Cloning option suggested for 2017
I've been a regular user of Acronis since the company started doing backup and cloning software, I started using the software with the free versions provided by makers of hard disks I've installed. I have been buying full versions since 2009 and have bought a couple years of family packs. I got in touch with Acronis support recently not so much to get help but to report it no longer works as I've grown accustomed to it working. So NO, I did not want help on a per incident basis, I wanted to report that Acronis was no longer doing what I bought it for. Previously I had reported another incident that came to an unwanted end: After days of working with Acronis and letting technicians take over my desktop, they agreed, 2015 simply would not let me transfer license to another computer. So I go a free copy of 2016. I didn't want this, as the 2015 was a 3 pack and I like all three computers to do the same thing: to be "on the same page". Ok so I don't want your current per incident technical help, but I would like Acronis to develop its software so I can use it as I like and not have to go buy software from one of its competitors. I use Acronis only for cloning, as it notes in your documentation, cloning is the ultimate backup and I've found usually it is the system files and programs that lead to disaster. With system files down you can spend hours trying to recover things---mucking through the wreckage. If you have a clone, instead you just switch to the clone and then it works. My system, boot disks are all SSDs. I like to clone these to hard drives. So I certainly don't want to use the cloned drive as my boot disk...it is a back up. I want to continue using my SSD as my boot disk. In the past I've simply launched the cloning operation, walked away from the computer and let it shut down. When the computer then was restarted, I went to bios and had the computer start from the original and not the clone. Now, however, as your new documentation indicates (below), you must disconnect either the original or the copied hard drive. Another step, side of case needs removal, the hard drive needs to be disconnected. I'd rather not do this, I don't want secretaries to do this. More time, more handling of plugs, more places for error. Undoubtedly the need to physically disconnect the drive is the result of UEFI overriding Bios settings so..what I suggest is the development of UEFI controls in the recovery media that lets the user designate which disk, the original or the clone, will be used as the boot and which will be used as the back up boot disk. In the event that the boot disk is damaged, the recovery media could again be used to make the back up disk the bookable disk. From the Acronis Support write up. Cloning from Acronis Bootable Media Create Acronis Bootable Media. See Acronis True Image 2016: Creating Bootable Media; Boot your computer from Acronis Bootable Media and select Tools -> Clone disk: Select the Automatic mode to have your old disk's partitions automatically and proportionally resized to fit the new disk: Select your old hard disk as the source disk and click Next: Select the new hard disk as the destination disk and click Next: If the destination disk is partitioned, click OK to allow the product to erase all data from the destination disk (required to do the cloning): Review the operation on the Summary window and click Proceed to start the cloning: When the cloning completes, shut down the system and remove one of the hard drives.
Doc,
I believe this is a Windows & UEFI issue and is not caused by Acronis, even if both disks are mounted internally.
To resolve your immediate concerns, you should consider hardware upgrades to your computers which facilitates removal and install of hard disks. Such as hot swap racks. Once the racks are installed, changing drives literally takes seconds. Another advantage is the cloned backup could be stored in a safe or locked cabinet and would not be subject to a malware attack, which could happen if they were intalled in the computer.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817990011
The amazon link below shows most of the Kingwin hot swap products.
http://www.amazon.com/KingWin-3-5-Inch-Internal-Trayless-KF-1000-BK/dp/…
Hope this helps...
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