I have a 40 gb ATA drive on a system that is running out of space.

I bought a new Maxtor 120 gb drive for a replacement.

I used the Maxtor Maxblast software to copy the 40 gb to the 120. Every
program that had used Windows Installer as its installation utility had a
problem in opening. This includes all office components, Adobe 7
Professional, MS Streets and Trips etc.

I put the 40 gb back in and would like to try again with another product. I
have Acronis 9 and would purchase another product to avoid all these MS
installer issues if someone would recommend one that has worked
successfully.

Looking for a recommendation.

TIA, GWB

Why won't True Image work?

JS

"George W. Barrowcliff" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a 40 gb ATA drive on a system that is running out of space.
>
> I bought a new Maxtor 120 gb drive for a replacement.
>
> I used the Maxtor Maxblast software to copy the 40 gb to the 120. Every
> program that had used Windows Installer as its installation utility had a
> problem in opening. This includes all office components, Adobe 7
> Professional, MS Streets and Trips etc.
>
> I put the 40 gb back in and would like to try again with another product.
> I have Acronis 9 and would purchase another product to avoid all these MS
> installer issues if someone would recommend one that has worked
> successfully.
>
> Looking for a recommendation.
>
> TIA, GWB
>

George W. Barrowcliff wrote:
> I have a 40 gb ATA drive on a system that is running out of space.
>
> I bought a new Maxtor 120 gb drive for a replacement.
>
> I used the Maxtor Maxblast software to copy the 40 gb to the 120. Every
> program that had used Windows Installer as its installation utility had a
> problem in opening. This includes all office components, Adobe 7
> Professional, MS Streets and Trips etc.
>
> I put the 40 gb back in and would like to try again with another product. I
> have Acronis 9 and would purchase another product to avoid all these MS
> installer issues if someone would recommend one that has worked
> successfully.
>
> Looking for a recommendation.
>
> TIA, GWB
>
If you want to copy (clone I should say) a boot disk with Acronis, it is
recommended that you do the the operation after booting up with the
recovery disk (you did make one I hope). If you scheduled the clone in
XP, it will do the clone during the reboot but some parts of the OS will
be running and that can cause problems.

-- Jeff Barnett

True Image worked fine for me with no problems (15gb to 60gb laptop)
Just follow instructions.

"George W. Barrowcliff" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a 40 gb ATA drive on a system that is running out of space.
>
> I bought a new Maxtor 120 gb drive for a replacement.
>
> I used the Maxtor Maxblast software to copy the 40 gb to the 120. Every
> program that had used Windows Installer as its installation utility had a
> problem in opening. This includes all office components, Adobe 7
> Professional, MS Streets and Trips etc.
>
> I put the 40 gb back in and would like to try again with another product.
I
> have Acronis 9 and would purchase another product to avoid all these MS
> installer issues if someone would recommend one that has worked
> successfully.
>
> Looking for a recommendation.
>
> TIA, GWB
>
>

"George W. Barrowcliff" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a 40 gb ATA drive on a system that is running out of space.
>
> I bought a new Maxtor 120 gb drive for a replacement.
>
> I used the Maxtor Maxblast software to copy the 40 gb to the 120. Every
> program that had used Windows Installer as its installation utility had a
> problem in opening. This includes all office components, Adobe 7
> Professional, MS Streets and Trips etc.
>
> I put the 40 gb back in and would like to try again with another product.
> I have Acronis 9 and would purchase another product to avoid all these MS
> installer issues if someone would recommend one that has worked
> successfully.
>
> Looking for a recommendation.
>
> TIA, GWB


George:
We have found (as apparently you've found) that at times there are problems
with using the disk copying/disk cloning programs such as the MaxBlast
program you mention offered by the hard drive manufacturers. Most of the
time they do the job for which they're intended but at other times...

Anyway since you have the ATI 9 program you might as well use it.

Here are step-by-step instructions for using that program. It would
obviously be best if you would simply use the Acronis program to clone the
contents of your 40 GB HDD to your new 120 GB HDD rather than creating a
disk image at this initial stage. Later when you use the Acronis program for
routine backup purposes you can consider creating disk images rather than
disk clones. The instructions that follow detail both approaches.

And you need not use the Acronis "recovery" CD (what Acronis calls the
"Bootable Rescue Media") to effect this disk cloning operation as one
respondent suggested. There's no reason why you can't simply access the
Acronis program and proceed from there. You should, of course, create the
BRM as the following instructions indicate - but this bootable CD is
basically used for recovery purposes.

BTW, you didn't indicate how you plan to set up your new 120 GB HDD as the
recipient of the clone. I assume you're going to install it in your PC as a
secondary HDD and following the disk cloning operation configure it as
Primary Master (I'm assuming this is a PATA not a SATA drive). Assuming you
do this remember that *immediately* following the disk cloning operation to
disconnect your source HDD (the 40 GB one) and make that *initial* boot with
*only* the 120 GB HDD connected. OK?

Step-by-Step Instructions for Using the Acronis True Image Program to Backup
& Restore One's Hard Drive...

Using the Acronis True Image program there are two different approaches one
can take to back up the entire contents of one's day-to-day working HDD,
i.e., the operating system, all programs & applications, and user-created
data - in short, *everything* that's on one's HDD...

1. Direct disk-to-disk cloning, or,
2. Creating disk images

By using either of these strategies the user can restore his or her system
should their day-to-day working HDD become inoperable because of
mechanical/electronic failure of the disk or corruption of the system
resulting in a dysfunctional operating system.

In undertaking either of these two backup & recovery processes you're
dealing with two hard drives - the so-called source & destination disks -
the source disk being the HDD you're backing up and the destination disk
being the HDD that will be the recipient of the cloned contents of the
source disk or the recipient of the disk image you will be creating.

When using either process it's usually best for most users to use an
external HDD as the destination drive, i.e., the recipient of the cloned
contents of the source disk or the recipient of the created disk image. This
can be either a USB or Firewire or SATA external HDD. While another internal
HDD can also serve as the destination disk there's an additional element of
safety in using an external HDD since that drive will be ordinarily
disconnected from the system except during the disk cloning or recovery
process.

