Removing Acronis 2012 completely (Manual)

here is the manual-file

Very nice writeup Joshi4! Thank you for sharing.

@joschi4
I appreciate you taking the time to share what you learned in a concise easy to follow format. I have included your PDF file in my notes from my own "adventures" as well as those taken from posts from others on this forum to include yours and those of @Richard Virtue.

I am sorry Acronis has been such a nightmare for you. Heck, I'm sorry Acronis has been such a nightmare for SO MANY, including myself. I continue to use ATIH 2011, and I purchased 2012 (due to a deal I couldn't pass up), but I don't know how long I'll continue to use it, or if I'll ever install 2012. I have other products in mind. But for now I was able to get my problems with ATIH 2011 ironed out to where it will run my file and image backups normally, so long as I don't need to make any changes of course.

I really hope that Acronis can iron out the horrid problems they have introduced into their software, but I'm not holding my breath. In fact, I feel a bit guilty for even jumping on board with that "deal I couldn't pass up" for ATIH 2012; I don't feel Acronis deserved that money. I guess somewhere down deep I still have hope that this nightmare of several years now will be doused.

Thank you, joschi4. Your contribution to the community is highly appreciated.

@Gork
I know what you mean. Down deep I had as well for many years the hope sometimes the product will get stable. But If you see same bugs for long time not be fixed, new bugs appearing, bad support... I lost my faith.

It's even sad you must do a marathon and need some computer-knowledge to clean your system.. I'm sorry for all others who itends to get cleaned.

Nice instruction, it looks like the removal instruction of a trojan horse or bad virus... That says something...

I assume this is only temporary because I noticed on the Acronis support page for the 2012 cleanup tool ( http://kb.acronis.com/content/24545 ) on step 6 it says:

"(!) After using Cleanup Utility, it is strongly recommended not to reboot the machine, go to Start -> Run -> regedit, and verify that there are no snapman*, fltsrv, tdrpman*, vidsflt*, timounter strings in the following keys:"

So it looks like the tool should have removed those values from the filter settings. To be safe verification is needed but apparently they should not be there any more when all went well. So maybe in the next build the uninstaller will do this verified removal. That would be good news because then it will be possible once again to reverse the installation if there are unwanted side effects.

You are very observant, Henk. The KB article 24545 is indeed updated Feb 2, 2012. Good job, joschi4.

yep,... Acronis did update the article since I gave them the needed information. They asked me for my help. Finally I found out, acronis support have forgotten to tell me to delete the vidsflt* string! This was the reason why I got Bod!

It's funny, they even copied my warnings: "before boot...it is strongly recommended not to reboot the machine, go to Start -> Run -> regedit, and verify that...."

haha

After spending a few hours getting caught up on some info in the forums last night I have to say that Acronis really should pay you, and a handful of others, for a lot of time you've put in to make their product better, or at least more usable. Sadly, Acronis is losing these "professional customers" one by one due to the ongoing problems. And when they're gone, who will be left to ensure the software is appropiately tested and problems thoroughly reported so Acronis even has a chance at fixing their product?! One thread that is very good reading and indicates my point extremely well: 25521: Request to extend ATIH 2012 support to 30 days after the first update; http://forum.acronis.com/forum/25521. This thread FINALLY makes me feel like Acronis is actually listening - but what they'll do beyond simply listening remains to be seen; they don't have a very good track record in recent years.

It is funny that they copied your warnings, but not so funny that they didn't give their users, mainly you and Richard Virtue, proper credit in that kb...

Gork wrote:

It is funny that they copied your warnings, but not so funny that they didn't give their users, mainly you and Richard Virtue, proper credit in that kb...

Also not so funny is that they just took it as is without looking further. The sequence "Start -> Run -> regedit" applies to XP users, not Vista and Windows 7 since these to not have a "Start -> Run" option like that. For Windows 7 you just have to put "regedit" in the search box and press enter.

Acronis TIH should go open-source since it looks like community supported software anyway.

Just a tip, Henk, google “run command in windows 7”. One of the results is this link http://www.blogsdna.com/2040/how-to-enable-run-command-in-windows-7-sta…

You may have it in the old-fashioned way (like me). We cannot blame Acronis for all the world problems; they have enough with their own stuff.

Gork wrote:

It is funny that they copied your warnings, but not so funny that they didn't give their users, mainly you and Richard Virtue, proper credit in that kb....

