Solved Backup, Restore, Recovery ideas & practices

RolandJS

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Austin TX metro area
Backup/Restore Procedures

Have been paying closer attention to my external USB HDs, I am much more aware that rather than ATI [Acronis] or Macrium failure -- it has been several times an explorer.exe not communing with respective external HD failure. It might be within any one particular external HD, it might be conflicting drive-letter assignments, it might be "explorer.exe and company" needs to be dropkicked or punted into better performance.
In order to maximize the idea of restorable backups, minimize the idea of failures in backup and/or restores, I've been doing the following...
Long ago, because drive letters differ when booting external media for backups & restores, I labeled all my OS partitions S0x[ddd]C, data partitions S0x[ddd]D, x being computer number [1 2 or 3], ddd being three unique digits/letters from HD ID/serial number. Each external backup/restore HD's labeled: Hitachis Kitty & Katty, the four Seagate HDs labeled SeaEPD, SeaBPD, SeaKIT, SeaKAT. At all times, I know exactly which partition is being backed up to what ext HD, what ext HD is going to restore to what partition C or D, regardless of what the drive letters are. [* - My two cats are more famous than me, on Facebook & Twitter.]

Before beginning backup routine, I plan to test explorer & ext HD operations by a quick-copy into & out of attached ext HD, if bi-direction copy fails, the backup or restore will fail, it's time to fix the explorer-ext HD relationship. If bi-direction copy succeeds, backup begins. I no longer assign drive letters to any ext HD, causes problems down the road. And, 2nd internal HD's C-partition & D-partition will no longer be drive-letter assigned.

YYYYMMDD[ext HD name]_[partition letter]_S0x -- that's the XML file and the high-compressed backup file name I use within Macrium Reflect Pro. Acronis keep its log files differently, I can name the backup file only. Hours, days, weeks, later -- I know where each backup is.

If a particular backup is really critical, I can do both a Macrium and an Acronis backup of C-[OS]-partition on each external HD.

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores will take care of thee." Ben Franklin revisited
 

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
Full [entire] drive imaging

Full [entire] drive images.
"I only do full drive back ups. Eliminates several backup steps if the drive needs restored. With selective partitions, if the full drive has to be restored it requires several separate operations." Fireberd [sevenforums]
Even though separate OS and data partition full images have served me well, thinking it over, I realize Fireberd has a great idea, and I'm adding his idea into my present HD [hard-drive] backup routine.
Consider: a catastrophic HD failure and the HD replacement, or a catastrophic OS boot & OS operations failure and facing the need to do a complete software ReInstall. In order to restore any and all partitions onto the original or replacement HD, at least one full image of the entire internal HD containing the OS, factory recovery, OS boot, and data partitions needs to exist.
If you're not also making separate full images of OS and data partitions, stop reading, you're done.
If you are also making separate full images of OS and data partitions, if you ever have to restore the full [entire] drive image, then, afterwards, simply follow through with the separate OS and data partition restores, if such partition images are newer than your full [entire] drive image. For my purposes, In order to take less time restoring full [entire] drive and the separate OS and data partitions, I'm going to test an idea: delete all data partition's folders and files from within the full [entire] drive image.
 

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
I'm morphing this thread into a related, not the same, topic as given by the present title.
Even though I am a Windows 7 license-holder/user, I have this topic also in eightforums because I want to zero in on not only Windows 8 Backup/Restore as well as how some 3rd party B/R & R utilities specifically work with Windows 8.

First Response restore and recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences
Borrowing from the philosopher Rene Descartes, let's make the title longer:
First Response ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences for OS & Data: backups, restores, and recoveries.


First Response means what could be done by an end-user who just might be facing:
-- possible physically failing hard-drives [which are often called "c drive" and "d drive]
-- possible logically failing hard-drives [ditto as above line]
OR might be facing:
-- a deleted file and/or folder that needs to be un-deleted
-- a set of deleted files and/or folders that need to be un-deleted
-- folders and files that cannot be simply un-deleted, restored from Windows Recycle Bin
-- deleted folders and files that no longer exist in the MFT [Master File Table]
-- the MFT no longer functions and/or the OS no longer functions
-- the often called "c drive", the OS partition no longer exists [often, this "c drive" also contained the data]
-- the often called "d drive", the data partition no longer exists


First Response Backups mean --
First Response Restores mean --
First Response Recoveries mean --
-- respectively, what could be done by an end-user prior to doing "anything, everything".


