Backup, then restore from backup

[Pghpooh]

HI
Not sure where to post. This is not about what software to use but what the results are.
I have a laptop and a desktop pc. Both are 5+ years old.
I know that cloning a drive is a exact copy of the original drive. That works when using a desktop. (read the acronis site) But, when cloning a laptop drive, (if I read it right) the original laptop drive must be removed and the new drive installed into the laptop. I don't want to do that.
If I just do a backup and then the original drive dies, can I do restore from the backup to a new drive then install the new drive???
Thanks

 

[Charlie98]

If your backup is on a separate drive... remove the dead laptop drive, install the new drive, boot from rescue CD, load backup image from USB device.

 

[Pghpooh]

I have something like this but a different brand for the 3.5 laptop drive.
http://www.dynexproducts.com/products/computer-accessories/DX-HD303513.html
And again, something like this but a different brand for the 2.5 desktop drive.
http://www.dynexproducts.com/products/computer-accessories/DX-HD302513.html
I bought the enclosures a while ago to make use of "spare" drives I had.
If I backup to these external drives and the original drive dies, then I assume all I have to do is remove the backup drive from the enclosure and install it in the laptop or desktop??

 

[Charlie98]

If I backup to these external drives and the original drive dies, then I assume all I have to do is remove the backup drive from the enclosure and install it in the laptop or desktop??

You would have to 'clone' the current HDD image to the backup drive. Speaking specifically of Acronis, which I use on a daily basis, you have two ways of backing up your primary drive: Clone it, or create a backup image... they are not the same (at least as far as Acronis is concerned.)

Personally, I make full backup images every night and validate them. It gives me the most current update of my OS drive should my SSD crash... which it did last October. If you just clone your drive, unless you are doing a new clone every day or something, it won't reflect anything you've done on your computer since the last clone, not acceptable in my case.

The restoration procedure for an Acronis backup image is what I described in post #2 and how I did it when my SSD took a puke. I was back in business in 30 minutes. I don't really see how managing a clone would be any better vs backup images.

And, just to be safe, if you are going to settle on cloning your drive... I would install it in the laptop in question at least once to make sure it works correctly before you rely on it as your backup solution.

 

[JackMDS]

Repeating the same in a more detailed way.

You do not need to Physicaly Clone the Drives. With Acronis true image you can keep a full Backup as an Acronis tib File. You can keep the file on the Desktop HD, or and on an Extrenal USB drive.

When you need a new drive, you Install the new drive empty onto the laptop. Then you boot the Laptop from the Acronis Boot Disk (or USB), and through the Network (or the External USB Drive) Recover tib file to the New Laptop Drive.

Depending on the size of Data, the whole thing takes 5 to 20 Min. and you have a Laptop with a new Drive fully functional as before (works with a new SSD too).

Bootable TrueImage CD/USB can be created on the Desktop by the Acronis program, or you can download a ready made Bootable ISO through your Acronis support account and burn it to the media of your choice.

 

[Charlie98]

Yea... what he said! ^^^^

 

[Pghpooh]

Charlie98 & JackMDS
Thanks for the info!!!! I have Norton 360 (compliments of Comcast Cable) installed on both pc's. The laptop's backup file was under 4 gig to a dvr disk. The Desktop with 3 drives installed needed 27 Blu-ray discs. LOLOL (I backed up the "C" drive of the desktop to one of the other drives.
I will buy a copy of Acronis Pro with the 3 license's and install it on both laptop and desktop pc's and go from there. Once the Acronis is installed I'll probably buy 2 external drives and use those exclusively for backups.
Thanks for the info!!!

 

[ichie]

Both cloning and backuping, the original laptop drive won't be removed. I once did that two with aomei backupper