Where did I go wrong with my backup of a Compaq Presario?
First off, I love Acronis and feel completely confident in recovering the backups I make with Acronis. It's worked in the past.
I recently had a image backup that did not work like I intended. With Acronis I was still able to recover the files, but was not able to re-image the hard drive. The purpose of this post is to describe how I setup the backup, and get advice from you on what I did wrong. I desperately need this advice because the office I am supporting has other similar configurations that I will need to update following your advice
Computer: Compaq Presario 1503 (ancient, I know)
OS: Windows XP , service pack 3
Hardrive: 2 partitions C:\ and D:\
D:\ is the compaq recovery partition
Backup Software in use: Acronis True Image Home 2010
I had an image of Drive C only. I did not think it was necessary to backup the D:\ partition
What Occurred:
Client got a virus. I had to wipe (completly format) the hard drive. In this case I wiped both partitions. Booted up with the Acronis boot disk, found the Drive C image, and Acronis would not reimage the hard drive.
I was forced to reinstall Windows, and go through the massive time suck this entails. Using Acronis I was able to recover files, but I was not able to simply choose the "reimage" drive. It was brutal reinstalling windows, the updates, reinstalling Office, and other client software.
Currently the newly rebuilt hard drive only has one partition, Drv C:\.
Help me not shoot myself in the foot again. What do I need to change about how I setup Acronis to backup these OEM Compaq desktop PC computer?
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Yes, that's correct. TI did see both the target and backup drive properly. It just wouldn't let me choose the Recovery option where I can simply reimage the hard drive. It only allowed me to recover files. I don't remember the error message although, at the time, I did check online for solutions.
it was a very recent update although I don't have the number handy.
Since I didn't backup the hidden partition, and I reformatted the hard drive, is this what messed up Acronis True Image?
When I say "hidden partition" I mean I could see the partition in the disk management window within the computer management window.
Are you sure you created a partition image and not a "files & folders" type backup?
If it was a partition image, you should have been able to restore the partition -- even if it wouldn't boot properly afterwards. The error message would probably help to pinpoint the problem.
Do you know if the error happened after you clicked the final "Proceed" and the restore started or did it happen when selecting the image or trying to select the partition or destination?
Do you have a screenshot of what Disk Management shows for the drive (or for another similar system)?
Sorry, I don't have any of that. I thought I could describe the issue well enough to get an answer. Guess not. Thanks for trying.
Chris,
You know that drive letters are different when you use the CD than when you are in Windows. Is there a chance you select the wrong backup origin or the wrong destination? Don't look at the drive letters, look at the partitions labels.