Acronis True Image and Raid Intel
Hi everybody,
I have problems with my images created with bootable True Image.
My pc is equiped with an asus motherboard and has two raid 1. First for sytem, second for datas.
I save my images on the second with mirroring for backup purposes.
I used an old True Image 2013 which can see my Raid Intel, but whenever I save images on it, there's a problem (can't write) and the images are useless. I can't restore them and in Windows I need to chkdsk and they become empty images.
I've tried to create a bootable cd with my True Image Home premium 2014 version, but it doesn't see my Raid at all.
My question is, how can I manage to save my images on that Raid? And if I need to upgrade my software, which version?
Thanks all.
David

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Ok, I'll try to be thorough.
First, I've changed my motherboard because I already had this problem with an older motherboard.
At first, it worked well, but the problem is ocuring everytime now (essentialy with bootable Acronis).
My computer:
Motherboard Gigabyte Z97P-D3, bios F5
CPU Pentium G3240
Backup drives: 2 3 To WD red sata 6, GPT, Raid Intel
Windows 7 64 bits
When I backup, I have a write error (I can have read errors, but it's because I backup defective drives): (sorry it's in French) Echec lors de l'écriture de données sur le secteur "1 580 840 304" du disque dur 3. L'opération L/E sur le périphérique MD a échoué (0x590001); error while writing on sector "1 580 840 304" from drive 3. E/S operation failed (not sure for the traduction).
I can then put Ignore all and backup continue till the end. When I check my backup it's unreadable and I have to do chkdsk x: /f on my drive.
Whenever I backup from Windows I have no errors. But I can't do that because of the drives I backup that are damaged.
I'll try to check the health of my two drives which are new and function well either way.
Thanks.
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After two days check with Data Life Guard from WD on my two drives, no problem.
Then, it's a file system problem, or a driver problem in the bootable version of Acronis which messed up my datas.
Any idea?
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Greetings,
For proper testing, you have to break the array and disable RAID in BIOS, normally you would use AHCI setting as a single disk and boot from a DLGDIAG CD. Its been a while since I've looked at what WD offers. I'll try and do that for you later today.
If the hardware tests are OK, then yes, its file system related and at that point, you will likely need to start over. Meaning, wipe the disks and restore from back up. If you don't have a back up current or previous that will complete without error or validate successfully, you have fewer options. In the case of hardware failure, you can usually replace the defective member and rebuild a mirror.
Have you investigated the Intel RAID Configuration Utility in windows? It is often helpful identifying problems with an array including rebuilding options. You should be ok since with RAID 1, both disks contain a full image of your data. If you don't have or cannot back up your dtat safely, I would back up what I could manually before moving forward.
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The DLGDIAG cd had no problem seeing either one of my drives without killing the array. But I think I'll do as you recommand and erase everything and restart from scratch my array.
I'll keep you inform.
Thanks again.
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I'm having a similar RAID issue as SARL Ameris. I recently had my printer/license PC go down from a failed CPU and motherboard. I had backed up this system with True Image 2014 Premium, and I have the .tib images stored safely in two separate locations. I recently installed a new CPU/mobo in that system, and configured it as RAID 1 in the BIOS settings (both mobo AND RAID controller). I am using the previous hard drives and have wiped them clean using the configuration utlity that comes with the RAID bios. I have tried unsuccessfully to restore the images to the "new" machine with no luck. True Image does not recognize the RAID configuration no matter what I try! I can, however, load a fresh copy of Win XP Pro onto the new machine...in the proper RAID 1 configuration, with NO problem. I just can't seem to get my data back from the previous .tib files.
The following are the particulars of my configuration:
Mobo: MSI A88XM-E45
CPU: AMD AD640KOKHLBOX (A6-6400K)
Drives: 2 x Seagate ST3500641AS-RK (500GB)
Software: WinXP Professional, SP3 with latest updates.
Configuration: RAID 1
Partitions: 5 (C: through G:)
Issue: When True Image 2014 Premium is boot-started, it fails to recognize the RAID array configuration, and it identifies the two disk drives as two separate disks with one ~500GB partition each instead of the RAID 1 array with five separate partitions of varying size. A text message BRIEFLY appears that states "NO RAID detected" or such before TI 2014 Premium starts the GUI interface. Again, the GUI displays two separate disks with one single ~500GB partition.
