Warning: Disabling Acronis Backup Archive Explorer device renders system unbootable
Just a warning for other ABR 11 users:
If you disable the Acronis Backup Archive Explorer device in device manager, your system may be rendered unbootable on the next restart. A brief blue screen with a STOP 0x0000007b INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE error will flash by - very difficult to read.
I have confirmed this on three different Windows 7 x64 machines. The solution was to use Windows System Recovery and allow it to repair the startup, which re-enabled the device.
We learned this the hard way with a notebook user who was traveling on the opposite side of the planet...he disabled this device while trying to resolve a problem with shutdown caused by a pending ABR11 backup job. Repair was very difficult because PGP whole disk encryption was also in use on the PC, and Windows System Recovery cannot operate on an encrypted boot volume.
Acronis: this is a serious problem, and should be fixed ASAP! Ideally this device should not interfere with booting. If it must be installed & required for booting, then it should not be possible to disable it. At the very least, this issue must be documented so that users can be warned, and IT staff can be prepared to fix it if (when) a user makes this mistake!
Client version is ABR11 v 17345.
I have not tested this yet on other OS versions, but I suspect it may cause the same problem. If it occurs on WinXP the 'Last Known Good' Configuration might allow the system to boot.
Hopefully this message will save someone else a weekend full of international phone calls spent troubleshooting an unbootable notebook!
JDC
Hi Jay and Forellenblau,
thank you for reporting about the issue.
We've just reproduced this problem, and opened an issues with the Development team. They will work on fixing the problem.
Unfortunately we do not have any ETA regarding when the fix will be available, but it's expected in future updates. Please also note that it's highly not recommended to disable Backup Archive Explorer as it might affect the productivity of the program.
Should you need anything else or have any further questions - feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience, we will be happy to help you.
Thank you.
Please also note that it's highly not recommended to disable Backup Archive Explorer as it might affect the productivity of the program.
Hi Yana,
that's correct. But for testing (in case of errors e.g.) you could have the idea to do such a thing (like the OP states). Anyway it's good to fix it. Such a BSOD is very nasty.
Hello,
If anybody runs into this issue by any chance when experimenting with manual disabling of Acronis Backup Archive Explorer -> press F8 during Windows boot-up (and before BSOD appears) to get to Windows boot menu - and select Last Known Good Configuration. This will allow Windows to start booting normally again (it will roll back the version of the registry where Acronis Backup Archive Explorer (timounter) driver is not partly disabled).
Thank you,
Alexander
I'd also strongly urge handling outstanding backup jobs in a different way when a Windows 7 machine is shut down. This message:
Operations are in progress, please wait. The machine will be turned off automatically after the operations are complete.
...is what prompted my user to try to disable Acronis Backup Archive Explorer in the first place. I understand from http://kb.acronis.com/content/19016 what is going on at this point, but if a notebook user has disconnected from the LAN and is traveling somewhere, the inability to shut down cleanly is a real problem.
How about detecting the job in progress during the shutdown phase and offering the user a choice: Wait, or cancel the outstanding job.
JDC