Restore paths issue using Acronis

[ronaries]

Using my desktop and Windows Vista, I restored a Lenovo hard drive - the new (replaced) Lenovo WDig 160 drv was on Esata in ext Thermaltake case and the WDig bakup was on Esata drv in ext. case.
Apparently I made (multiple) errrors using the restore software's restore paths - I did get confused with all the drive partitions listed for each of the 3 disks in use. End result is that the new 160 notebook drive has a drive J and N within it...each containing almost 1 gb of files.
Complicating the partitions issue is that each partition contains USER files ...and I'm having a nightmare trying to copy and integrate those files into the main part of the notebook hard drive. Many of these files will not copy - I presume this has to do with the "ownership" of these drives? Moreover, I am concerned if I delete stuff that I will delete desired files in the main directory - not just the duplicate file - this confusion stemming from the User Account Control procedures.
My objective is to copy - as expeditiously as possible - the User files and other files in each partition, and then to delete that partition.
Lastly, the "system" area is blank 15 GB, and that is wher the "lenovo one key" restore program should have lodged itself, instead of in one of my partitions above. Can this just be copied onto the drive?
Its been a confusing ride! Thanks for help. Will check this for comments in the morning!

Using HP desktop pavilion 6510f, Win7, 4 gb memory, eSata pci card w/ Thermaltake and Rosewill esata cases, West Dig Acronis TI software download.

[ronaries]

Ooops I forgot to mention that I used a Lenovo restore disk to restore Windows - then I went to the bakup I made to restore personal files etc. Thats when I started having trouble!

[pam123]

Since you still have the first set of backups, if I understand you correctly, I would bite the bullet and start over from a fresh restore and this time I would have the written out plans for personal files before me to avoid confusion.

[ronaries]

Well, Pam, I'm still hoping to work this out and avoid having to deal with the 357 Vista security updates and 47 system restarts again!

Seriously, I realized that my error is not in the creation of partitions, but rather that the paths kept the name from the backups (J: and N so that the paths are all askew.
And then some of the files ...the ones which were created by a program r/t the user...are öwned" by one of the programs/paths and resist being copied. I think I will - for the moment - simply ignore these. Hopefuly none of them will be vital Windows or Office files in the user area ...do you think????

I found the Acronis program restore procedure to be needlessly confusing. I recognize that its complexity is compounded by my archiving and restoring on case enclosures which have different paths that the original path in the notebook....a lesson for the future, I guess.

[pam123]

I've been in this sort of fix before and I sympathize with you, it's also why I always plan restoring files like I would a campaign and put all the steps in writing before I start.
It's amazingly easy to lose track otherwise.

This is how you take ownership in Vista : Take Ownership of file - Vista Forums

I've found it's a really "fiddlely" process that will try your patience but you can reclaim files as you need them.

[ronaries]

Pam, thanks for the citation. As I read it, it reminds me of a dangerous swim hole that had signs saying, "Swim at your own risk" after I passed the "Danger! No Swimming" signs!

I would re-do the entire Vista refresh if I thought I could handle the restore any better - but I doubt it. I looked at the Acronis menu for quite a while and attempted both new path and orig path restores...and I was not impressed with my efforts. Again, the problem stems from the nature of my backup material, I think...and then I added user files that had been copied. Oh woe!

It would help me greatly to know if there are any KEY windows vista files in the user file directory... as my thought is to delete the 2 surplus directories....this would retrieve approx 35 gb on a 160 gb notebook drive, a substantial recapture. Please keep in mind that there is an original user file which I will not modify (deliberately...but who knows what happens when one sometimes copies!) However, if this deletion attempt likely creates nightmares I'll need to rethink the entire venture.

I don't know anyone else who has been to this "place"before in the world of Restore, so I very much appreciate your thoughts!

[pam123]

The only thing I can suggest at this distance is that you look through the folders manually.
A time consuming chore but the only way you can be certain before you delete anything.

[ronaries]

So far - so good on deleting excess files ....

QUESTION: i show a C drive (healthy,active, primary, system) and a d: drive (primary, healthy) and then a unlabelled, type Basic drive of 14.65 Gb (healthy, EISA) which is empty.

Can I delete this unlabelled partition? I have Partition Master...which I think will re-partition drives....but I dont know what effect it would have to do so on this unlabelled partition.

Also, in drive D: there is 32 Gb, only 15.5 are in use. I'd hope to shrink this down also ...it has the restore data & drivers on it...

the drive in question is a 160 gb WDig, new replacement in a Lenovo Y430 notebook.

[pam123]

Danger Will Robinson

You don't delete anything until you're sure everything else is present an accounted for on the partition(s) of your choosing.
Then you make very sure what partition the change will affect.

[ronaries]

Thanks, Pam, for the alert - tho I did have to look it up! Some part of my brain told me that there was a message there and it wasn't meant for Will Robinson!

I am proceeding with great caution - and have abandoned my earlier goal of removing 2 partiitions as the risks exceed the reward of such action.

presently, my goal is to move/copy all pers files/pics/music etc into the "active" or orig user file ....and let all the other material just sit in those secondary user files, particularly as there is no compulsory need for space currently.

I have a question tho about the "restore" file area ... isn't it normally a separate partition, eg a "D" drive? This notebook has the D drive, but in addition to Lenovo's "one step restore" it has many other files as well as Lenovo drivers. At the worst, I guess the system restore might not function correctly...

Thanks for the help thru this process!

[pam123]

Yes there are normally separate partitions for restore and, depending on model, diagnostics.