Will DriveImageXML and Dell hidden partitions

[prizm1]

Would someone please tell mi if DriveImageXML can backup and restore the
Dell hidden partitions (Diagnostic and PCRestore) to a reformatted hard
drive? If it can, what is the exact sequence in doing this backup and
restore? I understand that this utility has a RAW mode that can save and
restore a sector by sector image of the reformatted hard drive.

 

[Harry]

prizm1 wrote...

Would someone please tell mi if DriveImageXML can backup and restore the
Dell hidden partitions (Diagnostic and PCRestore) to a reformatted hard
drive? If it can, what is the exact sequence in doing this backup and
restore? I understand that this utility has a RAW mode that can save and
restore a sector by sector image of the reformatted hard drive.

I have a Dell. There is a 2GB FAT16 partition which has diagnostic
tools there. When you boot up, you can press F?? to go there
to run the diagnostic tools.

Ghost2003 can see it and back it up.

Acronis TI8/9 can see it and back it up.

No special steps when using Ghost2003 and Acronis TI8/9.
Just run backup mode and back it up.

I have never had DriveImageXML, and I bet it can see it and back it up.
Just run it in backup mode and see if you can see it.

 

[prizm1]

prizm1 wrote...



I have a Dell. There is a 2GB FAT16 partition which has diagnostic
tools there. When you boot up, you can press F?? to go there
to run the diagnostic tools.

Ghost2003 can see it and back it up.

Acronis TI8/9 can see it and back it up.

No special steps when using Ghost2003 and Acronis TI8/9.
Just run backup mode and back it up.

I have never had DriveImageXML, and I bet it can see it and back it up.
Just run it in backup mode and see if you can see it.

DriveImageXML does not list these partitions. Apparently, though, it can
do a sector-by-sector copy of the hard drive. Unfortunately this will
result in a backup image the same size as the hard drive imaged.
Recently, I purchased the Maxtor OneTouch backup II drive which comes
with the pitiful Retrospect Express HD. Retrospect Express HD will not
recognize nor backup the two Dell hidden partitions. I just hate having
to spend more money on an adequate disk imaging backup program to
properly backup/restore all partitions on my Dell hard drive.
DriveImageXML caught my attention because it is freeware.

 

[Harry]

prizm1 wrote...

DriveImageXML does not list these partitions. Apparently, though, it can
do a sector-by-sector copy of the hard drive. Unfortunately this will
result in a backup image the same size as the hard drive imaged.
Recently, I purchased the Maxtor OneTouch backup II drive which comes
with the pitiful Retrospect Express HD. Retrospect Express HD will not
recognize nor backup the two Dell hidden partitions. I just hate having
to spend more money on an adequate disk imaging backup program to
properly backup/restore all partitions on my Dell hard drive.
DriveImageXML caught my attention because it is freeware.

If DriveImageXML cannot see the partition, it's no use to you
even if it is free.

Go to www.acronis.com and download a trial version of TrueImage 9.
Backup the hidden partition; it is a one time process, you don't
change this paritition at all.

The next time your hard drive screws up, you can restore this
backup image without problem, assume that at that time you pay
for the software you're satisfy for.

Personally I prefer Acronis True Image 8; it's the best I have
ever used. While Acronis True Image 9 are reported by many users
to be buggy and unstable. But version 8 is not available for trial
download now, only ver. 9 available.

 

[prizm1]

prizm1 wrote...




If DriveImageXML cannot see the partition, it's no use to you
even if it is free.

Go to www.acronis.com and download a trial version of TrueImage 9.
Backup the hidden partition; it is a one time process, you don't
change this paritition at all.

The next time your hard drive screws up, you can restore this
backup image without problem, assume that at that time you pay
for the software you're satisfy for.

Personally I prefer Acronis True Image 8; it's the best I have
ever used. While Acronis True Image 9 are reported by many users
to be buggy and unstable. But version 8 is not available for trial
download now, only ver. 9 available.

I picked up Acronis True Image at Fry's. It was labeled as version 8,
but came with a version 9 upgrade CD. Perhaps version 9 is more buggy
and unstable in the utilization of the new Acronis Secure Zone feature,
which I do not plan on utilizing.
My question in all this is as follows: The two Dell hidden partitions
are not assigned drive letters. I assume that this is why these two
partitions are hidden. I have read through some of the Acronis True
Image User's Guide. According to the procedure in restoring partition
images, the program prompts the user as to what drive letter to assign
the partition being restored. If the user does not select an available
drive letter, True Image will *automatically* assign the next available
drive letter to this partition. If True Image does this, then both
restored partitions will not be restored as hidden partitions (the state
that they were backed up in) but will have drive letters assigned to
them. Is there any way to restore these hidden partitions to the hard
drive AS hidden partitions? If both of these partitions are restored
with assigned drive letters, will this impact their use? Will CTRL-F11
during reboot bring up the Dell PC Restore program utilizing these
partitions?

 

[Thomas Wendell]

Has anybody asked Acronis about? I'd be interested too, as I want to change.

I now have Ghost2005 (9.0), but as you can only make "live" clones (i.e.
done while running Windows), I want something that I can boot from it's own
CD and make a clone/image without any OS involved from the HD

--
******************************************************
Most learned on these newsgroups
Tumppi, Helsinki, FINLAND
(translations from/to FI not always accurate)
******************************************************

 

[Harry]

prizm1 wrote...

