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Just another failed clone post....

Thread needs solution

As the title says, we too are having no end of problems with True Image creating a working clone of a win7 drive. We're using the WD edition, but the method(s) appear identical.

Scenario:
Two hard disks, SATA0 and SATA1.
SATA0 has the boot loader and XP installed.
SATA1 has Win7 installed.

Win7 has outgrown its drive (80gb) and we've purchased a 500gb drive.

We have (too many times to count) run the cloning process in True Image specifically according to all instructions. Tried BOTH automatic and custom settings in an effort to clone SATA1 to the new larger drive.

True Image begins, restarts into itself, and completes the operation after some time. "Shut down when complete" is checked.

After removing the 80gb SATA1 drive and replacing with the 500gb clone the system boots to the OS selection screen. However, if Win7 is chosen no OS is found (instant), stating that a device needed is missing (obviously the hard drive).

The OS is on the new drive, as we have confirmed this by plugging it into other pc's to confirm.

True Image seemingly hasn't accomplished assigning the correct drive letter to the clone as visible to the boot loader.

Thus far the only conclusion that seems to fit is that the software simply cannot accomplish what it claims. The number of hours we've invested in this as-advertised "click and clone and done" myth are approaching the cost of replacing the computer itself....

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Why do you assume the software is no good just because you haven't learned how to use it? ATI performs a complex task and is itself a somewhat complcated piece of software, so there is a learning curve.

Are you cloning from the Windows version of ATI? We usually recommend that clones be performed using the bootable Rescue Media, to remove Windows from the equation. Also, allowing the system to boot with both cloned and original drives in place will cause one of them to become unbootable, and it may not be the old one. Windows doesn't like seeing two bootable drives.

The WD edition of ATI is based on an older and more limited version of ATI, so many of us are not familiar with it. You should request help from WD Support or in the WD forums, where you will find more users familiar with it.

The regular version of ATI certainly does perform clones, although I would generally recommend that you do a backup and restore instread, as it's safer.

Your best bet would be do the clone from the Rescue Media (bootable CD/DVD). Place the new drive (destination) in the target location replacing the original (source) drive. Either attach the original (source) drive to a different SATA port, or place it in a USB/SATA/FireWire connected external enclosure, then perform the clone from the original (source) drive to the new target (destination) drive. Be sure to disconnect (or remove) the original (source) drive before booting the system the first time. It can be added back later for repurposing or wiping.

tuttle wrote:

Why do you assume the software is no good just because you haven't learned how to use it? ATI performs a complex task and is itself a somewhat complcated piece of software, so there is a learning curve.

Your question is making a similar assumption in that you immediately take the position that it CAN'T be the software. Well, the first step in troubleshooting any issue is eliminating potential user error (more often than not the cause) and unfortunately it's become apparent that it is in fact the software not performing as indicated.

The various steps have been followed in detail per the user manual, multiple times, each attempt being performed anew with the drive re-prepped, etc. No success. Per the many posts in these forums (no WD specific subforum exists) it's also apparent our results are not uncommon even among users of the full version. The system was never booted with both drives installed, etc.

In spite of ATI's implicit "run from within windows" abilities we understood the inherent disadvantages this could present and so also attempted the rescue media path. The results are the same, with the boot loader instantly reporting that the target volume is missing.

If ATI WD edition is indeed an older version it still seems that it's falling well short of the mark in terms of its promises. It offers cloning, imaging, and backup abilities similar to the full version, but unfortunately this experience will not lead us down the path of purchasing the retail version on the hope that somehow results will be different. A shame really, because IMO ATI is a slick process that has a very simple and efficient UI. We'll be performing similar operations on several tens of pc's in the future, but with another platform it seems.

Well, I suspect lack of user knowledge because you were not using the recommended procedure for cloning. Plus, for most users we would recommend you do a Backup image and Restore rather than a Clone, as Backup is safer and more flexible.

And, you're using WD edition which, as I say is based on an older and more limited version of ATI, so many of us are not familiar with it. You should request help from WD Support or in the WD forums, where you will find more users familiar with it. ATI does not provide support for WD edition. Plus, comments I've seen on the WD forums say that WD edition supports only WD drives.

And yes, ATI is a good tool that works very well. You have a lesser version that is specific to a drive manufacturer, so not comparable to the current regular version of ATI.