Acronis True Image Home Backup 2012 Nightmares
I decided to try ATIH 2012 as an upgrade to my existing ATIH version 11. Big, big mistake! I very nearly ending up trashing my entire computer and everything on it.
First of all I install ATIH 2012 over the top of my existing copy of version 11, it doesn't give me the option to do otherwise. When I run ATIH 2012 for the first time I discover that it won't allow me to select the drives I want to back up - the selection list is completely blank. In fact it won't allow me to select any drive at all! Give me a break - I'm running Windows Vista and all my drives are locally connected NTFS, completely stock standard. What goes?
So ATIH 2012 is unusable. What do I do? I try to uninstall it but it won't - gives me an obscure error message, and says it won't uninstall. I try to reinstall version 11 once more, but it won't because it says I already have a later version installed. I try to manually delete all of version 2012 and run the version 11 installer again. Same outcome.
So I have ATIH 2012 installed that is unusable and I cannot reinstall my previous copy of version 11. I discover I can no longer use any Acronis product on my computer. Even Acronis Disk Director I now find won't work either. I can't do backups at all! How do I get out of thius mess?
Fortunately I have a full image backup of my computer less that 24 hours old. Whew! I also have a ATIH version 11 boot rescue DVD. So I run this as a last resort and - it works! I cannot contemplate the consequences if this had failed!
So what are the lessons I learned from this experience.
1. I won't be trying ATIH 2012 again - ever! In fact I am now looking for a non Acronis *reliable* alternative.
2. Always have another backup strategy. Image backups are often last resort backups and if these fail you're in big, big trouble.
3. For example, I have all my own personal data files backed up separtately in a non-proprietary format (e.g. zip, 7z, etc.). I don't back these up in Acronis. I don't want to have to rely on someone's proprietary application to be able to access my own files. In a non-proprietary format I can use practically any software on any other computer to access them. So at least if I don't have a working computer any more I still have usable copies of my own files.
jrace is apparetnly suggesting using another brand of software.
When installing a new version of ATIU it's genraly best to uninstall prior ati and plus pack first -- the plus pack especially. then install the new versions.
Do I understand you correctly. You seem to be saying that if I was to now uninstall ATIH version 11 and then install ATIH 2012 I would have no further problems?
I was suggesting something that might work. I dont make the product and dont guarantee it. I'm just one of the folks here, with pay, that tries to offer hwlp when i can. if i was in ur situation i'd try what i suggested/-- it's helped some others. presumably yo have a backup already from ati2011 in case ati 2012 does work well enough or u just don't like it.
I had, and have been having similar and multiple issues as well, ATIH caused 1 of my OS's (multi boot) to crash! (NO backup available) and it restored to OEM version, I've been rebuilding my system for weeks! Upon install of my purchased ATIH 2012, again! many problems! told by chat/tech support to uninstall my AVG anti virus program, then install, but had problems uninstalling the 1st install that they said was corrupt!
I had been a dedicated Acronis user for years and NEVER experienced SO MANY problems/issues! I've almost lost complete confidence in their product. The new ATIH 2012 did away with the WIZARDS that made the backup/restore process soooo much easier! I say, PLZ, FIX ALL THE BUGS, RE-LAUNCH A RELIABLE VERSION, AND PLZZZZ BRING BACK THE WIZARDS!
Acronis needs to make significant changes to its ATIH 2012 to gain back the trust and confidence in ALL its users, before they jump ship!