Recognizing an external drive when rebooting

[Phil Rabichow]

Hi All:
I have WinXP Pro SP-2. I have 2 external drives labeled D & E that are
hooked up thru USB 2.0 ports. I have a drive imaging program (True Image)
that should restore from one of my external drives to my C drive. However,
it hangs during the reboot process. I'm wondering if it's because it can't
recognize the external drive before Windows boots up. ( I don't expect an
answer here on how to use True Image, as it's not the right forum). But I
would like to know if Windows should recognize the external drive during the
reboot process.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hi All:
I have WinXP Pro SP-2. I have 2 external drives labeled D & E that are
hooked up thru USB 2.0 ports. I have a drive imaging program (True Image)
that should restore from one of my external drives to my C drive.
However,
it hangs during the reboot process. I'm wondering if it's because it
can't
recognize the external drive before Windows boots up. ( I don't expect an
answer here on how to use True Image, as it's not the right forum). But I
would like to know if Windows should recognize the external drive during
the
reboot process.

It should but I have seen some machines that hang if certain USB
mass storage devices are connected at boot time. I suspect that
it's related to some motherboard or USB device incompatibility.
Try connecting the USB devices after, not before booting up.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Hi All:
I have WinXP Pro SP-2. I have 2 external drives labeled D & E that
are hooked up thru USB 2.0 ports. I have a drive imaging program
(True Image) that should restore from one of my external drives to my
C drive. However, it hangs during the reboot process.

Any boot-up?

I'm wondering
if it's because it can't recognize the external drive before Windows
boots up. ( I don't expect an answer here on how to use True Image,
as it's not the right forum). But I would like to know if Windows
should recognize the external drive during the reboot process.

Yes, but you should be using the Acronis boot CD, really, to restore your
system volume - try it.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

Any boot-up?


Yes, but you should be using the Acronis boot CD, really, to restore your
system volume - try it.

Indeed. I'm not sure if this is universal but in the cases when I tried
to restore a system volume from within Windows, Acronis insisted
on rebooting the machine. There seems therefore little point in
launching Windows first. Booting the machine from the Acronis
Recovery CD would be a much faster option.

However . . . on some machines Acronis locks up in "Full Mode",
and in "Safe Mode" it won't recognise USB devices . . .

 

[Phil Rabichow]

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

Any boot-up?


Yes, but you should be using the Acronis boot CD, really, to restore your
system volume - try it.

Indeed. I'm not sure if this is universal but in the cases when I tried
to restore a system volume from within Windows, Acronis insisted
on rebooting the machine. There seems therefore little point in
launching Windows first. Booting the machine from the Acronis
Recovery CD would be a much faster option.

However . . . on some machines Acronis locks up in "Full Mode",
and in "Safe Mode" it won't recognise USB devices . . .

It doesn't hang on any boot-up, & I leave all my USB devices plugged in. It
just hung twice when I tried restore from inside Windows, during the reboot
process. The first time, it went to a black screen (after shutting down),
where it said "Acronis, loading, please wait". After 4 hours, I pressed
Ctrl+Alt+Del to reboot. The second time, it went passed that screen to a
picture of an Acronis dialog box with a bar for "current progress" & "overall
progress". However, nothing moved for hours & Ctrl+Alt+Del did nothing, so I
just powered off & then powered back on.

I'll try the rescue CD, but first I have one more question, please. Don't I
have to set something in the BIOS to check the CD-ROM drive during the boot
process? If so, how do I do this? (I have a vague recollection that this was
turned off to speed up the reboot process, but I may be confusing it with the
old "check for floppy drive")

 

[Phil Rabichow]

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

Hi All:
I have WinXP Pro SP-2. I have 2 external drives labeled D & E that
are hooked up thru USB 2.0 ports. I have a drive imaging program
(True Image) that should restore from one of my external drives to my
C drive. However, it hangs during the reboot process.

Any boot-up?

I'm wondering
if it's because it can't recognize the external drive before Windows
boots up. ( I don't expect an answer here on how to use True Image,
as it's not the right forum). But I would like to know if Windows
should recognize the external drive during the reboot process.

Yes, but you should be using the Acronis boot CD, really, to restore your
system volume - try it.

Indeed. I'm not sure if this is universal but in the cases when I tried
to restore a system volume from within Windows, Acronis insisted
on rebooting the machine. There seems therefore little point in
launching Windows first. Booting the machine from the Acronis
Recovery CD would be a much faster option.

However . . . on some machines Acronis locks up in "Full Mode",
and in "Safe Mode" it won't recognise USB devices . . .

It doesn't hang on any boot-up, & I leave all my USB devices plugged in. It
just hung twice when I tried restore from inside Windows, during the reboot
process. The first time, it went to a black screen (after shutting down),
where it said "Acronis, loading, please wait". After 4 hours, I pressed
Ctrl+Alt+Del to reboot. The second time, it went passed that screen to a
picture of an Acronis dialog box with a bar for "current progress" & "overall
progress". However, nothing moved for hours & Ctrl+Alt+Del did nothing, so I
just powered off & then powered back on.

