File i/o error on external usb hard disk ONLY if a missed task is run at PC startup

Hello I get a similar problem to this. I use Windows 7 64 bit system, linked to a Western Digital MyBook which has performed flawlessly since I bought it. I use Acronis TrueImage Home 2010 Build 7046, and have set up a backup task (incremental) which is scheduled to occur at 5am daily. I have checked the 'if missed, run the task at startup' option, as well as the 'if missed, run the task when device is attached" option.

I have found that quite frequently when I boot my PC for the first time that day later than 5am (so that the task is classified as 'missed'), during the boot sequence, my drive fires up to life, it registers its presence in windows explorer (and is accessible to read), but the acronis task fails with the file i/o error. It requires manual intervention for me to open TrueImage, and then hit the 'retry' button myself. As soon as I hit 'retry',

I have read in other postings that the file i/o error can be worked around by reducing hard disk writing speed. I did try this, but to no effect, although this does not surprise me since when I manually start the task (or re-trigger it by pressing 'retry' as described above), the task completes without any problems at all.

It would appear that during boot time, or on initial startup, there is a point at which Acronis fails to 'see' the drive. However, the one thing that would redeem this failure would be an automatic retry of the task, NOT a manual one. The software should have a means whereby we can set 'if missed, retry at 'xx' minute intervals until complete', and a 'give up after 'xx' retries'.

Surely this cannot be beyond the capabilities of the programmers to add this small logical test into a minor update of the product?

Regards,

Marc