Plus Pack for ATI2010 What Is Missing

The PP is an add-on for True Image 2010. So you have to have TI 2010 installed first then install the PP. Once you have both installed you can make the bootable CD without the need for WinPE.

I know that, you cannot install the PP without having ATI 2010 installed. That is not the problem. When you run the PP, the very first thing it responds with is a dialog asking the user to locate the WinPE ISO on the system where it is running. The problem is that the WinPE ISO is NOT a product you get when you purchase a HDD with WinXP Pro pre-installed by the OEM. From what I see searching the net, if I want this WinPE software, I have to **buy** it. THAT is my problem, I understood that this Acronis PP would provide all the components needed to do what it does, but it appears that is not the case. If the ad had mentioned that you must have a copy of WinPE for your version of Windows in order to use the PP, I would not have purchased it, because I do not want to buy something I will likely hardly ever need, since I am not maintaining a bunch of corporate PCs or running a busiuness selling PCs.

Pete B

This might answer your question - http://kb.acronis.com/content/5415

Since I am running WinXP Pro, the relevant article is this one:

http://kb.acronis.com/content/5422

which I had already checked. If you read it, note the following statement:

"How to add Acronis True Image Home 2010 Plus Pack to a Windows XP based PE

This article applies to:

Acronis True Image Home 2010 Plus Pack
Solution
Unpack all files of your WinPE 1.5 ISO to a separate folder on the hard disk;
..."

I DO NOT HAVE A WINPE 1.5 ISO!!!

That is the whole problem here!! If YOU have that WinPE 1.5 ISO, please let me knoiw where I can download it for free!!!

Pete B

The Plus Pack comes with a help file that provided me with all the Microsoft download links. Was able to make the ISO that way.

I have a Plus Pack as well.

Start the WinPE Builder wizard- it is in the Acronis folder . You do not build it from TI

At the left bottom is a ?

Click on that and a help file will open- check the link to adding the plugin

I burnt the WAIK ISO file (Win 7) that I had downloaded to a CD to create a bootable CD

I then booted off this and installed the WAIK to the default directories. I also installed steps 3 and 4 although I don't think I needed them with Win 7

Also see this posting re WIM file if you have a problem

http://forum.acronis.com/forum/5605

Come back if you have a problem.

Ahhh nevermind. Just noticed that you have Win XP. It doesn't provide a link for that...

Yeah, that article (5422) is a bit out of date it looks like. The 1.5 version may have been superseded.

I'm thinking the files you need are in the AIK's listed here - http://kb.acronis.com/ja/node/5415

The PE 2.1 version is compatible with XP SP2 according to MS.

This article discusses adding the Acronis plugin to PE 2.x or 3.0. http://kb.acronis.com/content/5421#23

So, you should be able to follow those instructions and create a PE 2.x setup that will work with XP.

The 1.5 article needs to be trashed.

Thank you very much for that info.

Yes, it appears that the AIK for Vista will be usable for WinXP Pro SP2, my current OS, that is what the MSKB Download article says. I have never used this software before (I am a EE and home user, not an IT professional although I do have extensive programming/computer experience).

Now, I will give all this a try and see what happens. Thank you again for finally setting me on the path to using this add-on.

Pete Barnes

Acronis True Image Plus Pack (supposed machine independant restore) :

This is not a stand alone Add-on. This add-on is crap and is false publicity for machine independant restore (MIR). Firstly, you pratically have to be a programmer to use it, what with all the hoops one has to got through.

So I went thru the hoops, but found out when installing .Net Framework and MSXML that it only works with with Windows XP Sp2 installed on the machine. There is no AIK for Windows XP Sp3, even though everyone has SP3 installed. I'm certainly not going to uninstall XP3 just so I can create this MIR Boot CD. How do I get my money back or tell me how I can get and run AIK for XP Sp3?

More generally, evey file required should have been bundled with the add-on. No wonder there's a half-price fire sale, this add-on does nothing : the user has to do everything. Shadow protect has MIR without all this hassle.

I am beginning to agree with that. It took me twenty minutes after installing the AIK just toi find out where the WinPE files that the add-in wants are located. I too am beginning to think the thing is not worth the money. I too have WinXP Pro SP3, and if what yoiu say is true then it will be useless for me as well.