One other suggestion. After you install the Acronis program on your computer
it's a good idea to create what Acronis calls their "Bootable Rescue Media"
(CD). In most cases the recovery process (described below) will utilize that
Acronis bootable CD to restore your system. This "rescue" CD is easily
created from the program by clicking on the "Create Bootable Rescue Media"
icon on the opening Acronis screen and simply going through the screens to
create the bootable CD. The following are step-by-step instructions for
using the Acronis True Image 9 program to clone the contents of one HDD to
an external HDD. (The steps are essentially the same using the newer ATI 10
version):

1. With both hard drives (source & destination disks) connected, boot up.
Ensure that no other storage devices, e.g., flash drives, ZIP drives, etc.,
are connected. It's also probably a good idea to shut down any programs you
may have working in the background - including any anti-virus anti-spyware
programs - before undertaking this disk-to-disk cloning operation.

2. Access the Acronis True Image 9 program and under "Pick a Task", click
on "Clone Disk". (In the ATI 10 version click on "Manage Hard Disks" in the
"Pick a Tool" area and on the next screen click on "Clone Disk").

3. On the next "Welcome to the Disk Clone Wizard!" window, click Next.

4. On the next "Clone Mode" window select the Automatic option (it should
be the default option selected) and click Next.

5. On the next "Source Hard Disk" window, ensure that the correct source
HDD (the disk you're cloning from) has been selected (click to highlight).
Click Next.

6. On the next "Destination Hard Disk" window, ensure that the correct
destination HDD (the disk you're cloning to) has been selected (again, click
to highlight). Click Next.

7. On the next window, select the option "Delete partitions on the
destination hard disk". Understand that all data presently on the disk that
will be the recipient of the clone will be deleted prior to the disk cloning
operation. Click Next.

8. The next window will reflect the source and destination disks. Again,
confirm that the correct drives have been selected. Click Next.

9. On the next window click on the Proceed button. A message box will
display indicating that a reboot will be required to undertake the disk
cloning operation. Click Reboot.

10. The cloning operation will proceed during the reboot. With modern
components and a medium to high-powered processor, data transfer rate will
be somewhere in the range of about 450 MB/min to 800 MB/min when cloning to
a USB external HDD; considerably faster when cloning to another internal
HDD.

11. When the disk cloning operation has been completed, a message will
(usually) appear indicating the disk cloning process has been successful and
instructs you to shut down the computer by pressing any key. Do so and
disconnect your USB external HDD. If, however, the destination drive (the
recipient of the clone) has been another *internal* HDD, see the NOTE below.

12. Note that the cloned contents now residing on the USB external HDD take
on the file system of the source drive. For example, if prior to the
disk-cloning operation your USB external HDD had been FAT32-formatted and
your XP OS was NTFS-formatted, the cloned contents will be NTFS-formatted.

There is no need to format the USB external HDD prior to the disk-cloning
operation. Similarly, there is no need prior to the disk-cloning operation
to format an internal HDD should you be using an internal HDD as the
destination drive .

13. Restoration of the system can be achieved by cloning the contents of the
data residing on the external HDD to an internal HDD through the normal
disk-cloning process as described above.

NOTE: Just one other point that should be emphasized with respect to the
disk cloning operation should the recipient of the clone be another internal
HDD and not a USB or Firewire external HDD. Immediately following the disk
cloning operation the machine should be shutdown and the source HDD should
be disconnected. Boot ONLY to the newly-cloned drive. DO NOT BOOT
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CLONING OPERATION WITH BOTH DRIVES CONNECTED.
There's a strong possibility that by doing so it is likely to cause future
boot problems with the cloned drive. Obviously there is no problem in this
area should a USB or Firewire EHD be the recipient of the clone since that
device is not ordinarily bootable in an XP environment.


Disk Imaging: The following are step-by-step instructions for using the
Acronis True Image 9 Program to create disk images for backup purposes and
using those disk images for recovery of the system. (The steps are
essentially the same using the newer ATI 10 version):

Note: The recipient of the disk image, presumably a USB external HDD or an
internal HDD, ordinarily must be a formatted drive and have a drive letter
assigned to it. Recall that in the case of a disk-to-disk cloning operation
as previously described, an unformatted or "virgin" HDD can be used as the
destination disk.

Before undertaking this disk imaging process it's probably best to close all
programs running in the background including your anti-virus and other
anti-malware programs.

1. With both your source and destination hard drives connected, access the
Acronis program and click "Backup" on main menu.

2. The "Create Backup Wizard" screen opens. Click Next.

3. The "Select Backup Type" screen opens with two options: a. The entire
disk contents or individual partitions. b. Files and folders. Select a. and
click Next.

(In the ATI 10 version four options will be listed: My Computer, My Data, My
Application Settings, and My E-mail. Select the My Computer option and click
Next.)

4. The "Partitions Selection" screen opens. Disk 1 and Disk 2 are listed
with their drive letter designations. Check the disk to be backed up -
presumably Disk 1 - and click Next.

5. An informational message appears recommending an incremental or
differential backup if an original full backup had previously been
created.Since this will be the first backup we will be selecting, just click
OK to close the message box. (You can check the box not to show that
informational message in the future).

6. Next screen is the "Backup Archive Location". In the "File name:" text
box, (in ATI 10 version it's the "Folder:" text box) enter your backup drive
letter and enter a file name for the backup file, e.g., "F:\Backup 1-25".
The Acronis program will automatically append the ".tib" file extension to
the filename. Click Next.

7. "Select Backup Mode" screen opens. Select "Create a new full backup
archive" option and click Next.

8. "Choose Backup Options" screen opens with two options:
a. Use default options
b. Set the options manually.
If you select the b. option, you can select various options listed on the
next screen. Two of them are of interest to us:

Compression level - Four options - None, Normal (the default), High,
Maximum. There's a "Description" area that shows the estimated size of the
backup archive depending upon the option chosen, and the estimated "creation
time" for each option.

Backup priority - Three options - Low, Normal, or High Low - "backup
processed more slowly, but it will not influence other processes running on
computer."
(Default) Normal - "normal speed but backup process will influence other
processes running on computer." High - "normal speed but backup process will
strongly influence other processes running on computer."

