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10 hours work and still do not have bootable media

Thread needs solution

Windows 8 Pro
Acronis THI 2013
Acronis THI 2013 Plus pack

At ten this morning (it is now 8pm) I started the "easy" project of making my recover media. I have done the following:

Did some reading.

Tried to use Bootable Media option in the program several times. On each occasion I was not given the option to make the disks "autorun" or bootable. The KB article on this shows in a picture that the autorun option was not checked. They newly created DVD did nothing.

I went to my registered products and downloaded the bootable media file of both Acronis programs.

Burnt my disks. These disks do not do anything when inserted into computer nor do they boot anything.

Read more and found KB article of how to do it referenced above. "34318: True Image 2013 by Acronis Plus Pack: Creating WinPE Media with Acronis Plug-In"

Downloaded Windows AIK. burnt the disk. Ran the program and when I hit the install .net framework option nothing happened. The installer never ran.

WAIK will not, of course, install with out the .net program being installed.

Downloaded the net installer from Microsoft to exact same result.

Even if I could do this, I could not follow the instructions as I do not have a folder named Acronis -> True Image 2013 Plus Pack -> Acronis WinPE ISO Builder; on the computer.

If I was a drinker by now I would have been drunk in frustration. But I am not, therefore I am not.

I am, though, pleading for help.

Gary Berns

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Gary,

Do your CDs look as though anything has been burnt to them?

The Linux CD is bootable by default.

As all attempts to burn the recovery environment seem to have failed other things need to be checked. Have you tried burning a CD using your or Windows burning software?

In order to install the Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 (WAIK), you do not need to install the .Net framework from the WAIK installation disk, but, you do need to enable the .Net 3.5 Windows Feature in Windows 8 before installing the WAIK.
From the Windows 8 Start screen (Tiles screen), type "Windows Features", and select "Settings" below the search box, on the left side of the screen you will see "Turn Windows features on and off", select it. When the "Windows Features window opens, put a tick mark next to ".Net Framework 3.5", and click OK. Windows 8 will look for the needed file(s) and download them if necessary (probably) from the internet. After the .Net 3.5 installation is complete, restart Windows 8, and then install the WAIK.

The bootable CD/DVD you made from the Acronis program, or the downloaded ISO disk image you can use to create a bootable CD/DVD, can be used to start you system. You must choose to (re-)start your computer by booting to the CD/DVD drive first, before the hard disk. Some systems will allow you to select the boot device by pressing a function key during power up process (boot up) before Windows loads. Some system must have the option changed in the system BIOS, or UEFI firmware, to change the boot order. You would need to see you system documentation to determine how to use or change these options.

I appreciate all the replies. My CD drive is working. There are files on the discs. However, the computer does not sense them either when put in drive or in drive at reboot.

On the disc is one folder with files. That folder is the only thing in root directory. No single files of any type. BIOS always looks to CD first.

With the help of the folks at Microsoft I now have .net framework installed. See if I can further with PE disc.

Gary

Have you ever been able to boot from any bootable CD (not just Acronis)?

The answer to your question is yes. But let me take it further.

I burned a new disk. This one boots into the loader program and loads THI. I click on recover and it goes there. Tells me can'[t find backup file which is in truth on external USB hard drive. (Previous versions of THI have found it there.) I hit the browse button and program locks. Only way our is to physically turn computer off.

I did not insert any start up parameters when I made the disk. Should I have?

Really appreciate your help. Am very uncomfortable not being able to get to backup as, if drive fails, I lose twenty years of financial data and documents.

Making backups which I can not use is no help.

Gary,

Since you can boot to the newly created Acronis Rescue media, can you try something to see if your results are different?

Boot to the Acronis Rescue Media with the USB drive disconnected. After starting Acronis True Image Home, try and browse for files (even though the USB drive is disconnected. If the program does not lock up when selecting browse, return to the main screen (while still booted to the Rescue Media) and connect your USB drive. Wait about 30 seconds for the system to recognize that the drive is attached, and then try to browse again.
Let us know of your results.

Also please provide additional system information (Brand/Model/etc) of your system and external drive(s) if you wish.

James

James:

I think the problem has been solved, although in an unexpected way. I was hunting around the Acronis site to day and found I was entitled to support by chat.

You folks have been great!!