How can I change a cloned system volume into a bootable system volume for Win 7?
When using DD 11 to copy a partition image to a backup disk, we've all seen the notice that reads: "You are about to copy a system or boot volume. Keep in mind that the created copy will not be a system (or boot) volume."
But is there any way to fix that? Any way to make that created copy a bootable system volume?
The copied partition is already marked Active, and it's the only one so marked on the disk. But when I try booting from it, the Windows 7 boot manager reports:
"Windows failed to start", shows "Status 0xc0000225 & Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible." It also shows how to perform a startup repair, but I've already tried that at least a dozen times and it makes no difference whatsoever.
The backup disk is connected via USB, and the BIOS is set to boot first from USB.
I don't want to simply restore the backed-up partition from the USB disk back to the internal hard drive, because that will destroy what I'm trying to recover. Also, I've tried for over a week now to repair the problems that keep the main internal disk partition from booting, using scores of different techniques from various tech support sites, but NOTHING works. So what I desperately NEED is some way to boot up from that backed-up system partition (so that I can try some other repair techniques that are more likely to work, but that require booting up Windows 7 in full mode (safe mode and so forth will not work).
Therefore, I need an answer to my question as asked. I've searched the Acronis fora and knowledge base, but while there are a VAST number of forum threads that ask about how to make one thing or another "bootable", and after seeing that the first 50 or so did not address my specific situation, I decided to start my own thread.
Little help, please?
Thanks, MudCrab, for your prompt reply! I've seen many excellent support posts from you, and it certainly seems to me that you have more than earned your MVP badge. Congratulations!
Anyway, regarding the lesser problem of booting from a USB drive in general, the valuable (if sometimes complicated) utility named BootIt Bare Metal from terabyteunlimited.com should allow me to do that (although I'm still trying to figure out precisely how to do that at the moment). If not, can you point me to a guide for performing the "tweaking" you speak of?
But since the machine I'm having problems with is a laptop, replacing the internal hard disk (or adding another) is completely untenable (the backup disk is a full size SATA hard drive).
And as an aside, I've been working with various highly-qualified tech support tutorials & guides & posters to help repair the problems with the Win 7 system partition on the internal HDD for more than a week already, but nothing seems to work. Since nothing else has solved my problem, that's why I want to perform a nondestructive repair install of Win 7 SP1 on the internal HD. However, that procedure requires being able to boot into full Win 7 mode first, and so now I urgently need to boot up from that DD 11 backup partition!
So putting the USB issue aside for now, is there a general-purpose answer to my OP?
For example, if I were to use DD 11 to copy the main boot partition to unallocated space on the same internal HD, what would I have to do to change that backed up partition so that it became bootable, given the message quoted in my OP (i.e., "Keep in mind that the created copy will not be a system (or boot) volume")?
Thanks again!
I will send you a PM shortly.
I will send you a PM shortly.
Curious if a solution was ever reached for this.
My issue is very similar, not sure if a new thread is warranted or not.
Yes, the problem was solved.
What issue are you having?
Yes, the problem was solved.
What issue are you having?
Thanks for the response. I think I actually have the issue resolved.
Here is my thread: http://forum.acronis.com/forum/40781#comment-127821
[quote=Amby]When using DD 11 to copy a partition image to a backup disk, we've all seen the notice that reads: "You are about to copy a system or boot volume. Keep in mind that the created copy will not be a system (or boot) volume."
Having just come across this post, and thinking of upgrading to DD 11, could anyone explain why the above is the case (say if you have a second HD installed in a PC running Win7)?
Even better, would be to learn the solution (if any) as I shall shortly be in the position indicated above (after I have upgraded to Win7)!
Many thanks!