Dual full image backups recommended

[RolandJS]

Dual full image backups recommended
For more "restore peace of mind", use two different backup/restore utilities for your backup routine. Each utility makes the OS hidden system partition(s) and the "big C", the Windows OS partition onto reliable affordable external media, for me, it's 2 SysRes & 2 Cs on each external HDD.
Quick case in point: I just recently had to do an OS restore, my first choice failed at approx 35%, my second choice succeeded. While it is rare that a restore fails, if I did not have dual full images, I would have had to reinstall, reconfigure, etc., from scratch.

 

[iko22]

I am thinking about getting a NAS server, and backing up to RAID 1 disks. Would that offer the same protection as what you are doing?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I am thinking about getting a NAS server, and backing up to RAID 1 disks. Would that offer the same protection as what you are doing?

No! RAID levels 1 on up only provide redundancy and are not a backup. For a "backup" to be a backup, it must be kept disconnected from the computer, powered down, and stored out of sight of the computer.

For your data to be reasonably safe, it must exist in three separate places. For most people, this would mean on the computer, on an onsite external backup drive, and on an offsite external backup drive.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Dual full image backups recommended
For more "restore peace of mind", use two different backup/restore utilities for your backup routine. Each utility makes the OS hidden system partition(s) and the "big C", the Windows OS partition onto reliable affordable external media, for me, it's 2 SysRes & 2 Cs on each external HDD.
Quick case in point: I just recently had to do an OS restore, my first choice failed at approx 35%, my second choice succeeded. While it is rare that a restore fails, if I did not have dual full images, I would have had to reinstall, reconfigure, etc., from scratch.

Assuming that the System files (OS and programs) are segregated from data files, System images do not take up much room. I keep several of them named with the date the image was taken so I can pick where in time I want to go back to. If one does fail (so far, I've had it happen only once), all I need to do is go back to the previous one.

For extra security, I also backup the images. I even have more than one rescue USB thumb drive in case one goes south.

 

[RolandJS]

LadyF, each laptop has two dedicated ext HDDs, images normally are at least 1 to 3 weeks apart.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Your're fine; I just do things a wee bit differently. On Win 7, I save images to a folder on one of may data drives for convenience, then backup that drive to the teeth so I back up the backup.

I started horsing around with Linux Mint Cinnamon 10.2 on a spare notebook recently and use Timeshift to backup the System, similar to imaging on Windows. I haven't started backing up the data partition yet.

 

[Snick]

Check image integrity every time you image drive also.
Settings usually has an option.
In AOMEI Backupper Setting > Advanced

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Check image integrity every time you image drive also.

I totally agree. Macrium Reflect has a setting that will automatically verify an image after it has been created. On the very rare occasions that an image failed to verify, I just ran Macrium Reflect again and it would tthen verify.

Also, keeping multiple images will give you a backup for the even rarer occasion that a verified image fails to restore. The less time between backups, the less "catching up" you will have to do if that ever happens. if really cautious, you might wan to make two images one right after the other but, even as paranoid as I am, I haven't felt that to be necessary,

I also name the image with the date it was made and why it was made (such as "updated such and such" program" or "updated OS") to it easier to know what change had been wiped out by restoring to an earlier time.

I typically make an image only after making some kind of change to the System (OS and programs, which are segregated from my data), such as updating the OS or a program or making changes to settings. This means I may be making images anywhere fron several times a day to once every two or three weeks (or more since I no longer install MS updates).

 

[RolandJS]

LadyF, we share numerou same ideas. I name my full images 20191231_C_S02 for example. I have been using MR and Image for Windows to make dual full images. Both laptops have two dedicated ext backup HDDs.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

LadyF, we share numerou same ideas. I name my full images 20191231_C_S02 for example. I have been using MR and Image for Windows to make dual full images. Both laptops have two dedicated ext backup HDDs.

Technically, the two notebooks I'm currently using (I have three) have two "backup" drives for each one. Technically, they are not true backups becasue they are stored with their computers. Each is a clone of its computer that I update from time to time using imaging and folder/file syncingThey are more like external redundancy with the purpose of being a vehicle for sneakernet (I use one of the two for each computer to sync data with the desktop where the real backing up takes place) and to provide a spare, ready to go drive that can be quickly swapped into the computer should the one in the notebook permanently fail (I've yet to have it happen but, stuff happens).