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What backup & relocation strategy for User profiles and Program Data
Hello,
In a configuration with a single HDD with 2 partitions (one for OS+Progs and one for data), how do we properly back up the OS and progs given the fact that the ProgramData and Users folders have been relocated to the Data partition ?
In order for the OS and programs to work properly once I put the OS image back, do these two folders also need to be backed up ? ProgramData would be easy to copy paste.
But a user's folder is a mix of program related data (AppData, Start Menu, Application Data shortcut, some of which are hidden and some of which are hidden and are also system files) and one's personal files (music etc). The fact that these two kind of data exist in one's user folder, makes it difficult for me to see what do i need to backup (if anything at all) in order to be able to easily make a simple OS+progs restore. (without my data)
Given the fact that:
- I don't want to also make an image of the whole data partition, since I don't want to include in it my data such as music etc. (I use a syncronization tool for that, copying the files to an external drive).
- I don't want to use Windows backup tool. I'm ok with Paragon free (or another if needed).
- I just want to be sure that after I put back my OS+progs image, my OS and ALL of the programs will work without broken links paths errors etc.
- I'm not interrested in getting back program specific settings and preferences, bookmarks etc, since the important ones are included in my sync.
- I want to be sure that my start up menu, for example, will not contain shortcuts to the newly added programs, that are not in the image restored.
- I'm not a big fan of Libraries
Here are three options, which one is easy for restore AND without paths errors, etc.?
Option 1: three partitions ?
- OS and Progs
- ProgramData + Users. With Users containing AppData, system folders, etc. but somehow linking to an actual data partition
- data
so I would image 1 and 2. Would that work without problems?
Option 2: two partitions ?
- OS and Progs
- ProgramData + Users + Data
so I would image 1, and "manually" back up ProgramData folder plus the user\AppData folder ? (anything else needed?) and copy them back afterwards? (deleting the present content first)
I read issues with windows, for security reasons, changing the ownership of folders etc..
So, my guess is that it's maybe not a good idea to mix imaging (of 1) with manual copying of system folders?
Option 3: two simple partitions ?
- OS and Progs + Users folders + ProgramData folder
- DATA (in this case, actual music files wouldn't be in the first partition, yet the My Music folder would)
so I would image only 1.
Any thoughts are welcome.
Adrien
Last edited by adri123; 17 Nov 2013 at 14:43.