Question 1

Will this create a backup to a DVD drive and allow restore from same?  Thanks Bill

Accepted Answer

Yes, it will allow you to make backups to DVDs, including spanning multiple DVDs if the backup is large enough. Depending on whether you use single or double layer DVDs, you'll need approximately 1 DVD for each 4.5 GB of data to be backed up. This means if you're going to back up a 500 GB drive, you're going to need 110 DVDs - and you're going to be sitting there changing DVDs for a while! You might wish to consider one of the relatively inexpensive external backup drives (USB 3.0, if your computer supports it), just to save yourself time. I use WD Passport drives, back up daily, and transport the drives between my home and my shop so that I have always have a recent backup offsite.

Question 2

Does this version support or include Disk Cloning?

Accepted Answer

Grant,
Honestly I've not installed 2015 yet.   However I've used 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014.   I've built PC's for myself, wife, son, daugther & some friends.  My copy of 2015 is for my new PC  which I'll build after Win10 is "formally" released.

In all the versions listed above - I've used disk cloning.   I rotate my HD's every month using disk cloning.   I've never had a problem.   Some caveats though:   On my PC I have  a 3rd party 6g/b sata hookup & I've noted that I can't clone to a "none 6g/b sata port.   It took roughly 6-10 hrs.   I then switched my 6g/b sata to 3g/b & it buzzed through in roughly a hr or so..  I've never had a problem switching back to a cloned drive - although I always boot the drive up "once" before storing in a safe.   I've used Acronis backups on several family friends PC's no problems.   I have to believe that 2015 will be as good or better.  I love the product. What else can I say?

Question 3

Does it support gpt format, Raid controller?

Accepted Answer

First let me say that I cannot answer this question totally from first hand experience.

1) I have a raid card (Rocket 640L) installed but I am NOT using it's raid capabilities. (I have it installed to get SATA 3/6Bs speeds on a motherboard with only SATA 2.) I've had no problems with this raid card and Acronis compatibility.

2)Acronis claims on there web site to support RAID. (See  Acronis knowledge base #11681 )

3) Acronis also supports GPT formats (with some limitations) per their knowledge base. (See  Acronis knowledge base #6533 )

Hope this helped!

Question 4

The current 2016 version indicates a 1 year time period calling it a subscription for the "cloud" feature. Yet, I don't see a time limit revealed anywhere on this or any other sales listing I've encountered. Does this 2015 version have any time limits for using the unlimited cloud option?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's still a one year period for backing up to their cloud. After that, you pay for another year's access to the cloud.

Question 5

I have two laptops and a 1TB external hard drive.  Is this software normally installed on the external hard drive or the individual machines?  If installation is required on each individual machines would I need to purchase a copy for each?

Accepted Answer

It is installed on each individual machine. You will need a license for each machine, because when you register it (which you have to do in order to run it), it will look up to see if the serial number is already registered to another machine, and will then ask if you want to UN-install it from the machine where it's already registered in order to perform the new installation.

I use it on all of my machines, and I've put it on dozens of client machines  as well. It's the best backup software I've found for the money.

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