system for windows 8 images
I was hoping to get some help developing a routine for making image backups of Windows 8 systems.
Until now, for my XP and Windows 7 systems, I used to Aronis 11. I partition the drives with a C for the operating system and a D for data. I also run either a true network at the office, or a NAS at home for backups of the data partition. I normally use the rescue media disk to create an image of the C Drive to be stored in a folder on the D Drive. I run an image every three months or so and occasionally, I backup one of the image files to the network. This works well when there is a nagging Windows problem. It allows me to just go back to an old image, not even worry about whatever the underlying issue was. I have used this system for a long time.
So with the new Windows 8 systems that I'm trying to set up, figured I would go to TrueImage 13. Besides the C and D partitions, there is an NTSF system reserved partition. I originally thought that was something specific to Windows 8, but I think that was in XP and windows 7, but just didn't show up in Acronis 11. I included the system reserved partition in the backups.
When I was testing a restore to a new Dive, I ran into problems. I usually Prep a new drive by setting up the two partitions ahead of time, and setting the C Dr. as the active partition. Then I would copy the image files to D and then run Acronis to recover the C partition, then I’d be all set.
So If I recover only the C partition of the windows 8 operating system, I get a “boot config data missing” error. If I go back and recover the system reserved partition, and the MBR, then I get a Windows auto repair screen, but that fails and Windows 8 never boots.
Going through some of the messages on the forum, it looks like I potentially could just use across 11, and forget about 13. However, I'd like to learn new stuff too. I'd rather not use Acronis to back up the D Dr., since that requires an eternal Drive, which is less convenient than the system I have.
Any ideas of how to make this work and what is going wrong?
Thanks. I did find that out, which is why I posted.
I did try Acronis 11 and see that the extra partition is there. So that is a windows 8 addition. The system I use backsup up the OS separately from the data though, so a full backup of the disk is not my ideal situation. I think I know what to try though. Any tips would be helpful.
I did get this to work. I just needed to start with unallocated space. So for a new drive, I basically make 2 partitions - a small one for the OS, then the rest for files and data. Then delete the first one. Then use acronis 13 to restore the system reserved partition, the OS partition and the MBR in one process. Then it boots up NP. I'm guessing that an overwrite to an older image will be a lot easier.
This might seem like more work than a full disk restore, but its really pretty powerful to keep only the OS in the image. That keeps the size small and then an image can be restored in 20 minutes or so. With computers with itunes and lots of big music files on the data partition - the restored OS partition sees those files right away. Its a bit of a PITA to make windows look over to D, but it worth it to me.
Chris,
For the sake of correctnesss and confusion, it is important that you use the correct description of TrueImage versions, otherwise, you could be supplied with wrong answers to your questions.
Version 2013 should be described as 2013 version;
Version 2012 should be descdribed as 2012
Version 2011 shouold be described as 2011 and not v11
Version 2010 should be described as 2010 and not v10
(truly) version 11 (2008) should be referenced as either the old version of version 11 (2008)
(truly) version 10 (2007) should be referenced as either the old version of version 10 (2007)
The use of version 13 or version 11 or version 10 leaves doubt in our minds as to exactly which version is being discussed particularly as v10 or v11 are not compatible with Windows 7 and Windows 8 is only copatible with version 2013.
Not a complaint--just an FYI.
OK, but I'm not sure I have that same experience exactly. My old box says "Acronis True Image Home 11". I bought that when Vista came out. It seems to work fine for Windows 7 as well. That is the version I refer to above for teh old stuff. Then for windows 8, I bought "2013 version". I have not had any of the intervening versions you mentioned.
Back to my backup plan, is there any reason Windows 8 asks for an activation on the restored machine? True, it is another computer and does need activation. But its the same basic hardware. My plan was to build 4 new windows 8 systems for our office. We have one setup now that we are using to setup and configure and verify our mission critical applications. Once that is set, the plan was to use acronis to duplicate that core configuration, then activate windows 8 on each computer with a separate key. Then customize each computer for each workstation, keeping images as we go.
I think that should work, right? I'm hoping a true reversion to an old image on the exact same computer won't trigger key issues though.
Yes, it is normal for Windows to ask for reactivation because each computer uses a different set of IDs for the hardware.
Before installing these computers, we decided to try out SSDs for the OS partition. They work great. It weird how fast an image restore is. What takes 30 minutes on a HDD is around 2-3 minutes going to an SSD. Windows 8 is a bit finicky about having two bootable drive in one computer though. I think I have it all workable now. I think I've done 20 or so partition backups and 15 or so restores.
Windows 8 is a bit finicky about having two bootable drive in one computer though.
This is a risk with all version of Windows. Do not allow Windows to boot with two OS drives connected, as one will be made unbootable and it could be your primary OS drive.