With respect to the compression levels, we've found that when using the
Normal option the original data is compressed by about 20% - 25% and that
the High and Maximum options will result in a compressed backup file only
slightly higher than that. However, the amount of time to create the backup
files when using the High or Maximum compression level is substantially
greater than when using the Normal compression level. So unless disk space
is very tight on the destination drive, i.e., the drive where the backup
file will be saved, we recommend using the Normal compression level (at
least initially).

NOTE: You can set the Compression level and Backup priority defaults from
the Acronis Tools > Options > Default backup options menu items.

9. "Archive comments" screen opens allowing you to add comments to the
backup archive which you can review during the Recovery process. Click Next.

10. The next screen summarizes the backup operation to be performed. Review
the information for correctness and click the Proceed button.

11. The next screen will display status bars reflecting the progress of the
backup operation. After the backup operation finishes, an informational
message will appear indicting the operation was successfully completed.


Incremental Backups (Disk Images)
1. After the initial backup archive has been created you can create
incremental backups reflecting any data changes since the previous backup
operation. This incremental backup process proceeds considerably faster than
the initial backup operation. This, of course, is a major advantage of
creating disk images rather than undertaking the disk-to-disk cloning
process. Then too, since these created disk images are compressed files they
are reasonable in size. And because the incremental disk images can usually
be created very quickly (as compared with the direct disk-to-disk cloning
process), there's an incentive for the user to keep his/her system
up-to-date backup-wise by using this disk imaging process on a more frequent
basis than the disk-cloning process.

Note that you must create the incremental backup files on the same HDD where
you stored the original backup archive and any subsequent incremental backup
files.

2. Access the Acronis program as detailed above and move through the
screens. When you arrive at the "Backup Archive Location" screen, click on
the original backup archive file, or if one or more incremental backup files
were previously created, click on the last incremental backup file and
verify that the correct drive letter and file name are shown in the "File
name:" text box. After clicking Next, the program will automatically create
a file name for the incremental backup archive file, using the original file
name and appending a consecutive number - starting at 2 - at the end of the
file name. For example, say you named the original backup archive file
"Backup 1-25". The first incremental backup file will be automatically named
"Backup 1-252" and the next incremental file "Backup 1-253", etc.

NOTE THAT ALL YOUR INCREMENTAL BACKUP FILES MUST BE PRESENT FOR RECOVERY
PURPOSES. DO NOT DELETE ANY OF YOUR PREVIOUSLY-CREATED INCREMENTAL BACKUP
FILES FOLLOWING THE CREATION OF A CURRENT INCREMENTAL BACKUP FILE. YOU CAN
DELETE THE INCREMENTAL FILES ONLY AFTER CREATING A FULL BACKUP ARCHIVE AS
DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION.

3. On the following "Select Backup Mode" screen, select the "Create
incremental Backup" option, click Next, and proceed through the screens as
you did in creating the initial backup archive.


Recovery Process (Disk images): We'll assume the recovery will be to either
a non-defective HDD that has become unbootable for one reason or another, or
to a new HDD. The HDD to be restored need not be partitioned/formatted since
the recovery process will take care of that function.

Note that in most cases you will be using the Acronis "bootable rescue
media" (CD) that you created when you originally installed the Acronis
program. If you didn't create that bootable CD at that time, you can create
it now from the Acronis program (assuming You can access the program at this
time) by clicking on the "Create Bootable Rescue Media" icon on the opening
Acronis screen and simply going through the screens to create the bootable
CD.

Note: If the recovery will be made to a HDD that is still bootable and
you're able to access the Acronis program on that drive, then you can
undertake the recovery process without the need for using the "bootable
rescue" CD.

1. With both the drive containing the backup disk images and the drive you
want to restore connected and with the bootable rescue CD inserted, boot up.

2. At the opening screen, click on "Acronis True Image Home (Full Version)".

3. The program will open after some moments. On the "Pick a Task" screen
that opens, click on "Recovery".

4. The "Welcome to the Restore Data Wizard!" screen opens. Click on Next.

5. The "Archive Selection" screen opens. Navigate to the drive containing
the backup archive file(s) and select the last incremental backup file or
the original full backup file if no incremental backup files were
subsequently created. Ensure that the correct drive letter and filename are
entered in the "File name:" text box. Click Next.

6. In the Acronis version 9 program, the "Archive Date Selection" screen
opens. Select (highlight) the last incremental backup file from the listing
and click Next. This screen does not appear in version 10.

7. The "Restoration Type Selection" screen opens. Select the option,
"Restore disks or partitions" and click Next.

8. The "Partition or Disk to Restore" will open. Click on "Disk 1" and click
Next.

9. After some moments the "Restored Hard Disk Drive Location" screen opens.
Select (highlight) the HDD to be restored and click Next.

10. On the next screen select the "Yes" option to delete all current
partitions on the destination HDD. Click Next.

11. On the next screen select the "No" option and click Next.

12. On the next screen you have the option to validate the backup archive
before restoration. Click Next.

13. The final screen before the restoration operation begins will open.
Confirm that the information as shown is correct. Click Proceed.

14. Click OK when following completion of the recovery operation a message
appears indicating a successful recovery operation.

15. Remove the Acronis bootable rescue CD and close the Acronis program. The
system will reboot. A Windows "Found New Hardware" message followed by the
"System Settings Change" message box may appear on the Desktop. If they do,
click Yes for a reboot.

Note: While the Acronis program is not designed to clone individual
partitions - it can clone only the entire contents of one HDD to another
HDD - you can backup & recover individual partitions through the disk
imaging process as described above.
Anna

Hi Anna,

You have done me and I'm sure many others a great favor by your postings.
It's very comprehensive, leaves little to question--and is far beter that
any of the web based advice. Your article is a *keeper* for my files.
Kudos to you.

Very grateful for all your time and effort.

(Look out Kim Komamdo, Anna may be the next "digital Goddess"!)