I picked up Acronis True Image at Fry's. It was labeled as version 8,
but came with a version 9 upgrade CD. Perhaps version 9 is more buggy
and unstable in the utilization of the new Acronis Secure Zone feature,
which I do not plan on utilizing.
My question in all this is as follows: The two Dell hidden partitions
are not assigned drive letters. I assume that this is why these two
partitions are hidden. I have read through some of the Acronis True
Image User's Guide. According to the procedure in restoring partition
images, the program prompts the user as to what drive letter to assign
the partition being restored. If the user does not select an available
drive letter, True Image will *automatically* assign the next available
drive letter to this partition. If True Image does this, then both
restored partitions will not be restored as hidden partitions (the state
that they were backed up in) but will have drive letters assigned to
them. Is there any way to restore these hidden partitions to the hard
drive AS hidden partitions? If both of these partitions are restored
with assigned drive letters, will this impact their use? Will CTRL-F11
during reboot bring up the Dell PC Restore program utilizing these
partitions?

Good questions. You may post your questions to Acronis' Forum.

www.acronis.com | Support | Forums |
Section where all the questions concerning Acronis True Image

I have never tried to restore the FAT16 hidden partition (and I have
deleted the other hidden partition so to re-use the "hidden" disk space).

Whether Acrons True Image will assign drive letters to restored
hidden paritions -- I don't know; I think it should not do that.

But you can alway hide these partitions yourself, if you have
parition software like PowerQuest Partition Magic or Acronis
Partition Manager (or is it called Partition Expert?).

Acronis TrueImage 9 might contain functionality to manipulate
partitions; I'm not sure. Please check it out when you get your
TrueImage9 upgrade.

 

[prizm1]

prizm1 wrote...




Good questions. You may post your questions to Acronis' Forum.

www.acronis.com | Support | Forums |
Section where all the questions concerning Acronis True Image

I have never tried to restore the FAT16 hidden partition (and I have
deleted the other hidden partition so to re-use the "hidden" disk space).

Whether Acrons True Image will assign drive letters to restored
hidden paritions -- I don't know; I think it should not do that.

But you can alway hide these partitions yourself, if you have
parition software like PowerQuest Partition Magic or Acronis
Partition Manager (or is it called Partition Expert?).

Acronis TrueImage 9 might contain functionality to manipulate
partitions; I'm not sure. Please check it out when you get your
TrueImage9 upgrade.

I appreciate your response, but I've already spent bucks on the Maxtor
One Touch II USB external drive which came bundled with the lame Dantz
Express HD app. I then spent more bucks on Acronis True Image after some
recommendations from this newsgroup. Now I have to purchase even more
software?. Why can't the partition backup software providers incorporate
all these basic features into one piece of software that a user can
actually use to simply completely backup and restore a hard drive? This
has become quite ridiculous.

 

[Harry]

prizm1 wrote...

I appreciate your response, but I've already spent bucks on the Maxtor
One Touch II USB external drive which came bundled with the lame Dantz
Express HD app. I then spent more bucks on Acronis True Image after some
recommendations from this newsgroup. Now I have to purchase even more
software?. Why can't the partition backup software providers incorporate
all these basic features into one piece of software that a user can
actually use to simply completely backup and restore a hard drive? This
has become quite ridiculous.

I have adviced you to try the trial version first.
You should try it out, satified, before you buy it.

It's your decision to buy it first, before you try it out.

Wait a sec., don't be upset now.

You can try it out now with your purchased copy of TrueImage.
If it doesn't do what you want, just refund it within 30 days
from the date your purchased it.

TrueImage (alone) may just do what you want.
So, just jump to any conclusion before you try it out.

 

[Harry]

prizm1 wrote...

I appreciate your response, but I've already spent bucks on the Maxtor
One Touch II USB external drive which came bundled with the lame Dantz
Express HD app. I then spent more bucks on Acronis True Image after some
recommendations from this newsgroup. Now I have to purchase even more
software?. Why can't the partition backup software providers incorporate
all these basic features into one piece of software that a user can
actually use to simply completely backup and restore a hard drive? This
has become quite ridiculous.

I just spent 5 minutes to backup my hidden FAT16 partition, and then
restore it from the backup image, using TrueImage8. During restore, I
used the default option "not assigning a drive letter to it".

It's simple, easy, like a peiece of cake.

Wonder why you are so paranoid on using TrueImage.

Take it easy

 

[prizm1]

prizm1 wrote...




I just spent 5 minutes to backup my hidden FAT16 partition, and then
restore it from the backup image, using TrueImage8. During restore, I
used the default option "not assigning a drive letter to it".

It's simple, easy, like a peiece of cake.

Wonder why you are so paranoid on using TrueImage.

Take it easy

Yeah, I guess I might be a bit paranoid about this. I have never used
partition restoration software before and I just want to be sure that it
won't crap up things. This is not software that I would want to wipe my
hard drive for, to test out. I just want to know that, in the future,
when the time comes for a new hard drive install or partition
restoration, that I can rely on a carefree recovery. If True Image 9.0
allows me to restore the two Dell hidden partitions as hidden, then that
is great. I just did not find any info in the Version 9.0's User's Guide
that mentioned that option. In fact, I have yet to remove Dantz
Retrospect HD and install True Image. I have been evaluating the User's
Guide and the great info and perspective from you guru's in this forum
concerning True Image. Thanks everyone!