True Image 2021 Rescue Media freezes upon inputting password for True Image 2018 backup
To elaborate, an acquaintance allowed me to back up my system with a created rescue media from his (currently) outdated True Image 2018 Build 15470 (used the 64-bit version to do so), and while I'd previously been using said TI2018 rescue media to continue doing routine backups, I've recently purchased the 2021 edition of True Image (Build 35860) with my own funds. But whenever I attempt to access TI2018 backups created with its rescue media with my recently-created 2021 True Image rescue media (again, using the 64-bit version), after inputting the same password I used to create said backup, the rescue media effectively freezes up; I've left it alone for over an hour, and while the mouse cursor can be moved around, nothing else can be interacted with, requiring a complete manual power-down of the system Fortunately, I decided to retain the 2018 rescue media on another USB drive, so I can still use that one to interact with the TI2018-created backups with no issue (whether to update with incremental / differential methods, or when restoring as desired). Any feedback on why such issues are occurring? I've verified that I've entered the correct password when using the 2018 rescue media, but using the same password only results in a freeze-up / soft-lock if using the rescue media I've personally created with True Image 2021 (Build 35860).


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Steve Smith wrote:Welcome to these public User Forums.
Have you tested creating a new backup using the ATI 2021 rescue media and tried with different combinations of passwords?
I remember an issue reported a few months back that another user had with passwords and rescue media where special characters were involved.
The password(s) I used for these backups in True Image 2018 Rescue Media were rather simple, all things told; I had (and still have) no intention of uploading any of them onto the Internet, local copies only (spread out across external HDDs).
13 characters on average, some capitalized letters and occasional numbers, but no 'special' characters (i.e., '# ', '*', '%', and the like)... and for now I'm avoiding creating new backups with TI2021, as I do not wish to dispose of those older backups.
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Did the forum eat my earlier reply?
In any event, my passwords aren't very complicated, as I keep all my backups on external HDDs only (no plans on using cloud-based uploads), and to maintain backup compatibility, I am reluctant to re-backup with True Image 2021's Rescue Media when the 2018 edition still works just fine for me with those older backups.
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Can you give me an example of a password that causes the issue being reported here but which would work when using the ATI 2018 rescue media?
Are you doing a Disk backup for this issue?
I will see if I can replicate the issue with that detail.
Note: you don't need to give me one of your actual passwords being used for your backups but an example of the structure you are using by changing some of the letters or numbers but keeping the format.
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Steve Smith wrote:Can you give me an example of a password that causes the issue being reported here but which would work when using the ATI 2018 rescue media?
Are you doing a Disk backup for this issue?
I will see if I can replicate the issue with that detail.
Note: you don't need to give me one of your actual passwords being used for your backups but an example of the structure you are using by changing some of the letters or numbers but keeping the format.
Yes, these are full disk backups (each with one differential backup 'linked' to them); two partitions, dual-booting OSes (Windows 7 for legacy compatibility, and Windows 10 for daily use).
The password(s) being used start with five letters (first letter is capitalized), followed by a capitalized letter, then a numeral, one more capitalized letter, and then five lower-case letters.
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Thank you for requested information.
I tested this using one of my VMware Windows 10 systems which I booted from the ATI 2018 Linux media using the 64-bit application to make a disk backup which was given a password of AcronI5Trueim as per the format you advised and selecting to use 256 encryption. The backup was of an EFI boot Win 10 Home system but this should not make any difference to how passwords are handled versus your backup of a dual-boot Win 7 & Win 10 system.
After the backup was finished, I rebooted the Win 10 system and used ATI 2020 (installed in that VM) to 'Add existing backup' for the ATI 2018 backup .tib file, entering the same password with no issues.
Finally, I rebooted the same VM using the ATI 2021 Linux media and used the Recovery option to select the ATI 2018 backup .tib file, entered the same password and all was again fine! I saw no freeze or lock-up when doing any of this testing.
Note 1: only the Linux versions of Acronis Rescue Media offer a choice of 32-bit or 64-bit ATI applications. This is not shown in the new default 'Simple' Windows PE rescue media now created by ATI 2018 and later versions.
Note 2: once a password has been set for an ATI .tib or .tibx file it cannot be changed or removed, so none of the actions above could have affected it.
KB 60820: Acronis True Image 2018: how to create bootable media
KB 60091: Acronis True Image 2018: how Simple bootable media creation mode works
KB 65508: Acronis True Image 2021: how to create bootable media
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Huh. Thanks for the prompt testing and reply.
But I guess the current revision of True Image 2021's Rescue Media isn't for me, as I still have too many full disk backups created with True Image 2018's own Rescue Media to restore them to a blank HDD/SSD, then re-backup into True Image 2021's current format.
Still, I suppose this counts as a resolved issue.
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There is a simple way around this issue:
Keep your ATI 2018 rescue media for as long as you retain any backups created by it.
Use your ATI 2021 application (installed in Windows or from rescue media) to create new backups going forward. Test that you can use passwords and open the protected backups from the new rescue media.
I have copies of the rescue media going back to the first version I bought more than 12 years ago. CD media doesn't take up any shelf space plus you could also either download an ISO image of the media (if registered to an Acronis account) else make an ISO image of the existing media you have for extra security.
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