Thanks for the reply.

Pete B

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Updated-Automated-Installation-Kit-for-V…

Don't know why MS didn't provide a version for SP3. I'm still at SP2 since SP3 caused numerous problems right after I installed it. I imaged the drive right before so I immediately went back to SP2 and skipped SP3 on my other machines.

Peter Barnes wrote:

I just installed the Plus Pack for ATI 2010.  Is there something besides this Acronis product that I am supposed to have to use this to make a bootable disk for my WinXP Pro SP 3 that I can use if myt HDD fails and I need to replace it with a different size. What is going on? Pete Barnes

You don't need the plus pack to do this restore.*

You just need a boot cd. There's a couple of ways.

1. You can boot from the downloaded boot iso from your account with acronis TI2010. Just login, choose my products, select the boot tab, download the iso, burn to a cdrom. This downloaded image is the same as if you purchased a boxed cd. It is a generic boot disk that takes longer to boot your system because it has to discover the right drivers and drives for your system. Just wait for it to boot, it could take 5-10 mins.

2. Build a boot cd from your install. Go into ATI2010 tools, choose "create bootable rescue media" build boot cd. I prefer to make an iso then burn with nero, you don't have to do it this way. This cd will contain system specific drivers from your current system. It will boot faster, but unless you have similar hardware on other pc's it might not work on any other computer.

When you do a restore just choose manual partition of the new hard drive and you can set it up how you want. done.

*Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the plus pack is not a separate program, it unlocks certain features. Namely:

Restore to Dissimilar Hardware Restore a computer to dissimilar hardware regardless of make, model, or installed components, or to a virtual machine.
Dynamic Disk Support Back up and restore dynamic volumes easily, taking advantage of dynamic disk capabilities including multi-partition and fault tolerant volumes as well as partition size adjustment.

So if you don't have a Raid system, other dynamic disks, or you are not restoring to a different motherboard (system drivers) -- you really don't need the plus pack.

The 3rd option of the plus pack is the winPE support.  It is optional, you don't need it unless you want to create a special boot environment that you can use to do other things than just restore your image.  Do virus scans, data recovery, etc. before a restore. Or you want to run on a native windows operating system to do your restore.

If you do have the plus pack, download the boot iso from the plus pack.  This will give you the widest range of drivers available to do restores to dissimilar motherboards, raid drive systems, drive controllers, etc.

Hope that helps.

frantid

You apparently have not actually used the plus pack. The first thing the wizard requires is that you install the WinPE installation pack from Microsoft, which kit is the problem. I never saw any such thing as a plus pack iso download, and the actions you describe w2ill not work for using ATI to migrate your image to a different hardware system (it sounds like you copied the advertising pitch for your description).

In any case, the question is moot. I have returned the plus pack as it is useless for a WinXP Pro SP3 system like mine and I have found several much more suitable and useful products for this task from other vendors.

Pete B

Glad you found something that works for you.

And yes I did quote the website.

In your first post, the part I quoted, you would not need the plus pack.  I wanted to help anyone deciding on the plus pack, that you don't need it unless you want to "migrate your image to a different system" or run a Raid system, etc. 

I didn't buy the plus pack for winPE, so no I never tried to get winPE running. 

In order to get the iso downloads, you need to register your serial number with acronis.  Since you're posting on the forum, you have an account as it's the same.  If you register your serial, you can go to "my products" or "updates", and there will be what I described.  If you download the plus pack iso, you will be able to attempt Universal Restore.  (I say attempt, because I have yet to try it myself.)  All it is, is an option to load different device drivers for the disk controllers than those that are in your system backup.  As far as I can tell, WinPE is not required at all.

You are still completely missing the root of the problem, go back and read ALL of the thread. Any migration requires the plus pack if you are using ATI, you cannot use an image to restore to a different system. You referred to an iso for the plus pack, there is no such iso. The boot iso is for making an ATI bootable rescue CD, has nothing to do with the plus pack itself. I have that rescue CD, it is only specific to the version of ATI software you use.

