Creating Bootable Media problem
Hello,
I recently bought the Acronis Backup and Recovery 11 + Universal Restore package (one license), mostly interested in the Universal Restore feature.
So today I tried creating a bootable media cd including the drivers I want. While trying adding the drivers, the wizard started asking me for many more drivers than the ones I thought I was supposed to use. However after some hours I was able to include every driver I was asked to include. Then when i clicked Proceed after waiting for some mins I got an error called "Error E0004000A" and then another one saying "Cannot Create file".
Searching these forums I found a thread in which a user had the some problem but it was about Backup and Recovery 10. In that thread, you addressed his issue telling him to download the lates media builder throught his account and then burn it onto the CD. I downloaded the latest media builder through my account and when I tried to open the file I saw it was an iso image file. That didn't slow me down since I used another program to open it. When I opened it I saw that there was no executable file in there so I can update my client. Therefore, I followed the next step that you included in the other issue which was to burn it onto the cd. So I burned the downloaded iso file onto the CD and now I can't understand what I am supposed to do.
Just out of curiosity I tried creating the bootable CD using the CD I burned the iso above and still I got the same Error.
Pls help.
Hi Spyridon
It sounds like you are trying to create a Windows PE boot CD with your own device drivers included? (Is this correct?)... I’m not too sure why the wizard will be asking you for more drivers than you have specified as these should be additional drivers to what is already included with the WinPE environment.
I would recommend making sure you are using the WinPE 3.x environment files (Hear is a list of step by step instructions on how the process should be done: http://www.acronis.com/support/documentation/ABR11/index.html#1220.html)
I’ve also gone through the process for you and created a few screenshots alone the way that you might find helpful, pleases find them attached.
Hello again,
Thnx a lot for your help and especially for those screenshots. However, in my last message I didn't give you enough info as I see now.
When trying to create this bootable CD, instead of choosing Windows PE (regarding step1) I prefer using Linux because this way it's easier for me.
However, since the Linux way didn't work out I decided to go step by step with your guide above. Unfortunately I got stuck at step 1 when I get to select the Windows PE selection. When I do that, instead of being able to select "Create Windows PE 2.x or 3.0 automatically?" I can only choose "Use WinPE files located in the folder I specify. The wizard informs me that in order to be able to select the first one I must download one of 3 installation kits by Microsoft. However, I cannot use any of these kits because they are all for Windows 7 or Vista since I work on a XP system (another thing I forgot to mention - my bad).
As a result, I realise that the WindowsPE choice is for Vista or 7 users. So I am still stuck with my "Error E0004000A" using the Linux way again and I need help to fix it.
However, I cannot use any of these kits because they are all for Windows 7 or Vista since I work on a XP system
No, you can. From here, e.g. - http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=10333
•Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003 SP1; Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista
•Windows XP SP2 with KB926044
The resulting bootable cd will be vista- or windows 7- based.
However, I cannot use any of these kits because they are all for Windows 7 or Vista since I work on a XP systemNo, you can. From here, e.g. - http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=10333
•Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003 SP1; Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista
•Windows XP SP2 with KB926044The resulting bootable cd will be vista- or windows 7- based.
Thnx again, I am downloading it right now.
Besides the WindowsPE way, is it possible for me to create a Linux based Boot Cd ?
Why am I insisting on Linux ? It's because I find it way easier than the Windows based ones.
Hi Spyridon
Unfortunately if the drives do not exist in the Linux boot CD already you are not able to ‘add’ drivers into a linux bootCD like you can with Windows so if you have hardware not recognised you will have to stick with the WinPE… It’s very easy/quick once you have that package downloaded/installed and I would also always suggest keeping a copy of the AIK installer with the ABR11 installer in case I run into any issues and need it urgently in the future for whatever reason.
Also remember to report your hardware details to Acronis support so they can look at trying to add drivers into Linux in there news ABR11 update which should be around end of the year or very early next year some time.
P.S. Thanks for your help dev-anon!