Borrowing from Star Trek, the "Prime Directives" are:
-- to preserve and protect end-user's data
-- to preserve and protect end-user's OS
-- to restore what can be restored; data first priority, OS 2nd priority
-- to recover what can be recovered; data first priority, OS 2nd priority


Roland
 
Last edited:

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

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
[FONT=&amp]Guys, have patience [/FONT]
001.png
[FONT=&amp] Real soon, advice gathered from several backup/restore and data recovery forums -- giving concrete things that end-users can do to [/FONT]prevent data loss crisis. Because there any many ways to do backups -- I will only give what I do and then leave the floor open for others to post what they do for backups.
 

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
I see my first public attempt at a tiny white paper fell flat. In short, make routine backups so that in the future you can post: My backups restored my Data and/or my OS, I'm back in business!
 
Last edited:

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
Acer Aspire 7741G-6426's S03(YT0)C and S03(YT0)D recovered and restored.


Normally, this laptop's "c drive" is OS partition S03YT0C, "d drive" is Data partition S03YT0D,
with a tiny 1GB partition labeled NTFS or whatever between the above two partitions.
Thankfully, have been making routine backups of OS and Data onto external media
(in this case, two dedicated platter-driven, usb, 1TB hard-drives, TCSIIkat & TCSIIkit).
From Day One, those two partitions were given unique names that indicated:
-- which computer, in this one of two laptops, S03
-- which internal hard-drive, part of the serial number is YT0
-- which partition, C for OS partition, D for Data partition


One day, I interrupted what seemed to be a stalled partition merger between
an un-allocated partition and S03YT0C; which led to a post, no-boot, no-Windows load.
My first correct response concerning disk management was using Acronis Disk Director 12.
ADD12 showed un-allocated partitions, and S03YT0D -- which was promptly backed up
onto TSCIIkat. Made sure that partition was intact by using the disk explore function.
My first correct response concerning partition recovery was using MiniTool Partition Wizard
9.1, which actually is part of my MiniTool Power Data Recovery package; ran it, it found my
S03YT0C (disk explore showed all the directories); and my S03YT0D became un-allocated.
S03YT0C was promptly backed up -- Macrium Reflect Pro version being used through-out.
Backups took a long time, so at the end of both backups, called it a day and went home.

The next day, used Acronis Disk Director 12 to re-create S03YT0C and S03YT0D partitions,
with a tiny 1GB partition labeled NTFS or whatever between the above two partitions.
Using Macrium Reflect and TSCIIkat, restored S03YT0C and S03YT0D into their respective locations.
Because I had TSCIIkat connected during a Windows Startup Repair attempt Thursday, I re-ran
Windows Startup Repair after restoring the partitions - finally, post, boot, and Windows load.


Because of the above experience, and previous restoration experiences, wanted to try my hand at
typing a tiny "white paper" about backup, restore, recovery operations coming from a "first response"
angle, pictured an analogy -- an ambulance, a first responder.
Setting up the OS and Data early on with making routine backups in mind, with sooner or later,
eventual, restores in mind, seemed to me similar to setting up the ambulance,
setting up better first responses, in any crisis.
Things that could be done by an end-user in the midst of an OS and/or Data crisis
depend largely upon things done by the end-user long before any such crisis.
 

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
Last edited:

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
Here are some snippits from contributors, DR specialists, posting in hddguru forums:
First Response Restore and Recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences in Computer Technologies Forum
First Response Restore and Recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences in Computer Technologies Forum
First Response Restore and Recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences in Computer Technologies Forum
First Response Restore and Recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences in Computer Technologies Forum
The above hddguru forum snippits indicate that imminent hardware failure cannot be repaired by software "fixes".
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Response Restore and Recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences in Computer Technologies Forum
This snippit from sevenforums.com by a long-time contributor drives home the point that a good restorable backup trumps any data recovery attempt.
 

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
Because of the wealth of information provided by data recovery folks in numerous forums on The 'Net, I have these two threads [along with a few others elsewhere] for the purpose of passing on your wisdom and experience, passing on your advice and ideas.

First Response Restore and Recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences in Computer Technologies Forum
college cafe's Computer Technologies;
Thread title: First Response Restore and Recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences


First Response restore and recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences - Dost-Tech
Dost-Tech's Microsoft Windows Support; subGroup: Backup, Restore, Recovery; Ext/Int FD&HD MGT
Thread title: First Response restore and recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences


Anyone, everyone, is very much welcomed to add content, add comments, ask questions, etc. Those threads hopefully will awaken end-users who are in any sort of data loss crisis, to consider
-- data recovery concepts and practices
-- restoration and copy-back concepts and practices
as a Unified Whole rather than linear parts and parcels.


Also, rather than over and over printing a post in numerous threads across The 'Net, I'm going to print the vast majority of "rollerstoller"-generated stuff in two threads in those two forums. You all can from time to time visit the above two and see additional stuff.
 

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

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
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