Reinstallation of XP

[Daave]

I see you gave up on that and have

now changed the subject

Actually, Bill had changed the subject *yesterday* (at 7:35 EDT). Allow
me to change it back. (For those who have forgotten, Bill claimed
that "there is a bug with the XP install disc.")

If you haven't seen this discussion, it seems to reflect what he was
talking about with regard to Fedora:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...indows-after-installing-fedora-core-3-295701/

I only skimmed it. Although some people were multi-booting, there were a
number who were attempting to perform clean installs, too, booting off
the XP CD. I saw mentions of Fedora Core 3 and 6. The theories had
something to do with overlapping partitions and number of cylinders.

Of course, it could be coincidence (or a red herring) that Linux was
involved and that there was user error or perhaps problematic hardware.
Or maybe there is something to what Bill is saying (but something tells
me not). Maybe Mark will be able to chime in...

 

[BillW50]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:39:22 -0400:

That is why regular imaging or cloning is a must for whenever people
test. All "screwups" can get reversed.

It's nice when it works! Although it doesn't always work. <sigh>

Acronis True Image failed me if the build is different than the backup
build.

Ghost failed me with Xandros Linux.

Paragon failed me with BCD boot drives.

BartPE/A43 broke MS Works v9 from launching.

And I am sure there are others that failed. And I often find that it is
really handy to have spare hard drives around and to restore to a spare
first before testing it on the real thing. That way if the spare fails
to work, you still have the working original before you do something
silly like test something. Better yet, do your testing on the spare
drive. So if something goes wrong, it is perfectly ok. <grin>

 

[Daave]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:39:22 -0400:

It's nice when it works! Although it doesn't always work. <sigh>

Acronis True Image failed me if the build is different than the backup
build.

But I'm sure it wouldn't fail if the build was the same (the way it is
*supposed* to be done.)

And that's for imaging. And with cloning, there is no restoration
necessary.

 

[Mark Adams]

Actually, Bill had changed the subject *yesterday* (at 7:35 EDT). Allow
me to change it back. (For those who have forgotten, Bill claimed
that "there is a bug with the XP install disc.")

If you haven't seen this discussion, it seems to reflect what he was
talking about with regard to Fedora:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...indows-after-installing-fedora-core-3-295701/

I only skimmed it. Although some people were multi-booting, there were a
number who were attempting to perform clean installs, too, booting off
the XP CD. I saw mentions of Fedora Core 3 and 6. The theories had
something to do with overlapping partitions and number of cylinders.

Of course, it could be coincidence (or a red herring) that Linux was
involved and that there was user error or perhaps problematic hardware.
Or maybe there is something to what Bill is saying (but something tells
me not). Maybe Mark will be able to chime in...

....when I can get to it. I get to take the gas tank out of my car to replace
the fuel pump this weekend. :-( Hopefully it won't be 100 degrees again!
:-(((

 

[BillW50]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:04:38 -0400:

But I'm sure it wouldn't fail if the build was the same (the way it is
*supposed* to be done.)

And that's for imaging. And with cloning, there is no restoration
necessary.

Well even though Acronis True Image is normally a fine product. The list
I listed were problems I personally had so far. But Acronis True Image
isn't perfect. As Google will show you that many people (ok some) has
had less than 100% perfect results.

 

[Daave]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:04:38 -0400:

Well even though Acronis True Image is normally a fine product. The
list I listed were problems I personally had so far. But Acronis True
Image isn't perfect. As Google will show you that many people (ok
some) has had less than 100% perfect results.

That is why it is important to use the same build for imaging *and*
restoring

*and*

to validate the archive.

Google searches no doubt reflect those who did it wrong! Examples:

- using a different build to restore (something you said that you
yourself did!)

- neglecting to validate the archive

- backing up to a faulty drive

Nothing is perfect, true. That doesn't mean one should live in fear,
though...

 

[BillW50]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:11:24 -0400:

That is why it is important to use the same build for imaging *and*
restoring

*and*

to validate the archive.

