advice on how to
I'm new to true image 2015 and have already run into some problems. I watched "how to videos" and read through the user manual that comes with product.
I should mention I'm using Windows 10 now. I was fine with windows 8.1 and True Image 2014. Thought this would be more user friendly- but.....
Still am stuck.
This is what I'd like to accomplish, can someone verify the steps are correct?
I want to back up my entire PC (first time). I want to do a "full version" and I want to be able to validate it after the back up is made.
I plan on using a brand new WD my passport with only wd drive utilities installed in that.
So, I go to "backups" and choose "entire pc"-
I assume it automatically knows I want everything but first time a config menu came up and wouldn't let me leave the page? Ended with major error codes....all repaired and ready to try again. That's why I'm asking for help first!
Does the program by "default" then name the back up for me? I'm confused on that one.
Please explain.
I assume after that I go to "options" and choose "full " under type of back up. Do I have to choose "custom" first to get to "full "? That is not clear to me (sorry I know this is all basic for all of you).
After that step, I go to "advanced" to choose "validate when finished options" and make sure for my needs I mark "no schedule" as I want this to be a system back up. I will do another in a month or so and then only when I have new things I want saved. I use other external hard drives already to back up all the important things (photos, documents to keep...). So I don't need incremental settings.
And then I should be able to choose "external hard drive " to back up to (that may have already come up...)
and click "back up now".
is it that easy or am I missing some key things I need to do? Please confirm and correct as needed.
I am hoping to attempt to make my first back up this weekend.
Thank you so much. I checked all the links you provided and have a much clearer understanding now.
Still, I need to clarify a couple of things before I'm ready to do the back up. If you don't mind, just so I know once I start the back up I won't have to cancel it!
I appreciated so much the diagrams you included. When I click on "later", how do I then go about starting the back up? Can I just click the "later" button and then a few seconds later click the "back up now" button to complete the cycle?
And before I get to the actual back up- doing it this way- I still have the option to go into the advanced settings options and request that this backup is validated when complete?
I was confused originally (thought since I did the 2014 version I could just accomplish a backup without reviewing the manual!), I saw a configure screen come up. I assume that means I hit Disks and Partitions and that won't come up when I hit "entire pc" for backup?
If the configure screen does come up, and everything is already included in the entire pc choice, I can just proceed to the rest of the settings I want?
I originally installed Acronis true image 2015 from a DVD. When i got the error messages and did the reinstall to repair the program, it wouldn't take and support sent me a link to use instead and it repaired everything right away. My question regarding this issue is that I had already made the 2 copies of a CD for bootable media in case I ever need to do a recovery. Are the copies I made valid if the program had to be repaired? Do I need to make another set of bootable CD's?
One last issue, I don't recall ever knowing about this with True Image 2014, but did see it reading through the user manuals. I take it that it is essential I
go into the BIOS and make the CD drive first booting device in the BIOS?
If I follow the instructions given on page 83 of the user manual it is all I need to do? Is that the method you would use?
Thank you so much for your help and your time. I hope this is the last few questions I need to trouble you for your generous assistance/time given towards assisting me. Once I do something once correctly, I have it down!! It's the confusion for the first time on a new program that gets me.
I'm sure you've noticed, although I truly enjoy the computer, I am not computer savvy. My 3 favorite things to use this for are photo and video editing, e-mail and shopping:).
When I click on "later", how do I then go about starting the back up? Can I just click the "later" button and then a few seconds later click the "back up now" button to complete the cycle? Yes
And before I get to the actual back up- doing it this way- I still have the option to go into the advanced settings options and request that this backup is validated when complete? The every backup validation (enabled/disabled) can be set as part of the intial configuratin of the task. You can use the task edit options to initiate a validation manually any time.
I was confused originally (thought since I did the 2014 version I could just accomplish a backup without reviewing the manual!), I saw a configure screen come up. I assume that means I hit Disks and Partitions and that won't come up when I hit "entire pc" for backup?
If the configure screen does come up, and everything is already included in the entire pc choice, I can just proceed to the rest of the settings I want? In 2014, you had a choice of a Partition Backup or a Select diisk image backup. IN 2015, the choice for a disk image backup is the "Entire PC backup:, and the choice for partition(s) backup is the Disk & Partitions; and if you want a files only, choose Files and Folders.Caution: if your computer has more than one INTERNAL disk, the selection of Entire PC backup will INCLUDE both system disk as well as the 2nd internal disk. So, if you have two internal disks, you may need to choose "disk & partitons" rather than the "Entire PC" as Entire PC backup would include BOTH DISKS.
Do I need to make another set of bootable CD's? Each time you update TrueImage with a newer build, you need to make a new CD for the newer changes. An old CD may not be able to restore a newer backup so you need to keep updating the CD with the addition of each new build.
go into the BIOS and make the CD drive first booting device in the BIOS?
If I follow the instructions given on page 83 of the user manual it is all I need to do? Is that the method you would use?Each computer is different and depending upon which version of Windows. Insert the CD and reboot your system and see if i t boots by itself without any further changes. Or it may ask for other selections. If win 7, it may immately boot. If 8.1, it may need other choices.
YOu may have to come back and ask that question in a new posting advising more about what happens when insert the CD if it does not boot.
User manu to create a disk image equivalent in 2015.
GH63. 48404: Acronis True Image 2015: Creating an Entire PC Backup
Your assistance was fantastic. The first full system backup is complete, and new bootable CD's are also made. Now that it is actual finished, it was really easy to do. I just got a bit confused but as I got to each step- the choices were pretty obvious!
Thank you once again- I didn't know I had to update the bootable CD's with each back up. Good information and I'll make certain to do just that.
