Considering upgrade form TI2010+PP
Some time ago, I purchased 3 licenses for Acronis True Image Home 2010 with the Plus Pack, and I want to upgrade. I don't really use the Windows version of the product except to generate bootable media, which I then use to do full bare-metal backup and restore (the downloadable bootable media Acronis provides choose incorrect drive parameters for almost all of my systems, so those versions will not restore correctly to almost any my PCs, but the version generated locally works fine on all of my PCs).
Unhappily, as I migrate to SSD media, I have encountered a major problem -- the 2010 version fails quite annoyingly when it is run on a system with any EXT4 volumes: the file browser continuously refreshes and never accepts input from keyboard or mouse, whether AT, PS/2, serial, bus, or USB (so basically I can not access anything that requires me to enter a file/path name or browse to a location). If I simply change the partition type it at least does not do this, but having to do this before backing up or restoring and then changing back after done is tedious and dangerous; for this trouble I am limited to sector copy backups of those volumes. Obviously Acronis is never going to address this; there were a lot of complaints about it back then and those users were (eventually) told to upgrade.
So, I am considering upgrading to True Image 2013, but then I have questions about the upgrade path. I would like to upgrade all three of my licenses, but doing this in the clearest way (3 TI2013 upgrades plus 3 TI2013PP upgrades) costs more than I paid originally!
I see the 'family pack' and then notice that there is no 'family pack' of the plus pack, nor a 'family pack' that includes the plus pack. I do not see a bundle option (there was one when I originally purchased, so maybe that's why the upgrade costs more than the original license), and whether I can upgrade 3 licenses to a single 'family pack' is (optimistically) unclear or perhaps (pessimistically) not allowed.
I was wondering if somebody can point out to me an economical way to make this upgrade.
Thanks!
Is there a way to do this besides the chat? It simply does not work for me (nothing happens).
I tried calling their number (even their non-toll-free number) but all that seems to want to talk to is large companies and governments.
Maybe I missed the other contact options?
Zac,
I have requested that Acronis look at your posting but it may not occur until Monday.
An installation is no longer necessary in order to create bootable media.
Once the purchase has been registered by the user with Acronis, a downloadable iso file containing bootable media only can be downloaded. Once downloaded, the iso file can be burnt to CD to become a bootable media option. Register the main and register the plus and the plus pack download (or main) can be used to create the same bootable media as if the program was installed.
Do take the time to do a full and complete backup of your current system before making any changes regarding Acronis. The 2010 will need to be uninstalled before 2013 can be installed--if an i nstalled is wanted. A 2013 cleanup utility is listed inside my signature below.
Thanks, Grover, but you forgot I have a number of ThinkPads, so the ISO that Acronis provides historically will not work (the ThinkPad BIOS uses 240 sides per cylinder hard disc mapping, but Acronis' ISOs try to force 255). I'm willing to try the new one (out of curiosity), but only on a non-production machine.
My question was more about contacting the sales team to discuss my upgrade of three licenses from 2010 with plus pack to 2013 with plus pack. The upgrade options here seem perversely limited -- though it apparently is possible to do what I want, it costs more than I paid originally and almost as much as buying it new. Acronis likes to keep changing the offering, if I remember, so maybe they will offer something appealing before I figure out how to talk to a human in sales...
Zac,
Sign up for the trial version. Register the trial version. Download only the iso (not the program) for the trial. Burn the Trial onto CD. If using Win7-8, use the Win included burn option (Open with -Choose Windows Burn image option).
This trial should give you a feel for whether 2013 will work without buying. There is no difference between the Recovery CD created from the installed version as compared to the iso downloaded via the program.
Any restore on the Think pad shoud work as in the past, which is
Boot from the CD.
Restore to the disk which is inside the computer or a Think pad docking unit--not located on a usb external disk.
Note the trial version CD is only good for recovery. It cannot be used for a backup or clone from the trail.
You could use the trial CD to
1. See if all your disks are seen.
2. Restore a backup or files from a prior backup such as a 2010 version.
The results could help you decide if you want to uinstall 2010 and then install the test version of 2013.
Backups and restores of the Thinkpads have been mostly reported as routine if target disk for a restore is located within the computer or a think pad docking unit.
I would believe that your best speed and convenience would be obtained from using a WinPE as the Recovery CD or the very excellent MUSTANGPE located at
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/17630