Is there a command line switch that I can use to for True Image to detect the RAID array...or do I have to resort to making this system non-redundant disks in order to recover my data.
The funny (not ha-ha!) thing is that I have an older workstation running WinXP SP3 that has several RAID 1 arrays and True Image has no problem detecting the arrays and restoring the data at boot time. In fact I used TI 2015 Premium to recover from a catastrophic hardware failure in mid-2014 with ZERO issues. I'm under the impression that this new AMD RAID controller is not recognized or is not in the Linux driver database, at least in the 2014 edition of True Image Premium.
Any help with this issue is GREATLY appreciated.
Tony
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I would say your suspicions are correct. That being the case you might try using the Universal Restore option and inserting the raid controller drivers when prompted.
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Enchantech, thanks for the prompt reply!
How do I invoke the Universal restore Option??? I don't use this software frequently (it runs automated doing daily/weekly back ups so i haven't had much interaction with it!) so I'm sort of at a disadvantage talking about it!
Thanks...
Tony
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I ran the Universal Restore option. I indicated which removable drive to load the RAID drivers from. I tried both floppy and USB memory stick. Unfortunately NO GO for both.
TI starts at reboot, then displays immediately "No RAID found" and three other lines of test that happen so fat they are unreadable, then searches the floppy (or USB, I assume), and then a screen appears indicating that it is about to begin the backup from my NAS at "Stage" with no progress indicated on the progress bar and no stage indicated. Whereupon the system immediately reboots and launches the existing Windows XP. I've done this a dozen times with various options set and still no luck.
It's almost as if the TI software is doing a READY...FIRE...AIM when it decides that there are no RAID drives available...because in the case where the drivers are loaded from the floppy, the decision "No RAID Found" was made PRIOR to the floppy being accessed!?!?!
Again, any help/advice is GREATLY appreciated!
Tony
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Try running the Universal Restore from the 2014 recovery CD you created. Have your raid controller drivers on hand on USB stick, these must be in their uncompressed format (.sys, .inf) in other words in extracted form. The Universal Restore should prompt you for the location of the drivers so at that stage just point to your USB stick and the app should find and load the drivers.
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I tried the UR from the Recovery CD. The software started up and displayed "No RAID Found" and the three lines of text that appear very quickly before the TI program begins to run. TI DID NOT load the drivers from the USB stick...the program while loading did not ask where these drivers were located. After the bootable TI loaded, it recognized my RAID 1 array as two separate 500GB drives. I tried backing up, selecting the UR option, indicating the location of the RAID drivers on my USB drive and let it rip. Unfortunately, the program recovered the backup file (.tib) to only one of the 500GB drives. In the process, it "broke" the RAID array and made the disk it recovered to non-bootable.
I've spent 20+ hours with this...it's frustrating as hell. I can't seem to get TI to load the drivers BEFORE it starts to do its thing. And I always seem to get the same outcome...a broken RAID array and a non-bootable disk with (what I think) has the recovered backup files on it.
I'd like to have this system RAID so as not to have to quit what I'm doing and make repairs in order to keep working. With RAID 1, I'm able to do a scheduled shut down and do the repairs when *I* want to. I'm afraid the ONLY way I'll be able to recover my files is to make this computer non-RAID and just recover the archives. This essentially makes TI worthless for what I want to do.
Any further suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm spending more time trying to fix this damned computer than I am working!
Tony
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So far, so good.
I've completely started oveer with my raid, erased all data, erased raid, recreated and formated all the surface. It took a lot of time, but first backup worked.
First problem solved, I hope it'll last.
But I still can't see my raid with bootable Acronis true premium 2014. It works only with 2013. Does 2015 version changes something?
Thanks again.
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Not sure if 2015 would work or not. The issue is more than likely that the Linux kernel used in 2014 does not contain the correct drivers for your raid controller where as 2013 does.
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SARL ameris,
You can use the trial of 2015 boot iso for free and see if its compatible with your hardware. Use the trial option from Acronis.com
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No luck with Acronis bootable 2015. Very frustrating. I'll seek another software.
Thanks for your insights.
David
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