Acronis True Image Boot Disk

[JS]

I plan to do some testing which will require a baseline (clean install of
Windows XP with SP2) image that I can restore to an newly formatted
partition multiple times. I have Norton Ghost but thought I'd try True Image
(the 15 day free trial version).

Question is, does the trial version allow you to create a True Image boot CD
than can be used to restore a partition from a baseline image file stored on
another partition. If the trial version does have this feature any tips on
creating the boot CD would be helpful.

JS

 

[- Bobb -]

I plan to do some testing which will require a baseline (clean install of
Windows XP with SP2) image that I can restore to an newly formatted
partition multiple times. I have Norton Ghost but thought I'd try True
Image (the 15 day free trial version).

Question is, does the trial version allow you to create a True Image
boot CD than can be used to restore a partition from a baseline image
file stored on another partition. If the trial version does have this
feature any tips on creating the boot CD would be helpful.

JS

I beta tested Version 11 (which was free then) and I did just that.
Checking their website and it shows no difference between 'bought' vs
'trial' edition - just length of license.
look at chapter 6 here:
http://us1.download.acronis.com/pdf/TrueImage11_ug.en.pdf

If you'd like to ask them before downloading, they were helpful to me
last year:
http://www.acronis.com/company/contacts/request/index.html?t=1

 

[JS]

Thanks Bob, Will read the pdf file.
Live chat does not work for some reason,
tried both IE6 and Firefox 3.x both fail.

JS

 

[Timothy Daniels]

I beta tested Version 11 (which was free then) and I did just that. Checking
their website and it shows no difference between 'bought' vs 'trial' edition -
just length of license.
look at chapter 6 here:
http://us1.download.acronis.com/pdf/TrueImage11_ug.en.pdf

If you'd like to ask them before downloading, they were helpful to me last
year:
http://www.acronis.com/company/contacts/request/index.html?t=1

I believe the OP wants to make a bootable CD, that is, you
put the CD that contains the backup image in the optical drive slot,
and it loads the image itself. He doesn't want to have to load the
Acronis True Image CD first or have it permanently installed on his
system.

*TimDaniels*

 

[JS]

Thanks for your reply, it's my fault that I didn't make my request clear.

Want I want to do is to install True Image on the drive partition (C that
contains Windows XP SP2. Create an image file of that partition and have it
stored/created either on the second partition of the same hard drive or a
second hard drive.

Since I'm doing some extreme tests involving Windows and SP3 and if in a
worse case scenario Windows (the C: partition) is no longer bootable, I
would like to use a bootable CD of True Image (Ghost calls it a recovery CD)
so that I can restore the C: partition using the image backup file that is
located on another partition or drive.

I have done this a number of times using Ghost but this time I'd like to see
just how good True Image is.

JS

 

[Bill in Co.]

Thanks for your reply, it's my fault that I didn't make my request clear.

Want I want to do is to install True Image on the drive partition (C
that
contains Windows XP SP2. Create an image file of that partition and have
it
stored/created either on the second partition of the same hard drive or a
second hard drive.

It would be a lot better (and simpler) to store the image on the second hard
drive. If you don't do that, you have to use the so called Secure Zone (on
the boot drive), which is 1) a bit of a hassle, and 2) has some limitations.

 

[JS]

Don't disagree and may do just that as I have
a second drive I can install.

But what I really need to know is if True Image (trial version)
can create a restore CD in case I can no longer boot to Windows.

With Ghost I can insert the recovery CD, boot to a small but usable
menu, pick from a list of image files I have created and restore.

Once the restore is complete I can then boot to Windows as it was
when I create the image file.

JS

 

[Jim]

Thanks for your reply, it's my fault that I didn't make my request clear.

Want I want to do is to install True Image on the drive partition (C
that contains Windows XP SP2. Create an image file of that partition and
have it stored/created either on the second partition of the same hard
drive or a second hard drive.

Since I'm doing some extreme tests involving Windows and SP3 and if in a
worse case scenario Windows (the C: partition) is no longer bootable, I
would like to use a bootable CD of True Image (Ghost calls it a recovery
CD) so that I can restore the C: partition using the image backup file
that is located on another partition or drive.

I have done this a number of times using Ghost but this time I'd like to
see just how good True Image is.

JS

After you install ATI, you create a rescue CD.
You backup the system partition to a file on another disk.
You set the BIOS to boot from the CD first.
You shutdown and reboot.
You then restore the file you just created to wherever you wish.

