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Clean Install vs. Upgrade, and Reaching Legacy Image Data

A clean installation of NovaBACKUP 22 does not include the Legacy NovaBACKUP UI or the image backup engine. Plan how to reach legacy image backups before you rebuild a computer.

Applies to: NovaBACKUP PC Agent and NovaBACKUP Server Agent, version 22, on computers that have legacy image backups or other legacy backups from version 21.x or earlier.

An in-place upgrade over 21.x keeps the Legacy NovaBACKUP UI linked and the image backup engine installed. A clean installation of NovaBACKUP 22 includes neither. If a computer has legacy image backups, plan how you will reach them before you rebuild it.

In-place upgrade vs. clean installation

In-place upgrade over 21.xClean installation of NovaBACKUP 22
When it happensYou run the NovaBACKUP 22 installer on a computer that has 21.x installedYou install NovaBACKUP 22 on a new computer, a rebuilt computer, or a computer where 21.x was uninstalled first
NovaBACKUP 22YesYes
Legacy UI linkedYes, from About > Open legacy interfaceNo
Image backup engineInstalledNot installed
Existing scheduled jobsKeep runningNone
Reaching legacy backupsFrom the Legacy UISee the options below

Before you rebuild a computer

The simplest way to avoid needing legacy image data on a rebuilt computer is to stop depending on it while the computer is still running:

  1. Replace each legacy image backup job with full system recovery: a backup job with Disaster Recovery selected, plus any other drives the image job covered. See Replacing Legacy Image Backup Jobs with Full System Recovery.
  2. Run the new job and confirm that it completes successfully.
  3. Create recovery media for the computer from the Disaster Recovery page in NovaBACKUP 22.

If you still need your legacy image backups after the rebuild, also create or verify your legacy boot media now, and test that it boots on the hardware you plan to use it on.

Important: NovaBACKUP 22 cannot create legacy boot media, because a clean installation does not install the image backup engine. Create legacy boot media with 21.x before you rebuild.

Reaching legacy image data after a clean installation

Option 1: Boot from legacy boot media

Start the computer from boot media created with NovaBACKUP 21.x and restore the legacy image backup from there. This does not affect the NovaBACKUP 22 installation.

If you did not create legacy boot media before rebuilding, create it on another computer that runs NovaBACKUP 21.x. Media created on that computer can restore this computer's legacy image backups.

Option 2: Install NovaBACKUP 21.x instead of NovaBACKUP 22

You can also use your NovaBACKUP 22 license key to install NovaBACKUP 21.x. On a computer where NovaBACKUP 22 is not yet installed, install 21.x to reach legacy image backups, legacy .nbd file backups, and backups on legacy devices. You can upgrade that computer to NovaBACKUP 22 later.

Important: An earlier version cannot be installed over a later one. If NovaBACKUP 22 is already installed, you must uninstall it before installing 21.x. Uninstalling it stops the backup jobs that NovaBACKUP 22 runs on that computer. Use Option 1 whenever possible.

Best Practices

  • Before upgrading a computer that has legacy image backup jobs, decide whether it will ever be rebuilt while those backups are still needed.
  • Keep your legacy boot media in a known location, labeled with the computer it belongs to.
  • After full system recovery has been running for longer than your legacy image retention period, you no longer need the legacy image backups or the legacy boot media.

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