Create bootable USB, WindowsPE, TI 2016
Hi everyone .... apologies if this has been covered.
I need to copy an image off a (Dell) workstation. We previously used TrueImage 2015 and I've upgraded to 2016 hoping this would work, but ....
Basically the old bootable DVD's don't see the hard disks in the Optiplex 7040's (SSD, SATA). After plenty of searching, I've discovered I need to use WindowsPE.
I have downloaded the latest Microsoft utilities and the Acronis Media Builder creates the bootable volume fine, but I cannot select the USB/Flash drive as the target device - the only options are the PXE Server, CD-RW, ISO or WIM images.
Is there any way that I can make it see the USB device?
Note that if I use the Acronis (Linux) interface for the bootable device, it allows me to use the USB/Flash drive, but that build doesn't have the required drivers for me to see my internal HDD when I run it (I need the drivers in WindowsPE).
Any advice would be very, VERY much appreciated!!


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Thanks Steve .... To take it a step further .....
I managed to create an ISO which I then mounted and copied to the USB. It booted fine but only had the Recover app, not True Image 2016. Have I missed something? Is there a boot/loader that is part of the ISO that I'm missing as part of the MBR (or similar)?
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Dan, have you activated your copy of ATIH 2016? It sounds as if perhaps you are in a 30 day trial period which is limited to recovery only for bootable media. See KB document https://kb.acronis.com/content/2768
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Dan,
The latest version release of TI 2016 ver. 6559 was released today. Driver support for the recovery media has been greatly enhanced so you may wish to try it. You will find in in your Account on the Acronis Support site.
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Ditto - I have it in my downloads now too.
List of changes
What’s new?
- Full support for high-DPI screens.
- The "Do not show again" option has been added to the product notifications in the Windows taskbar notification area.
- Improved design and usability of the product notifications in the Windows taskbar notification area.
- Custom text labels in the subject of the email notification messages that simplify monitoring backup statuses.
- Timing of the product notifications has been coordinated.
- An option to limit the upload speed when you back up data to Acronis Cloud.
- Acronis Media Add-on has been included in the product installer.
- An option to force a computer shutdown while a backup is in progress.
Fixed issues
This release includes the following issue fixes, increased stability, and performance improvements:
- Acronis True Image 2016 disables Windows 10 fast startup
- The message about terminating current operations prevents a computer from shutdown
- Under bootable media, Acronis True Image 2016 (build 6027) doesn't see the internal disk on Microsoft Surface 3 and Microsoft Surface 4
- The error "Cannot create a database" appears when starting Acronis True Image 2016
- The default subject of email notification messages is changed to the computer name
- A disk cloning operation fails, and the computer boots directly to Windows
- The default sync was deleted after the product update from Hotfix 3 (build 5634) to Update 1 (build 6027)
- Only the first custom backup scheme is saved correctly
- The current Try&Decide changes are discarded after you select to keep them when the computer restarts
- A P2P sync fails when you join this sync on the second computer
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What great timing. Again Steve you've hit the nail on the head - yes it is 2016 Trial edition. We actually have a 2015 boot DVD but I have no idea where the original application is installed (new to the job here). I'm just as happy to roll with the new version.
I had the bosses credit card yesterday to make the purchase, but when I saw things were travelling smoothly I actually gave it back! I had no idea it was a feature limited trial (every chance I didn't bother reading things as I downloaded the trial). I had every intention to purchase, but wanted to see it in full swing first.
And of course he's now in a board meeting!!
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Dan, if you have access to the Acronis Account that your ATIH 2015 was registered to, then you can redownload the installation and bootable recovery media (ISO image) from there, plus when you purchase the 2016 software, you will see the same for that too.
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Steve Smith wrote:Dan, if you have access to the Acronis Account that your ATIH 2015 was registered to, then you can redownload the installation and bootable recovery media (ISO image) from there, plus when you purchase the 2016 software, you will see the same for that too.
Thanks Steve. Unfortunately I don't, and have asked the guys here. Then again with these new Dell's I want the latest build, we've had to change our base workstation (bound for retail use) and I'm not at all happy with what we've received (Optiplex 7040).
Now with the registered software I'm still unable to build a bootable USB that gives me the option for True Image. I'm going to resort to a whole new USB flash drive now, but it's very odd .... has me wondering if simply copy/pasting the ISO contents to the USB misses some boot loader or similar.
Unfortuantely using one of those ISO utilities I've managed to brick my USB stick. I managed to resurrect it somewhat, but DISPART is having problems seeing it now.....