In any case, the plus pack requires using the WinPE Microsoft software not supplied by ATI; without it the Plus Pack will not even run. The Plus Pack will not run unless you have the WinPE installed on your system.

Pete B

If I'm reading this right:

http://kb.acronis.com/content/5410

Before restoring an image of your operating system, please ensure the following:

• You have Acronis Bootable Media with Acronis Universal Restore. If you do not, please do the following:
• Install Acronis True Image Home 2010 Plus Pack. See Installation of Acronis Plus Pack for Acronis True Image Home 2010;
• You have created Acronis Bootable Media (standard, WinPE, or BartPE) after the installation of Acronis True Image Home 2010 Plus Pack;
• You have a backup of a supported operating system. See Acronis Universal Restore of Acronis True Image Home 2010 Plus Pack: Supported Operating Systems;
• You have drivers for the hard disk drive controller or chipset drivers for the new computer. These drivers are critical for booting the operating system. You can download the drivers for your motherboard on the Vendor's web-site. Please note, if you downloaded the drivers in *.exe, *.cab, *.zip format, you should extract them first. The driver files should have the *.inf, *.sys or *.oem extensions.

You can use WinPE, it is not a requirement. Unless there's some other requirement I'm missing somewhere.

I think what you are trying to run is the PE builder menu item from the start menu.

This whole thing is ridiculous! There was no documentation provided with the "Plus Pack" (other than the "Help" file) and like many of the poster's I thought I was getting something that would add functionality to Acronis True Image 10. The Plus Pack should add a click-able button, menu choice, etc. that allows the additional functionality advertised.

While this add-on was reasonably priced, it has caused me no end of confusion and I still don't know how to use it!

Please Acronis, resolve this problem before it becomes a stain on your otherwise good reputation!!!

It really is not clear at all. You can't get details on it unless you do a lot of digging.

And if you do have a raid system or other dynamic disk, there are limitations.  http://kb.acronis.com/content/6533

I got the pluspack under a free upgrade deal, and I'm thinking about doing a motherboard upgrade later.

Here's what I noticed:
Install TI 2010, install the Plus Pack, create a bootable rescue media CD from within TI, boot from that CD, launch TI, the splash screens says "Plus Pack", select the restore option, Universal Restore is there.

TheWeaz wrote:

Here's what I noticed:
Install TI 2010, install the Plus Pack, create a bootable rescue media CD from within TI, boot from that CD, launch TI, the splash screens says "Plus Pack", select the restore option, Universal Restore is there.

From what I remember in the one attempt I observed in someone using UR, it lets you choose the folder containing the driver, but unlike the way the Workstation UR works, it doesn't let you go further and choose the .inf file which has the driver details it needs.
Initially I thought that maybe the software was finally programmed to be "more intelligent" and that it would find the .inf file in the folder, but not so.
Has anyone got UR to work in 2010?

Ok, is there any one that actually has used this plus pack successfully, who can post something usefull, or the people from ACRONIS can make a usefull comment or more likely a video on youtube Acroni's channel.
TKS

I too am experiencing trouble with plus pack.  Acronis should refund the cost of this product *plus* the time all of have spent attempting to get it to work.  Our time is no less valuable than their time.  Plus Pack should have not been released until it worked right out of the box.  I have TrueImage 2010 latest build on my HP laptop running windows7.  I have made several clones of my hard drive in preparation for the big bang. So we know that TI2010 base product works on my computer.  When I saw that I could restore my clone to different hardware via the plus pack addin, I bought it.  I installed plus pack over my true image 2010 install.  Since then,  I can no longer clone.  I can no longer clone while in the windows. that is.  If I boot the computer via the boot media I can get a clone.  Now tech support is sending me detailed instructions on how to send them log files.  IS THIS A JOKE OR WHAT?  I would love to see what happens when I really need them to assist me in restoring critical data one day.  HEY TECH SUPPORT.    HOW ABOUT A PRODUCT THAT WORKS AFTER DOWNLOADING AND INSTALLING IT?