Hello and thanks for clarifying the problem with the Linux Choice. Unfortunately, I still can't make that Boot CD.
Let me explain:
So I downloaded the automatic installation kit (which can be used for XP) and I installed it. Then I started the Acronis Media Builder and I followed all of the steps in the screenshots (except for the 2nd one because that "Network Settings" page never appears for me). It's all ok till I click proceed where after a couple of minutes I get this Error "Failed to create the file Error Code: 0x180000".
I start wondering if the problem is with the drivers I use. I used a free software to export them in a folder and then I load them from there (Don't forget that the Media Builder asked me for many more drivers, as I've said above, which I've found by myself searching in the Windows folder.
Any more help ?
Hi Spyridon
I would strongly not suggest trying to manually extract drivers from the Windows folder, as once drivers are installed in a Windows OS not all files are kept in the same location so you will run into issues... The best method is to simply goto the manufacturers page and download the latest available driver for the device you are having issues with (Eg, NIC, HDD controller or chipset drivers) then include them with the boot CD wizard (most drivers download as Zip files which you can extract to a folder for the boot wizard to use).
Also keep in mind the automatic installation kit does NOT have to be the same version of windows you have, eg, you can install the Windows 7 AIK onto your Windows XP machine to create a boot CD that will have the latest Windows 7 kernel... the only thing to keep in mind is when adding drives to this boot CD you also need to ensure that you use the matching drivers for the AIK being used (eg, if you downloaded the Windows 7 AIK the drivers need to be Windows 7 drivers for that boot CD to work and NOT Windows XP that your current system is using, think of it as creating a bootable version of Windows 7 on a CD)
Another thing to keep in mind is Acronis will also automatically use all the device drivers that ship with that distribution of Windows, for example if you are using Windows XP AIK BUT the hardware you are using was released after Windows XP so if you ever had to install Windows XP on your system a driver disk would be required (the same is the case when using the WinPE boot CD)... however if you find that Windows 7 now includes drivers for the PC you are using and you create your WinPE boot CD using the Windows 7 AIK you will find that you do not have to add any more drivers for WinPE to detect your hardware as when the boot CD loads it will look for all the required drivers ‘inside’ Windows 7 if you like to access your hardware.
Hope that helps explain things a little better.
Hello again,
I've given up on including my own drivers in the Bootable CD so I decided to try and use the Universal Restore without these Drivers. Then again I run again into problems.
I created a Linux Based, a Windows Based, and WindowsPE Boot CD and all of them doesn't seem to work on the computer I want to use them on. When I boot from them I get the choice of using the Recovery Service or Continue to OS Booting. Whenever I choose to use the Recovery Feature, the Acronis Logo appears on the Fullscreen and after some seconds the computer freezes. I've tried doing the same thing on a different computer and everything works just fine. So, I can understand that the problem remains with my computer and this doesn't have anything to do with Acronis, however I thought I should post this here just in case somebody has ever run into something similar.
Keep up the good work!
Hi Spyridon
Thanks for the update, if you are having issues booting the Linux boot CD it might be good to contact Acronis support so they get get a system config file from you (eg, details on your system hardware) so they can look into this issue and try to include a fix/update to avoid this issue in a future build.
Having said that as the WinPE boot CD does not boot up that sounds very strange as that should basically be loading "Windows" as such... I wonder if you boot up your OS (eg, Windows 7 CD) if you will have the same issues on this system.. If so you might like to get the system checked out you might have a faulty component that needs replacing (eg, Faulty memory).
All the best and hope you manage to get a working boot CD for your system soon or find the cause of the issue.
Hi there,
Just reading through a few threads/posts trying to find an answer to a similar problem. Seems like the only reliable option for bootable rescue disks is to go straight to the download ISO off our accounts?
I was trying to create an x64 bootable Acronis 11.5 disk with Intel network driver set version 18.3 based on AIK for Windows 7 with SP1 update. Once drivers were unpacked, I noticed there are NDIS63 directories (these work on Windows 8 or Server 2012, but not on 7). Removing the directories took care of the issue.