Of course I asked acronis first before I posted here, if they are going to compesate me for all that. And of course acronis did reject. But of course they were very curious to read what I wrote. At least I became the paid acronis support-charge back (they could not help me).

Are you still going on about wanting to be paid? You produced one guide on one task. It's helpful, but it doesn't solve world hunger. There are plenty of people in these forums who have produced far more guides and help, yet they are unpaid. That's the nature of user forums.

So why did I posted here tuttle? :-)

Do not understand me wrong. When I could decide, I would like to give it to all you acronis-users..but not to acronis/acronis support. Do you understand why now? :-)
But of course this is not possible, so I posted here. Everyone can read it, you as user and unfortunately acronis as well :-(

Have you noticed, Joschi, that there are certain users that run around the forums complaining to people that "you already said that" and "quit saying that.. it's not helping".. basically just posting mean, personal messages even as other people are complimenting the post in question?

I respectfully submit to the forum moderators that such users are using the forums for personal attacks and should be banned from the forums.

We actually seem to be making some headway here and I think I speak for the majority of the forum (you all can tell me if you disagree) when I say that we are tired of getting personally attacked by individuals that seem to be somehow immune to your ban policy. I'm not naming names, because that would make THIS a personal attack, but I think it is obvious who I am talking about.

Moderators?

Someone creates one helpful guide and asks repeatedly to be paid. Some of us find that presumptuous and, as this is a public forum, I said so. There are members here who have provided years of help and many detailed guides, yet they aren't hear whining for payment.

Let's just focus on the tasks at hand: assisting other users with their issues; and encouraging Acronis to improve the product.

Pinewood wrote:

Just a tip, Henk, google “run command in windows 7”.

I know you mean well, but I'm a command line junkie from the Unix System V era so starting a program is not a problem at all :-) (although I still have to learn more about powershell, it is so unlike bash...)

A step by step instruction from Acronis for a general public should not rely on additional tools but describe the steps for a vanilla Windows 7 OS. That was what my remark is about. When I tell an ordinary user to select "start --> run" then there are already 2 problems since there is no "start" any more and there is no "run". I guess most of these users still know XP and automatically go to the bottom left pearl icon where "start" used tot be but don't take it for granted.

That is what makes it hard to write instructions that everybody will comprehend. Pictures help a lot in these cases. Language differences also can spoil the fun. I was happy to see a lot of pictures in the removal manual written by joschi4, that's very good.

I also noticed the "Acronis True Image Home 2011 Cleanup Utility" (http://kb.acronis.com/content/14871) contains the same text! I thought this was 2012 specific but either this isn't the case or Acronis just copied this part "just in case".

Henk, you're so right about that. There are such large differnces between XP and Win7, plus of course huge differences in user knowledge. As you say, Start | Run is obvious to some, but a complete mystery to many.

Henk wrote:

The sequence "Start -> Run -> regedit" applies to XP users, not Vista and Windows 7 since these to not have a "Start -> Run" option like that.

I think I understand your point, but your reasoning isn't correct; it depends on how you have your start menu set up. I run Win7-64 and have included a copy of my "start menu." I'd be surprised to find anyone in this setting who might use this guide but didn't understand the particular instruction in question.

And lol at your open source comment. ;)

@tuttle
I don't think what joschi4 truly means by requesting to be paid is any different than Henk making a point by indicating that start -> run is not accurate, for instance. I think joschi4 is simply trying to make a point; a point which is very similar to Henk's point that ATIH should be open source.

EDIT:
accuracy /sigh

I love the concept of open source software, and have participated in development of some. But, it's not realistic to expect that a commercial enterprise will switch their primary product to open source. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, desirable or undesirable, just that it isn't likely to happen.

@tuttle
But again, I don't think Henk is trying to seriously indicate that Acronis should or could go to an open source platform. I think Henk is making a point by using a "joke" of sorts. I believe Henk is saying that Acronis has received so much "free help" from the community that it might as well be open source. And I believe that joschi4 is basically doing the same thing by "requesting" to be paid.

Sometimes "reading between the lines" can be more difficult with the written, as opposed to spoken, word.

That free help is the nature of user forums. I'm involved ina few forums, and I'm often amazed at the level of support, testing and information provided by users of commercial products to other users and, potentially, to the vendor. We're fortunate to have some very knowledgeable and helpful users in this forum. Sure, Acronis may benefit from that information too, but that's to everyone's benefit.

