Skip to main content

Acronis TI 2012 vs WD Smartware?

Thread needs solution

Can I use TI2012 instead of the WD "smartware" that comes with the WD Passport drive? How do I do it? do I just not install the program when the drive is first attached? or do I need the WD edition of Acronis?

Thanks

Tony

0 Users found this helpful

The WD editoin is a stripped down version. Yo can't have both installed an running, so yo would have to choose. IF you have the wd editon then uninstall it before trying to install ati 2012.

Thanks Scott:

I have TI2012 installed already....Is it better than the Smartware that comes with the Passport drive....and can I use it with the WD drve? Should I NOT install the Smartware software?

generally the stuff you by is nicer than freeware. But only you can decide which is nicest for you by trying each.

Just don't install both at the same time, and uninstall one, reboot and install the other if you switch.

Thanks to all

I just didn't install the Smartware and was successful with backup with 2012 just using the WD harddrive as an extra disk....

Be sure you make the bootcd and boot with it and go thorugh all the steps of doing a restore except for the final Proceed. This will ensure that the bootcd will be able to see your drives when the time comes to do a restore. You don't want to find out that it doesn't when your hdisk has already crashed.

Anthony, I'm not sure what you're asking.

Are you asking about the backup tool that comes with WD Smartware?

Or are you asking about password protecting the drive with WD Smartware and whether ATI will still work with that drive?

First

Thanks Scott for the headsup...I did the boot media disk again and restarted and Acronis did see my backup on the external drive....I hope I never need it but after 2 crashes and complete rebuilds I'm not sure. Thanks again!!!!

Tuttle

My main concern was to disable Smartware...and the password protect (didn't care about it)... so I just didn't load the program when I plugged in the drive...from there I just went to see if "my computer" recognized the "E" drive....After that I just went thru the Acronis backup of the total drive...I took almost 2 times the space but i believe it's because of the Acronis Secure Zone part of the drive which it also copied (verified this with explore of the files) ... So far it seems to be OK....I may try to use a different setting to compact the backup next..It still shows a lot of space taken up by the Smartware/VCD program but right now I don't care!!!

Thanks again to all

You were very mart to NOT install Smartware. I made the mistake of installing Memeo when I attached my Seagate FreeAgent 3TB drive. I already had Norton Ghost 15 and had been using that or previous versions for quite some time. Then I noticed that Ghost would freeze my system - it could not deal with 3TB drives. I decided to try Acronis when I found out Memo is based on it (or an earlier version). Problem is, Acronis provides NO WARNING - and after many adventures with system hangs, uninstalls, reinstalls, etc., my system is running. However, I am sure the Registry is trashed. As Forrest would say, "stupid is as stupid does.." in my case.

Based on some of your previous postings, GolfGeezer, I suspect that you may have some issues with multiple storage device class filters. If you just did a normal uninstall for that older derivative software, it's possible that some entries got left behind and then the new ones added to them rather than properly replacing them. Neither Acronis software itself, nor anything else that is derived from its "system takeover" methodology, can be depended upon to uninstall itself fully and cleanly.

If you wish, you can confirm by checking the UpperFilters and LowerFilters entries for the DiskDrive and Volume device class registry keys. DO NOT change anything at this point. Just look for their UpperFilters and LowerFilters registry values. If TIH 2012 build 6131 is now properly installed under your Windows 7 OS, they should be as follows:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
LowerFilters = vidsflt61
UpperFilters = PartMgr fltsrv

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{71A27CDD-812A-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}
LowerFilters = fvevol rdyboost
UpperFilters = fltsrv timounter

Good! In that case, the most critical part of your TIH 2012 installation is correct. It's still possible that your system is loading some "leftover" filter services and their drivers along with the new ones, but if so, at least the old ones aren't being actively used as storage device filters. Unfortunately, not being familiar with Memeo, I can't suggest what else to look for.

I think you'll find that high compression gives you very little diff in size while greatly slowing down the operation. Likewise, using a lwoer than normal compression makes the file a lot larger with a speed benefit. High compression is for those situations where space is at an absolute premium and time is not.

Antonv wrote:

First

Thanks Scott for the headsup...I did the boot media disk again and restarted and Acronis did see my backup on the external drive....I hope I never need it but after 2 crashes and complete rebuilds I'm not sure. Thanks again!!!!

Tuttle

My main concern was to disable Smartware...and the password protect (didn't care about it)... so I just didn't load the program when I plugged in the drive...from there I just went to see if "my computer" recognized the "E" drive....After that I just went thru the Acronis backup of the total drive...I took almost 2 times the space but i believe it's because of the Acronis Secure Zone part of the drive which it also copied (verified this with explore of the files) ... So far it seems to be OK....I may try to use a different setting to compact the backup next..It still shows a lot of space taken up by the Smartware/VCD program but right now I don't care!!!

Thanks again to all

GolfGeezer wrote:

You were very mart to NOT install Smartware. I made the mistake of installing Memeo when I attached my Seagate FreeAgent 3TB drive. I already had Norton Ghost 15 ---

WD SmartWare provides many useful functions and on my system works fine with ATI. I don't use the backup function that is part of WD SmartWare. I do use the WD SmartWare disk security (password) function and I am able to use ATI to perform backups to that drive.