Can't boot from restored system disk nor from clone - TIH 2010
I'm using Acronis TIH 2010 build 7.154. Whatever I do with it, I don't seem to be able to generate bootable system disks. Recently had a system drive (SATA) die, so I went through the recovery process from my backup images. Wouldn't boot. Had the right partitions on it (system reserved and C), but it would not boot (hosed up MBR maybe?). I had to reload everything, then restore my files from those same backup images.
So I decided that once everything was running, I'd clone the disk and keep it for a spare. I installed the target disk into the PC chassis along with the system disk (i.e., both disks were plugged into the internal SATA ports, neither via USB), went through the clone process, shut down the machine, unplugged the system disk and plugged the clone into its place. Rebooted, and the machine went straight over into windows recovery mode. Which, after munging around a bit, told me it couldn't recover the disk.
Tried it twice. Same failure each time.
In both cases, Acronis produced what appears to be a perfect copy of the bootable system disk. But neither copy would boot.
Anyone have any idea what I could try? I'm pretty frustrated here.
-- Ed
GroverH wrote:
> Ed,
> Tell us more about your system.
> Which version of Windows?
Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64b).
> Is your source disk an MBR disk or GPT/UEFI type partitioning?
MBR.
> When creating the backup, did you select disk mode or partition mode?
Disk mode (see attached images)
> Perhps a screen capture picture of your source disk Windows Disk Management could hlelp.
Attached.
> Depending upon the type of restore used, there are instances where the wrong partition is
> made active and the user needs to make corrections during the restore.
I suspected that was the case on the restored disk (can't be sure about the clone, though).
But I didn't see anything about making corrections in the Acronis docs, so I didn't know how to
address it within Acronis. Instead I used a couple of other stand-alone, bootable partition
munging tools to work on the MBR and the partition letters; but I just couldn't seem to get the
system to recognize that the restored disk was bootable.
> If you disk is the classic MBR type disk, link #3 illustrates how to restore via a disk restore or a
> partition restore. These are items 1 and 2 inside the link. While these are not specific to your
> computer, they can provide a guide. When using the restore method, I would use the option
> to Recover the disk signature.
Thanks. I'll have a look at it.
> whether restoring or cloning, it is important that the target disk be the only connected disk
> during the first boot following the procedure. The source disk must not be attached on first
> boot.
Yeah, I made that mistake on the first clone attempt. The second time around, I unplugged
the system disk (power and logic) before bringing the system back up. But maybe I wasn't as careful
as I'd thought.
By the way, is there any way to exit gracefully out of the bootable, standalone Acronis app? I can't
find an "exit" or "log out" option, so I wind up just hitting the red "close window" button on the upper
right hand corner of the window itself. That makes me extremely nervous, since I don't know whether
there are any sorts of clean-up operations Acronis stand-alone needs to execute prior to shutting
things down.
> Another option (if cloining) would be the manual method and choose the "as is" as the move method.
All the clones were done manually. I kept taking the manual option and sizing the partitions myself.
But I'll try it again with the "as-is" option.
Thanks for your help!
-- Ed
From your attachments, we know that partition 1 is the "system reserved" and is the active partition. Size should remain the same and remain unlettered.
Partition 2 is your Windows partition.
When finished with the CD, I eject the CD and force a powerdown on the computer via the power button. There really isn't any other choice.
1. I prefer to place the target in the same connector as the original source--this is very important if ThinkPad.
The source can be placed anywhere--either internally or externally.
2. Reboot with the CD
3. Perform the Add disk option from the CD utilitity tools. This will delete all partitions on the target disk. Be careful to choose the larger disk as the disk being added. Choose the MBR option. All space will become unallocated.
4. Perform either the restore or the clone.
5. Place the system reserved as partition 1 and this partition should be marked as active. Do not resizse. Keep original size. Set 1 mb as the free space BEFORE. The free space after should be 931.41 gb(or if using the "as is", we can adjust later)
6. Partition 2 will be the Windows os and will consume all remaining space. No free space before or after.
Be sure the partiton type remains with "active" as UNCHECKED. (Partiton 1 is the active partition.)
7. Upon completion. REmove the CD and power down the computer.
8. Disconnect the data cable from the original source disk. Remove source or leave in place as disconnected.
9. Reboot the computerr with only the new disk connected. You may or may not have to use the Windows Recovery CD to help you become bootable via the Repair Startup option.
10. If you use the "as is" move method, youi can either use the Windows disk management tools for expanding into the unallocated space; or use the free Mini-tool Partition Wizard Bootable CD to expand into the remaining unallocated space.
http://www.partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html