Agreed. (And this comes on the heels of spending a few hours in various user to user forums obtaining and providing help.) But I can also understand (and live with) the frustration when the help provided user to user is of a nature that shouldn't have been necessary in the first place due to software which is released in an unacceptable state. And I think the two referenced comments were probably made in representation of that same feeling.

Gork wrote:

Agreed. (And this comes on the heels of spending a few hours in various user to user forums obtaining and providing help.) But I can also understand (and live with) the frustration when the help provided user to user is of a nature that shouldn't have been necessary in the first place due to software which is released in an unacceptable state. And I think the two referenced comments were probably made in representation of that same feeling.

@Gork: Fully agree with your comment.

@tuttle: I agreed with you as well about the point to not becoming an open source software. And I also agree about the sence of a forum, to get helped by other users. Fair enough. But can you please answer me one question:

- When you buy a software, and read the functions of this software, what are your expectations? How you will act when you realized some of the functions don't work? What are your expectations about the software-company?
thanks

Henk wrote:

A step by step instruction from Acronis for a general public should not rely on additional tools but describe the steps for a vanilla Windows 7 OS. That was what my remark is about. When I tell an ordinary user to select "start --> run" then there are already 2 problems since there is no "start" any more and there is no "run". I guess most of these users still know XP and automatically go to the bottom left pearl icon where "start" used tot be but don't take it for granted.

That is what makes it hard to write instructions that everybody will comprehend. Pictures help a lot in these cases. Language differences also can spoil the fun. I was happy to see a lot of pictures in the removal manual written by joschi4, that's very good.

Correct, It is inpossible to write an instructions which is suitable to every machine, operating-system. The important points for me are:

- First point: To follow my instructions is risky, everybody should know this. It is risky because, if the users forget to delete only one key it can result in a damaged system. It is risky as well, as the user need to have some windows-knowledge. Not every users know how to open a windows-registry and delete there some strings! And of course, as you all said (me included), I can not guarantee on your computer it will works, it will looks the same, according to my entries and pictures. I'm using a Windows 7 German version. So you understand the problem...

- Secondly: According to my thoughts on first point. It is unacceptable a software-company provides a software which you can install it (I would not say easily, as I read some threads here, even the installation of acronis could fail), but you will get in trouble when you uninstall it. You will have some parts left on your computer. Even worse, some windows-operations-system functions will be still handled from a acronis-driver (Very bad!). Acronis can not expect from the users that everyone should follow a marathon of instructions to get rid of acronis. And as I said, they should not give this risk to the users, the risk to get a damaged system!

- Thirdly: As well a no Go: Acronis (support) should not give unproved instructions to users how uninstall their software completely! Users should not care about operation system related issues. It's acronis work to prove it first on every possible operating system before give it to the user. Acronis should know its programmed code and know where reg.keys can be left! It's is no user's work to find the left reg.keys!! And for me as well a big mystery: Why does this CleanUp-Tool not remove everything?!?

@tuttle, this is only for you:
How would you feel when you followed the acronis support instructions and as a result you will get a bluescreen! you can not boot your system anymore?!?! And, according to Acronis support instructions, they did not warned you first! They did not told you first: Do a image-backup! (may be, because they don't care what issues you have (or will get) ... or... they feel too confident about the instructions they gave it to you...)

We should advise all users to use the bootable recovery media to make a full disk backup of their system prior to installing ATIH. Sure, it shouldn't be necessary, but that's what I would advise. At least then if ATIH causes problems on their system, they can easily restore the working system pre-ATIH.

@tuttle My remark about ATIH 2012 as open source was indeed a way of saying "Shame on you Acronis for leaving the users on their own". @Gork was 100% correct. Of course making it open source is not a serious option (would still be nice though...) but it could be just as well when looking only at the support level.

I understand user support forums provide extra support for free and there is nothing wrong about that. What is wrong is when the user provided support turns out to be the only support. Forums like this should, in my opinion, not be a substitute for vendor support, instead it should be an addition to the vendor support to make life easier for all users.

If there is no balance between vendor support and community support of course the contributing users will feel exploited as an unpaid support engineer. It is abuse of the community support. Users are willing to help, but the vendor should back them up. Instead in this case the vendor supports makes things worse and users have to jump in to correct the serious flaws made by vendor support. Also users analysing the underlying software problems when engineering team of the vendor should do that and not the end user. Of course end users can provide hints - many of them are professionals too - but the vendor should follow up.

