Is it possible to use a clone of the system partition after some time?

Question

Windows

Hello,
Please tell me: if I clone the C:\ system partition with Acronis, and then pull out the cloned disk, put it on the shelf, continue to use the system on C:\, then later, after some time, if the system partition grunts, I can use the clone as a kind of backup and just start Windows from the cloned disk? Or you need to clone and use immediately. and the delay, for example, will cause some kind of discrepancy and Windows from the old clone will simply not start.
Thanks in advance, I always choose Answer-solution.

Answer 1

Of course you can. Actually, this is exactly how any idea with backups works. There are no time limits you fear.
But there is a caveat - partition C can be quite large, and it is uneconomical to store it in an uncompressed form. Therefore, it would be more correct not to create a clone, but a partition image compressed by Acronis TI's proprietary algorithm (well, or Norton Ghost) - it will take up much less disk space.

Answer 2

Of course you can use it, there is no time limit. There is only one nuance to keep in mind. Let's say you use your main disk with the system, and a year later it fails and you need to connect the backup disk you are talking about, how up-to-date will the programs be there at that time? After all, in the system that you used, the programs were updated, the same browser, for example, and in the backup that was made a year ago, there are no updates of all of these. Therefore, it is worth considering this moment and updating your backup from time to time so that changes made in the main system get there.