Google searches no doubt reflect those who did it wrong! Examples:

- using a different build to restore (something you said that you
yourself did!)

- neglecting to validate the archive

- backing up to a faulty drive

Nothing is perfect, true. That doesn't mean one should live in fear,
though...

Oh that isn't so! Acronis True Image for example had problems with
restoring if there was even one bad sector and it would refuse to
restore. Ghost never had a problem here. I see v12 of Acronis True Image
has an ignore bad sector toggle. So maybe this problem is now gone.

And all of you have to do is to search for "Acronis True Image failed to
restore" and I get over a half of a million hits. Lots of them fail to
restore from an USB hard drive.

 

[Daave]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:11:24 -0400:

Oh that isn't so! Acronis True Image for example had problems with
restoring if there was even one bad sector and it would refuse to
restore. Ghost never had a problem here. I see v12 of Acronis True
Image has an ignore bad sector toggle. So maybe this problem is now
gone.
And all of you have to do is to search for "Acronis True Image failed
to restore" and I get over a half of a million hits. Lots of them
fail to restore from an USB hard drive.

I have yet to see any evidence to support your claim. Of course, since I
am open-minded, I will be happy to read any evidence that *you* offer
(since you're the one making the claim). And if the evidence exists, I
will change my mind accordingly.

 

[BillW50]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:35:13 -0400:

I have yet to see any evidence to support your claim. Of course,
since I am open-minded, I will be happy to read any evidence that
*you* offer (since you're the one making the claim). And if the
evidence exists, I will change my mind accordingly.

Here you go. I made this list on the 7th of September:

Acronis True Image Problems
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/itnetworkguru/acronis-true-image-hell-15076

I guess all of the dire warnings on Amazon and elsewhere are valid.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1FYARN6A01DEL

Use mostly use ATI, but I not really happy with it for the following
reasons
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve...16/m/609006650931?r=735007850931#735007850931

Acronis True Image Home 2009 Problems
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2336020,00.asp

Acronis True Image 2009: Disk Clone does not complete!
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22674079-Acronis-True-Image-2009-Disk-Clone-does-not-complete

Acronis True Image 2009: AWFUL customer experience
http://torley.com/acronis-true-image-2009-awful-customer-experience

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Acronis True Image Home 2009 Review
When selecting a data backup, try choosing a specific category...but
then deselect a folder or two, as shown above. For this example, I chose
to backup some website files. I continue on and create the backup
archive as previously detailed. Then when I browse the archive in
Windows Explorer...

The files are not there!

This is a major bug in the system, one that causes me to rate the
category-based backup feature of Acronis True Image Home 2009 dead on
arrival.

Acronis True Image Home 2009 also has issues with removable USB
drives/keys. A few times, when I was testing the backup feature using my
USB stick, I would get some kind of error about sector 63 and the backup
would occasionally fail. A quick search about that message revealed that
it is a known bug in the latest versions of Acronis True Image.

Acronis promises that a patch is on the way for the USB bug.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5103

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Acronis Forum Archive
http://forum.acronis.com/

More information
(!) Acronis does not guarantee that images created with a newer build of
the product will be supported by older builds. This means that restoring
an image created with Acronis True Image Build 8163 may fail with
Acronis True Image Build 8076.
http://kb.acronis.com/content/1517

Drives might not contain a valid MBR and therefore are not supported
http://kb.acronis.com/content/1515

- The software uses a 64 digit serial code. How much time do Acronis
think we've got to waste?!
- Nearly all serial numbers are shipped as being faulty! This is an
ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM on Acronis' web site and you should register online
instead of through the software itself.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acronis-True-Image-Home-2009/dp/B001GCTRBE

More importantly, if a backup fails you get no notification! Instead it
quietly buries the evidence in the log file in the hope that one day you
might browse it and see the failed backup. Come on Acronis, this is our
data we're talking about! If a backup fails I want alarm bells to ring!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acronis-True-Image-Home-2009/dp/B001GCTRBE