--
HTH,
Curt

Windows Support Center
www.aumha.org
Practically Nerded,...
http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm

"Anna" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%23j$$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "George W. Barrowcliff" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I have a 40 gb ATA drive on a system that is running out of space.
>>
>> I bought a new Maxtor 120 gb drive for a replacement.
>>
>> I used the Maxtor Maxblast software to copy the 40 gb to the 120. Every
>> program that had used Windows Installer as its installation utility had a
>> problem in opening. This includes all office components, Adobe 7
>> Professional, MS Streets and Trips etc.
>>
>> I put the 40 gb back in and would like to try again with another product.
>> I have Acronis 9 and would purchase another product to avoid all these MS
>> installer issues if someone would recommend one that has worked
>> successfully.
>>
>> Looking for a recommendation.
>>
>> TIA, GWB
>
>
> George:
> We have found (as apparently you've found) that at times there are
> problems with using the disk copying/disk cloning programs such as the
> MaxBlast program you mention offered by the hard drive manufacturers. Most
> of the time they do the job for which they're intended but at other
> times...
>
> Anyway since you have the ATI 9 program you might as well use it.
>
> Here are step-by-step instructions for using that program. It would
> obviously be best if you would simply use the Acronis program to clone the
> contents of your 40 GB HDD to your new 120 GB HDD rather than creating a
> disk image at this initial stage. Later when you use the Acronis program
> for routine backup purposes you can consider creating disk images rather
> than disk clones. The instructions that follow detail both approaches.
>
> And you need not use the Acronis "recovery" CD (what Acronis calls the
> "Bootable Rescue Media") to effect this disk cloning operation as one
> respondent suggested. There's no reason why you can't simply access the
> Acronis program and proceed from there. You should, of course, create the
> BRM as the following instructions indicate - but this bootable CD is
> basically used for recovery purposes.
>
> BTW, you didn't indicate how you plan to set up your new 120 GB HDD as the
> recipient of the clone. I assume you're going to install it in your PC as
> a secondary HDD and following the disk cloning operation configure it as
> Primary Master (I'm assuming this is a PATA not a SATA drive). Assuming
> you do this remember that *immediately* following the disk cloning
> operation to disconnect your source HDD (the 40 GB one) and make that
> *initial* boot with *only* the 120 GB HDD connected. OK?
>
> Step-by-Step Instructions for Using the Acronis True Image Program to
> Backup & Restore One's Hard Drive...
>
> Using the Acronis True Image program there are two different approaches
> one
> can take to back up the entire contents of one's day-to-day working HDD,
> i.e., the operating system, all programs & applications, and user-created
> data - in short, *everything* that's on one's HDD...
>
> 1. Direct disk-to-disk cloning, or,
> 2. Creating disk images
>
> By using either of these strategies the user can restore his or her system
> should their day-to-day working HDD become inoperable because of
> mechanical/electronic failure of the disk or corruption of the system
> resulting in a dysfunctional operating system.
>
> In undertaking either of these two backup & recovery processes you're
> dealing with two hard drives - the so-called source & destination disks -
> the source disk being the HDD you're backing up and the destination disk
> being the HDD that will be the recipient of the cloned contents of the
> source disk or the recipient of the disk image you will be creating.
>
> When using either process it's usually best for most users to use an
> external HDD as the destination drive, i.e., the recipient of the cloned
> contents of the source disk or the recipient of the created disk image.
> This can be either a USB or Firewire or SATA external HDD. While another
> internal HDD can also serve as the destination disk there's an additional
> element of safety in using an external HDD since that drive will be
> ordinarily disconnected from the system except during the disk cloning or
> recovery process.
>
> One other suggestion. After you install the Acronis program on your
> computer
> it's a good idea to create what Acronis calls their "Bootable Rescue
> Media"
> (CD). In most cases the recovery process (described below) will utilize
> that
> Acronis bootable CD to restore your system. This "rescue" CD is easily
> created from the program by clicking on the "Create Bootable Rescue Media"
> icon on the opening Acronis screen and simply going through the screens to
> create the bootable CD. The following are step-by-step instructions for
> using the Acronis True Image 9 program to clone the contents of one HDD to
> an external HDD. (The steps are essentially the same using the newer ATI
> 10
> version):
>
> 1. With both hard drives (source & destination disks) connected, boot up.
> Ensure that no other storage devices, e.g., flash drives, ZIP drives,
> etc., are connected. It's also probably a good idea to shut down any
> programs you may have working in the background - including any anti-virus
> anti-spyware programs - before undertaking this disk-to-disk cloning
> operation.
>
> 2. Access the Acronis True Image 9 program and under "Pick a Task", click
> on "Clone Disk". (In the ATI 10 version click on "Manage Hard Disks" in
> the "Pick a Tool" area and on the next screen click on "Clone Disk").
>
> 3. On the next "Welcome to the Disk Clone Wizard!" window, click Next.
>
> 4. On the next "Clone Mode" window select the Automatic option (it should
> be the default option selected) and click Next.
>
> 5. On the next "Source Hard Disk" window, ensure that the correct source
> HDD (the disk you're cloning from) has been selected (click to highlight).
> Click Next.
>
> 6. On the next "Destination Hard Disk" window, ensure that the correct
> destination HDD (the disk you're cloning to) has been selected (again,
> click to highlight). Click Next.
>
> 7. On the next window, select the option "Delete partitions on the
> destination hard disk". Understand that all data presently on the disk
> that will be the recipient of the clone will be deleted prior to the disk
> cloning operation. Click Next.
>
> 8. The next window will reflect the source and destination disks. Again,
> confirm that the correct drives have been selected. Click Next.
>
> 9. On the next window click on the Proceed button. A message box will
> display indicating that a reboot will be required to undertake the disk
> cloning operation. Click Reboot.
>
> 10. The cloning operation will proceed during the reboot. With modern
> components and a medium to high-powered processor, data transfer rate will
> be somewhere in the range of about 450 MB/min to 800 MB/min when cloning
> to a USB external HDD; considerably faster when cloning to another
> internal HDD.
>
> 11. When the disk cloning operation has been completed, a message will
> (usually) appear indicating the disk cloning process has been successful
> and
> instructs you to shut down the computer by pressing any key. Do so and
> disconnect your USB external HDD. If, however, the destination drive (the
> recipient of the clone) has been another *internal* HDD, see the NOTE
> below.
>
> 12. Note that the cloned contents now residing on the USB external HDD
> take
> on the file system of the source drive. For example, if prior to the
> disk-cloning operation your USB external HDD had been FAT32-formatted and
> your XP OS was NTFS-formatted, the cloned contents will be NTFS-formatted.
>
> There is no need to format the USB external HDD prior to the disk-cloning
> operation. Similarly, there is no need prior to the disk-cloning operation
> to format an internal HDD should you be using an internal HDD as the
> destination drive .
>
> 13. Restoration of the system can be achieved by cloning the contents of
> the
> data residing on the external HDD to an internal HDD through the normal
> disk-cloning process as described above.
>
> NOTE: Just one other point that should be emphasized with respect to the
> disk cloning operation should the recipient of the clone be another
> internal HDD and not a USB or Firewire external HDD. Immediately following
> the disk cloning operation the machine should be shutdown and the source
> HDD should be disconnected. Boot ONLY to the newly-cloned drive. DO NOT
> BOOT
> IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CLONING OPERATION WITH BOTH DRIVES CONNECTED.
> There's a strong possibility that by doing so it is likely to cause future
> boot problems with the cloned drive. Obviously there is no problem in this
> area should a USB or Firewire EHD be the recipient of the clone since that
> device is not ordinarily bootable in an XP environment.
>
>
> Disk Imaging: The following are step-by-step instructions for using the
> Acronis True Image 9 Program to create disk images for backup purposes and
> using those disk images for recovery of the system. (The steps are
> essentially the same using the newer ATI 10 version):
>
> Note: The recipient of the disk image, presumably a USB external HDD or an
> internal HDD, ordinarily must be a formatted drive and have a drive letter
> assigned to it. Recall that in the case of a disk-to-disk cloning
> operation as previously described, an unformatted or "virgin" HDD can be
> used as the
> destination disk.
>
