Acronis True Image Home 2011

A Software Review by Dr Herb Goldstein – Sarasota PC Users Group – www.spcug.org

Nightmares can come in abundant varieties, but the day you turn on your computer and nothing happens you are in for a whole new meaning of the word. As your heart sinks somewhere around the level of your shoes, visions of years of accumulated files, data, and software flash before your eyes as the sudden realization that maybe it’s all gone nauseatingly sinks in. Are we talking about a rare occurrence? Unfortunately, it’s a lot more common than you might think. Computers and their component hard drives are, after all, man-made electronic devices that are subject to an enormous variety of glitches. Preparing yourself for the inevitable day they visit you is the name of the game called BACKUP!
	Yes, decent backup software used regularly needs to be the very first thing installed on your computer after its operating system! To do otherwise is an invitation to the disaster that time alone will inevitably visit upon you!
	Backup software comes in a variety of types but it is commonly recognized that “imaging” is the most complete and accurate. Only imaging produces a byte-for-byte true reproduction of the contents of your original hard drive. Leading  popularity today in the world of imaging  backup software today is Acronis True Image Home 2011. My True Image backups have on at least 5 occasions for me over the years restored dead computers/hard drives to full functionality from an otherwise total loss. A veritable electronic lifesaver!
	Acronis True Image Home 2011 is currently available for free trial download at acronis.com. You are urged to try it and put it through its paces before purchasing. Some careful reading and using is necessary to employ it properly. In addition, it comes with a “Swiss-army knife” of extra utilities that greatly increase its functionality when properly used. Acronis offers enough trial time for you to familiarize yourself with the software.
	To use True Image Home 2011 most effectively you should setup a regular schedule of automatic backups. Personally, I have elected to perform a full backup every 14 days implemented with a regular differential backup daily. Regular scheduled differential or incremental backups take hardly any time at all and can keep your backups current on a daily (or whatever interval you elect) basis. It is essentially a simple “set it and forget it” automatic procedure. Once your backups have been created, you can easily restore any part or all of it as necessary. Although you can elect to backup only your email or other specific data files, it is highly recommended that you backup your entire hard drive which allows you to restore its entirety or individual files as necessary.
	Your backups should be placed on an external USB-connected hard drive of more than adequate size to accommodate them. Such drives are readily available today at relatively modest expense. For safety’s sake, you can also easily disconnect and store them at a different location from your computer if you so desire.
	 If you were to use True Image Home 2011 only for routine backups and restores it would be worth its entire cost, but its passel of new and improved utilities make it an easily worthwhile investment. 
	Predefined backup schemes designed for specific user needs - from a disk space-efficient scheme suitable for users with limited backup storage capabilities to a scheme for those users who need higher security for their data and system. The program offers different backup schemes for disk and file type backups. You just select a scheme and the program automatically manages your backups. In addition, you can create a custom backup scheme which will exactly suit your needs.
	Check points - The Acronis Backup Explorer timeline shows Windows and software installation and update dates. Moving your mouse over a check point opens a balloon with information about the update or software. With check points you can check the changes to your system and recover the system to a specific backed up state.
	A Non-Stop Backup feature automatically creates incremental backups every five minutes, allowing users to roll back their system, files, and folders to any point in time. In addition, you can now use the Acronis Secure Zone as Nonstop Backup storage. This may be desirable for notebook users with a single hard disk drive, however it defeats the purpose of keeping your backup separate and apart from your current hard drive in case it fails.
	A Try-And-Decide feature allows temporary trial installation of new software which permits you to consequently completely eliminate it before any system changes are made. 
	Acronis Online Backup permits offsite continuous backup online to an Internet location.  
	A new and attractive graphical interface makes for easier program manipulation. Windows 7 is fully supported in all program aspects. A Plus Pack option, which allows you to restore your PC to dissimilar hardware regardless of make, model, or installed components, or to a virtual machine.
	While the software contains a “cloning” feature to copy your hard drive contents to a new drive, you are advised instead to restore a backup image of your old drive to a new one. The cloning feature can get somewhat “sticky” and is best avoided.
	An Erase feature allows to completely and permanently erase the contents of your hard drive. This is a must for safety sake before disposing of a hard drive.
	Automatic update notification. By default, True Image Home 2011 will automatically inquire about the availability of a program update at every program start. When an update is available, Acronis True Image Home 2011 will offer to download and install it. You can also check for availability of updates manually through the Help menu. This current highly useful feature makes updating a much easier and more convenient process.
	New Backup Explorer. Now you can use the Acronis Backup Explorer's time line for exploring not only Acronis Nonstop Backup and Acronis Online Backup contents, but contents of all other backups as well. Clicking My backups in the main window will show all your backups on the time line. In addition, you can start recovery of disks and partitions right from the time line.
	Enhanced scheduler. The completely redesigned scheduler makes scheduling much easier. In addition, it now allows you to wake up the sleeping/hibernating computer to perform a backup. The "At system shutdown" and "At user logoff" options are now available to users of Windows Vista and Windows 7.
	Drag & Drop functionality. You can recover backed up files by dragging them from Acronis Time Explorer to your Desktop or a folder of your choice. In addition, you can create shortcuts for backups by dragging their boxes from the My backups area on the main screen to your Desktop. This will allow you to run a backup by simply double-clicking on its shortcut. You can also create shortcuts for frequently used Acronis tools by dragging their icons from the Start menu to the Desktop.
	Integration with Windows 7 Control Panel. True Image Home 2011 replaces Windows Backup in the Backup and Restore item. The Backup and Restore window will show the Nonstop Backup and your oldest disk or partition backup. You will be able to recover the backed up data, refresh the backups, and pause/start Nonstop Backup directly from the Control Panel.
	Over a period of many years, SPCUG has been served by our backup guru and Acronis representative, Gene Barlow and his wife Linda. They have provided us with backup presentations, advice and assistance and Acronis software at substantial discount. You can purchase this excellent product from Gene for about half the normal list price by going to his secure web site at www.ugr.com. Use the following order code (UGTI2011) when placing an order to get the discount price of $29.