Personalized Image-Backup Strategy Advice please?

Well I'm on my bro's Vista laptop right now. Be back at the desktop later on. So in the meantime, could we just say...

Okay, step 1- OS & apps on C.

Then?

mjf said:

I'm still not getting your problem fully. You can operate folders outside of the Windows library structure.

I'm not talking about libraries. That's a whole other issue I can't stand for myself, though it's a great tool for me to make sure my mom & siblings stop losing things.
& well, yes, I could always navigate to Computer>D>Mira Nova>My Videos, or what have you. But, it's crazy to keep renavigating into D:\ every. single. time... It's the same reason so many people have used Kari's tutorial to simply move the actual User Profile there, and likewise Brink's similar tutorials.

But if it's going to cause problems trying to back up the system, I'm thinking now it is worth it to look into other ways to redirect the User Profile to my folders on D.

Oh, & thanks! I couldn't think of what TIB could even stand for. :)

I agree with everyone else, keep the profiles with the OS.

In fact, I would say, anything that needs to be installed should be with the OS as well.

The only exception is perhaps Games, which could be installed to a secondary drive.


As far as your User folders, you can just make a folder wherever you want it to store the DATA (Music, Videos, etc) and then in your libarary list just include that folder.
Or, move the location of that particular folder.


If you set it up like this, you can have Acronis make a full disc(or partition) image of your OS drive.
It will be ONLY the OS and installed applications, so should be fairly quick. It only cares about whats on that partition or disc, and doesnt matter where the rest is. So keep that in mind, and make a back up plan for that stuff as well.
((Macrium will do this as well))

As far as restoring, you will have the option to restore everything, in its entirety, OR... A specific folder or file to the same or different location.
((Im not sure if Macrium will allow you to single out files/folders from a image))

This way you will be covered no matter what may happen.


Then, as I do, you can set a different backup schedule for other folders and discs.

Wishmaster said:

I agree with everyone else, keep the profiles with the OS.

In fact, I would say, anything that needs to be installed should be with the OS as well.

The only exception is perhaps Games, which could be installed to a secondary drive.


As far as your User folders, you can just make a folder wherever you want it to store the DATA (Music, Videos, etc) and then in your libarary list just include that folder.
Or, move the location of that particular folder.


If you set it up like this, you can have Acronis make a full disc(or partition) image of your OS drive.
It will be ONLY the OS and installed applications, so should be fairly quick. It only cares about whats on that partition or disc, and doesnt matter where the rest is. So keep that in mind, and make a back up plan for that stuff as well.
((Macrium will do this as well))

As far as restoring, you will have the option to restore everything, in its entirety, OR... A specific folder or file to the same or different location.
((Im not sure if Macrium will allow you to single out files/folders from a image))

This way you will be covered no matter what may happen.


Then, as I do, you can set a different backup schedule for other folders and discs.

Yes, yes, yes, but no to libraries.

But how can I "move the location to that particular folder?"

WIN + F! key combo |type the word LIBRARY

Reading the material there will be of benefit to you.

WIN is the key with the Microsoft flag on top

I've already looked into libraries and they're not for me. I keep my folders very organized. I know they can be altered to include/exclude certain folders, but still.

I know that there are ways to redirect the User Folders. I just can't figure out how I should have the User Profile redirect where my folders are.

Libraries are for you. They are ideal for you.

They are one of the great advances over the XP days.