Utilise following softwares to ensure full system integrity

What is an effective way to use the following software to ensure full system & data integrity all year round ? So far I’m only making use of GoodSync and have previously used Acronis for a very brief short time to create one backup. The issue I encounter with disk imagining is time consuming to create a full disk backup but also I make loads of minor changes to files each day so it becomes quickly outdated but is quick and easy to back up personal files using file synchronization software GoodSynce. I thought about using Acronis incremental or differential scheme to just backup my operating system but that would not protect from configuration shift or system degradation so is not as suitable ? I downloaded Faronics Deep Freeze which is a boot restore program so keeps your system staying fresh but how do I use them all especially TrueCrypt without them interfering with each other ?
GoodSync Enterprise
Acronis Backup & Restore
Faronics Deep Freeze
TrueCrypt
I have a 120GB solid state drive which is partitioned into two C & D as well as having two 2TB internal HDD one is used for storing my personal files and the other is used as a synchronized backup using GoodSync. I also have a 2TB external hard drive which I’m just using as an additional synchronized backup of my two internals and also a Network Attached Storage device which contains a futher 2x2TB HDD which I also use as a synchronized backup.
C:/ System Files
D:/ Documents And Settings
E:/ Personal Files
F:/ My Backup
Z:/ Network Attached Storage Device (2x2TB configured as Raid 1 Mirrored)
Any help will be gladly appreciated as I only wish to format my computer one last time and configure, customize and personalize all the settings to exactly how I want them without loosing them or having to start over again.
Answer #1
Gezzzzz! You sure you don’t want to buy half a dozen more external HDs to backup backups of your backups.
Have a bit of trust in your hardware dude.
I use EASEUS Todo Backup to create an image of my OS partition once a month and that’s it (takes me 20 minutes max and if the OS goes down it takes me around the same time to reinstall the OS).
Everything else I keep on separate drives or partitions so I know that is all safe if the OS goes pear shaped. I’ve never had a hard disk break down and that is the only way I’d lose everything although both HDs would have to break for me to lose everything.
Answer #2
Based on your usage I’d suggest this (and you chose the programs you need to do them)
Starting from scratch…
Install, set up, add programs you want then IMAGE your system. (for your existing system, bypass this bit and just start doing the IMAGE and then BACKUP)
As you use it, make a new IMAGE every 4 to 6 weeks. Keep the original IMAGE (write to DVD or use backup hard drive) AND the two last recent images, you can delete old-old images.
Each week, or twice a week, your choice) make a BACKUP or the files you change or write to. A backup program set to archive specific files, stories, photos, artworks, etc.
If you get a virus, you restore your latest IMAGE then your latest BACKUP.
(You can make IMAGES based on changed files, they are smaller then a full IMAGE. This would be the equivalent to a BACKUP)
….
I CAPS’d the words to define them:
IMAGE = full partition backup a la Acronis or Macrium Reflect.
BACKUP – a specific file or files backup op a la WinRar backup, or other file backing programs.
Answer #3
Any help will be gladly appreciated as I only wish to format my computer one last time and configure, customize and personalize all the settings to exactly how I want them without loosing them or having to start over again. Worshippy
Don’t waste your time on anything fancy like universal restore all you need these days is disk imaging.
If you want to restore to another computer use sysprep and then disk image from another computer or drive
^ Unless he has RAID6 I wouldn’t trust the hardware (for ie non critical data)