custom apps and stuff, but for a family of people using Office, Documents and some Browsing it does the job perfectly. Plus it meant I could ditch my WHS install and move my server to Windows 10.