The system disk on my laptop holds 60 GB.
It takes 11 minutes to write the file.
It doesn't take near that long to fiddle with the BIOS
It takes 11 minutes to restore the systme.

Windows on my computer occupies 12 GB.

I don't use a special partition on the system disk. I believe that if I
need to restore XP, it will most likely be caused by a hard drive failure.
Such a failure does not make me want to use the disk anymore.
Jim

 

[Bill in Co.]

I don't know if the TRIAL version will let you do that. Did you check over
at the Acronis site? It might tell ya, unless someone else here knows.

I think if you read most of the comments about True Image, you'll find it is
a GREAT addition to have, and I routinely use it for my backups and
restores, without incident. So, I'd bite the bullet and just buy it. (I
never bothered with a trial edition).

Also BTW, if you purchase Acronis True Image 11 in the box, it already comes

 

[AJR]

js - Yes, Acronis provides for creating a bootable CD or DVD disk. The disk
will contain two versions of Acronis Safe and Full.

With the disk you can perform the same functions as you can with Acronis
installed - backup, restore, disk management and so forth. There is an
added bonus to version 11 - it contains a "disk cleaner" (former stand alone
utility) and "file shredder".

..

 

[JS]

Thanks Jim,

Found what you mentioned in Chapter 11 of user's guide (Rescue Media).
Now if the trial version allows you to create the Rescue Media (on CD)
I should be good to try the product.

JS

 

[JS]

Thanks AJR for the additional info about the two versions,
I was not aware of that. It's the ability to restore that I'm
most interested in.

JS

 

[JS]

Could not find it on the site,
had no luck in contacting them either.
Which is why I posted my question here as I know
there are several people who use it and have posted
replies to other questions on this newsgroup.

JS

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Thanks Jim,

Found what you mentioned in Chapter 11 of user's guide (Rescue Media).
Now if the trial version allows you to create the Rescue Media (on CD)
I should be good to try the product.

The trial version is advertised as full-featured, just time-limited.

HTH
-pk

 

[Fred]

JS
Be sure and set up the Secure Zone on the second HD.
Fred

 

[JS]

From what I understand True Image can create an image file to a normal
partition and since I'm only doing this on a test PC I don't think I would
need a "Secure Zone" type partition, but thanks anyway.

JS

 

[Anthony Buckland]

Don't disagree and may do just that as I have
a second drive I can install.

But what I really need to know is if True Image (trial version)
can create a restore CD in case I can no longer boot to Windows.
...

Creating bootable rescue media, on a CD, is one of
the first and most fundamental things you should do.
You should also save an image on external media.
Once I did that on DVDs, but an external drive is
easier, more flexible and faster, and makes managing
several generations of backup _much_ easier.
The first reason for the above two steps is that you
need both if your internal hard drive goes bye-bye.
An important second reason is for protection against
fire and theft (you need offsite storage to cover both;
I have two external drives and swap them between
onsite and offsite).

But the Secure Zone is handy in its own way. It's
immediately accessible for recovery without plugging
anything in, and management of the limited number
of generations of backup it can accomodate (in my
case, two) is automatic, with the oldest thrown out
when necessary to make way for the newest. I've
used it several times to recover my C: partition on
a drive that still worked. Twice recently, the first
case being a certain security update that was
incompatible with a certain ZoneAlarm AV version,
and the second being the chaos perpetrated by a
manufacturer's video card update that was offered
as an optional update by Microsoft. I routinely
save to the Secure Zone before installing anything
sizable or dramatic in the way of software (SP3,
for example).

 

[Edric]

I plan to do some testing which will require a baseline (clean install of
Windows XP with SP2) image that I can restore to an newly formatted
partition multiple times. I have Norton Ghost but thought I'd try True Image
(the 15 day free trial version).

Question is, does the trial version allow you to create a True Image boot CD
than can be used to restore a partition from a baseline image file stored on
another partition. If the trial version does have this feature any tips on
creating the boot CD would be helpful.

JS

Why ask HERE? You want to know about TrueImage, not xp.

Ask elsewhere

 

[JS]

Thanks for your input Anthony,

But you should be aware that this particular PC is a test box
and as such nothing of value will be on it.

I plan to see how well True Image performs during my
upcoming test of SP3 and a restore CD is tops on my list of things
to do using the trial version of True Image.

JS

 

[Bill in Co.]

You don't need the Secure Zone UNLESS you are using the same HD to store
your system AND the image backups.