make a basic system partition backup containing your operating system and main applications like MS
Office and Outlook. Thereafter you will always be able to recover that basic system state after trying
new programs – if you don't like them or if something goes wrong.
The easiest way of backing up the system partition is using the One-Click Backup either during the
first start of Acronis True Image Home 2010 Netbook Edition after installation or later. This tool is
intended for backing up only the system partition and MBR. Of course, you can use the Backup
Wizard too, but here is the procedure for using the One-Click Backup tool (not during the first start).
1. If you want to use your external drive for backing up the system partition, attach and power it on
before starting Acronis True Image Home 2010 Netbook Edition.
2. Choose Tools & Utilities → One-Click Backup in the main program menu. Acronis True Image
Home 2010 Netbook Edition will offer the destination for storing your backup. If you would prefer
another backup destination, click the Specify destination link and select the storage location
most suitable for you.
3. By default the One-Click Backup tool schedules subsequent full backups of your system partition
once every seven days, but you can change the interval between backups or cancel scheduling.
4. After you finish settings, click Protect to start the backup task.
It is recommended to validate the created backup by running a validation task either manually or on
schedule.
The Acronis One-Click Backup tool performs only full backups of the system partition; scheduling an incremental
or differential backup is not possible.
For those interested in how One-Click Backup tool selects a destination for backup, here is the
algorithm the program uses:
1) First of all the program estimates the space required for operation of the One-Click Backup tool.
2) If there is an external hard drive with enough free space, your system partition backups will be
stored on that drive, as such backup place will provide better protection for your computer.
3) If the first option is unavailable but you have at least two internal hard drives, the program will
back up to a non-system hard drive using a partition with the maximum free space.
4) If your computer has only one hard drive with several partitions (not counting hidden ones), then
the program will use a non-system partition with maximum free space.
If Acronis Startup Recovery Manager is activated, the program will update its bootable components.
6.3.2. Backing up an entire system disk
When your backup storage device has enough free space, it is advisable to back up the entire system
disk. Such a backup is most suitable for recovering your system and applications both when you need
to recover them on the original hard disk drive or a new one, e.g. after your hard drive failed.
Incidentally, if your system disk contains several partitions, an entire disk backup also provides for
recovery of any individual partition.
Because system disk backups are the most important for disaster recovery, it is advisable to check
both the system disk and the hard disk to be used as the backup storage for errors with the help of
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