By Gene Barlow
User Group Relations
Copyrighted September 2024
What True Image Version Should You Buy
I offer 4 different versions of Acronis True Image to choose from -- Essentials, Advanced w/50GB, Advanced w/500GB, and Premium w/1TB. Which one do I recommend over the others?
Essentials is an excellent backup utility, but it is missing two major functions available in the other 3 Acronis versions. First, it is missing most of the outstanding Cyber Protection features of the new True Image product. Second, it is missing the ability to store any backups on the internet.
Advanced w/500GB or Premium w/1TB have both features missing in Essentials, but they focus on large internet storage, which is very slow for backups. They are also more expensive to buy.
The product I recommend you use is Acronis True Image Advanced w/50GB. It is an excellent product with the full power of the new Acronis True Image at a bargain price. You can't go wrong with this selection!
Multi-Computer Serial# or Multiple Serial#s
The next part of my recommendation is a bit confusing, so read it carefully. It deals with what type of license you should get. Acronis offers 1 serial number for 1 computer at full price. They also offer 1 serial number for 3 computers and 1 serial number for 5 computers at quantity discount prices. I offer these same options as Acronis, only at half what they charge. I also offer 3 serial numbers for 3 computers and 5 serial numbers for 5 computers at half the quantity discount Acronis charges for a single multi-computer serial number. I recommend the multiple serial numbers since they have special advantages over the single multi-computer serial number Acronis (and I) offer!
What are the special advantages you get with these multiple serial numbers? First, when you install True Image on your first computer using one of the multiple serial numbers, the annual clock doesn't start clicking for all your computers, only on the computer you installed on. With the single multi-computer serial number, once you use the serial number on your first computer, the annual clock starts clicking on all your computers. So, you had better install it on all your computers at the same time.
Second, with multiple serial numbers you have the flexibility to install the different serial numbers on any computer, even to install more than 1 serial number on the same computer. Stacking a second serial number on one of your computers causes another year to be added to its expiration clock. For example, you could buy 5 serial numbers at our deepest discount and use these on 2 computers by adding 3 serial numbers (years) to 1 computer and 2 serial numbers (years) to the other. Or you could stack all 5 serial numbers on one computer for 5 years of full support and free upgrades.
Summary of My Recommendation
Purchase 5 licenses / 5 serial# of Acronis True Image Advanced w/50GB at the bargain price of only $53. Do this for each computer you want to protect. That will give you 5 years of the best backup and internet protection available on all your computers. These 5 years are fully supported with free upgrades to any new releases.
Additional Considerations
Save Some Serial Numbers: I recommend that you initially install only 1 or 2 serial numbers on each computer. Keep the unused serial numbers in a file to be used later. Don't register them or install them, but just keep them in a safe place to be used later. I would copy them to a text file which you store on a thumb drive, so you can easily copy and paste them to your Acronis account in the future. Unused, these serial numbers can be used even a few years later and they will be good. Storing these serial numbers for future use gives you extra flexibility. Let's say you have 2 computers now and buy 5 licenses each or a total of 10 serial numbers. Install 2 licenses on each computer keeping 6 licenses in storage. Two years later you may buy another computer and now must protect 3 computers. Since you have 6 licenses in storage, you could install 2 licenses on each of your 3 computers to protect all 3 for two more years.
Separate Acronis Accounts: You do need to install and register these licenses/serial# in a certain way. Each computer must be registered with a separate Acronis account. This means each of your computers will need a separate email address to create the account. Gmail and Yahoo both offer free email accounts, so this should not cost you a penny. So, signup for (name1@gmail.com, name2@gmail.com, etc.) with either gmail or yahoo. Then go to the Acronis website at www.acronis.com and click on Login in the upper right corner of their home page, then click on Acronis Account in the drop-down menu. After you login, you will see your account page. It should only show one computer. Follow the instructions in the True Image Starter Guide to install the first license on each computer. I suggest that you keep track of which serial number is installed on each computer.
To install a second and all following serial numbers on each computer, login to the account for that computer, using the email address you used to set up that computer. On your account page for that computer click on Products under Acronis Account in the dark blue column on the left side of your screen. When you do this, you will see the currently installed product in the large white column on the middle and right side of your screen. To add an additional serial number (another year) to this computer, click on the [+ Add Keys] button at the top right corner of your account screen. A box will appear that you will use to add additional serial numbers to this computer. Copy (Ctrl-c) your next serial number and then paste (Ctrl-v) it on top of the x-dummy key in the box and click the Add button in the lower right corner of the box. When you add a new serial number to your computer you will notice that the License Expires date will increase by one year. Again, note the serial number you added to each computer.
How to Change Product Versions: What if you currently use a different version of True Image than the version I recommend you get. In general, all versions of True Image are very compatible with each other and changing which version you use to my recommended Advanced w/50 GB should not be a problem. However, to be safe it would be wise to take some precautions. First, I would run out of any remaining time on my old version before installing the recommended version. Second, I would set up a new account to use with each computer and the new version. Third, I would start the new version with a full backup followed by incremental backups. Fourth, I would keep all backup images from the old version till you have built up a few new images in your new account. These steps should be adequate to keep backup images from different versions separate and distinct.
How to Change from One Account to Many: To gain the advantages of using my recommended product, you must set up a different account for each computer you protect with Acronis True Image. If you only have one account for all your computers now, you will need to move to separate accounts. This will be easy to do with a little planning. First, I would run out my current version of True Image in the old, combined account. Second, I would setup a new separate account for each computer. Third, I would install the recommended product in this new account when the old license expires. This approach should make the transition to multiple accounts go smoothly.
