Help creating multiple backups on same hardrive.

Doom Eclipse

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I recently purchased a 4TB external hardrive for the purpose of backuping my computer in case of a ransom ware attack. I purchased a 4TB with the thought of having about 4 different backups a couple moths apart and deleting the oldest when creating more than a 4th one.

I went to do a backup and it said it would takeup the entire 4TB, even though the restore file size would be nowhere near that size. How can I create multiple different backups?
 

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I recommend Macrium Reflect and/or Acronis True Image to make full images of both your OS and data partitions.
 

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+1 for Macrium Reflect. You don't have to partition the drive, just make a full hard drive "image" (backup) to the 4TB drive.

However, if you don't and an UEFI BIOS and format the drive with "GPT" you won't be able to format and use the entire 4GB as one drive, you will have to partition it.

I just bought a 3GB drive for backups. I have a UEFI BIOS and was able to format and use the entire 3GB.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

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    Win 10
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    Home Built
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    i7 6700K
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    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
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Just FTR - you are more likely to need a backup due to disk or other hardware failure, or loss, than due to ransomware. Ransomware depends on socially engineered methods of distribution. That is, it requires the user to be "click-happy" on an unsolicited links, downloads, or attachment. So, if you keep Windows and your security solution fully updated and you are not "click-happy", the chances of getting hit by ransomware are very slim. That does not mean you don't have to pay attention or be concerned about ransomware or other malware - you do because the badguys are pretty clever at making those links, downloads and attachments look legitimate. The key is, are they unsolicited (received totally out of the blue) or not? And if unsure, just visit the site by manually entering the normal address you would use into your address bar if you were to initiate the contact.
 

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Id like to consider myself pretty computer literate and know of all the fake pop-ups and "updates" that try to make you download something. I also have the paid version of Malware-bytes. Still though, id to have backups just in case.

Ok, so from what is said above, I need to reformat my external hardrive into GPF in order to create the multiple images of my computer as a whole? What do you mean by "use the entire hardrive". I want to be able to have multiple saves on it, using all space as needed, maybe even backup my laptop to it.

Can I do that using the Macrium Reflect to have the multiple images, or do I need to make 4-5 partitions, then do the backup image?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    Memory
    8 Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia
    Browser
    Firefox/Chrome
    Antivirus
    None
The hard-drive does not need to have more than one partition, I think that is what was meant by using the whole drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
Id like to consider myself pretty computer literate and know of all the fake pop-ups and "updates" that try to make you download something. I also have the paid version of Malware-bytes. Still though, id to have backups just in case.
Great! Then I'd be more concerned about hardware failure and not ransomware (though even experienced users have to stay disciplined and not let our guards down). And to that, it is important to have multiple layers of backups to include backups in multiple locations.

What happens if a badguy breaks into your home and steals your computer and this external drive? What if a fire, flood, or Tornado takes out your home? Something to chew on.

You don't need multiple partitions. The backup software can manage all that. In fact, I would not recommend multiple partitions. The more complex the partition tables, the greater the risk something may go wrong with them.

Oh, and MBAM Premium is the only security program I recommend folks purchase. I use it along with Windows Defender and Windows Firewall on all my systems with no problems.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    W10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
In reference to the GPT formatting. You only have to use GPT on the 4GB drive. You don't have to use that on your system drive.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
+1 for Macrium Reflect. You don't have to partition the drive, just make a full hard drive "image" (backup) to the 4TB drive.

However, if you don't and an UEFI BIOS and format the drive with "GPF" you won't be able to format and use the entire 4GB as one drive, you will have to partition it.

I just bought a 3GB drive for backups. I have a UEFI BIOS and was able to format and use the entire 3GB.

What is GPF formatting, i haven't heard of that before ?

I have a Legacy BIOS PC (no UEFI) and a 3TB backup HD.
I initialized it as GPT and formatted it as NTFS.
I use the HD as a single partition.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Multi-Boot-PCs W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64
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    AMD Athlon 64 x2 5600+ Dual Core
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    Abit nf-m2-nview
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    4GB ddr2 800
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Oops. It is GPT. My bad
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
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