Stuck in endless UEFI loop

Ronald, I have not heard of reports of computers being stuck in an endless UEFI look simply because of upgrading to ATIH 2017 but from the details that you have provided, this may have been caused by having the Acronis Startup Recovery Manager (ASRM) utility installed, which is what provides the F11 prompt on boot.

Another key factor here may be that you have upgraded multiple times across different versions of the ATIH software.

The ATIH 2017 FAQ document (shown in the left Useful Links column) states the following:

If you already have Acronis True Image 2016 or Acronis True Image 2015 installed, there is no need to remove the old version and reinstall the software. Start the installation file of Acronis True Image 2017 and install the product. After upgrade, create a new bootable media.

If you already have Acronis True Image 2014 or older versions, you need to delete these first and then install Acronis True Image 2017.

I suspect that the version of ASRM installed was probably from an earlier version of ATIH and this may be why this UEFI boot loop was caused?

I would recommend running the Acronis Cleanup Tool (link below in my signature) and use this to remove all residue of any earlier versions of the product, then restart the computer and do a clean install of ATIH 2017.  Please check first that you do not show ASRM as still being installed - you can use the Acronis Rescue Media to uninstall this if needed, i.e. boot from a Rescue CD or USB stick to do the uninstall if still present.

Sorry for delay in reply.  The last version on her machine was from 2016.  So I did not use the cleanup tool.  I reinstalled ATI 2017, the install was different this time.  The first time I started the .exe file it immediately told me that a new version was available and asked if I wanted to d/l it.   Yes I responded, the new d/l seemed to install without a hitch.  After installation, it wanted a reboot of the computer, probably to get rid of old files in use.  The reboot and startup and testing all good.  Then my problem this morning about the endless boot.

 This time on the 2nd re-installation it did not tell me of a newer version available, until the program was nearing the end of the installation. But first it stopped and complained that I didn't have the rights to add to programs, (photo) then asked to d/l the newer version.  I agreed to d/l and it then stopped a second time, never completed the install and froze (photo).  But in the background the program was asking me to create or to log into my account.  I close the top popup about the new program download. Entered my email and password and the program showed me that it has been activated.  It shows my serial number, which I did not have to enter this time.

The program seems to work everything is there. I have shut the computer down and restarted it serval times. My F11 boot startup is not there nor do I see where to find it.  I just haven't found it yet.  Hope when I activate it, the problem won't come back.

I wish to Thank You Steve for the fast response in answering my question and problem.           

Ron, thanks for the further update on this issue.  From your description the question that comes to mind is to ask if you are using an Administrator account on your computer?  If not, then this may be why you saw some of the messages about not having the correct privileges?

ATIH does need to be installed from an Administrator account and run with Administrator authority in order to work at the very low level is needs in the Windows OS and file system.

The F11 prompt is created when you activate the Acronis Startup Recovery Manager (ASRM) but I would recommend first creating and testing the standard Acronis bootable Rescue Media first - this can be created on CD or USB stick and used the same Linux OS base to launch the ATIH application outside of Windows as is used by ASRM.  If you can boot from the Rescue Media CD or USB then it will be safe to activate ASRM.

The options for the Rescue Media Builder and for ASRM can be found in the Tools menu option list from the main Start menu, or from the Tools page in the main GUI.

Yes I am the administrator of her computer, I got to have some power somewhere :)   

I did find the ASRM last night while playing with the new version.   I  also created a USB rescue media for both computer and tested each of them.  I only had to run and activate ASRM on her computer, mine was still there.  Now the strange part of the story.  After changing the boot startup on my computer to test the USB which did work.  Right after the test, when the computer booted up the drive letters of some of my external drives had changed.  I went to drive management to change them back to what they were before.  One of the drive letters  J:  was not on the available list.  It was completely missing.  Nor could I add the missing drive letter.  I don't think that I changed anything else in boot menu, except for boot that one time.   I am going to change a few program defaults to access new drive letter.  Her computer did not have this problem.  She doesn't have as many h/d as mine.

That's the first problem, here is the second problem.  After plugging in my external drive that I only use for backups on both computers ( 4TB formatted into 2- 2TB) one for my computer and other for hers.  Acronis does recognize the backups on the drives, but when I click one any one of them, Recover disk does not appear in the bottom of the Acronis screen.   I don't see it on either computer.    I am on the sidebar,  I am on backup. I can see my backup files, but clicking on any of them,  Recover PC is not there.   Am I looking in the wrong place?   In the help file it is shown on the bottom middle of the screen.   The more bells and whistles Acronis puts in gives me a sever headache with each update they make.  I don't do social media, not interested in that part. 

Thanks again for any suggestions.
 

Ron, not sure why your drive letters have changed or why your J: drive has disappeared?  Very strange.

When you when into the BIOS settings, did you change everything back to how it was before?

If this is a UEFI computer BIOS then the normal boot device is the Windows Boot Manager rather than a specific physical drive.

With the external drive, where are you looking for the options for Recover PC - this is only shown in the main Acronis GUI and for that you have to have the task that created the backups shown in the GUI, or have added existing backup to the GUI.  Check also that the Backup Now button doesn't have the text Reconfigure instead of Backup as this would suggest that Acronis doesn't have enough information for the task to offer the Recover options.

If you have the correct backup tasks shown in the GUI then check that your external drive has the same drive letter as used when the task was created, and that this has not changed too, i.e. the external drive partitions haven't been given different letters.

When I was in the bios of either computer the only thing that I did was to call up the boot startup menu.  Then scrolled down thru the different choices that were offered.  The h/d was first choice followed by a couple of dvd's,  then the many usb choices.  They were not listed by drive letter.  4 different usb choices.  The name of my Sony usb and the size of it.   Down the list I went, then pressed the enter button to boot off the USB.   I did not think that I had to go back in to the boot menu to make my choice of h/d again.  Computer seem fine except for drive letter missing.  

I will check Acronis once again for the Recover.   I had the Acronis help file open on her computer and I was trying to match what was on my computer screen to it.   I had to leave it for a while and take time off,  I was tired and very frustrated by it.  But will let you know later.  

Thanks once again Steve!  and A BIG THANKS for your time!   

Back with a little more info.  Since my drive letters have all changed, the Backup h/d that I use for just Acronis BU has naturally been reassigned to new letter.  (photo)

Once connected to my computer I found all of my backups and they have been added to my recovery list.  Clicking on any of them, now I DO SEE the recovery button appear in the bottom of my Acronis screen which I did not see the first time around.   I usually make a backup of both computers once every other month.  Sometimes sooner if Microsoft has lots of updates. I use the Full BU option.  On those backups I always validate them.  The files that we use frequently (like quicken checkbook, wife's book list)  are on USB flash drives and those I backup weekly.  It's just faster and it's a habit now. 

On some of the previous backups that I made with ATI 2016 when I added them to my 2017 version they show a large RED X.  Acronis now tells me that even if I browse to find them on new h/d drive letter and click on them to add and validate that this can not be done.  My only option is delete name from list / or delete entirely.  But since I can't add them my only choice is to delete name.  Those previous BU were validated when they were made but not valid now.  I find that strange.  

That's it for the updates, Thanks for helping!