When there are still so many problems. Clinging to only 30 days support is complete neglect of the severity of the situation. Apparently Acronis still does not realize continuation of the problems will damage Acronis and the True Image Home product irreversible (if not already). Let me speak for myself, when nothing changes ATIH 2012 is the last copy of True Image Home (and any Acronis product) I will ever by. For the very same reason I decided in 2005 never to buy Semantic products any more. Of course this will be a problem for Acronis if there are many more users like me, but even if not, it will not be my problem any more. I'll keep watching the forum and the support site what it is going to be.

Every other support forum I have ever had anything to do with has had in put, on a real level, from the support staff. Here the best is all too often we will tell our managers the product/support is busted and they will do **** all. Here it is those (left) who give their time that ARE the support and shame on the firm that is happy to take the payments to both allow that to happen AND depend on it/them.

Henk wrote:

For the very same reason I decided in 2005 never to buy Semantic products any more

Same here. I gave them a long time to correct their problems, as I've given Acronis, though I'm still holding out hope for Acronis. But that won't last forever. Heck, problems with bugs and customer support are the very reasons I came to Acronis. There should have been a little more research on my part I 'spose; I made the decision blindly after only reading through the user manual.

Henk wrote:

Clinging to only 30 days support is complete neglect of the severity of the situation. ... when nothing changes ATIH 2012 is the last copy of True Image Home (and any Acronis product) I will ever by. ... For the very same reason I decided in 2005 never to buy Semantic products any more.

+1 (all three statements)

I opened my first support ticket (since 2005) after installing ATIH2012PP. I was frightened by reading all the negative posts here in the forum, through the forum I learned about the 30 days limit. My first support case was a bit hasty (“non-working non-stop backup”), I should have played with the feature a bit more. After two emails to the support, I realized my lack of knowledge. The 30 days limit triggered my ticket!

But then, some real bad things started to happen, a new support ticket, 6 emails to the support guy. Very difficult to receive an answer to my questions. Several test files uploaded to the FTP server. The third ticket was forwarded to the second line support after two emails, I was asked to do more research and upload more files to the FTP serve. No thanks, I need a simple and reliable system for image and file backup. I was happy when I, thanks to this forum, succeeded to regain a clean and working Win7 computer.

But the support service exists! The quality? That is another question.

Like Henk, I shall continue to watch the forum to know what Acronis is able to do. May be I return to Acronis some day.

tuttle wrote:

I love the concept of open source software, and have participated in development of some. But, it's not realistic to expect that a commercial enterprise will switch their primary product to open source. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, desirable or undesirable, just that it isn't likely to happen.

A lot of companies have released their source into the Publc Domain.. after their company failed (which does not see out of the question here). Maybe we will get Acronis Open Sourced one day soon..

Haven't been on for a couple of day but wanted to throw my 2 cents in on the whole start -> run issue. IMO, if a user doesn't know what a start -> run is, they certainly shouldn't be messing with their registry (especially since a Google search of start -> run brings the answer right up)!

It is best for some to wait until a "real" fix comes out (joshi know's that is not an insult of his work). I would estimate that over 95% of the Windows users out there have never touched a command line (and probably shouldn't).

Gork wrote:

Henk wrote:

For the very same reason I decided in 2005 never to buy Semantic products any more

Same here. I gave them a long time to correct their problems, as I've given Acronis, though I'm still holding out hope for Acronis. But that won't last forever. Heck, problems with bugs and customer support are the very reasons I came to Acronis. There should have been a little more research on my part I 'spose; I made the decision blindly after only reading through the user manual.

Same here. Since 2009 I'm Acronis user. I bought every update every year.. I started very early to report bugs to acronis support, I realised fast something is wrong with this product, wrong with this company... but I was dazzled, dazzled from many independent-tests I read in the web. ATIH was every year testleader. None competitor-product was so good as acronis, none product could provide so many funtions as acronis.

Then I was as well dazzled about acronis support put me off... in the next build, in the next update, in the next version... all these bugs will be gone, atih would become more stable.... and so on... I was of good nature and full of hope....

.... but now I know I was overcredulous! I never spent so much money and time for a software-company... with no good result in the end.

I decided to finish with acronis.. There is no hope in this company. And as Henk wrote... Acronis should be handle its customer with care.. otherwise one by one is gone, and will never come back... (I will be one)

I learned much in this period.... to serve many funtions is one thing, but to guarantee stabiltiy is something else and much more important!

Hi,

Just wanted to thank you for writing and posting this removal procedure. I was able to fully remove ATH2012 and get Win 7 backup to function again.