Error occurred while trying to creat file (Ext. USB)(Bootable CD)
Ive been trying to create a HDD backup image to a ext USB thumb drive. I have the drive connected to the port on the laptop. Im running win 8.1. Just got the laptop and the usb drive. So all is new. I boot acronis from a bootable dvd. Ive been searching this error for a few weeks now and not sure what else to try. Im able to select the removeable drive and when I proceed to make the back up it instantly states the error. Any help or advice here?
The errror I was getting was "error occurred while trying to create the file" Sorry I was rushed when I posted this and thought I gave a better explaination.
I think you helped me nail the problem down on why its prompting an error. My USB drive is exfat. I wasnt aware that wouldn't work. And now that you mentioned that I do see the file system in the OS is NTFS. Im not sure why I didnt realise that and put 2 n 2 together. Ugh!! I feel like a big dummy. lol!
The usb is 128GB in size. I usually let the compression set to whatever Acronis selected.
I did try the different USB ports as I saw two were 2.0 and one was 3.0 I thought that was the problem, never thinking it was the ExtFat.
Im fairly new to Windows 8.1 and feel lost with all the learning again. Hum!!!!
Thanks for helping out. Much appreciated.!.!.!.!
Upon making a backup image of the HDD for this laptop with win 8.1, would it be wise to select just the OS(C:). I normally did just that with my previous computer (win xp). But now with win 8.1 they have other partitions listed along with the OS when youre in Acronis True Image selecting what to back up. Acronis just selected OS and EFI System Partition. The others are FAT32 (DIAGS), Recovery Partition, & Recovery Partition. Its a Dell so there is Dell back up and recovery on there, which Im not 100% sure if you can make a HDD backup image with that or not. I messed around with it tonight thinking I wasnt going to get Acronis working. Now Im wondering if I really need that installed on the laptop or not?
Rufus, you need to include all the required hidded / system / EFI partitions in your Windows 8.1 backup image, not just the OS partition else you will not be able to recover in the event of a disk drive failure.
If this is a laptop then the DIAGS partition will hold the diagnostic utilities provided by the manufacturer, i.e. by Dell and if you do not save this and need to recover in the future you will lose that ability to run diagnostics. This type of partition is normally pretty small so no big issue in saving it along with the rest of your data. Dell will normally include a separate Recovery partition to allow you to do a factory recovery to how the laptop was shipped from their factory. Windows 8.1 will also create a Recovery partition which holds the Windows recovery / repair tools that you can access on booting - if this isn't present then you would need a Windows 8.1 Install or Repair disc to access these functions.
Ditto to Steve. If the intention is to be bootable and have an OS that can be restored like the original disk - backup the entire disk, to include all partitions. You need at least the system partition and OS parition. By backing up everything, it's easy to restore the entire disk "as is" like the original and call it day. However, if you want to play aroudn with restoring only some paritions, well, at least you have all of them to work with instead of limiting yourself to only a few... possibly of which may not be enough to give you a bootable machine in the event of a needed restore.
Thanks for the responses fellas. Okay just so I get a better understanding of this system. Does the EFI System Partition have the hidden & system files in it? FAT32(DIAGS) is the Dell Diagnostic Utility correct?
My one fear with backing up all these were having the USB Drive seperated in sections. I wasnt sure if that would hurt or not. I suppose it wouldnt since the program recovery would read it the way it wrote it.
Okay so I have another question with Win 8.1 being 64 bit, I would assume I would select Acronis 64bit from the Main Menu once the program booted up from the CD.
Clicking everything on this factory drive would be wise to make a good backup that will work for me in case of a hardware failure correct?
I took a photo of my options to select in the programs. Can you confirm that Im on the correct path please?
I do catch what your saying about not having enough to have a bootable system.
Why have they eliminated or stop proving the discs when they sell these machines? I really miss not having that option. I can understand it being expense cuts for them but it sure seems to make it harder on the end user and more expense to buy another copy of windows to have the start up discs.
Rufus, your EFI System Partition is where the boot configuration data is stored, so this is essential for your system to boot correctly in to Windows.
The NTFS (OS) C: partition is self explanatory, i.e. Windows partition.
The FAT32 (DIAGS) partition was provided by the computer manufacturer for diagnostics, usually launched from the BIOS settings panels or specific F key trigger.
The two Recovery partitions, going by size, the smaller is from a Windows upgrade, but the larger looks to be a Factory Restore partition given it is over 8GB in size, so this would be used to restore the computer to how it was shipped when you first received it.
