Acronis ti versus windows backup and restore

[lbeck]

I recently did a clean install to win 7 pro x64. I also reinstalled my version of Acronis true image 2012.

I'm getting frustrated wit past and current problems with ATI and am considering uninstalling it and using windows backup and restore, which I have never used before. My search of comparisons indicates that the two do not coexist peacefully, especially the previous version ATI 2011.

I'm posting here to get advice from the experts on any uninstall advice and mostly to see what I'm losing by making the switch if my primary objectives are data backup to an external hard drive and retrieval of unintended deleted files. I don't foresee using the other ATI utilities

Thanks for your help and advice.

 

[harleynut97]

Well my only comment is I use Acronis True Image 2013 and they still have not fixed a known issue that exists. I have 2 external Western Digital USB external drives .. one is a USB 3 ( which is where I store my backups) the other is a USB2. If both are plugged into their appropriate USB slots. Acronis will not recognize both harddrives. I spent hours and hours with tech support at all levels. While they were fair about it, and offered me a refund, they were never able to solve the bug or glitch. But I do like the ease of setting up backups. I know that doesn't answer your question specifically, but did want to advise you of it.

 

[lbeck]

Actually that helps a lot. I have found the Acronis help to be courteous and they certainly try. But my new OS install is not recognizing my old backups that were made with Vista. Without boring you with history, I have had other problems with ATI. So I am considering uninstalling ATI, reformatting my USB backup HDD, and beginning to use Windows Backup and Restore. But before doing that, I'd like to get some comments from someone who has used both to see if I'm jumping from the pan to the fire.

I'd like to think that MSFT has a lot more resources to devote to a utility, and I'm impressed with help from forums like this one. But then I recall my problems with Vista and think maybe MSFT ain't perfect either.

Thanks for your reply. Are you familiar with Windows B/R?

 

[SIW2]

Are you familiar with Windows B/R?

A little. It does the job it was intended for. Primarily to back up your system and boot drive, and restore them to exactly the same place. If you want to do anything else, it is a bit fiddly.

Acronis is a large and intrusive beast. You might give this a try instead:

http://www.backup-utility.com/free-backup-software.html

 

[lbeck]

Are you familiar with Windows B/R?

A little. It does the job it was intended for. Primarily to back up your system and boot drive, and restore them to exactly the same place. If you want to do anything else, it is a bit fiddly.

Well, I might be learning something important here. So Win B/R only restores the boot drive? I use my external backup drive to backup both my boot drive and a second internal HDD that I use to store large data files and dedicate my boot drive mostly to program files and some important personal data.

Does Windows B/R backup a second internal drive to a dedicated USB external drive? ATIH does, albeit clumsily.

This is important - thanks for your answer.

 

[SIW2]

System and boot partitions are included by default. You can include others if you like. You can store the image on an external usb HD.

It is tricky if you want to restore TO another partition, even more so if it is smaller.

I would suggest a 3rd party program , some of them are very small, unintrusive and efficient.

 

[lbeck]

Thanks, but I'm confused enough with a decision between two trusted applications. I think I'll stick with either windows or Acronis.

Right now I'm leaning towards win b/r but the potential of creating an unbootable system drive because of some Acronis files left behind has me concerned