yorolpal
I've got about 3.5 TB to backup.  

Surely not all of that 3.5TB is your C: drive?
 
For my DAW, I have two 2TB externals. One keeps my EWQL 1TB drive backup and my Acronis C: full backup. The other one is my projects drive that I use a linux like util that syncs the backup drive to to my Cakewalk Projects folder on my F: drive (projects). I run that utility at least three times a week. I should run it at the end of a session (or in the middle of an extremely looooooong one).
 
My E: drive (samples) is primarily backed up at my vendor's site but most recent downloads/upgrades are stored to my raid NAS. And of course I have about 50 CD/DVD drives of install data too.
 
 

The next thing to do is see if you can:
 
a) Restore a single file from Acronis via Windows.
b) Restore a single file from Acronis via your boot CD.
c) If you have another spare drive you could try and do a full restore.
 
It's generally best to make your own boot CD (via Acronis app) as drivers get copied across and it always copies the latest patched version of Acronis. If you use a NAS it's generally essential as your network drivers get copied over as well (well hopefully).
 

yorolpal
I've got about 3.5 TB to backup.  So it takes almost that whole drive to do a complete backup of my system.

Maybe if you didn't archive Bapu's posts that would bring it down a few TB's? 

You know...I never considered that. Woah!

I just backed up my whole computer. Is that a bad thing? I've got most of my projects on two different drives and even most of my apps as well. So I thought a total DAW backup was the way to go. Really...and I know this might sound completely crazy...but I am, after all...I mostly don't mind when I lose personal projects for some crazy reason. It just makes me have to both re-think and re-produce them and I almost always like the new versions better. Always look on the bright side of life. Or not.

I just backup my whole system with all of my drives all at once. I don't bother with targeted backups don't see the point. You can still restore exactly what you need.

yorolpal
i recently bought an external 4terrabyte HD and Acronis 2015. Then I backed up my entire system, unplugged the drive and kept on keepin on. I figure I've made enough new changes and bought enough new plugs to do a new backup. Do I just plug in the drive and do it all again...or is there something different I need to do in Acronis to just "amend" the original backup??

FWIW, I don't like having a backup dependent on another backup (incremental)... as it increases the odds that something could go wrong.
 
If you have a retail copy, the install disc is also a Bootable Rescue Disc.
There's no need to install True Image.  Boot from this disc and you can create/restore any backup image file.
Super clean/lean method of backup/restore (no scheduling services to disable)!
 
I'd just make sure to keep a reasonably up-to-date (full) backup image file.
If the worst happens, you reload and you're right back in business.
 

Thanks Jim, Ol pal. Will do.