Imaging programs (including Macrium) usually let you access and restore individual files, including data files. BUT, I wouldn't rely on any imaging product for data backup because imaging is not foolproof and could let you down when you most need it. I'd use an ordinary file by file backup program for data backup.
Acronis does seem to have more problems than some of it's competitors. I'd try Macrium Reflect Free Edition. But it can fail too.
I'm not sure if all Win PE discs are the same, but Macrium lets you make a Linux-based recovery disk if you prefer. However, the Win PE disks are more reliable and more likely to boot. If the recovery disk won't boot, you are out of luck and can't restore.
EVERYTHING on the imaged partition would be restored, including programs, licensing info, configuration details, pictures of your cat, whatever was on that partition.
The only way to confirm for an absolute fact that the restore will work is to do a restore and see if it boots and works normally. You'd have to do that to an internal drive as I don't think Windows will boot from an external.
Or--just hope it will work. In my experience, restored images DO work. The more likely source of problems is that you cannot boot the recovery disk or you make a mistake such as not making an image of your "system reserved" partition as well as C or restoring to the incorrect partition and over-writing a good data partition.
Even with extensive Windows knowledge you can't be sure about the safety net. Restoration may fail for unknown reasons. The only way to be sure is to restore as a test. Even then, the test could work and you could still fail when a real disaster strikes.
I just would NOT EVER get myself in a situation where I had to rely on images. I'd always have a Plan B. I'd hope that imaging would work, but I would NOT expect it to work.
Regarding a "thriving local market for backup assistance": there is a thriving local market in the form of online forums like this one. Actual bricks and mortar "computer shops" are a dying breed. Few can survive, even if they offer a wide variety of services, so I wouldn't expect they could survive on such a narrow basis as "backup setup assistance".
Most users don't backup and aren't interested.
A strategy isn't that difficult. Choose local or cloud and go from there. I avoid the cloud as I don't want an Internet connection to be between me and my data backup. So I use local in several ways: to a second internal drive once or twice daily, to another drive through an external dock every month or so, and to a USB thumb drive every month or so.
That's for data alone. All of my data is on D. I use Free File Sync, a free app from Sourceforge.net, but there are a number of similar programs that will do the job.
I separately make an image file of my C drive only, using Macrium, once a month. No personal data on C. Takes 6 minutes.
You could modify those methods to suit your own case.
The primary ideas are to have more than one backup, to do them on a rotating basis, and to preferably keep at least one of them stored off-site.
Facebook
Twitter