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Computer won't boot after backup

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I just bought the latest release of Acronis True Image Home 2011 today. I am a little bummed because the the success of the backup has left me with a dead laptop. I now get the following message when the Windows 7 X64 laptop tries to boot.

Windows failed to start. A Recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

The back-up appeared to work correctly and the external hard drive does contain the tib file. I used Backup & Recovery 10 on my other computer to verify that the new tib file passed validation. I started to reload the laptop from the backup but then decided that advice should be obtained first.

I chose an external USB drive for the backup. Why does the software need to alter the source disk to do the backup?

What must be done to fix the boot problem?

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I was able to resolve the boot problem by reloading the laptop with a new MBR from the TIB file that was created during the backup.

I am still curious on why the boot sector on the laptop would be modified during the backup if someone knows the answer.

Performing a backup should have no bearing. However, if you installed the optional "Startup Recovery Manager, this function does change the F11 key and if the key was already assigned to some other function, this could cause you some grief until you it was corrected.

More information about that option can be found on page 152, section 7.1.2

Thanks for your reply. I am not sure which user manual or guide the page number references but I don't see Startup Recovery Manager in the start menu or in Windows "Programs & Features" list. Could you give me the manual or PDF title?

This morning I had a similar issue occur where Windows would not boot with the same failed start error. I then inserted my Acronis recovery/backup boot CD in the drive and powered on. I left the room for a moment only to return and find a Windows log-on prompt instead of the Acronis menu. Windows then allowed me to log-on and all was fine. Why did Windows boot with unrequested assistance from the Acronis boot disk but fail without it?

This problem did not exist before I installed the software.

You can find the Acronis Startup Recovery Manager (ASRM) from the main True Image (TI) screen, Tools & Utilities. Activating this and or the Acronis Boot Sequence Manager will modify the MBR. That might explain the changes.