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Which partitions are necessary for a complete backup?

Anonymous
2014-10-10T17:33:30+00:00

I have a new Lenovo laptop with Win 8.1 and I want to create a backup image using Acronis. 

Acronis shows that there are 6 partitions.  What are all of these partitions? 

From what I've found Googling, the PBR partition seems to be involved with Lenovo's backup/recovery system, OneKey.  I guess that this partition is used together with the D: partition.

If I just want to make periodic backups to restore Windows, and don't care about the ability to restore to factory condition, which of the partitions should be backed up?  My guess is only C, unless the hard drive fails.  If I need to get a functioning system by restoring to a new blank drive, which partitions need to be restored?

NTFS (Windows8_OS) (C:) -- this is obviously the main partition with OS and user files

NTFS (LENOVO) (D:) -- 25 GB partition, about 3 GB used

NTFS (WINRE_DRV)  -- about 1 GB partition, 295 MB used

FAT32 (SYSTEM_DRV) -- 260 MB partition, 33 MB used

FAT32 (LRS_ESP) -- about 1 GB partition, 500 MB used

NTFS (PBR_DRV) -- about 14 GB partition, 10 GB used

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  1. @CmdrKeene 90,616 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2014-10-10T18:33:32+00:00

    You're right -- just the C: would be all you need to be able to restore your current working desktop environment (OS, all programs, files, settings, everything).  Every other drive letter/partition is used for factory recovery, restore environments (safe boot), and other functions. None of it is "truly" required to restore your working image.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-10-10T19:35:21+00:00

    Thanks again/

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  2. @CmdrKeene 90,616 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2014-10-10T19:24:25+00:00

    The only one I'm sure about is the RE drive (Windows Recovery Environment), which is basically the same thing you'd get if you booted up from the recovery CD disc.  It's just a mini version of Windows for recovery and admin work.

    The other two, I'm not sure what those are even for. Probably partitioning information but way outside my familiarity to guess there.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-10-10T19:08:09+00:00

    Thanks.

    Can you explain what these are for:

    NTFS (WINRE_DRV)  -- about 1 GB partition, 295 MB used

    FAT32 (SYSTEM_DRV) -- 260 MB partition, 33 MB used

    FAT32 (LRS_ESP) -- about 1 GB partition, 500 MB used

    The first two are obviously small, so what added functionality do I get if I restore these as well as C to an otherwise blank drive?

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