User's Manual
Table Of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 1.1 What is Acronis® True Image™?
- 1.2 New in this version
- 1.3 Backups created in Acronis True Image 2020 or later
- 1.4 System requirements and supported media
- 1.5 Installing Acronis True Image 2021
- 1.6 Activating Acronis True Image 2021
- 1.7 Trial version information
- 1.8 Upgrading Acronis True Image 2021
- 1.9 Technical Support
- 2 Getting started
- 3 Basic concepts
- 3.1 Basic concepts
- 3.2 The difference between file backups and disk/partition images
- 3.3 Full, incremental and differential backups
- 3.4 Deciding where to store your backups
- 3.5 Using Acronis Nonstop Backup
- 3.6 Backup file naming
- 3.7 Integration with Windows
- 3.8 Wizards
- 3.9 FAQ about backup, recovery and cloning
- 4 Backing up data
- 4.1 Backing up disks and partitions
- 4.2 Backing up files and folders
- 4.3 Backing up mobile devices
- 4.4 Backing up Office 365 data
- 4.5 Backup options
- 4.5.1 Scheduling
- 4.5.2 Backup schemes
- 4.5.3 Notifications for backup operation
- 4.5.4 Excluding items from backup
- 4.5.5 Image creation mode
- 4.5.6 Backup protection
- 4.5.7 Pre/Post commands for backup
- 4.5.8 Backup splitting
- 4.5.9 Backup validation option
- 4.5.10 Backup reserve copy
- 4.5.11 Removable media settings
- 4.5.12 Error handling
- 4.5.13 File-level security settings for backup
- 4.5.14 Computer shutdown
- 4.5.15 Online backup protection
- 4.5.16 Performance of backup operation
- 4.5.17 Selecting a data center for backup
- 4.5.18 Laptop power settings
- 4.5.19 Wi-Fi networks for backup to Acronis Cloud
- 4.6 Operations with backups
- 4.6.1 Backup operations menu
- 4.6.2 Backup activity and statistics
- 4.6.3 Sorting backups in the list
- 4.6.4 Replicating backups to Acronis Cloud
- 4.6.5 Validating backups
- 4.6.6 Backup to various places
- 4.6.7 Adding an existing backup to the list
- 4.6.8 Notarized backup
- 4.6.9 Cleaning up backups, backup versions, and replicas
- 4.6.10 Cleaning up space on Acronis Cloud
- 4.6.11 Removing data from Acronis Cloud
- 5 Recovering data
- 5.1 Recovering disks and partitions
- 5.2 Recovering files and folders
- 5.3 Searching backup content
- 5.4 Recovering Office 365 data
- 5.5 Recovery options
- 6 Archiving data
- 7 Sharing data
- 8 Protecting family data
- 9 Antivirus and antimalware protection
- 10 Vulnerability assessment
- 11 Synchronizing data
- 12 Disk cloning and migration
- 13 Tools
- 13.1 Acronis Media Builder
- 13.2 Making sure that your bootable media can be used when needed
- 13.3 Acronis Startup Recovery Manager
- 13.4 Try&Decide
- 13.5 Acronis Secure Zone
- 13.6 Adding a new hard disk
- 13.7 Security and Privacy Tools
- 13.8 Mounting an image
- 13.9 Unmounting an image
- 13.10 Working with .vhd(x) files
- 13.11 Importing and exporting backup settings
- 13.12 Acronis Universal Restore
- 14 Troubleshooting
- 15 Glossary of Terms
- Acronis Active Protection
- Acronis Drive
- Acronis Notary
- Acronis Secure Zone
- Acronis Startup Recovery Manager
- Archive
- Archiving operation
- Backup
- Backup operation
- Backup settings
- Backup version
- Backup version chain
- Bootable media
- Data synchronization
- Differential backup
- Differential backup version
- Disk backup (Image)
- Full backup
- Full backup version
- Image
- Incremental backup
- Incremental backup version
- Mobile backup
- Nonstop backup
- Nonstop protection
- Notarization
- Notarized backup
- Notarized file
- Online backup
- Recovery
- Suspicious process
- Sync
- Validation
- Version of synced file
18 Copyright © Acronis International GmbH, 2003-2020
2.2.1 Step 1. Backing up your computer
When should I back up my computer?
Create a new backup version after every significant event in your system.
Examples of these events include:
You bought a new computer.
You reinstalled Windows on your computer.
You configured all system settings (for example, time, date, language) and installed all necessary
programs on your new computer.
Important system update.
To ensure you save a healthy state of a disk, it is a good idea to scan it for viruses before backing it up. Please
use antivirus software for this purpose. Note this operation often takes a significant amount of time.
How do I create a backup of my computer?
You have two options to protect your system:
Entire PC backup (recommended)
Acronis True Image backs up all your internal hard drives in disk mode. The backup contains the
operating system, installed programs, system settings, and all your personal data including your
photos, music, and documents. Refer to Backing up all data on your PC (p. 20) for details.
System disk backup
You can choose to back up your system partition or the entire system drive. Refer to Backing up
disks and partitions (p. 45) for details.
We do not recommend using nonstop backup as a primary way to protect your system, because the
main purpose of this technology is protection of frequently changed files. For the safety of your
system, use any other schedule. See examples in Examples of custom schemes (p. 58). Refer to Using
Acronis Nonstop Backup (p. 38) for more details about the Nonstop Backup feature.
To back up your computer:
1. Start Acronis True Image 2021.
2. On the sidebar, click Backup.
If this is your first backup, you will see the backup configuration screen. If you already have some
backups in the backup list, then click Add backup.
3. Click the Backup source icon, and then select Entire PC.
If you want to back up your system disk only, then click Disks and partitions, and then select your
system partition (usually C:) and the System Reserved partition (if any).
4. Click the Backup destination icon, and then select a storage place for the backup (see
recommendation below).
5. Click Back up now.
Result: A new backup box appears in the backup list. To create a new version of the backup in future,
select the backup box from the list, and then click Back up now.
Where do I store my disk backups?
Good: Your ordinary internal hard disk.
Better: Acronis Secure Zone (p. 159). This is a special secure partition on your local hard drive for
storing backups.