Macrium Backup Strategy + What Happens if Backup Drive is Disconnected

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  1. Posts : 61
    Win 10 home
       #1

    Macrium Backup Strategy + What Happens if Backup Drive is Disconnected


    Hi all. I've on the advice of this forum installed Macrium Free for disc imaging (it feels like a really well put together application) to provide an additional backup for my writing, but would appreciate some help with a few questions from experienced users:

    1. The designated drive is on occasion (eg when not at home) disconnected from the laptop when Macrium tries to run a backup. This seems to result in no option being offered to run the missed scheduled task manually when the drive is reconnected.

    Is there a way to manually run (and if possible to flag that it's outstanding) the missed scheduled task (there's a full image button, but that's different I think?) when the drive is reconnected?

    2. The drive (it's one of a couple plus some USB sticks in use) seems to be assigned a different drive letter (eg H:) every time it's reconnected which messes up the schedule/isn't necessarily the one specified.

    Is there a way to permanently assign a drive letter to a given drive? (at least until it's no longer used)

    3.Given the 500GB size of the current backup drive (a full image requires about 120GB at present) I've gone for a monthly full image, and a differential every 3 days, with retention set at 3 full images and x12 differential images.

    As I think I understand it that should if needed permit restoration of the drive as it was at worst 3 days ago...

    I'm figuring that a restoration is delivered by combining the monthly full image and the most recent differential image? Is this how it works?

    I'm a little cautious about running the differential only every 3 days. Is this a reasonable strategy, or is it typical practice to use a larger backup drive and much more frequent backups?

    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Is there a way to permanently assign a drive letter to a given drive? (at least until it's no longer used)
    Yes. Simply assign a drive letter you won't otherwise use using Disk Management.
    Note: Make sure you only assign a given drive letter to one physical drive.

    I'm figuring that a restoration is delivered by combining the monthly full image and the most recent differential image? Is this how it works?
    Yes. Whereas using incremental images means the base + all incrementals to date are required.

    I'm a little cautious about running the differential only every 3 days. Is this a reasonable strategy, or is it typical practice to use a larger backup drive and much more frequent backups?
    As far as Windows is concerned (and installed programs) - but forgetting any personal data - which is best NOT on C: - the key thought would be how long it would take you to reproduce your current state if you restored your most recent image.

    - related to that is - assume something goes wrong as a result of some action or program you install. You then wish to diagnose the problem- and imaging you don't know exactly when, since your last backup, the problem was created.

    Here's what I do. I keep a simple text list of when I back up, and installations/changes/ uninstallations.
    Thus I can approximately reproduce the changes since the last backup and identify the cause of the problem.

    -------------------
    Note - scheduled backups are all very well- but that implies the backup disk is on line (reducing life) and subject to failure (e.g. power glitches?) or even ransomware.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 347
    Windows 10 Home Version 21H1 OS Build 19045.2130
       #3

    ' 1. The designated drive is on occasion (eg when not at home) disconnected from the laptop when Macrium tries to run a backup. This seems to result in no option being offered to run the missed scheduled task manually when the drive is reconnected.

    Is there a way to manually run (and if possible to flag that it's outstanding) the missed scheduled task (there's a full image button, but that's different I think?) when the drive is reconnected? '

    I open Macrium, right click on the scheduled task, and click 'Run now'. Minimize Macrium, and let the backup run.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 61
    Win 10 home
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks guys.

    Assigning the drive letters via Disk Management worked fine.
    I bit the bullet and bought a 1TB external drive to permit more frequent backups.
    The log is a good idea, I've set one up. Scary to see just how much work these damn machines need to keep going reliably when you write it down...

    Right clicking brings up the run option, just the job...

    I'm pretty much there now in terms of the switch back to Office 365 Personal so that OneDrive personal is available for use with Scrivener (a manuscript/writing programme) - and getting One Drive, Macrium and various external drives set up to support its multiple backup needs, disc imaging and at the same File History.

    Time to get back to the writing....
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 347
    Windows 10 Home Version 21H1 OS Build 19045.2130
       #5

    ondablade said:
    Right clicking brings up the run option, just the job...
    Simple, really...:)
    I have my external drive always plugged in, but only activated when backing up(full image), and it always has the same drive letter.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 61
    Win 10 home
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I guess Eddie that these things come more naturally to those brought up on PCs. : ) There's times for some of us that the penny just doesn't drop...

    My laptop is normally sitting on my desk with the drives plugged in too. Where I end up occasionally needing to disconnect is if I take it somewhere to work as happens occasionally. There's also a bit of a shortage of USB ports (6x devices in total) which forces the odd changeover, as I only have 3x USB hub.

    A headphone set used with Dragon Naturally Speaking, a USB stick required by Scrivener (a writing/manuscript app), a printer and 3x external drive (1 each for File History and Macrium backups plus miscellaneous use) all require USB connections.

    Subject to checking that there's no reason not to use a multi port set up the plan to buy a hub with enough ports to leave everything permanently connected while I'm at home.

    Maybe there's a better way, but it seemed more sensible to use separate drives a above. It's the scheduled backups that can catch a person out - when they try to run with the drive disconnected.

    Thanks again to you both for the input, it's great to be able to access some help.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 347
    Windows 10 Home Version 21H1 OS Build 19045.2130
       #7

    dalchina said:
    Note - scheduled backups are all very well- but that implies the backup disk is on line (reducing life) and subject to failure (e.g. power glitches?) or even ransomware.
    I power off my external drive once the backup is done, for those reasons.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 347
    Windows 10 Home Version 21H1 OS Build 19045.2130
       #8

    ondablade said:
    I guess Eddie that these things come more naturally to those brought up on PCs. : ) There's times for some of us that the penny just doesn't drop...
    I wouldn't say I was brought up on PCs - I first got my first go on an IBM PC in the mid 90's, when I was nearly 40. Before that, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, the BBC Micro and being taught BASIC programming by my Maths teacher in 6th Form at school. Happy days...

    Right-clicking gives you options
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,621
    Windows 10 Home
       #9

    "...Is there a way to permanently assign a drive letter to a given drive? (at least until it's no longer used)..."
    dalchina, I want to add a question to your answer to the above OP question:
    If an ext HD is assigned a drive letter, would that ext HD have to be plugged into the same usb port every time for that drive letter assignment to "stick"?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #10

    RolandJS said:
    "...Is there a way to permanently assign a drive letter to a given drive? (at least until it's no longer used)..."
    dalchina, I want to add a question to your answer to the above OP question:
    If an ext HD is assigned a drive letter, would that ext HD have to be plugged into the same usb port every time for that drive letter assignment to "stick"?
    Windows normally assigns the next available letter to a connected device. What I normally do with external drives I want to maintain the same drive letter is name them something like drive X, Y or something at the bottom of the alphabet. That way they will always be the same dive letter and windows will not assign any other drive that letter.
      My Computer


 

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