I tried the rescue CD (after figuring out how to boot from CD-ROM, so please
disregard earlier post). It still hangs at the message
Acronis
Loading, please wait...

However, it must be recognizing the CD-ROM drive, as I wouldn't get any message
otherwise. Still haven't found the problem, though.

 

[Anna]

Hi All:
I have WinXP Pro SP-2. I have 2 external drives labeled D & E that are
hooked up thru USB 2.0 ports. I have a drive imaging program (True Image)
that should restore from one of my external drives to my C drive.
However,
it hangs during the reboot process. I'm wondering if it's because it
can't
recognize the external drive before Windows boots up. ( I don't expect an
answer here on how to use True Image, as it's not the right forum). But I
would like to know if Windows should recognize the external drive during
the
reboot process.

Phil:
A while back we prepared some step-by-step instructions for users working
with the Acronis True Image versions 9 & 10 re restoring a system from the
archived disk image(s) previously created. These instructions assume the
user will employ the Acronis "Rescue" CD to effect the recovery process.
Note that the instructions refer to versions 9 & 10. I believe, but am not
certain, that they would also apply to the current version 11.

I don't know whether the instructions that follow are really relevant to
your problem but thought they might be of some value to you.

Naturally we're assuming there are no hardware-type problems involved here
in that your USB external enclosure and the HDD contained therein are both
non-defective and that the disk image(s) on that HDD were correctly created.
Anna

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.

 

[Bill in Co.]

I would also like to add to this that even without having ever created a
boot CD, the original Acronis True Image 11 CD can be used in a rescue
situation, if you're just trying to restore a previously saved image of the
C: partition (on an external drive, for example) to the main hard drive C:
partition. I've done that on a few occasions. You just *boot up on the
Acronis CD*, and then select the restore options.

BTW - you can't successfully do this restore operation by booting up on the
hard drive first (assuming you even could) and then trying to run Acronis
from there, since it would attempt to overwrite itself during the
restoration process. You must use the CD, if you're trying to restore the
boot drive (at least as far as I can tell).

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

You must use the CD, if you're trying to restore the
boot drive (at least as far as I can tell).

Check out Acronis Secure Zone. You'll be surprised.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Check out Acronis Secure Zone. You'll be surprised.

Only works on an internal disk, as I recall. I'm using an external USB
HD enclosure.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I would also like to add to this that even without having ever
created a boot CD, the original Acronis True Image 11 CD can be used
in a rescue situation, if you're just trying to restore a previously
saved image of the C: partition (on an external drive, for example)
to the main hard drive C: partition. I've done that on a few
occasions. You just *boot up on the Acronis CD*, and then select
the restore options.
BTW - you can't successfully do this restore operation by booting up
on the hard drive first (assuming you even could) and then trying to
run Acronis from there, since it would attempt to overwrite itself
during the restoration process. You must use the CD, if you're
trying to restore the boot drive (at least as far as I can tell).

If you launch a system volume restore from within Acronis, it reboots and
runs it just fine (loads before the OS).

 

[Bill in Co.]

If you launch a system volume restore from within Acronis, it reboots and
runs it just fine (loads before the OS).

Really? Well, ok, I must have mangled something during the one time I
tried it, as it just got hung up, as I recall. Maybe I'll give it a try
next time then, as I think it will be faster than booting up on the CD and
then doing it. Thanks.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Really? Well, ok, I must have mangled something during the one
time I tried it, as it just got hung up, as I recall. Maybe I'll
give it a try next time then, as I think it will be faster than
booting up on the CD and then doing it. Thanks.

Yes - but it depends on whether you're doing the restore because you've got
a hosed OS or disk .

<snipped for length>

 

[WMB]

Bill in Co. wrote:
| Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] wrote:
| | | I would also like to add to this that even without having ever
| | | created a boot CD, the original Acronis True Image 11 CD can be
| | | used in a rescue situation, if you're just trying to restore a
| | | previously saved image of the C: partition (on an external drive,
| | | for example) to the main hard drive C: partition. I've done
| | | that on a few occasions. You just *boot up on the Acronis CD*,
| | | and then select the restore options.
| | | BTW - you can't successfully do this restore operation by booting
| | | up on the hard drive first (assuming you even could) and then
| | | trying to run Acronis from there, since it would attempt to
| | | overwrite itself during the restoration process. You must use
| | | the CD, if you're trying to restore the boot drive (at least as
| | | far as I can tell).
| |
| | If you launch a system volume restore from within Acronis, it
| | reboots and runs it just fine (loads before the OS).
|
| Really? Well, ok, I must have mangled something during the one
| time I tried it, as it just got hung up, as I recall. Maybe I'll
| give it a try next time then, as I think it will be faster than
| booting up on the CD and then doing it. Thanks.
|
| | |
| | | Anna wrote:
| | | | | | | | | Hi All:
| | | | | I have WinXP Pro SP-2. I have 2 external drives labeled D &
| | | | | E that are hooked up thru USB 2.0 ports. I have a drive
| | | | | imaging program (True Image)
| | | | | that should restore from one of my external drives to my C
| | | | | drive. However,
| | | | | it hangs during the reboot process. I'm wondering if it's
| | | | | because it can't
| | | | | recognize the external drive before Windows boots up. ( I
| | | | | don't expect an
| | | | | answer here on how to use True Image, as it's not the right
| | | | | forum). But I
| | | | | would like to know if Windows should recognize the external
| | | | | drive during the reboot process.
| | | | | --
| | | | | Thank you in advance.
| | | | |
| | | | | Phil
| | | |
| | | |
| | | | Phil:
| | | | A while back we prepared some step-by-step instructions for
| | | | users working with the Acronis True Image versions 9 & 10 re
| | | | restoring a system from the archived disk image(s) previously
| | | | created. These instructions assume the user will employ the
| | | | Acronis "Rescue" CD to effect the recovery process. Note that
| | | | the instructions refer to versions 9 & 10. I believe, but am
| | | | not certain, that they would also apply to the current version
| | | | 11. I don't know whether the instructions that follow are really
| | | | relevant to your problem but thought they might be of some
| | | | value to you. Naturally we're assuming there are no
| | | | hardware-type problems involved here in that your USB external
| | | | enclosure and the HDD contained therein are both non-defective
| | | | and that the disk image(s) on that HDD were correctly created.
| | | | Anna
| | | |
| | | | 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.