Dr. Neil Gorin

I have one solution, go get another product. I won't mention which one I got as that would be unfair on Acronis but at least when I bought my new product from a different company they did support me correctly and didn't mess me around. I was on to Acronis support 3 times a day, for hours at a time for 14 days and they kept using the same script to answer my questions and didn't answer promises they gave me. I would never again use Acronis and my Managers are Disgusted that we even wasted our money on the product, they ideas were great but the support was attrocious. I would even guess that they will monitor this and delete it so that they won't get negative outlook on their Forums. but sometimes the only way for a company to improve is when enough people complain and this is A Complaint about poor service...

I received an email today from Acronis promoting ATI2010 Plus Pack, and on reading the blurb, was ready to buy it as I do need to restore an existing image file to a new PC. After reading the posts in this forum 6906, I won't bother. I can do without the pain and hassle of trying to get the thing to work. PP sounds half-baked to me, and I would think that anyone who buys it in response to Acronis' email will claim a refund under the "30-day money back guarantee" that's shown in their email. I'm amazed that there's no post from Acronis tech support in this forum thread, which has been going since Oct-2009. It indicates that either Acronis tech support do not monitor the forums they themselves host, or that the PP problems encountered by those posting to this thread are valid and there's no solution they can offer. Either way, it betrays the regard Acronis hold for their products and their customers. I agree with the previous post from Eugene, which is to go get another product...I just wish he mentioned which product he chose because I want to do the same.

I am the person who originated this thread. I just want to note that I am very satisfied with the Acronis product itself, it was only this particular add-in that caused me a problem, Note that, upon request, Acronis did refund my purchase price with a minimum of fuss, and did so in a timely fashion.

My problem was really with the BART portion of the add-in, not the Acronis content which I never could use because of that BART problem. In general, I think Acronis is the best product for routine system backup and restore functions, and I have not found any other products that were any better. I certainly do not advocate abandoning Acronis simply because one had a problem with this Plus pack, that would be a foolish move IMO.

Pete Barnes

Hello all,

Please accept our profound apologies for the difficulties you've experienced with Acronis True Image Home 2010 Plus Pack.

I've forwarded your suggestions to the responsible person and have created a request to make a detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to make and use a bootable media with Plus Pack.

Please reply to this thread if you have any further suggestions or questions.

Thank you.

I have posted an initial tutorial on creating WinPE bootable media with the Plus Pack here: http://forum.acronis.com/forum/9449

Please note that the Windows Automated Installation Kit for Vista works fine with XP SP3 even though the following requirements only list XP
SP2:

System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista
• Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003 SP1; Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista
• Windows XP SP2 with KB926044 --- WORKS FINE WITH SP3 - no need to revert to SP2
• Windows Server 2003 SP1 with KB926044
• Windows Server 2003 SP2
• Windows Vista family

Here is the link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=C7D4BC6D-15F3-…

Hello Gary,

Thank you very much for your guide, I've already made this forum topic 'sticky' so now it's on top of the list. Additionally, I've added links to Windows AIKs for all version of Windows to your post.

Thank you for your time.

Ilya wrote:

Hello all,

Please accept our profound apologies for the difficulties you've experienced with Acronis True Image Home 2010 Plus Pack.

Apologies accepted. Now how do I go about getting my money back for this rediculous exercise in futility?? My god, I could have half my system re installed in the new machine by the time I download the 1.6 gig MS download, and dig thru all the posts about how to actually getting this working correctly. If I pay for software to migrate to a new system, I should not have to do half the friggen the work!!

Verndog-

I think you have a misunderstanding of what "work" is required. The get the Plus Pack installed is not much work at all. The WinPE bootable media is NOT REQUIRED - it is an alternative. You don't have to do a WinPE distribution at all, if you don't want to. The Acronis WinPE ISO Builder is simply one part of the Plus Pack. There are other ways to get the bootable media you need.

WinPE is provided by Microsoft. Yes, it is a big download, but the installation is not too hard. WinPE is Microsoft's doing, not Acronis's - don't blame Acronis. Beyond installing the WAIK, you really don't have to "dig through the posts" to get at least the WinPE Builder part to work - that is why I made the tutorial. The Universal Restore part does take some digging, but this is a very involved process.

I also don't believe that paid "for software to migrate to a new system". You paid for a tool that can help you migrate your system to another system of yours. If "the software" were to be able to do everything for you, I would expect it to cost far more than $50 US. At least I would charge a whole lot more, but I'm just a scientist, not a software developer.