What distinguish Acronis True Image Home 2009 from other backup/restore
software
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/acronis-ti2009.htm

digital rights management make it completely unusable
http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/windows/3498735-acronis-true-image-2009.html?fpart=2

Vista Broken After Restore
http://www.abxzone.com/forums/f49/acronis-true-image-2009-users-report-114470.html

It backed up fine to my USB external hard drive (Maxtor 4 Plus). But it
was unable to mount the file it had made, nor to recover with it. Their
tech support said to copy the backup file to an internal drive.
http://donnedwards.openaccess.co.za/2009/03/acronis-true-image-2009-home-and.html

Acronis True Image Home 2009 Conflicts with USB Card Reader Drivers
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/support/kb/articles/1047/

Acronis True Image Universal Restore - Problems
http://cheelam.com/blog/2009/04/01/acronis-true-image-universal-restore-problems/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I did research on this for days and found using search engines this just
isn't so. And here I found a reoccurring theme.

1) A different build number won't restore from another one. Will usually
say the file is corrupt and you can't do anything with it.

2) If a backup fails, it doesn't notify you and stores it deep in the
logs.

3) Problems with 64 character serial number reverting back to trial
version at next startup.

4) Has problems with missing MBR or non-standard MBR drives.

5) Has problems with some USB Card Readers.

6) Emailing support takes 5 to 6 weeks for an answer, which usually has
nothing with the problem you are having.

7) Can't restore Digital Rights Management correctly.

 

[Bob I]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:11:24 -0400:



Oh that isn't so! Acronis True Image for example had problems with
restoring if there was even one bad sector and it would refuse to
restore. Ghost never had a problem here. I see v12 of Acronis True Image
has an ignore bad sector toggle. So maybe this problem is now gone.

And all of you have to do is to search for "Acronis True Image failed to
restore" and I get over a half of a million hits. Lots of them fail to
restore from an USB hard drive.

Since you neglected to place quotes around the search term, most of the
hits you got was advice like this one below.

With Acronis True Image Home 2010, rest assured that all your important
data ... If something goes wrong during the installation, simply restore
your

 

[BillW50]

In Bob I typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:01:14 -0500:

Since you neglected to place quotes around the search term, most of
the hits you got was advice like this one below.

With Acronis True Image Home 2010, rest assured that all your
important data ... If something goes wrong during the installation,
simply restore your

Don't worry Bob. I have collected lots of problems on the 7th of
September which I have posted just before this post.

 

[Daave]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:35:13 -0400:

Here you go. I made this list on the 7th of September:

Acronis True Image Problems
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/itnetworkguru/acronis-true-image-hell-15076

I guess all of the dire warnings on Amazon and elsewhere are valid.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1FYARN6A01DEL

Use mostly use ATI, but I not really happy with it for the following
reasons
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve...16/m/609006650931?r=735007850931#735007850931

Acronis True Image Home 2009 Problems
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2336020,00.asp

Acronis True Image 2009: Disk Clone does not complete!
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22674079-Acronis-True-Image-2009-Disk-Clone-does-not-complete

Acronis True Image 2009: AWFUL customer experience
http://torley.com/acronis-true-image-2009-awful-customer-experience

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Acronis True Image Home 2009 Review
When selecting a data backup, try choosing a specific category...but
then deselect a folder or two, as shown above. For this example, I
chose to backup some website files. I continue on and create the
backup archive as previously detailed. Then when I browse the archive
in Windows Explorer...

The files are not there!

This is a major bug in the system, one that causes me to rate the
category-based backup feature of Acronis True Image Home 2009 dead on
arrival.

