Windows 10 Backup, Recovery, Cloud, Google Drive, Oh My!

I am struggling to figure out the best way to backup my laptops, desktops, and data. There are so many different offerings, solutions, options, etc. Here are my requirements:

1) If a system drive crashes, I want to be able to restore an image that I backup every night. I don't want to rely on a cloud or network service because...I won't have a network on that machine. It appears that Windows has the ability to create a recovery drive which can help to recover a corrupted or damaged drive. I built it and put it onto a USB drive. But it could exist on a separate partition of my hard drive. Which is better? Or is there something better?

2) I used Crucial's Acronis to make a backup image on a separate hard drive (My primarys OS Drive is SSD). So, if my SSD fails, what is the best way to recover my image? Would I use the Windows Recovery USB Drive? Or, should I use the Acronis Recovery procedure? Or is there a better way to do a image backup?

3) I want to use Google Drive to backup my images, video, documents, etc so that I can access them when I am remote or from a laptop. So, how do I sync them from multiple machines using the same account? Also, I love google office apps, and use them all the time, but they don't seem to be tied to Google Drive Storage. Is there a way to merge them? I have a 2TB google drive available.

4) Finally, I would like to archive old files on a DVD Drive, and migrate them without a lot of work. For instance, all files older than 5 years in the video and image folders move to DVD.

I would love a universal console that tied this all together so I can manage data backups, online files, recovery options, and archives from one dashboard. Is there anything out there?

Thanks,

Google sync will backup all your files instantly from all PCs and photos are free unlimited so you can add DVD to the folders to backup. Given all Doc's etc are backed up there isn't a lot of point doing daily images on major change or monthly will do. Just be sure you have a bootable acronis DVD to do a restore

See comments in line:

cclaxton said:

I want to be able to restore an image that I backup every night. I don't want to rely on a cloud or network service because...I won't have a network on that machine. It appears that Windows has the ability to create a recovery drive which can help to recover a corrupted or damaged drive.

Try to think of "data backup" and "system backup" (OS and installed applications) as 2 different things. Windows Backup is fussy and not the favored method around here. Many here use Macrium for system backup. The paid Macrium can also do data only backup. If you keep your data on C, then a "system backup" would also contain all data files. I wouldn't use cloud stuff either as my ONLY storage site for either data or system backups, though I'm sure many here would say it's fine for that purpose. It depends on how much you might be bothered by needing a working Internet connection to access your backups.

2) I used Crucial's Acronis to make a backup image on a separate hard drive (My primarys OS Drive is SSD). So, if my SSD fails, what is the best way to recover my image? Would I use the Windows Recovery USB Drive? Or, should I use the Acronis Recovery procedure? Or is there a better way to do a image backup?

Acronis works as does Windows backup, but you'll find more complaints for both than for Macrium, often related to support or flexibility. After the drive fails, you boot from recovery media you have previously made and then formally "restore" the previously saved image.

The standard advice is to save the image file on another hard drive entirely, either internal or external. As opposed to a DVD, USB, or another partition on the same drive.

3) I want to use Google Drive to backup my images, video, documents, etc so that I can access them when I am remote or from a laptop. So, how do I sync them from multiple machines using the same account? Also, I love google office apps, and use them all the time, but they don't seem to be tied to Google Drive Storage. Is there a way to merge them? I have a 2TB google drive available.

No advice as I don't use Google drive. I suppose it's fine as a duplicate location for backups, but I'd be very nervous if it was my only location.

4) Finally, I would like to archive old files on a DVD Drive, and migrate them without a lot of work. For instance, all files older than 5 years in the video and image folders move to DVD.

Are you locked into the idea of DVD rather than thumb drive or hard drive? I haven't checked, but I'd guess some of the data backup applications can be restricted to back up ONLY those files beyond a certain age. They certainly have many other types of inclusion and exclusion criteria, but I've never investigated age as a criterion.

Samuria said:

Google sync will backup all your files instantly from all PCs and photos are free unlimited so you can add DVD to the folders to backup. Given all Doc's etc are backed up there isn't a lot of point doing daily images on major change or monthly will do. Just be sure you have a bootable acronis DVD to do a restore

So, as long as I am using the same Google account, I should sync with all my computers?
How do I add DVD to the folders to backup? Is there an app or config?

I see your point on the dailing imaging.

Is there an advantage to Acronis DVD over thumb drive?
CC

ignatzatsonic said:

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Thanks for your detailed reply.
1) Good way to think of the data and system backsups separately. I just want to easily rebuild my machine if a SSD drive dies or machine dies. I like the Acronis app...any pro/con against Macrium?

2) I have the image saved on a hard drive on the same machine. So, C: is SSD with bootable OS, E: is same-sized SATA Hard Drive with image on it. Then I have a windows recovery volume on a thumb drive. I am thinking I should also have an Acronis recovery volume on a thumb drive too. Agree or not?

3) The issue with Google Drive is figuring out the controls. I may contact them. But google docs are amazing. I only use MS Excel as a standalone office app now.

4) I could use thumb drives or DVD's. But DVD's would be less costly I think.

Thanks again.
CC

The main issue with DVDs is low capacity and having to manage and keep track of them. They are tolerable as a recovery media device, but highly problematic as a target for data or image files. Macrium recovery media only requires a very small thumb drive as I recall. Five bucks or so.

If you understand Acronis and are comfortable with it, fine. I used it maybe 10 years ago and was unable to restore when I got in a jam----it decided it didn't even recognize the very same image file it had created a day earlier, so I was out of luck. Anecdotally, it has more problems, but you can search the archives here to get the flavor.

Regardless---you better at least pretend you have a total hard drive failure in the next 10 minutes and know EXACTLY what you are going to do about it by walking halfway through the restore. Lots of people never do that and then are in for various rude surprises when the heat is on and they become confused by menu choices and procedure. Your so-called recovery media may not even boot. Then what?

ignatzatsonic said:

The main issue with DVDs is low capacity and having to manage and keep track of them. But, whatever suits you.

If you understand Acronis and are comfortable with it, fine. I used it maybe 10 years ago and was unable to restore when I got in a jam----it decided it didn't even recognize the very same image file it had created a day earlier, so I was out of luck. Anecdotally, it has more problems, but you can search the archives here to get the flavor.

Regardless---you better at least pretend you have a total hard drive failure in the next 10 minutes and know EXACTLY what you are going to do about it by walking halfway through the restore. Lots of people never do that and then are in for various rude surprises when the heat is on and they become confused by menu choices and procedure. Your so-called recovery media may not even boot. Then what?

Yeah, I have been stuck there before. I remember way back when we had to use 5.25" in floppies...I am so glad those days are gone.

The market allows a lot of choices, but I don't see a lot of good information...all marketing.

Google sync is very simple you simply add folders you want to sync thats it its so simple

I use Macrium Reflect Free to create system images on an external HDD which is disconnected when not in use for that purpose. The first thing Macrium advises, when you install it, is to create rescue media, ( a thumb drive is best) to boot from if you need to restore an image you have created. If my hard drive failed, I presume that I could install a new drive and restore the image to it. Is that correct?

Eddie Doc said:

The first thing Macrium advises, when you install it, is to create rescue media, ( a thumb drive is best) to boot from if you need to restore an image you have created. If my hard drive failed, I presume that I could install a new drive and restore the image to it. Is that correct?

Yes, that's correct.