When you make a full disks & partitions backup, you get a single large Acronis backup image file .TIB which contains all of these partitions in that single file and which can be used to restore / recover the whole disk on to a new drive. You do not need (and are not recommended) to create separate backups of each partition individually - work at a disk level not at a partition level. So on your backup USB drive, the end result should be a single .TIB file with the backup of the whole source drive and its partitions - there should be no separation of this into sections on the USB drive.
Note: the backup drive should be formatted as NTFS as otherwise you will hit maximum file size limitations if the drive is formatted at FAT32 which will result in multiple 4GB files simply due to this being the maximum file size allowed for FAT32.
In terms of booting from the Acronis Rescue Media and the choices offered on the Acronis menu, if you have a 64-bit system, then you can use either the True Image 64-bit menu option or the 32-bit version of the program - it should not make any difference, both are provided for maximum compatibility. Your 64-bit system can run both versions, whereas a 32-bit system can only run the 32-bit option.
One of the reasons for not providing discs for these programs is simply that doing so ties you to a specific program version that was available when the disc was created. Acronis continues to provide updates to its software during its life cycle, so providing a disc with the original build 111 would expose you to all the bugs / issues which have since been resolved with build 444 and which you have installed on your computer. This is one reason to forget about using bootable CD or DVD media and switching to using a USB memory stick instead, as you can reuse the memory stick and create the very latest version of the Rescue Media on it as when it is needed. The minimum size for a USB stick is 1GB and the maximum size is 32GB.
CD's / DVD's tend to get turned into coasters or used to scare birds in the garden!
Thanks for the great explanation Steve. I understand a bit more now. How can I find out what exactly that recovery partition of 8gb is? Is it possible?
So it sounds like I would want to check all of those to have the drive returned exactly how it came then?
That would be ideal if you want your recovered drive to be like the exact state it was in when the backup was taken. Some prefer to not restore the OEM recovery partition to save space, but then you have to figure out what to do to recover each parition seperately, making the process more in depth than it really needs to be for most home users who just want to be able to backup and just want to restore if they have a hard drive failure or need to return to an earlier point in time.
Well I wouldnt mind saving it as I usually dedicate a USB Drive just for the back up anway. But when you mention on recovering seperate partitions that is something I am not familiar with. Im not too sure how you would go about that. Any help pages on how to do it or will just a simple google search help me find how to do it?
Rufus, the process for recovery partitions is described in the ATIH 2016 User Guide: Recovering partitions and disks where you will also see screen shots of the process.
Much thanks to both you fellas for all the help, guidance, and info.
I was wondering about this scenario the last couple days. What if you didnt have Acronis or didnt know to back up your image when you bought a new laptop/desktop computer.
Since these companies no longer provide a Windows OS disc and your HDD did fail. You buy another HDD and install it What would you do for a OS to load to that new HDD? Would Dell be able to help you restore your system or let you download windows 8.1 again or would it cost you to buy another copy of windows?
Rufus, with the latest versions of Windows from 8.1 and 10, Windows is mainly licensed according to the hardware signature of the device where it is activated, so you should be able to download and reinstall the OS without needing to pay for a new license provided the hardware remains the same.
The Microsoft Windows Media Creation tool allows you to download the installer for these versions of Windows.
Obviously, anyone without a good backup will still lose all their personal data and installed applications etc which makes using a product like ATIH well worth the initial cost simply in terms of ease of recovery in this type of scenario, not to mention the many hours that can be spent in reinstalling everything.
See webpage: Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool for another very useful tool for downloading Windows OS installation images.
Hi Steve, So basically it sounds from what youre saying if the hardrive fails and needs replacement and you dnnt have a good successfull iimage backed up or doesnt work you will be purchasing another licensed copy of windows 8.1 or 10?
I never had this hard of a time making a back up image but I havent been really working with my pc alot either. I forgot some info as the years passed by. But I have never dealt with backing up a Dell image before either especially one with recovery parititions on it or multiple partitiions. I will follow the ATIH User guide you linked me too. And I thank you once again. Im just nervous a bit after making an image and then trying to rewrite that image and if it fails. Eek!!!!
Rufus, sorry, not what I was saying. Windows licensing is based on a hardware signature which is mainly derived from the motherboard components. It isn't affected by changes to disk drives or memory or monitors or other peripheral devices.
Ah okay, Sorry I mistook what you said. So replacement of a mother board and then its a new copy of the OS, I assume. :)
Rufus, if you change the motherboard, then your Windows OS would require to be activated on that new hardware, which in essence just requires a valid COA license key / serial unless you have a full Retail version of Microsoft Windows which allows a license to be moved to new hardware. If you have an OEM branded version of Windows, i.e. with a Dell, HP, Compaq, Lenovo, Acer etc, then this is only valid on the hardware where it was first activated, so a new license is needed.