User Group Relations
Copyrighted September 2024
What True Image Version Should You Buy
I offer 4 different versions of Acronis True Image to choose from -- Essentials, Advanced w/50GB, Advanced w/500GB, and Premium w/1TB. Which one do I recommend over the others?
Essentials is an excellent backup utility, but it is missing two major functions available in the other 3 Acronis versions. First, it is missing most of the outstanding Cyber Protection features of the new True Image product. Second, it is missing the ability to store any backups on the internet.
Advanced w/500GB or Premium w/1TB have both features missing in Essentials, but they focus on large internet storage, which is very slow for backups. They are also more expensive to buy.
The product I recommend you use is Acronis True Image Advanced w/50GB. It is an excellent product with the full power of the new Acronis True Image at a bargain price. You can't go wrong with this selection!
Multi-Computer Serial# or Multiple Serial#s
The next part of my recommendation is a bit confusing, so read it carefully. It deals with what type of license you should get. Acronis offers 1 serial number for 1 computer at full price. They also offer 1 serial number for 3 computers and 1 serial number for 5 computers at quantity discount prices. I offer these same options as Acronis, only at half what they charge. I also offer 3 serial numbers for 3 computers and 5 serial numbers for 5 computers at half the quantity discount Acronis charges for a single multi-computer serial number. I recommend the multiple serial numbers since they have special advantages over the single multi-computer serial number Acronis (and I) offer!
What are the special advantages you get with these multiple serial numbers? First, when you install True Image on your first computer using one of the multiple serial numbers, the annual clock doesn't start clicking for all your computers, only on the computer you installed on. With the single multi-computer serial number, once you use the serial number on your first computer, the annual clock starts clicking on all your computers. So, you had better install it on all your computers at the same time.
Second, with multiple serial numbers you have the flexibility to install the different serial numbers on any computer, even to install more than 1 serial number on the same computer. Stacking a second serial number on one of your computers causes another year to be added to its expiration clock. For example, you could buy 5 serial numbers at our deepest discount and use these on 2 computers by adding 3 serial numbers (years) to 1 computer and 2 serial numbers (years) to the other. Or you could stack all 5 serial numbers on one computer for 5 years of full support and free upgrades.
Summary of My Recommendation
Purchase 5 licenses / 5 serial# of Acronis True Image Advanced w/50GB at the bargain price of only $53. Do this for each computer you want to protect. That will give you 5 years of the best backup and internet protection available on all your computers. These 5 years are fully supported with free upgrades to any new releases.
Additional Considerations
Save Some Serial Numbers: I recommend that you initially install only 1 or 2 serial numbers on each computer. Keep the unused serial numbers in a file to be used later. Don't register them or install them, but just keep them in a safe place to be used later. I would copy them to a text file which you store on a thumb drive, so you can easily copy and paste them to your Acronis account in the future. Unused, these serial numbers can be used even a few years later and they will be good. Storing these serial numbers for future use gives you extra flexibility. Let's say you have 2 computers now and buy 5 licenses each or a total of 10 serial numbers. Install 2 licenses on each computer keeping 6 licenses in storage. Two years later you may buy another computer and now must protect 3 computers. Since you have 6 licenses in storage, you could install 2 licenses on each of your 3 computers to protect all 3 for two more years.
Separate Acronis Accounts: You do need to install and register these licenses/serial# in a certain way. Each computer must be registered with a separate Acronis account. This means each of your computers will need a separate email address to create the account. Gmail and Yahoo both offer free email accounts, so this should not cost you a penny. So, signup for (name1@gmail.com, name2@gmail.com, etc.) with either gmail or yahoo. Then go to the Acronis website at www.acronis.com and click on Login in the upper right corner of their home page, then click on Acronis Account in the drop-down menu. After you login, you will see your account page. It should only show one computer. Follow the instructions in the True Image Starter Guide to install the first license on each computer. I suggest that you keep track of which serial number is installed on each computer.
To install a second and all following serial numbers on each computer, login to the account for that computer, using the email address you used to set up that computer. On your account page for that computer click on Products under Acronis Account in the dark blue column on the left side of your screen. When you do this, you will see the currently installed product in the large white column on the middle and right side of your screen. To add an additional serial number (another year) to this computer, click on the [+ Add Keys] button at the top right corner of your account screen. A box will appear that you will use to add additional serial numbers to this computer. Copy (Ctrl-c) your next serial number and then paste (Ctrl-v) it on top of the x-dummy key in the box and click the Add button in the lower right corner of the box. When you add a new serial number to your computer you will notice that the License Expires date will increase by one year. Again, note the serial number you added to each computer.
How to Change Product Versions: What if you currently use a different version of True Image than the version I recommend you get. In general, all versions of True Image are very compatible with each other and changing which version you use to my recommended Advanced w/50 GB should not be a problem. However, to be safe it would be wise to take some precautions. First, I would run out of any remaining time on my old version before installing the recommended version. Second, I would set up a new account to use with each computer and the new version. Third, I would start the new version with a full backup followed by incremental backups. Fourth, I would keep all backup images from the old version till you have built up a few new images in your new account. These steps should be adequate to keep backup images from different versions separate and distinct.
How to Change from One Account to Many: To gain the advantages of using my recommended product, you must set up a different account for each computer you protect with Acronis True Image. If you only have one account for all your computers now, you will need to move to separate accounts. This will be easy to do with a little planning. First, I would run out my current version of True Image in the old, combined account. Second, I would setup a new separate account for each computer. Third, I would install the recommended product in this new account when the old license expires. This approach should make the transition to multiple accounts go smoothly.