I've never gone into the bios on this machine so I plan to do a bit of research first, then follow up on your suggestions. And I assume things have changed since the upgrade only a few weeks ago to windows 10.
I'll take your advice start a new, detailed post of what happens when I put the CD in if I run into further problems.
Hopefully changing the bios and having the bootable CD operate correctly will go as it is supposed to.
I'm saving the last part for over the next few days but i sure look forward to having this entire cycle behind me.
Check again my answer on creating a new CD. It is not every backup but after each new build (every 4-6 months) that Acronis might issue a new update.
Making a backup is only half the battle. The other half is testing your backups to make sure they work BEFORE the emergency arises.
Do some research and find out if your system is formatted as GPT or MBR type partitions.
Ouch, all that is over my head and has me spinning. I'll tackle that soon though as I do understand the importance of it!
I do though understand "now" that you meant to make a new recovery CD only when Acronis does a build- not when I do another backup. That makes sense -happy right now that something is for me!
So, I'm still trying to get into windows 10 bios. I have help, and it's not all that simple like the older operating systems. So far the small amounts of "how to" are not taking me into the bios to check if the DVD drive is first.
Is there an easy way without actually trying to access the bios to test if my boot sequence is DVD first?
I read what you told me to do:
"Insert the CD and reboot your system and see if i t boots by itself without any further changes".
Can you clarify- once again, sorry for what seems like simple obvious questions. I put in the CD and do I see what the CD does on it's own or do I put in the CD and do a reboot- then what?
Can the CD activate a recovery, put me into safe mode or anything like that ? I don't want to get in over my head where it will ask me to do things like connect the external hard drive to reinstall my system if I put the Acronis Recovery CD in.
If the CD does boot up like it is supposed to, what/where would it take me to?
So I think I'm misunderstanding yet again what and why you are asking me to do this. I need to understand those reasons and what I might expect before I proceed.
I want to accomplish everything needed but in the easiest way I can where I don't have to make major changes to things I don't understand.
I'm not at all tech savvy and it scares me to get in over my head and not be able to figure out how to get back to where I was!
I'm not saying I won't do what is necessary, just need to understand with each step what I can expect.
Again, many thanks. I saved the info on the link you provided to see if I'm dealing with the GPT or MBR type partitions. I'll let you know that when I can discover the info. Wow my head is swirling!!
What I was suggesting was to find out whether the CD would already boot your compuiter without your touching the BIOS.
Which was to: 1. Insert the TI Recovery CD. 2. Shut your sysem down via a reboot.
3. During the very first few seconds of the reboot, watch screen carefully for a message
"Presss any key to reboot via CD"
Press any key or spacebar to signal that you want the computer to boot using the CD.
Be carefaul-be quick as this message occurs quickly and only for a few seconds.
if message missed, the computer boots into normal Windows.
If the computer boots into the CD, you should get an Acrnons Menu to select
Start TrueImage
Create System report
Boot into Windows
Or you may get other other messages. YOu have to perform the test to see what you get.
Frankly, if your computer was bought with 8.1 installed, I am doubetful that TI Recovery CD will start it.
You may need more specialized instructions for booting your system because most 8.1 systems are GPT with multiple partitions.
Far too involved for one posting.
http://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/ATI2015/index.html#2…
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Just got finished testing the Acronis backup CD following your instructions on how to proceed. I did it twice just to be certain my eyes didn't blink!
Sorry to say that the computer did not recognize the CD during the reboot process.
Still trying to get into the BIOS on Windows 10 so that we can make sure the DVD drive becomes first in the boot sequence. Then I will retest the disk again
and see if that changes it's ability to being read while rebooting.
I'll let you know once we access the BIOS setup, but they don't make it at all easy with Windows 10. Seems to be so far 2 suggestions from other folks on how to get in, and so far the first one didn't work for us.
I contacted Microsoft support by phone and they transferred me to Dells Tech support who did not really want to assist me. I was moved to 4 different tech "specialists" at Dell to answer a simple question about the boot sequence and then how to get into the BIOS and no one could or would do more than say they needed to transfer me to yet a different department. When I finally got on with the 4th person , they said they couldn't hear me and the line was disconnected. Great help:(
I'm on a Dell laptop- Inspiron series if anyone is familiar with how to get into the BIOS - tips would be greatly appreciated.
On Windows 10 you can access the UEFI/BIOS settings using the following steps.
1. Click the Start Menu.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Update and security.
4. Click Recovery in the left pane and then click Restart now under Advanced startup.
5. After machine reboots click Troubleshoot.
6. Click Advanced options
7. Click UEFI Firmware Settings
8. Finally click Restart and hopefully your machine will reboot and load the UEFI/BIOS menu.
While there I recommend enabling the Boot Menu so that you can optionally use an F-key to select a another boot device during startup.
If your rescue media is inserted before starting the steps above, you should also see an option to Use a device at step 5. Clicking this will allow you to boot from your rescue USB or CD drive.
Thanks Joey. You supplied into I could not do.
Paperandpen,
TrueImage makes restoring a GPT formated system more difficult than it needs to be and they often cannot correctly restore the partitions to the same positioning as the original disk.
Many users find it easier using other programs which do not make you jump thru hoops to get good results.
I wanted to thank you for all the time you put into trying to help me. Your set of instructions on how to access the UEFI/BIOS on a Dell with windows 10 was easy to follow.
But there were no options to make the DVD drive first in the boot sequence.
The computer did not recognize the recovery disc in the drive at all at step 5 or at any time.
Since I always make 2 copies of the bootable discs I tried both of them at different times and neither one gave me any results.
We tried all the steps a few times and checked out all of the options that were there. So I'm back to where I started from and
now I have to decide where to go from here.
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the time you put in to try and help me resolve these problems.