Basic Question on Easy US todo Backup– how to create image

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OK I have the Free Easy ToDo Backup, I think version 4.0.

I recently bought a new external HD.

I back up crucial files as needed (copy it to a different HD)

But I want to B/U my Toshiba Laptop. I want to get a complete system image so that if I get a crash I can recover completely in a short amount of time.

I am confused on how to proceed.

The Main Menu gives me 4 choices; two of those choices are:

Backup (Data Backup or System Backup) and’
Clone (Disk Clone, partition clone).

Which do I choose.

Mel

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Short answer: System Backup.Here is a PDF of the EaseUS Todo Backup Users Guide
First you would need to create the EaseUS Todo boot disk, and test it to see that it actually does boot.

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Clint:

I did read the manual but I remain quite confused. My laptop has assorted programs/music/photos/data/etc. I want to create an image of everything so that if something goes terribly wrong I can restore this image and be up and running. If I just do a System Backup, doesn’t this just save the system files and nothing else? I want to save everything.

Mel

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Mel,

You’re right; do a disk/partition data backup, selecting the entire disk. Don’t specify sector by sector.

Zig

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Most 3rd party imagers have 2 methods to backup entire HD’s. Imaging and Cloning

Imaging – A compressed file that includes everything on the HD. You need a Boot Disk to restore to this file. You can store as many of these files as you have space to store them in. This is actually the type of thing most manufacturers do when they load an OS on a new PC. They restore an Image they previously created.

Cloning – This is a one to one copy as in moving the info from one disk to another disk. It occupies the same space as the original disk. This is commonly used when replacing one HD with a new HD.

Most users, I believe, use Imaging rather than cloning because it allows you to store many compressed files side by side. Only one clone can be stored on a partition as it is a bootable OS.

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Ted, et. al.:

It sounds like imaging is what I want. I want to store some other things on the external HD. I asume I cannot do that and also store a clone? Am I correct? Also, I couldn;t have TWO clones (2 different dates) on the same HD at the same time. Correct?

Now, if my laptop went awry and I wanted to restore from an image on a HD, are you sure I would first need a boot CD??

Finally, if you check my original post, my original question remains. I am unclear on what menu item to choose to get an image of my entire laptop. I THINK system image only records the system files. Can someone set me straight?

Mel

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System image includes the entire drive, unless there are exclusionary options.
Unless you plan to upgrade to a larger or different hard drive, a system image is what you want.

I recommend that you test by attempting to restore, or at least attempting to view the image on the external
drive, to varify that you can access it on the external drive from the bootable disk that was created in ToDo.

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Clint:

Thanks for your help. This leads to another question. Let’s assume I do the image and then later I want to restore my laptop to this image. MUST I use that boot CD? If my laptop is able to boot normally and I can access the Easy program, wouldn’t I just need to access the program and do a restore?

Nevertheless, I understand the need to have the boot CD

Mel

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When the need comes to restore your laptop, it will more than likely be in a situation where you cannot boot to a desktop.
Better to test it now than to test it when a real need arises, you’ll want to become familiar and know exactly how it works.
Become intimately familiar with the boot disk, it’s gonna be your best friend in times of real need, you can take that to the bank.

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Clint:

Yes, I understand. I will definitely make a boot disk and test it out. But IF I can boot normally, then am I correct that I would not REQUIRE the boot disk.

Now, this creates another question. Suppose my HD gets trashed. It’s useless. Can one still restore to a new HD from the system image? I understand that is what a clone is for. But if I only have an image, am I up the creek. Thanks for your patience. I think at least I now know enough to ask the right questions?

Mel

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Possibly, but that is what the “clone” option is specifically for.
I would want to read over the entire PDF in my original post, it will go into that sort of contingency.
You may also be offered several differing boot disk creation options as well, but the PDF, I believe, does cover it.

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Clint & Mel,

In the EaseUs terminology, a “System Backup” backs up ONLY those partitions necessary to restore the OS (usually C: & System Reserved), thus, that’s NOT what Mel wants (this is why I said, “You’re right” in my post). One CAN restore to a new HD using the boot disk if your “HD gets trashed,” or can physically swap out the old HD for a new one, if a “clone” has been written to it. Other files, but not other clones, can reside on the “reserved, just-in-case” disk.

If the entire disk is not to be restored, it’s necessary to restore the partitions one-by-one from the image. This may be important if, for example, the data on the data partition is significantly newer than the OS backup on the C: partition, and you don’t want to overwrite the data.

I suggest you read the “sticky” topics at the top of the two EaseUS Todo Backup forums, where this has already been discussed in more detail.

http://forum.easeus.com/viewforum.php?f=14

http://forum.easeus.com/viewforum.php?f=27

Zig

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Zig:

Thanks for the information. So the System B/U just backs up the necessary system files. If I do the disk/partition data b/u, does this just back up everything or does it actually create an IMAGE so that I can RESTORE to this state relatively quickly if needed? I did check the forum links. The sticky notes do not seem to answer these questions and there seems to be little action on that forum. Maybe I’m getting spoiled as Windows Secrets Lounge is fantastic.

Mel

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OK, I was not aware that there had been a partition involved other than the primary boot, only a single drive.
That is something that would need to be mentioned and not assumed.

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If I do the disk/partition data b/u, does this just back up everything or does it actually create an IMAGE so that I can RESTORE to this state relatively quickly if needed?

Disk/Partition b/u will create an image, which is what you want. DON’T choose File b/u unless that’s all you want (compressed file copy).

Zig

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