> Before undertaking this disk imaging process it's probably best to close
> all
> programs running in the background including your anti-virus and other
> anti-malware programs.
>
> 1. With both your source and destination hard drives connected, access the
> Acronis program and click "Backup" on main menu.
>
> 2. The "Create Backup Wizard" screen opens. Click Next.
>
> 3. The "Select Backup Type" screen opens with two options: a. The entire
> disk contents or individual partitions. b. Files and folders. Select a.
> and click Next.
>
> (In the ATI 10 version four options will be listed: My Computer, My Data,
> My
> Application Settings, and My E-mail. Select the My Computer option and
> click
> Next.)
>
> 4. The "Partitions Selection" screen opens. Disk 1 and Disk 2 are listed
> with their drive letter designations. Check the disk to be backed up -
> presumably Disk 1 - and click Next.
>
> 5. An informational message appears recommending an incremental or
> differential backup if an original full backup had previously been
> created.Since this will be the first backup we will be selecting, just
> click OK to close the message box. (You can check the box not to show that
> informational message in the future).
>
> 6. Next screen is the "Backup Archive Location". In the "File name:" text
> box, (in ATI 10 version it's the "Folder:" text box) enter your backup
> drive letter and enter a file name for the backup file, e.g., "F:\Backup
> 1-25". The Acronis program will automatically append the ".tib" file
> extension to the filename. Click Next.
>
> 7. "Select Backup Mode" screen opens. Select "Create a new full backup
> archive" option and click Next.
>
> 8. "Choose Backup Options" screen opens with two options:
> a. Use default options
> b. Set the options manually.
> If you select the b. option, you can select various options listed on the
> next screen. Two of them are of interest to us:
>
> Compression level - Four options - None, Normal (the default), High,
> Maximum. There's a "Description" area that shows the estimated size of the
> backup archive depending upon the option chosen, and the estimated
> "creation
> time" for each option.
>
> Backup priority - Three options - Low, Normal, or High Low - "backup
> processed more slowly, but it will not influence other processes running
> on
> computer."
> (Default) Normal - "normal speed but backup process will influence other
> processes running on computer." High - "normal speed but backup process
> will strongly influence other processes running on computer."
>
> With respect to the compression levels, we've found that when using the
> Normal option the original data is compressed by about 20% - 25% and that
> the High and Maximum options will result in a compressed backup file only
> slightly higher than that. However, the amount of time to create the
> backup
> files when using the High or Maximum compression level is substantially
> greater than when using the Normal compression level. So unless disk space
> is very tight on the destination drive, i.e., the drive where the backup
> file will be saved, we recommend using the Normal compression level (at
> least initially).
>
> NOTE: You can set the Compression level and Backup priority defaults from
> the Acronis Tools > Options > Default backup options menu items.
>
> 9. "Archive comments" screen opens allowing you to add comments to the
> backup archive which you can review during the Recovery process. Click
> Next.
>
> 10. The next screen summarizes the backup operation to be performed.
> Review the information for correctness and click the Proceed button.
>
> 11. The next screen will display status bars reflecting the progress of
> the backup operation. After the backup operation finishes, an
> informational
> message will appear indicting the operation was successfully completed.
>
>
> Incremental Backups (Disk Images)
> 1. After the initial backup archive has been created you can create
> incremental backups reflecting any data changes since the previous backup
> operation. This incremental backup process proceeds considerably faster
> than the initial backup operation. This, of course, is a major advantage
> of creating disk images rather than undertaking the disk-to-disk cloning
> process. Then too, since these created disk images are compressed files
> they are reasonable in size. And because the incremental disk images can
> usually be created very quickly (as compared with the direct disk-to-disk
> cloning process), there's an incentive for the user to keep his/her system
> up-to-date backup-wise by using this disk imaging process on a more
> frequent basis than the disk-cloning process.
>
> Note that you must create the incremental backup files on the same HDD
> where you stored the original backup archive and any subsequent
> incremental backup files.
>
> 2. Access the Acronis program as detailed above and move through the
> screens. When you arrive at the "Backup Archive Location" screen, click on
> the original backup archive file, or if one or more incremental backup
> files were previously created, click on the last incremental backup file
> and verify that the correct drive letter and file name are shown in the
> "File name:" text box. After clicking Next, the program will automatically
> create a file name for the incremental backup archive file, using the
> original file name and appending a consecutive number - starting at 2 - at
> the end of the file name. For example, say you named the original backup
> archive file "Backup 1-25". The first incremental backup file will be
> automatically named "Backup 1-252" and the next incremental file "Backup
> 1-253", etc.
>
> NOTE THAT ALL YOUR INCREMENTAL BACKUP FILES MUST BE PRESENT FOR RECOVERY
> PURPOSES. DO NOT DELETE ANY OF YOUR PREVIOUSLY-CREATED INCREMENTAL BACKUP
> FILES FOLLOWING THE CREATION OF A CURRENT INCREMENTAL BACKUP FILE. YOU CAN
> DELETE THE INCREMENTAL FILES ONLY AFTER CREATING A FULL BACKUP ARCHIVE AS
> DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION.
>
> 3. On the following "Select Backup Mode" screen, select the "Create
> incremental Backup" option, click Next, and proceed through the screens as
> you did in creating the initial backup archive.
>
>
> Recovery Process (Disk images): We'll assume the recovery will be to
> either a non-defective HDD that has become unbootable for one reason or
> another, or
> to a new HDD. The HDD to be restored need not be partitioned/formatted
> since the recovery process will take care of that function.
>
> Note that in most cases you will be using the Acronis "bootable rescue
> media" (CD) that you created when you originally installed the Acronis
> program. If you didn't create that bootable CD at that time, you can
> create it now from the Acronis program (assuming You can access the
> program at this
> time) by clicking on the "Create Bootable Rescue Media" icon on the
> opening
> Acronis screen and simply going through the screens to create the bootable
> CD.
>
> Note: If the recovery will be made to a HDD that is still bootable and
> you're able to access the Acronis program on that drive, then you can
> undertake the recovery process without the need for using the "bootable
> rescue" CD.
>
> 1. With both the drive containing the backup disk images and the drive you
> want to restore connected and with the bootable rescue CD inserted, boot
> up.
>
> 2. At the opening screen, click on "Acronis True Image Home (Full
> Version)".
>
> 3. The program will open after some moments. On the "Pick a Task" screen
> that opens, click on "Recovery".
>
> 4. The "Welcome to the Restore Data Wizard!" screen opens. Click on Next.
>
> 5. The "Archive Selection" screen opens. Navigate to the drive containing
> the backup archive file(s) and select the last incremental backup file or
> the original full backup file if no incremental backup files were
> subsequently created. Ensure that the correct drive letter and filename
> are entered in the "File name:" text box. Click Next.
>
> 6. In the Acronis version 9 program, the "Archive Date Selection" screen
> opens. Select (highlight) the last incremental backup file from the
> listing and click Next. This screen does not appear in version 10.
>
> 7. The "Restoration Type Selection" screen opens. Select the option,
> "Restore disks or partitions" and click Next.
>
> 8. The "Partition or Disk to Restore" will open. Click on "Disk 1" and
> click
> Next.
>
> 9. After some moments the "Restored Hard Disk Drive Location" screen
> opens. Select (highlight) the HDD to be restored and click Next.
>
> 10. On the next screen select the "Yes" option to delete all current
> partitions on the destination HDD. Click Next.
>
> 11. On the next screen select the "No" option and click Next.
>
> 12. On the next screen you have the option to validate the backup archive
> before restoration. Click Next.
>
> 13. The final screen before the restoration operation begins will open.
> Confirm that the information as shown is correct. Click Proceed.
>
> 14. Click OK when following completion of the recovery operation a message
> appears indicating a successful recovery operation.
>
> 15. Remove the Acronis bootable rescue CD and close the Acronis program.
> The system will reboot. A Windows "Found New Hardware" message followed by
> the "System Settings Change" message box may appear on the Desktop. If
> they do, click Yes for a reboot.
>
> Note: While the Acronis program is not designed to clone individual
> partitions - it can clone only the entire contents of one HDD to another
> HDD - you can backup & recover individual partitions through the disk
> imaging process as described above.
> Anna
>

