How To: FSX Backups?

[MDF86 123]

Hey Guys

 

I've recently changed hardware and am about to embark on the absolute mammoth task of a total clean reinstall of FSX, and countless add-on aircraft, sceneries, utilities, etc. etc.

 

To get into good habits, I want to do a backup of the FSX installation in a totally "clean" state, and then take an image of the FSX environment before installing each new add-on in the future, so that I always have a restore point to the last known good setup of FSX.

 

Are there any freeware disck backup/recovery tools that will allow me to do this? Ideally I want to keep things as simple as possible. I just want is a program that will allow me (before each time I install a new add on) to create a restore point of the FSX directory so that if I find major issues following the installation, I can simply roll back to how it was beforehand, without any uninstalling or messing around with the FSX directory. Just open application and "roll back".

 

I don't mind paying for a payware software to do this if there is no good free utility that will do the same thing.

 

Over to you! Many thanks guys.

[mokeiko 39]

Hi MDF86,

 

I use Acronis Backup & Recovery (payware) and it has been a godsend. I wanted a backup system, exactly what you described, just in case I installed something and it messed up my FSX install and I would be able to restore to a point where everything worked. The app allows for full or incremental backups, I always make full backups after installing an addon after testing in FSX for a few days. Be prepared to have a large hard drive for this and it would be a good idea to make backup of the backup.

 

Good luck

[ryanbatc 12,813]

I just did this....

 

Orbx stuff is a pita .... Otherwise my order is:

 

Win7 updates

FSX and updates

Cfg tweaks

Addon scenery

Addon airplanes

Polishing up tweaking making sure everything is running well

[SpeedBird4509 0]

Acronis is amazing

[paulyg123 135]

Can you Acronis to copy the entire contents of my SSD FSX, Windows 7, addons, scenery etc (SSD is getting full) to another hard drive, then install a bigger SSD and copy everything  back to the new SSD?

[MDF86 123]

Thanks all, more than happy to pay for Acronis if it's as good as you say!

 

I just did this....

Orbx stuff is a pita .... Otherwise my order is:

Win7 updates
FSX and updates
Cfg tweaks
Addon scenery
Addon airplanes
Polishing up tweaking making sure everything is running well

 

What's the problem with Orbx stuff? I use a lot of their stuff so would need this to be covered by the backup process also.

[pete_auau 1,154]

Can you Acronis to copy the entire contents of my SSD FSX, Windows 7, addons, scenery etc (SSD is getting full) to another hard drive, then install a bigger SSD and copy everything  back to the new SSD?

 

As far as I know  you can that's the point  on having  it   for,  someone else  will chime in if  iam proven wrong

[MDF86 123]

I have FSX on one SSD, Windows on another SSD but with my Windows user files moved onto a third mechanical hard drive.

 

Will Acronis be able to handle this less than regular setup in order for me to get FSX back to a previous condition? Because it means that when I install add ons there will be changes both on the FSX SSD and the AppData which will be on a different drive..:

[pete_auau 1,154]

acronis will back up  any drives  that's you have  installed

[SpeedBird4509 0]

with acronis you can test addons and not be afraid because it restores your hard drive exactly/identical as you left it.  It's a restore program.  I restore my hard drive and all sims in just a few mins, exactly the same.....with all activations/settings intact.  buy it!

[Teddy 1]

 

 

with acronis you can test addons and not be afraid because it restores your hard drive exactly/identical as you left it.  It's a restore program.  I restore my hard drive and all sims in just a few mins, exactly the same.....with all activations/settings intact.  buy it!

 

Which version of Acronis do you suggest?

 

Ted

[Silver0066 0]

Which version of Acronis do you suggest?

 

Ted

Instead of Acronis, I think you will find AXTM much faster and more reliable.  Or you could try Macrium Reflect  which has a free version and a paid version.

 

ax64.com

[SpeedBird4509 0]

Which version of Acronis do you suggest?

 

Ted

acronis true image 2014

 

http://www.acronis.com/en-us/personal/pc-backup/

[Teddy 1]

 

 

I restore my hard drive and all sims in just a few mins, exactly the same.....with all activations/settings intact

 

Will this work even if I upgrade the pc (change the mobo, processor etc) or is it just good for the restore on the same one?

[SpeedBird4509 0]

Will this work even if I upgrade the pc (change the mobo, processor etc) or is it just good for the restore on the same one?

after an upgrade, just run the backup again.