RAID(0) with ATIH 2012
I have a computer with a RAID(0) configuration. The C: drive is a basic volume...not dynamic. I am presently using Acronis True Image V9.0 - Build #2323 (no Plus Pack). I am able to create archives and restore from them perfectly. I plan to do a clean uninstall using the tool provided by the Tech Support folks, and then install ATIH 2012. Will it be able to create archives and restore them, or will I need the Plus Pack to accomplish the job (I will not need the "restore to dissimilar hardware" feature in Plus Pack)?
All,
I was informed that ATIH w/Plus Pack was able to identify my software ssd raid(0). I have an X79 with Intel C600 Sata raid and so far what I was told was correct. The problem I got is the complicated restore system. I imaged my Win7 X64 Raid 0 system sucessfuly to a backup mechanical drive w/o issue. I had issue installing some software it screwed up my system, so I decided to restore the ssd raid image from the backup.
I created the bootable media cd and booted ATIH 2012 with Plus pack and It saw all my drives, so far so good. I selected what to restore and I get my "Disk 2", "MBR", the 100MB partitition that windows created and the "200+" GB data. This is all correct, and since thats what I wanted to restore. What gets complicated is the next 2 options on where to restore this and "settings for drive "C", Acronis shows my ssd drives as 120GB each and another 120GB SSD drive "F", (where did this come from?) I don't see the 213GB raid, but the two 120GB drives seperarte. First it asked me where to restore, then is asked me for settings "C", I had to guess at this point, basically it completed the restore sucessfully, but completely borked my OS - nothing boots. I had to re-install windows and get it running again.
Is there a simplified restore selection I am missing, I need DISK2 to be restored as DISK2 was, with a 100mb partition, and MBR and the 213GB data. The restore process was showing a drive scheme that isn't even what I have and why do I need to select and create partitions manualy?
Any help or insight would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mr Blinky,
It looks like the recovery CD is not seeing your software RAID properly (as one volume). Not entirely surprising. Use the Plus Pack to create a WINPE based recovery CD and try again.
Pat,
I did as you suggested and you are half right. I was unaware that when creating a WinPE boot that I needed the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) as well. Using that along with WinPE, created a boot disk; however the boot still was unable to see my drives, Acronis reported that no drives were found. Doing some more research, I found a couple of articles relating to injecting the raid drivers into the winpe.wim image from the Windows AIK, this step is essential before creating the the WinPE ISO for boot.
It is unfortunate that this documentation is not readily available. There should be an opportunity in the ATIH program for "creating bootable media" to ask for raid/disk drivers before creating the bootable disc, thus negating the need for WinPE and having to download the Windows AIK software. All these functions should be build into the ATIH 2012 version. I understand it's not possible for one program to have all the drivers needed for every computer, which is why there should be an option when creating the bootable media from the main program to inject the raid drivers.
In any event, I have the complete solution for creating a boot disk for anyone who has software raid, obviously those who do not, none of this information is needed. I will post the solution step by step later today once I get all the documentation together.
Thanks
Mr Blinky,
Yes, we have seen your case where users need to inject new drivers in their WinPE build. It would be great if you could document and post your solution.
*NOTE: This procedure is only necessary for those users who were required to provide raid drivers when they first installed windows
I have created a step by step process to create a CD/DVD boot disc to re-image your software raid (0). This procedure will inject the necessary raid drivers into the boot image so that the drives are visible to Acronis. Please note that I have done this using an image that was created on the same hardware that it was restored to. It is possible to use this same procedure to restore an image with dissimilar hardware, the raid drivers are the key. If not restoring to either software/hardware raid then this procedure is not for you. Again, this procedure worked for me and I cannot guarantee success with every machine, however I believe that this will put you on the right track if this doesn’t work for you.
REQUIRED COMPONENTS
Acronis True Image Home with Plus Pack.
http://www.acronis.com/
Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK)
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5753
Raid Drivers (for you board/raid controller)
INSTALLATION
Install Acronis True Image Home 2012 with Plus Pack. Download and install the Windows AIK (the download will be an ISO), either burn the ISO or use a 3rd party ISO extraction tool and run the setup to install the software. You will also need your raid drivers for this procedure. Have the raid drivers in a folder like C:\RAID. The raid drivers need to be the 32bit (x86) version, even if your image originally had the 64bit (x64), they will be restored as well.
PROCEDURE
1. Click Start, All Programs, Windows AIK, right-click Deployment Tools Command Prompt, and then select Run as administrator. The menu shortcut opens a Command Prompt window and automatically sets environment variables to point to all the necessary tools. By default, all tools are installed at C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools.
2. At the command prompt enter the following commands:
copype x86 c:\winpe_x86
dism /mount-wim /wimfile:c:\winpe_x86\winpe.wim /index:1 /mountdir:c:\winpe_x86\mount
dism /image:c:\winpe_x86\mount /add-driver /driver:(raid folder location ex: c:\raid)
dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:c:\winpe_x86\mount /commit
3.If all goes well the the image will mount, the drivers will inject and the image will save.
FINALIZE
From here you need to run Acronis Plus Pack and create and ISO image. Select the C:\WINPE_X86\ISO folder for your WIM location. Keep all the default settings as you run though the windows and save your final ISO anywhere you like. Burn the ISO image with either Windows 7 or another 3rd party utility. Reboot with the CD/DVD and Acronis will start. The command line prompts I found here at this website:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd799289(WS.10)
If you have any problems, check the Microsft TechNet Websites, Thats how I found this information.
Thanks
Looks great! Thanks!
I too had this situation but found that using the Safe Mode, available as SafeMedia together with BartPE plug-in (available as a free plug-in, but only up to TI2011) works just fine on SSD Raid 0. I just wish that Acronis would make the Safe Mode available to users of TI2012. Can anyone tel me why it was removed?
Palo,
I don't why for sure. One thing to consider is that you need Windows XP system files to build a BartPE disk. So for Vista or, more importantly, Win 7, you need another solution.
I just wanted to mention that the above steps worked perfectly for me on an x79 raid 0 motherboard running win 7 x64. Just to add in step 2
dism /image:c:\winpe_x86\mount /add-driver /driver:(raid folder location ex: c:\raid)
I not only added raid drivers but also my chipset and usb 3.0 drivers. Also, I had problems using an esata enclosure but running the sata cable direct was successful!!!
Billy,
I'm glad I could help. It is possible to add other drivers into the image as well, USB, Video, Chipset, etc. I haven't tested that; however all I needed was to be able to read the image I had made, which restored all the drivers, graphics, programs etc. that I had saved in the first place.
Thanks