I have already installed the Plus Pack...yes...THAT is simple enough. But when I begin to attempt using it (like many others complained about here) that is where the lack of direction makes all the work. First I get an error message that the correct files are not in the choosen folder and that leads to opening the can of worms. As far as what I get for the price, I want to simply install my current win 7 data to a new machine, I'd gladly pay more for a working product, or 1 that at least outlines or guides you to complete a reasonably painless process. After 4 hours of downloading, reading, printing, installing no less then 3 additional apps to follow help files instruction, I'm nowhere nearer my goal then when I began. I would think loading the new OS onto new machine, then restoring apps, and data from image, and leave harware config on new machine alone is what this program should do...am I wrong here?? If so what is the intent of the program?? You list what I dont need to do, now what I do need to do would greatly help.

I'm with Verndog!

When I purchased the product, all the literature essentially stated that you could restore your files and programs to a new machine without replacing the driver files as long as the operating system was the same; in essence, moving your whole image to a new machine and giving you full functionality.

I haven't had to do this yet but bought the product in preparation for an anticipated future move. So my question is: does this product work as advertised? Should I be worried?

I am surprised that Acronis is willing to let their reputation and ultimately, their sales go down the tube. I should think a strong response to all concerned would be in order. Either fix the program, refund the cost, or explain what needs to be done to make this work right.

Everyone makes mistakes, it's how you respond once the mistake is made that makes all the difference!

So far as I know, the entire point of Universal Restore (which I have never used and at this point am not interested in) was to allow one to supply the drivers (chipset, non-IDE mass storage controllers, etc.) for the new new hardware, allowing your image to be used on new hardware, where the UR functionality helps the driver transition. If your impression is that the software could magically produce these drivers for you, and that you had to do no work other than starting the program and pointing at the new machine, then I must be reading different material than you are.

My interest, and what I have been trying to help with, is making the totally optional, alternative WinPE bootable media. Creation of WinPE media is only one part of the Plus Pack, and is totally independent of the other parts of the Plus Pack. Universal Restore capability does not depend in any way on creating WinPE media and can be done without creating WinPE media.

Gary, the provided Univeral Restore PDF you posted a link to in the other thread answered, all my questions...(i hope). I'll try a test run this eve when I get back home. For those needing better instuction, the PDF explaines the actual process. The link is in this thread.

http://forum.acronis.com/forum/9449

It was actually the confusion I saw in the earliest posts in this thread regarding the WinPE bootable media that led me to creating the the tutorial in the first place. I was just trying to help clear up some of the confusion - that was all, really.

JOSE A MOLINA wrote:

Ok, is there any one that actually has used this plus pack successfully, who can post something usefull, or the people from ACRONIS can make a usefull comment or more likely a video on youtube Acroni's channel.
TKS

Yes. I have successfully used Universal restore to migrate an existing Windows 7 backup to a newly installed motherboard. I Booted TI from the CD and selected Recovery and also selected "Use Universal restore". You then go to a screen that allows you to specify where your driver files are located. The files you will need are for your hard disk controller (Sata, Raid). If your not running Raid or AHCI then TI will use the OS drivers.(Win 7 in my case). I wasn't using Raid or AHCI so the OS drivers were used by TI. I did hit one minor glitch. During the restore process an error message came up that said no driver was found for a certain hardware device. I canceled the restore and researched the device ID reported by TI and determined that it was for the Sata/Raid controller which I was not using. My BIOS defaults have the controller in IDE mode. I restarted the restore and when the error message popped up I selected ignore. The restore ran to completion and, I of course held my breath during reboot, which was successful. I did have to reactivate windows by calling the MS support number.
You will still have to do a separate install any video, lan, or wireless drivers as well as drivers for any other devices after the restore is complete. I did find the Acronis documentation be lacking but overall it worked well for me.

Plus Pack is a waste of money. Acronis you should be ashame.

Jack-

Perhaps you are better than most folks in your ability to create WinPE bootable media with True Image without the Acronis builder. If this is true, then it should have been obvious to you that you didn't need it in the first place!