RAID0 backup/restore on a laptop

You should back up your entire RAID0 to a disk and partition image. To be even more sure you can restore, do the backup from the recovery CD. Make sure you select all the partitions. Once the image is done, validate it.
Once you are done with the backup, change your strip size and restore the image.

Thanks. That makes sense.

Is this the correct sequence of action?
A. BACKUP
1) create a bootable USB stick (I had to give up my DVD drive for the second SSD)
2) set the BIOS boot order to boot from USB first
3) boot with the USB stick
4) start Acronis --> Disk and Partition Backup --> select all partitions of the RAID (System_DRV and Windows7_OS) --> Disk Backup Options --> click Back up sector-by-sector --> Validation: click Validate backup when it is created
and back up the RAID0 array to the HDD
5) when backup is complete, remove USB and external eSATA drive (containing the clone)
6) reboot system
7) plug in external eSATA drive (containing the clone)
8) Select the Backup to validate (a second time??), click "Operations" and select "Validate backup"
9) if validation OK, remove external eSATA drive (containing the clone) and reboot
10) rebuild the RAD0, changing the strip size

B. RECOVER:
11) select the backup containing the partition image --> Click Recover --> select the corresponding check boxes of the partitions to recover (or click "Switch to disk mode ??")
--> In the "Choose recovery destination field" (below the partition name), select the destination partition (RAID) --> select the MBR check box ?? --> select Recover disk signature check box ?? --> click to use Acronis Universal Restore technology ??

12) Reboot and enjoy the faster RAID

BTW, I do not have Acronis Plus pack. Since I am cloning from a RAID to a HDD, will I need it? Quote:"Using Acronis Universal Restore will help you create a bootable system clone on different hardware ). Choose this option when recovering your system disk to a computer with a processor, motherboard or mass storage device that is different from the one in place when the system was originally backed up."

4) You do not need to select sector-by-sector. Users often think this is necessary to recover a system afterwards. This is not correct. What is important is to include all the partitions of the disk that contains the system disk.
8) you do not need to validate again if you validated after the backup

11) recover from the boot CD. Be aware the boot CD will show up drive letters different from what you see in windows. Look at the labels.
Yes, select the MBR and track0, select the disk signature, do NOT select the Acronis UR. A new, different disk doesn't quality as different hardware. A different motherboard/computer/disk controller does. Since you stay with RAID, you are OK.

Dear Pat L,

Thank you so much for your help.

I corrected the checklist for my and everyone else's benefit:

A. BACKUP
1) create a bootable USB stick (I had to give up my DVD drive for the second SSD)
2) set the BIOS boot order to boot from USB first
3) boot with the USB stick
4) start Acronis --> Disk and Partition Backup --> select all partitions of the RAID (System_DRV and Windows7_OS) --> Disk Backup Options --> do not select Back up sector-by-sector --> Validation: click Validate backup when it is created
and back up the RAID0 array to the HDD
5) when backup is complete, remove USB and external eSATA drive (containing the clone)
6) reboot system
7) plug in external eSATA drive (containing the clone)
8) remove external eSATA drive (containing the clone) and reboot
8) rebuild the RAID0, changing the strip size from 128k to 16k (as recommended by Intel for SSDs)

B. RECOVER:
10) boot with the USB stick ((drive letters will be different from what you see in windows. Look at the labels)
11) start Acronis --> select the backup containing the partition image --> Click Recover --> select the corresponding check boxes of the partitions to recover (or click "Switch to disk mode ??")
--> In the "Choose recovery destination field" (below the partition name), select the destination partition (RAID) --> select the MBR check box --> select Recover disk signature check box --> do not click to use Acronis Universal Restore technology
12) Reboot and enjoy the faster RAID

5) no need to remove the eSata drive
7) and 8) are not needed

Correction:

A. BACKUP
1) create a bootable USB stick (I had to give up my DVD drive for the second SSD)
2) set the BIOS boot order to boot from USB first
3) boot with the USB stick
4) start Acronis --> Disk and Partition Backup --> select all partitions of the RAID (System_DRV and Windows7_OS) --> Disk Backup Options --> do not select Back up sector-by-sector --> Validation: click Validate backup when it is created
and back up the RAID0 array to the HDD
5) when backup is complete, remove USB
6) reboot system
7) rebuild the RAID0, changing the strip size from 128k to 16k (as recommended by Intel for SSDs)

B. RECOVER:
8) boot with the USB stick (drive letters will be different from what you see in windows. Look at the labels)
9) start Acronis --> select the backup containing the partition image --> Click Recover --> select the corresponding check boxes of the partitions to recover (or click "Switch to disk mode ??")
--> In the "Choose recovery destination field" (below the partition name), select the destination partition (RAID) --> select the MBR check box --> select Recover disk signature check box --> do not click to use Acronis Universal Restore technology
12) When the Recovery is complete, re-boot and enjoy the faster RAID

9) When you backup, if you select all the partitions of your RAID disk, it is the same as switching to disk mode and selecting the disk.
When you restore, if you check all the partitions and the MBR and track0, it is the same as restoring the entire disk.

Thanks, Pat! I revised it to include your advice:

RAID0 Backup / Restore Procedure:

A. BACKUP
1) create a bootable USB stick (I had to give up my DVD drive for the second SSD)
2) set the BIOS boot order to boot from USB first
3) boot with the USB stick
4) start Acronis --> Disk and Partition Backup --> select all partitions of the RAID (System_DRV and Windows7_OS) (or switch to "disk mode" and select the disk) --> Disk Backup Options --> do not select Back up sector-by-sector --> Validation: click Validate backup when it is created
and back up the RAID0 array to the HDD
5) when backup is complete, remove USB
6) reboot system
7) rebuild the RAID0, changing the strip size from 128k to 16k (as recommended by Intel for SSDs)

B. RECOVER:
8) boot with the USB stick (drive letters will be different from what you see in windows. Look at the labels)
9) start Acronis --> select the backup containing the partition image --> Click Recover --> select the corresponding check boxes of the partitions to recover (or click "Switch to disk mode")
--> In the "Choose recovery destination field" (below the partition name), select the destination partition (RAID) --> select the MBR check box --> select Recover disk signature check box --> select Track 0 box (or choose "restore entire disk") --> do not click to use Acronis Universal Restore technology
12) When the Recovery is complete, re-boot and enjoy the faster RAID

I did two trial run up to step 5. (I can't afford to mess this up).
How do I "Validate backup when it is created" using Bootable Media?

When you see a backup in the recovery CD UI, you can right click on it and validate from there.

That's good to know. I thought I had a "Validate backup when it is created" option when I did it the first time, but I may be mistaken...

Hubert,
Yes, there is an option which enables a backup to be validated immediately following the backup or as part of the backup procedure.

This is part of the "Backup options" available for selection via the Summary page. The page which lists the optional steps/backup options is on the same page as the "Cancel or Proceed" option.

Thanks, GroverH