Dear Anna,

I quote part of an answer from an Acronis response to a question I ask
about cloning:
____________________ Start Quote __________________
Dear Jeff,

1. If one schedules clone disk operation in Windows, Acronis True Image 10.0 Home reboots machine into special, so-called Windows Native Mode - a mode with Windows kernel and necessary drivers running. Some software (usually antivirus) in several configurations may cause malfunctioning of this operation. That is why we recommended you to use Acronis Bootable Rescue Media.

----------------------- End Quote ------------------------------

I recently (within the last week) received email from Acronis with the
above. In fact the first response to my question agreed with what you
have posted - could start clone from windows and it would be performed
on reboot. When I repeated the advise and asked a derivative question,
the advise changed as quoted above. Not having read the Acronis source
code or actually run any controlled tests on the product, I cannot say
what is actually correct. However, if the reboot is (1) to a Windows
kernel that shares files used by the full OS and (2) changes those files
during operation, then I believe that it is possible that the shadow
copy mechanism will capture inconsistent file sets unless all files are
captured while the OS is frozen (as far as I know it does not work that
way). In any event, it is surely safer and not much more difficult to
use the "recovery" CD and avoid the possibility of problems. Even if it
turns out to not be necessary after all. The issue is that a problem in
the clone might not show up immediately, e.g., some essential process is
scheduled to run once a month. If that process is broken, it will be an
average of two weeks before you find out. By that time, you have no way
to attribute the problem to the clone as opposed to a recent cock up.

-- Jeff Barnett


Anna wrote:
> George:
> We have found (as apparently you've found) that at times there are problems
> with using the disk copying/disk cloning programs such as the MaxBlast
> program you mention offered by the hard drive manufacturers. Most of the
> time they do the job for which they're intended but at other times...
>
> Anyway since you have the ATI 9 program you might as well use it.
>
> Here are step-by-step instructions for using that program. It would
> obviously be best if you would simply use the Acronis program to clone the
> contents of your 40 GB HDD to your new 120 GB HDD rather than creating a
> disk image at this initial stage. Later when you use the Acronis program for
> routine backup purposes you can consider creating disk images rather than
> disk clones. The instructions that follow detail both approaches.
>
> And you need not use the Acronis "recovery" CD (what Acronis calls the
> "Bootable Rescue Media") to effect this disk cloning operation as one
> respondent suggested. There's no reason why you can't simply access the
> Acronis program and proceed from there. You should, of course, create the
> BRM as the following instructions indicate - but this bootable CD is
> basically used for recovery purposes.
>

> Anna wrote:
>> George:
>> We have found (as apparently you've found) that at times there are
>> problems with using the disk copying/disk cloning programs such as the
>> MaxBlast program you mention offered by the hard drive manufacturers.
>> Most of the time they do the job for which they're intended but at other
>> times...
>>
>> Anyway since you have the ATI 9 program you might as well use it.
>>
>> Here are step-by-step instructions for using that program. It would
>> obviously be best if you would simply use the Acronis program to clone
>> the contents of your 40 GB HDD to your new 120 GB HDD rather than
>> creating a disk image at this initial stage. Later when you use the
>> Acronis program for routine backup purposes you can consider creating
>> disk images rather than disk clones. The instructions that follow detail
>> both approaches.
>>
>> And you need not use the Acronis "recovery" CD (what Acronis calls the
>> "Bootable Rescue Media") to effect this disk cloning operation as one
>> respondent suggested. There's no reason why you can't simply access the
>> Acronis program and proceed from there. You should, of course, create the
>> BRM as the following instructions indicate - but this bootable CD is
>> basically used for recovery purposes.