I was perusing this Forum and came across this entry. I realize this is
not the proper forum for my question and I have asked the question at
Acronis TI support site and also Gene Barlow who also sells their
product, without an answer. Hopefully the individual posting the ATI
instruction set or someone ealse will drop back an answer.

During the boot with ATI 9.0, after selecting the "Full" with
| | usb support, a DOS like screen was presented. It began:
| | Loading ... Please Wait.
| |
| | Next it gave the below message: usb. C: failed to set device
| | 2 default configeration (error=- 110)
| |
| | Then after 4 or 5 seconds it continued on to the Recovery
| | page. I selected Recovery and everything proceeded as you
| | would expect.
| |
| | What are the implications of the above error message? Does
| | it mean there was a problem seeing or loading my backup drive
| | (E and the recovery could have failed, Is this something I
| | can rectify and if so, how?
| |
Thank you to anyone who can answer.

Windows XP (Home) SP2

| | Thank you

 

[Bill in Co.]

Yes - but it depends on whether you're doing the restore because you've
got
a hosed OS or disk .

<snipped for length>

Neither was "hosed", per se. I was just trying to get back to a cleaner
system.

 

[Phil Rabichow]

Phil:
A while back we prepared some step-by-step instructions for users working
with the Acronis True Image versions 9 & 10 re restoring a system from the
archived disk image(s) previously created. These instructions assume the
user will employ the Acronis "Rescue" CD to effect the recovery process.
Note that the instructions refer to versions 9 & 10. I believe, but am not
certain, that they would also apply to the current version 11.

I don't know whether the instructions that follow are really relevant to
your problem but thought they might be of some value to you.

Naturally we're assuming there are no hardware-type problems involved here
in that your USB external enclosure and the HDD contained therein are both
non-defective and that the disk image(s) on that HDD were correctly created.
Anna

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.

Thank you, Anna, & everyone else who replied. I've been offline for 2 days
because of the problem. My problem was that the program simply hung, whether I
used the rescue CD or not. I never got passed step 1 above.

The solution was to download the latest build for Version 9, create & new rescue
disk, & go from there. I was able to restore my system. Should anyone have
this problem in the future, I have 3 pieces of advice. (1) If you update True
Image, keep a copy of the downloadable update on your external drive, or on a
partition that's not being restored (or even a thumbdrive). When I updated TI &
restored to an earlier date, it reverted my TI to an earlier build, of
course.<g> If I hadn't looked at Help About, I wouldn't have noticed & next
time I tried to restore, I'd have the same problem.

(2) Always give your external drives a name, in addition to the letter. When
using a rescue disk, the drive letter may change.

(3) I experimented by doing a backup from the rescue disk. It takes twice as
long AND is not listed in the log. This has been quite a learning experience
for me. Hope someone else has profited.

 

[Bill in Co.]

I must have missed something here, but why did you NEED to create a rescue
CD, when the Acronis CD itself can boot up and you can restore a previously
saved backup right from there?

 

[PD43]

I must have missed something here, but why did you NEED to create a rescue
CD, when the Acronis CD itself can boot up and you can restore a previously
saved backup right from there?

Ummm... maybe because a good many of us bought the program online and
downloaded it rather than wait/pay for a CD??

Just a WAG.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Ummm... maybe because a good many of us bought the program online and
downloaded it rather than wait/pay for a CD??

Just a WAG.

Really? Well, that doesn't sound like a very prudent way to get this
particular program, since one really depends on that Acronis program (and
bootable) CD for such occasions.

Actually, I've found that you can find the Acronis True Image 11 program
locally, even in such places as Staples! Or you can mail order it, of
course. Takes only a few days to get here.

 

[PD43]

Really? Well, that doesn't sound like a very prudent way to get this
particular program, since one really depends on that Acronis program (and
bootable) CD for such occasions.

It takes maybe two minutes to download the program from Acronis and
maybe another 30 seconds to make the bootable CD.

I've been doing it that way since version 7.