ABM doesn't recognize Dell computers which by default are set to Raid

I don't have a Dell to test with, but I might be able to help. I tried building a WinPE x64 bootable media and add IRST drivers. It was a problem. Intel supplies the AHCI and iaStorAC drivers in the same folder. The builder would only pick up the AHCI driver. I tried putting them in separate folders. The builder accepted both, but failed to build with an exit code 2 on the AHCI driver.

You could try just adding the iaStorAC driver (which is needed for RAID) and see if it works for you. The builder did produce media with just the iaStorAC driver. I booted it on an Intel RAID system and it didn't work. I couldn't see the RAID array.

You could also use the MVP Tool https://forum.acronis.com/forum/acronis-true-image-2019-forum/mvp-tool-custom-ati-winpe-builder which supports Acronis Cyber Backup 12.5. The Tool invokes the Acronis Media Builder with instructions on how to configure it. The Tool has a Drivers _Custom folder with IRST drivers supplied. You can replace them with the IRST drivers you want to use. When you configure the Acronis Media Builder during the build you can just skip the Add Drivers screen. Then answer Yes to the add custom drivers question in the MVP Tool. Both drivers will be added and it should work for you.

Hello Jim,

thank you for posting on Acronis forums!

Here is instruction on how to find an appropriate RST driver when creating WinPE-based bootable media:

Download and unzip the latest version of Intel RST drivers that support the hardware where the bootable media will be used. If you are unsure about what model of Intel controller is used, launch Windows Start menu, type cmd, right-click the found result and select "Run as administrator" or "More"-"Run as administrator", then execute the following command:

wmic path win32_pnpentity where "caption like '%Chipset%' OR caption like '%AHCI%' OR caption like '%RAID%' OR caption like '%SATA%'" get caption

Note that the above command should be run on the computer where the bootable media is intended to be used, not where the media builder is running (if these are different computers).

Find the latest version of Intel RST drivers at https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/55005/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-

Version 16.8: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28400/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-User-Interface-and-Driver-for-Intel-7th-8th-Generation-Platforms

• Intel® 300/240 Series Chipset Family
• Intel® 200 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• 7th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor Family Platform I/O SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel® 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller

Version 15.9 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27400/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-User-Interface-and-Driver

• Intel® 200 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• 7th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor Family Platform I/O SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel® 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• 6th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor Family Platform I/O SATA AHCI/RAID Controller

Version 14.8 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26759/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-User-Interface-and-Driver

• Intel(R) 9 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel(R) C600 Series Chipset SATA AHCI Controller

Version 12.9 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/23496/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-User-Interface-and-Driver?product=55005, requires an earlier version of Windows ADK.

• Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel(R) 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel(R) 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel(R) 5 Series/3400 Series SATA AHCI/RAID Controller
• Intel(R) X79 Express Chipset

Version 11.7 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/22194/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-User-Interface-and-Driver?product=55005, requires an earlier version of Windows ADK 

RAID Controllers:

• Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller
• Intel(R) Mobile Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller  
• Intel(R) ICH7MDH SATA RAID Controller
• Intel(R) ICH7R/DH SATA RAID Controller

AHCI Controllers:

• Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) 7 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) Mobile Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) 5 Series/3400 Series SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) 5 Series 4 Port SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) 5 Series 6 Port SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) ICH10D/DO SATA AHCI Controller 
• Intel(R) ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) ICH7M/MDH SATA AHCI Controller
• Intel(R) ICH7R/DH SATA AHCI Controller

After figuring out which version suites the hardware where the bootable media will be used, click "f6flpy-x64.zip" on the left side to download the driver files, regardless of whether your Windows is 32 or 64-bit.

Note on the option "f6flpy-x86.zip":
You will want to choose "f6flpy-x86.zip" instead in very rare cases - only for running the bootable media on a 32-bit UEFI firmware (not to be confused with 32-bit Windows!).

Unzip the downloaded zip archive, then click the plus sign in Acronis Bootable Media Builder and select the unpacked folder. 

Jim,

I got it to work with the Acronis Media Builder. The problem is as I said above. The Media Builder can only pick up one inf file from a folder. The IRST drivers have two inf files that must both be added. The trick is to make two separate folders. Put all the files in both folders. Then delete one inf file from each folder so the two folders each have only one of the inf files and all of the other files. Then use the Add button to add both folders to the Media Builder.

If your Dell has special IRST drivers, you can identify them in Device Manager and extract them from your system. See this post for instructions on how to do this. https://forum.acronis.com/forum/best-practices-data-protection/guide-add-drivers-winpe-recovery-media

Maria,

There is a flaw in the Media Builder that should be fixed. When there are more than one inf file in a folder all of them need to be added. The Media Builder only picks up one and that stops the media from seeing IRST RAID arrays.

Hello Paul,

thank you for your valuable comments.

There is a flaw in the Media Builder that should be fixed. When there are more than one inf file in a folder all of them need to be added. The Media Builder only picks up one and that stops the media from seeing IRST RAID arrays.

This is how this procedure has been designed and documented:

• Click Add and specify the path to the necessary *.inf file for a corresponding SCSI, RAID, SATA controller, network adapter, tape drive or other device.
• Repeat this procedure for each driver you want to be included in the resulting WinPE media.

However, this improvement could be added as a feature request. I will forward it to the respective department.

   The first thing I tried was the above RST drivers. Same scenario but it did not work. Tried separate folders and everything. No luck. The odd part is that the TrueImage bootable media recognized the drives. That doesn’t say much for CyberBackup.

   I could see it if it was a mom and pop computer but this is Dell. Acronis should be a little more up to speed…..

Hello Jim.

Do you create Linux-based bootable media or WinPE-based bootable media?

Have you tried this instruction?

I also recommend that you consult with this KB article: https://kb.acronis.com/content/59688

   Of all the posts Mustang hit the nail on the head with a tiny exception. The file downloaded from Intel actually had four INF files in it. All four had to be broken down into separate folders. Then there was another step. When you added those folders to ABM of course it was looking for addition files from the root of the download to you had to keep adding drivers, copying files and starting over about 8 times. NOthing like making life simple is there?

Jim Becher wrote:

   Of all the posts Mustang hit the nail on the head with a tiny exception. The file downloaded from Intel actually had four INF files in it. All four had to be broken down into separate folders. Then there was another step. When you added those folders to ABM of course it was looking for addition files from the root of the download and you had to keep adding drivers, copying files and starting over about 8 times. Nothing like making life simple is there?

Hello

Slightly offtopic:

I experienced this sort of driver installation with a regular running windows and a driver folder with multiple inf files. As above the solution was to make copies and leave just one inf file in each folder. So this problem isn't unique to the media builder.

-- Peter

No but the Intel RST Driver is almost as commonplace as the generic AHCI driver. It would really be nice if Acronis would maybe come up to the year 2020 and by default include them.