"Jeff Barnett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Dear Anna,
>
> I quote part of an answer from an Acronis response to a question I ask
> about cloning:
> ____________________ Start Quote __________________
> Dear Jeff,
>
> 1. If one schedules clone disk operation in Windows, Acronis True Image
> 10.0 Home reboots machine into special, so-called Windows Native Mode - a
> mode with Windows kernel and necessary drivers running. Some software
> (usually antivirus) in several configurations may cause malfunctioning of
> this operation. That is why we recommended you to use Acronis Bootable
> Rescue Media.
>
> ----------------------- End Quote ------------------------------
>
> I recently (within the last week) received email from Acronis with the
> above. In fact the first response to my question agreed with what you have
> posted - could start clone from windows and it would be performed on
> reboot. When I repeated the advise and asked a derivative question, the
> advise changed as quoted above. Not having read the Acronis source code or
> actually run any controlled tests on the product, I cannot say what is
> actually correct. However, if the reboot is (1) to a Windows kernel that
> shares files used by the full OS and (2) changes those files during
> operation, then I believe that it is possible that the shadow copy
> mechanism will capture inconsistent file sets unless all files are
> captured while the OS is frozen (as far as I know it does not work that
> way). In any event, it is surely safer and not much more difficult to use
> the "recovery" CD and avoid the possibility of problems. Even if it turns
> out to not be necessary after all. The issue is that a problem in the
> clone might not show up immediately, e.g., some essential process is
> scheduled to run once a month. If that process is broken, it will be an
> average of two weeks before you find out. By that time, you have no way to
> attribute the problem to the clone as opposed to a recent cock up.
>
> -- Jeff Barnett


Jeff:
If I correctly read the Acronis tech support response to your query it would
seem that the issue the Acronis folks were addressing has to do specifically
with *scheduled* disk cloning operations. Perhaps the scheduling operation
introduces some factor that is not present in the usual non-scheduled disk
cloning operation and thus *does* call for using the "Bootable Rescue Media"
CD. I really don't know.

All I can tell you is that we have undertaken hundreds of disk cloning
operations (non-scheduled) with the Acronis program (chiefly the 9 version)
with scores of different systems and virtually every one of those operations
has been undertaken accessing the installed program, i.e., not the "Bootable
Rescue Media" CD. And we've experienced zero problems in doing so that could
be attributed to a failure of not using the BRM.

Having said that, if you or anyone using the Acronis program is more
comfortable in using the Bootable Rescue Media CD for your routine
day-to-day disk cloning operations, then by all means continue to do so.
Anna

Anna wrote:

Anna wrote:



George: We have found (as apparently you've found) that at times there are problems with using the disk copying/disk cloning programs such as the MaxBlast program you mention offered by the hard drive manufacturers. Most of the time they do the job for which they're intended but at other times... Anyway since you have the ATI 9 program you might as well use it. Here are step-by-step instructions for using that program. It would obviously be best if you would simply use the Acronis program to clone the contents of your 40 GB HDD to your new 120 GB HDD rather than creating a disk image at this initial stage. Later when you use the Acronis program for routine backup purposes you can consider creating disk images rather than disk clones. The instructions that follow detail both approaches. And you need not use the Acronis "recovery" CD (what Acronis calls the "Bootable Rescue Media") to effect this disk cloning operation as one respondent suggested. There's no reason why you can't simply access the Acronis program and proceed from there. You should, of course, create the BRM as the following instructions indicate - but this bootable CD is basically used for recovery purposes.



"Jeff Barnett" &lt;(E-Mail Removed)&gt; wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...



Dear Anna, I quote part of an answer from an Acronis response to a question I ask about cloning: ____________________ Start Quote __________________ Dear Jeff, 1. If one schedules clone disk operation in Windows, Acronis True Image 10.0 Home reboots machine into special, so-called Windows Native Mode - a mode with Windows kernel and necessary drivers running. Some software (usually antivirus) in several configurations may cause malfunctioning of this operation. That is why we recommended you to use Acronis Bootable Rescue Media. ----------------------- End Quote ------------------------------ I recently (within the last week) received email from Acronis with the above. In fact the first response to my question agreed with what you have posted - could start clone from windows and it would be performed on reboot. When I repeated the advise and asked a derivative question, the advise changed as quoted above. Not having read the Acronis source code or actually run any controlled tests on the product, I cannot say what is actually correct. However, if the reboot is (1) to a Windows kernel that shares files used by the full OS and (2) changes those files during operation, then I believe that it is possible that the shadow copy mechanism will capture inconsistent file sets unless all files are captured while the OS is frozen (as far as I know it does not work that way). In any event, it is surely safer and not much more difficult to use the "recovery" CD and avoid the possibility of problems. Even if it turns out to not be necessary after all. The issue is that a problem in the clone might not show up immediately, e.g., some essential process is scheduled to run once a month. If that process is broken, it will be an average of two weeks before you find out. By that time, you have no way to attribute the problem to the clone as opposed to a recent cock up. -- Jeff Barnett



Jeff: If I correctly read the Acronis tech support response to your query it would seem that the issue the Acronis folks were addressing has to do specifically with *scheduled* disk cloning operations. Perhaps the scheduling operation introduces some factor that is not present in the usual non-scheduled disk cloning operation and thus *does* call for using the "Bootable Rescue Media" CD. I really don't know. All I can tell you is that we have undertaken hundreds of disk cloning operations (non-scheduled) with the Acronis program (chiefly the 9 version) with scores of different systems and virtually every one of those operations has been undertaken accessing the installed program, i.e., not the "Bootable Rescue Media" CD. And we've experienced zero problems in doing so that could be attributed to a failure of not using the BRM. Having said that, if you or anyone using the Acronis program is more comfortable in using the Bootable Rescue Media CD for your routine day-to-day disk cloning operations, then by all means continue to do so. Anna

Anna

My response has nothing to do with scheduling per se. A clone initiated in XP is not executed until there is a reboot, in that sense it is scheduled. I'm not sure what all the issues are but at least one Acronis tech recommends using the recovery disk. We are planning to do a clone in the near future (need the new disk first) and plan to do it with the recovery disk since it is surely safer and will take minimal extra time. I'm interested that you haven't found it necessary in your experience though. The Acronis documentation agrees with your approach but the stakes are too high, in my case at least, to try the easier path. For the record, I'm using version 9, not 10.