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Hello Dan, you cannot just copy and paste the ISO contents to the USB drive, that will not make it bootable, hence why you need to use one of the utilities I mentioned previously, or let Acronis do this for you.
We have found with other users that some makes of USB sticks have a problem, i.e. Verbatim was one that came up recently that couldn't be used / wouldn't work, but replacing with a San Disk worked first time. Personally I tend to go for Integral USB stick which have worked fine for me over the years.
Might be worth just burning the ISO on to a DVD to test with - you can do this directly in Acronis Media Builder which will allow you to test that your drives in the new Optiplex systems.
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Steve Smith wrote:Hello Dan, you cannot just copy and paste the ISO contents to the USB drive, that will not make it bootable, hence why you need to use one of the utilities I mentioned previously, or let Acronis do this for you.
Actually ... it worked ;) But as mentioned, it's not my intended outcome, hence the need to re-do the process.
Steve Smith wrote:We have found with other users that some makes of USB sticks have a problem, i.e. Verbatim was one that came up recently that couldn't be used / wouldn't work, but replacing with a San Disk worked first time. Personally I tend to go for Integral USB stick which have worked fine for me over the years.
I will confess I'm using an el cheapo brand that was handed to me. I'm lobbying for USB sticks, but I'm facing financial opposition!
Steve Smith wrote:Might be worth just burning the ISO on to a DVD to test with - you can do this directly in Acronis Media Builder which will allow you to test that your drives in the new Optiplex systems.
I think you're right, if not just for proof of concept.
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Steve Smith wrote:
The first link (ISO to USB) has bricked my USB stick for the 2nd time. This time I let it run for as long as it needed (writing the ISO to the USB) which involved a format of the device, but not only did it fail, it has rendered the USB device useless. Just running DISKPART now to resolve that (really messes with it, takes ages).
So I reverted to using a boot DVD, but another ongoing issue is that it isn't giving me all of the apps, just the Recovery app. This is now coming from a registered, purchased version of True Image 2016, latest build (yesterday).
Any other reasons anyone can think of as to why it isn't giving me all of the app options?
Edit: Additionally, if I try and create Default (Linux-based) media, then I get to select a) which apps I want available, and b) I can select the USB device. Nice and easy to create the boot device, but it won't see the disks in the Optiplex.
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Dan, you may have a bad drive - or one going out on you. What type of flash drive are you using and hold old is it?
I have used fat32format on numerous occassions to "restore" supposedly bricked drives. If you can use diskpart, you can definitely run this and it does a good job of clearing out any extra partitions that may be making it unusable in Windows.
I'm not sure why you aren't just using the bootable media builder in Acronis and let it create your bootable flash drive in the first place? IF Acronis cannot detect the drive... 1) it is not formated as Fat32, or 2) it is a "fixed disk" flash drive (needs to be removable or 3) the drive may be corrupt.
If Acronis does see the drive and succeeds in making a bootable flash drive out of it, it will essentially be the same as what you're trying to do by converting the .iso to a bootable flash drive.
If the bootable flash drive creation is successful and it's not being detected as a boot option on your Dell, 1) make sure secure boot is disabled. 2) Also verify that USB devices are enabled and move them higher in the boot priority.
Then reboot and quickly start tapping F12 to get to the Dell one time boot menu. I'm assuming these came configured as UEFI/GPT installs so select the UEFI boot mode (see example screenshot)
We use nothing but Dells at work and have all sorts of Optiplex, Precision and Latitude systems. There isn't a Dell yet that we haven't been able to boot with Acronis bootable recovery media.
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Thanks everyone ... but I have finally solved the riddle.
Effectively it is a couple of settings in the BIOS .... just the two, coupled with the fact I was using True Image 2015 which may not have supported Windows 10 volumes, and then the 2016 version in trial mode.
So essentially;
1) Disable Secure Boot
2) Enable UHCI (not RAID)
This allows me to use the standard (Acronis/Linux) front-end, and write it to a USB flash drive.
I also meddled with Legacy options which was a red herring. I did learn one thing however - when an ATI boot disk is run under Legacy options, it uses a splash screen and a GUI to load your desired app, whereas running via UEFI you select via a command-line menu.
Creating the WindowsPE instance of my boot device didn't give me the options of which apps to copy, so I can only assume this is best used as a Recovery tool.
Thanks everyone for your time, hopefully I won't need to go through this again (yeah right)!
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Hello All,
Option to save WinPE-based media to USB pendrive exists only if you click on "Rescue Media Builder" under "Tools" tab.
You will not see USB as available destination for bootable media if you click on "Acronis Universal Restore".
Regards,
Slava
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