Acronis True Image 2021 USER GUIDE Table of contents 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................7 1.1 What is Acronis® True Image™? ................................................................................................ 7 1.2 New in this version .................................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Backups created in Acronis True Image 2020 or later ............................................................... 8 1.4 System requirements and supported media ............................................................................. 9 1.4.1 Minimum system requirements .................................................................................................................... 9 1.4.2 Supported operating systems ...................................................................................................................... 10 1.4.3 Supported file systems .................................................................................................................................. 10 1.4.4 Supported Internet connection types ......................................................................................................... 11 1.4.5 Supported storage media ............................................................................................................................. 11 1.5 Installing Acronis True Image 2021 ..........................................................................................12 1.6 Activating Acronis True Image 2021 ........................................................................................13 1.7 Trial version information .........................................................................................................14 1.8 Upgrading Acronis True Image 2021 .......................................................................................15 1.9 Technical Support ....................................................................................................................16 2 Getting started .............................................................................................................. 17 2.1 User interface language ...........................................................................................................17 2.2 Protecting your system ............................................................................................................17 2.2.1 Step 1. Backing up your computer ............................................................................................................... 18 2.2.2 Step 2. Creating Acronis bootable media .................................................................................................... 19 2.3 Backing up all data on your PC ................................................................................................20 2.4 Creating an Acronis Survival Kit ...............................................................................................21 2.5 Backing up your files ................................................................................................................23 2.6 Cloning your hard drive ...........................................................................................................24 2.7 Recovering your computer ......................................................................................................25 2.8 Acronis account .......................................................................................................................27 2.9 Getting started with Acronis Cloud .........................................................................................28 2.9.1 How we ensure security of your data .......................................................................................................... 28 2.9.2 Subscription information .............................................................................................................................. 28 3 Basic concepts ............................................................................................................... 30 3.1 Basic concepts ..........................................................................................................................30 3.2 The difference between file backups and disk/partition images ............................................31 3.3 Full, incremental and differential backups ..............................................................................33 3.4 Deciding where to store your backups ....................................................................................35 3.4.1 Preparing a new disk for backup .................................................................................................................. 36 3.4.2 FTP connection .............................................................................................................................................. 37 3.4.3 Authentication settings ................................................................................................................................. 37 3.5 Using Acronis Nonstop Backup ................................................................................................38 3.5.1 Acronis Nonstop Backup data storage ........................................................................................................ 39 3.5.2 Nonstop Backup - Frequently asked questions ........................................................................................... 40 3.6 Backup file naming ...................................................................................................................41 2 Copyright © Acronis International GmbH, 2003-2021 3.7 Integration with Windows .......................................................................................................42 3.8 Wizards ....................................................................................................................................43 3.9 FAQ about backup, recovery and cloning ................................................................................43 4 Backing up data ............................................................................................................. 45 4.1 Backing up disks and partitions ...............................................................................................45 4.2 Backing up files and folders .....................................................................................................47 4.3 Backing up mobile devices .......................................................................................................48 4.3.1 Acronis Mobile ............................................................................................................................................... 49 4.3.2 Local destination of mobile backups ........................................................................................................... 49 4.4 Backing up Office 365 data ......................................................................................................50 4.5 Backup options ........................................................................................................................50 4.5.1 Scheduling ...................................................................................................................................................... 51 4.5.2 Backup schemes ............................................................................................................................................ 54 4.5.3 Notifications for backup operation .............................................................................................................. 60 4.5.4 Excluding items from backup ....................................................................................................................... 61 4.5.5 Image creation mode .................................................................................................................................... 63 4.5.6 Backup protection ......................................................................................................................................... 63 4.5.7 Pre/Post commands for backup ................................................................................................................... 64 4.5.8 Backup splitting ............................................................................................................................................. 65 4.5.9 Backup validation option .............................................................................................................................. 65 4.5.10 Backup reserve copy ..................................................................................................................................... 66 4.5.11 Removable media settings ........................................................................................................................... 67 4.5.12 Error handling ................................................................................................................................................ 67 4.5.13 File-level security settings for backup .......................................................................................................... 68 4.5.14 Computer shutdown ....................................................................................................................................