-- Jeff Barnett

> Anna wrote:
> George:
> We have found (as apparently you've found) that at times there are
> problems with using the disk copying/disk cloning programs such as the
> MaxBlast program you mention offered by the hard drive manufacturers.
> Most of the time they do the job for which they're intended but at other
> times...
>
> Anyway since you have the ATI 9 program you might as well use it.
>
> Here are step-by-step instructions for using that program. It would
> obviously be best if you would simply use the Acronis program to clone
> the contents of your 40 GB HDD to your new 120 GB HDD rather than
> creating a disk image at this initial stage. Later when you use the
> Acronis program for routine backup purposes you can consider creating
> disk images rather than disk clones. The instructions that follow detail
> both approaches.
>
> And you need not use the Acronis "recovery" CD (what Acronis calls the
> "Bootable Rescue Media") to effect this disk cloning operation as one
> respondent suggested. There's no reason why you can't simply access the
> Acronis program and proceed from there. You should, of course, create the
> BRM as the following instructions indicate - but this bootable CD is
> basically used for recovery purposes.
>
>
> "Jeff Barnett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Dear Anna,
>
> I quote part of an answer from an Acronis response to a question I ask
> about cloning:
> ____________________ Start Quote __________________
> Dear Jeff,
>
> 1. If one schedules clone disk operation in Windows, Acronis True Image
> 10.0 Home reboots machine into special, so-called Windows Native Mode - a
> mode with Windows kernel and necessary drivers running. Some software
> (usually antivirus) in several configurations may cause malfunctioning of
> this operation. That is why we recommended you to use Acronis Bootable
> Rescue Media.
>
> ----------------------- End Quote ------------------------------
>
> I recently (within the last week) received email from Acronis with the
> above. In fact the first response to my question agreed with what you have
> posted - could start clone from windows and it would be performed on
> reboot. When I repeated the advise and asked a derivative question, the
> advise changed as quoted above. Not having read the Acronis source code or
> actually run any controlled tests on the product, I cannot say what is
> actually correct. However, if the reboot is (1) to a Windows kernel that
> shares files used by the full OS and (2) changes those files during
> operation, then I believe that it is possible that the shadow copy
> mechanism will capture inconsistent file sets unless all files are
> captured while the OS is frozen (as far as I know it does not work that
> way). In any event, it is surely safer and not much more difficult to use
> the "recovery" CD and avoid the possibility of problems. Even if it turns
> out to not be necessary after all. The issue is that a problem in the
> clone might not show up immediately, e.g., some essential process is
> scheduled to run once a month. If that process is broken, it will be an
> average of two weeks before you find out. By that time, you have no way to
> attribute the problem to the clone as opposed to a recent cock up.
>
> -- Jeff Barnett


> Anna wrote: > Jeff:
> If I correctly read the Acronis tech support response to your query it
> would
> seem that the issue the Acronis folks were addressing has to do
> specifically
> with *scheduled* disk cloning operations. Perhaps the scheduling operation
> introduces some factor that is not present in the usual non-scheduled disk
> cloning operation and thus *does* call for using the "Bootable Rescue
> Media"
> CD. I really don't know.
>
> All I can tell you is that we have undertaken hundreds of disk cloning
> operations (non-scheduled) with the Acronis program (chiefly the 9
> version)
> with scores of different systems and virtually every one of those
> operations
> has been undertaken accessing the installed program, i.e., not the
> "Bootable
> Rescue Media" CD. And we've experienced zero problems in doing so that
> could
> be attributed to a failure of not using the BRM.
>
> Having said that, if you or anyone using the Acronis program is more
> comfortable in using the Bootable Rescue Media CD for your routine
> day-to-day disk cloning operations, then by all means continue to do so.
> Anna


"Jeff Barnett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> My response has nothing to do with scheduling per se. A clone initiated in
> XP is not executed until there is a reboot, in that sense it is scheduled.
> I'm not sure what all the issues are but at least one Acronis tech
> recommends using the recovery disk. We are planning to do a clone in the
> near future (need the new disk first) and plan to do it with the recovery
> disk since it is surely safer and will take minimal extra time. I'm
> interested that you haven't found it necessary in your experience though.
> The Acronis documentation agrees with your approach but the stakes are too
> high, in my case at least, to try the easier path. For the record, I'm
> using version 9, not 10.
>
> -- Jeff Barnett


Jeff:
Let me repeat what I've previously related to you and we'll let it go at
that, OK?

We've performed hundreds of disk cloning operations with the Acronis True
Image version 9 program accessing the program's GUI from within Windows
rather than using the "Bootable Rescue Media" CD to perform that operation.
During that time we have never encountered a single problem with this
approach that could be attributable with not using the BRM. And I know of no
other users who have experienced a problem with this approach.

We use (as I suppose in the case of most users) the BRM nearly exclusively
for recovery operations when the recipient of the clone has been an external
HDD (usually a USB external HDD that is, as we know, unbootable) and the
original source disk has become defective or dysfunctional (unbootable) so
that there is no opportunity to access the installed Acronis program and one
*must* use the BRM in that situation in order to clone the contents of the
external HDD back to a non-defective internal HDD in order to recover the
system.

As I've previously indicated - if you (or anyone) desires to use the Acronis
BRM for routine disk cloning operations, you can do so. No great penalty is
exacted in this approach. But I see no need for this approach based upon our
experience.
Anna