Failed 2013 update, deleted and reinstalled, now won't recognize serial#
I tried to update my True Image program by downloading from your website, but the update failed to operate properly on my Vista Home Premium laptop PC - so I deleted the program via control panel, and re-downloaded and installed the update - but NOW, the update refuses to recognize the serial number of my original version, and now I have NO way to clone my hard drive. HOW can I get a valid seieal number for the update WITHOUT buying the program all over again, which I should NOT have to do?
It absolutely SUCKS that there is NO WAY provided to contact Acronis directly via "customer support" to correct this issue! There is NO way I'll PAY for a new serial number, OR recommend this program to other potential buyers!
I was trying to update from 2013 ver. 5551.
Finally worked around the (then!) problem by deleting all Acronis programs, then re-downloaded ver. 5551 all over again - it then recognized the serial number, THEN I again tried to install the latest upgrade - all SEEMED to go well, until I tried the cloning utility - that too SEEMED to be working well, until the required reboot was done that begins the cloning process, then all I get on the Acronis startup page is a single line at top of screen stating "Starting Acronis loader..." followed by about 24 gibberish characters. Nothing more happens, and if ANY key is pushed, the cloning program aborts, and PC restarts with the normal Windows Vista program.
Obviously, even tho' the serial number is working properly, and 2013 has registered properly, the program itself is still worthless and non-operational.
1. Build 5551 is not the most recent build of TI 2013. If you're reinstalling, you should install the latest build.
2. You should not have cloned from within Windows. We advise to clone only from the bootable Rescue Media.
3. I advise against cloning at all. It is a risky operation, and many users make mistakes causing unbootable systems. Do a full disk backup and restore instead.
Prior to these incidents involving the latest 2013 update, I've NEVER experienced issues cloning direct from the main Acronis program screen, including both my XP and Windows 7 desktop PC's. Of course, I do have the external discs as well, but never needed them for the cloning utility, and have many times restored primary drives from the thus cloned backups, with NO issues or data loss...
SO, it's your opinion that the latest 2013 update is NOT sophisticated enough to recognize and update from an earlier installed version, and/or at least deliver an error message stating that need/requirement that all updates MUST be done sequentially?
Seems sorta poorly done programming to me - and if indeed updates MUST be done sequentially, why is that fact not prominantly displayed right on the Acronis update pages...
NOT trying to be difficult, just frustrated at the hoops needing to be jumped thru in trying to accomplish what SHOULD be a rather easy update...
Prior to these incidents involving the latest 2013 update, I've NEVER experienced issues cloning direct from the main Acronis program screen, including both my XP and Windows 7 desktop PC's. Of course, I do have the external discs as well, but never needed them for the cloning utility, and have many times restored primary drives from the thus cloned backups, with NO issues or data loss...
I recommend what is safest and most likely to succeed for most users. I don't say that your method won't work, just that there is a better, safer method. Many people drive without wearing seatbelts and are fine, but it's not recommended.