creates bootable CD but not flash card
I just upgraded my ATI 2013 to ATI 2015 on my older PC, a Dell Dimension 9200. The program was able to create a bootable CD- which works fine- I just tested to see if it would restore a file- and it did. I will later see if I can succesfully upgrade an SSD drive to a bigger one.
But, the program can't seem to create a bootable USB flash drive. Well, it thinks it created it OK- and says so, but it won't boot up. I've tried creating the bootable on both PNY and Scandisk USB drives.
Since the CD boots up- I don't really need to get a bootable flash drive- but I'd like to- as I continue to test ATI 2015 on this older Dell. The program has made a bootable USB flash drive on my newer Dell, an XPS desktop and that was just a low end PNY drive.
I know I can try to make a WinPE on the flash drive- but that looks like a big project, so I'm hesitant.
Joe
PS: oh, using the latest version: 6313
Maybe this is not the issue but did you go into the BIOS and enable the boot sequence to boot from the USB device?
Grover, yes I did- as I did to get it to boot from the CD disk created by program. I have since noticed in the manual an explanation of how to create a bootable flash drive- it refers to Acronis KB article: 1526.
It calls for some DOS work- I'm going to work on it now.
Joe
well, I followed the instructions precisely in that KB article. It took over an hour to format the 16 GB flash drive! But, this Dell Dimension 9200 still cannot see the flash drive- though it does see the bootable CD created by ATI 2015. On my newer Dell XPS desktop- ATI did create a bootable flashdrive and a CD.
I presume the Linux based media builder is lacking the correct driver for the flash drive. Otherwise, this 10 year old Dell works very nicely, after I upgraded it's old HDD to a SSD a year ago. Now I want to upgrade to a larger SSD- so I'm experimenting.
I upgraded to the SSD last year with Acronis ATI 2013. I can't recall the details- so I've been reviewing the manual which is a bit obscure. What I'm not sure about is the current drive has a FAT 16 partion, apparently the same as the original HHD from Dell- and a RECOVERY drive D.
According to the manual, I should NOT copy over the MBR- at least not initially. Then after coping over the partitions (as a disk recovery)- then, because it has this "reserved" partion- then copy over the MBR. Do I have that right? Somehow, I did it correctly a year ago. I don't understand why not copy the MBR at the same time?
Grover, I believe you've uploaded several helpful files- I'll have to see if you have anything about this in those files?
thanks again!
Joe
Furthermore, the main reason I'm upgrading my older Dell, again- is to famiarize myself with the process so I can upgrade my newer Dell which came with an SSD. The newer Dell has my business on it- and I surely would hate to mess it up- so working on the older Dell is a good training.
And, the main reason i want to upgrade my newer Dell is that a year ago- some MS upgrade totally messed up the system. At first I couldn't figure out how to do the full disk restore- since I didn't realize I needed to right click on the found .tib file on my external drive. I think ATI 2013- in the restore process has an OK button- but they removed it with no clue to right click on the .tib file. So, reading the forum about those Seagate external USB drives that Acronis couldn't see- I thought that the problem- then I spent some hours in a chat with an Acronis tech- who never bothered to ask what kind of external drive I had- he took control of my Dell and made a WinPE disk for me- and that didn't work. While I was freaking out- and still in the chat session, I tried once again to do the restore from my external drive- this time I tripped over the right click on the .tib file and was exhilerated to see it restore the system.
It seems that like a lot of complicated things in life- we need to spend a lot of time learning the ropes- what works and what doesn't work- that still might not lead to success, but it's better than not being prepared.
I've said it before in this forum and I'll say it again- I much prefer the older UI.
Joe
So, I see in the Acronis KB 1526 that there is another method- the Grub4Dos (something like that) and from within ATI, there is the WinPE method, which I fail to understand. I do have a workable, bootable CD to boot this old Dell running vista- but I'd much prefer a bootable flash drive. So, at this point I give up. It's not as if my old Dell is an unusual system- it's just a standard Dell- so why ATI can't produce a workable, bootable flash drive escapes me. It thinks it made it- it says so- but it just doesn't work, despite my going into BIO to tell it to boot to the USB. I'm a fairly advanced computer user - but I give up unless Acronis tech support has any further ideas. I won't waste time filing a ticket- they should be reading the forums and respond so everyone can learn.
Joe
Grover- no such luck- tried it but same result. Oh well. Just to be sure I tried again the bootable flash drive for my newer Dell XPS desktop and that works just fine.
Thanks for your suggestion- I'll also do a text search on the subject- maybe I'll yet find a solution.
Hey Grover, you really know this stuff- I know you have probably posted more than anyone in this forum. Have you ever tried Norton Ghost or other backup programs? Your opinion on the rest would be very interesting.
I might even spring for Ghost to experiment with on my old Dell-- I'm so glas I have it for experimenting!
I'll probably also install ATI 2016 and see if it can create the bootable flash drive on my old Dell. I'm not sure what other features 2016 has other than T&D.
Joe
Joseph,
The problem could be in your BIOS and not an Acronis problem.
I have a 4 year old Toshiba laptop, with the exact opposite problem. It will boot from an Acronis Rescue USB flash drive, but it will not boot from an Acronis Rescue DVD. When trying to boot from the DVD, the computer reads the DVD drive for about 30 seconds, then eventually boots from the Hard drive (Windows 10). I did a test and removed the hard drive, and the DVD booted. So I was able to confirm that the Rescue DVD was good. However, if the hard drive is installed, the BIOS rejects the DVD.
Perhaps you could remove or disable the hard drive in your old Dell and see if the USB drive boots.
Regards,
FtrPilot
Joe,
The flash drive or CD is not machine specific. Will the 2016 flash drive boot on the old Dell?
Two backup programs installed on the same computer is like shooting yourself in the foot. The mix causes nothing but grief and neither work as intended.
If you do upgrade, I would run the TI Cleanup utility on the old dell so any new install is not exposed to the residue from an old install.
The utility can be found inside item 4 within my signature.
FtrPilot,
Yuh, it must be a BIOS issue- but I'm not going to remove the hard drive- too much trouble. I've never updated the BIOS since I got that Dell a decade ago- so perhaps that's the problem- but it's not necessary that I solve this problem since I have a bootable CD- and updating a BIOS might be risky.
Joe
Grover, I only recently updated the old Dell from ATI 2013 to 2015. I simply ran the new program. I must have uninstalled via contral panel, 2013, as it's not listed there. I probably should have use a cleanup utility first. I did ask Acronis about this and they said it's not necessary- but, maybe it is. Other folks here agree with you.
Or, maybe I'll just move on- I'm spending too much time on this problem. But, thanks again!
Oh, I wasn't going to try to install 2016 on top of 2015. I may yet install 16 but first I'll run the cleanup utility on 15.
Joe