Acronis True Image Home 2009 also has issues with removable USB
drives/keys. A few times, when I was testing the backup feature using
my USB stick, I would get some kind of error about sector 63 and the
backup would occasionally fail. A quick search about that message
revealed that it is a known bug in the latest versions of Acronis
True Image.
Acronis promises that a patch is on the way for the USB bug.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5103

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Acronis Forum Archive
http://forum.acronis.com/

More information
(!) Acronis does not guarantee that images created with a newer build
of the product will be supported by older builds. This means that
restoring an image created with Acronis True Image Build 8163 may
fail with Acronis True Image Build 8076.
http://kb.acronis.com/content/1517

Drives might not contain a valid MBR and therefore are not supported
http://kb.acronis.com/content/1515

- The software uses a 64 digit serial code. How much time do Acronis
think we've got to waste?!
- Nearly all serial numbers are shipped as being faulty! This is an
ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM on Acronis' web site and you should register
online instead of through the software itself.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acronis-True-Image-Home-2009/dp/B001GCTRBE

More importantly, if a backup fails you get no notification! Instead
it quietly buries the evidence in the log file in the hope that one
day you might browse it and see the failed backup. Come on Acronis,
this is our data we're talking about! If a backup fails I want alarm
bells to ring!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acronis-True-Image-Home-2009/dp/B001GCTRBE
What distinguish Acronis True Image Home 2009 from other
backup/restore software
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/acronis-ti2009.htm

digital rights management make it completely unusable
http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/windows/3498735-acronis-true-image-2009.html?fpart=2

Vista Broken After Restore
http://www.abxzone.com/forums/f49/acronis-true-image-2009-users-report-114470.html

It backed up fine to my USB external hard drive (Maxtor 4 Plus). But
it was unable to mount the file it had made, nor to recover with it.
Their tech support said to copy the backup file to an internal drive.
http://donnedwards.openaccess.co.za/2009/03/acronis-true-image-2009-home-and.html

Acronis True Image Home 2009 Conflicts with USB Card Reader Drivers
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/support/kb/articles/1047/

Acronis True Image Universal Restore - Problems
http://cheelam.com/blog/2009/04/01/acronis-true-image-universal-restore-problems/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I did research on this for days and found using search engines this
just isn't so. And here I found a reoccurring theme.

1) A different build number won't restore from another one. Will
usually say the file is corrupt and you can't do anything with it.

2) If a backup fails, it doesn't notify you and stores it deep in the
logs.

3) Problems with 64 character serial number reverting back to trial
version at next startup.

4) Has problems with missing MBR or non-standard MBR drives.

5) Has problems with some USB Card Readers.

6) Emailing support takes 5 to 6 weeks for an answer, which usually
has nothing with the problem you are having.

7) Can't restore Digital Rights Management correctly.

Holy Moly! This will take a while for me to post back!

 

[BillW50]

In Daave typed on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:06:11 -0400:

In news:[email protected], [...]
Here you go. I made this list on the 7th of September:

[...]
Holy Moly! This will take a while for me to post back!

No rush Daave! Just some of the stuff I found doing research. Like I
said, Acronis True Image I believe is a fine product. But like
everything great, it isn't perfect.

 

[Daave]

...when I can get to it. I get to take the gas tank out of my car to
replace the fuel pump this weekend. :-( Hopefully it won't be 100
degrees again! :-(((

Sounds like too much fun...

Where do you live? Arizona?

 

[BillW50]

In Mark Adams typed on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:11:01 -0700:

By the way, if you read the thread you posted, the issue was with
fdisk. Anybody use that for XP? I don't.

By the way, FDISK is highly recommended for partitioning and creating
MBR for Windows 2000/XP installations. And do to a bug/feature of FDISK,
it makes cloning far easier.

As when you clone a Windows drive to another drive. The original Windows
saw this other drive and assigned it a drive letter. Let's say in this
case, drive E. Now you remove the original Windows drive and replace it
with the new cloned drive. Windows tries to boot up and it recognizes
this cloned drive as drive E and now while booting will lockup and it
won't work.

FDISK bug/feature zero's out the drive's serial number. Thus Windows has
no memory of this drive and it gets the first drive letter available
which just happens to be drive C. Now all is well again, thanks to
FDISK.