Cannot mount any image backups in 2010
I just upgraded from TI11 to 2010 on a Vista Business 32 SP1 system.
After some initial problems with the TI11 tasks I had to delete those and create new ones. The backups are now running.
The problem is that i can't mount any backup images at all. Not the ones created with 2010 nor the ones created with TI11 (which worked fine in TI11).
When selecting an image i get the popup that it is trying to mount the image (which only took about a second in TI11). It takes about 1 minute then I get another popup
"Cannot assign a drive letter to a partition from the backup archive"
The only option is to click OK.
Anybody ran into the same problem and anybody knows why that is and how i can correct it?
Hello Gerhard,
Thank you for using Acronis Products
Acronis True Image Home 2010 can run only previous version schedule tasks - Acronis True Image Home 2009. Regarding the issue try the following:
Make sure that Acronis True Image Backup Archive Explorer is Enabled in Device Manager (Right-click on MY Computer -> Properties -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> Unfold Acronis Devices -> Right-click on Acronis Devices -> Select Acronis True Image Backup Archive Explorer -> Choose Enabled).
To all who are going to go the trouble of unistalling an existing installation of ATI and then installing/reinstalling, do yourself a favor and go jsut a little bit farther and "msconfig" things to reduce the chance for probs:
run msconfg.exe
Select Services tab, chcke box for Hide Windows Services, Select All, Select Disable all
Select Startup tab, select Disable All
Select OK, select reestart.
do you uninstall and install
run msconfig and on the General tab, check Normal Startup, select OK, select restart
This method keeps the memory empty of programs except stuff needed for windows and avoids certain confilcts that can otherwise occur during installs and uninstalls and cleanups.
It was an upgrade install, which "deleted" the TI11 version (at least it was gone in control panel).
After starting 2010 i saw the daily backup tasks i had created in TI11, which even got executed at the scheduled time, but abended as it was looking for Acronis Secure Zone which i had never setup and used. I subsequently deleted the TI11 task and created a new one.
Regarding the Backup Archive Explorer it is enabled.
I un-installed 2010, rebooted, re-installed, rebooted.
Archive Explorer is still enabled.
I still get the same error that i cannot mount the backup.
I got the same problem, trying to mount a ATI 2010 backup
created on the same PC .
Backup storage : external USB drive
It's 2 days that i posted and also submitted a support ticket but no answer. I am dissapointed that Acronis does not have a faster turn around time. For me this is a critical issue and if i can't find a solution, i rather go back to my working TI11.
Just out of curiossity, has anybody used TI11 with Windows 7? Win 7 was my main reason for the upgrade to 2010.
Hello all,
Gerhard Goebel, officially, Acronis True Image 11 Home does not support Windows 7. However, we have heard about several cases when customers were able to backup\restore this system with 11 version.
Thank you.
I had the same Mount Image issue with 2010 (XP-PRO SP-3). After a lot of time I would get the message "Unable to Assign Drive Letter" or something like that. At first, I assumed the images were not mounting. After several tries with the same error message, I checked My Computer. Images had actually mounted. Even with the message, the images were mounting. Had some other issues with 2010. Uninstalled & went back to 2009 b9796.
My first install of 2010 involved removing 2009 with ADD/REMOVE control panel, rebooting, running Acronis Cleanup Utility, CCleaner, rebooting, and installing ATI2010 b5055.
Similar issues.
Trialing TI 2010 on Windows 7 Pro 64-bit.
Backup within Win7 works - no problems.
Able to access partitions/files within a TI8 created TIB using Windows Explorer - no problems.
Mount function seems to accept a maximum of 4 partitions. In the test I carried out it seemed to mount all 5 required partitions while the mount function was running (even allowed access to mounted partition via windows explorer), but when the mount function ended there was a message stating that not all drives had been mounted, and the mounted (and previously accessed) Vista partition had disappeared from windows explorer. Tried again, and another partition disappeared in the same circumstances.
I then tried to restore from a created recovery USB, but the external drive with the required tib file was not visible to Acronis. I have 4 external HDDs, and the other 3 were visible.
Hello all,
Regarding mounting issue, could you please check the following:
Follow to Start -> Run -> diskmgmt.msc after that, please find a partition which has not been mounted and right click on it -> Change Drive Letters and Paths -> Change, then assign a letter.
Please let us know whether it helps to mount the partition!
We are looking forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience.
Thank you.
I have the same problem with Windows 7 and TI Home 2009. When I try to mount an image, it does mount and I am able to briefly browse the drive in Windows Explorer but the window then closes and the logical drive mapping is gone. While browsing, TI still shows the popup "Processing Assigning Drive Letter to partitions", then when the window closes, TI shows the error message "unable to assign drive letter to partition". It makes me think there is some issue between TI and Windows 7 in that the mapping does occur but then is closed (by Windows?) for some reason.
I have been having the drive mount problems (similar to that described by others in this forum) with True Image 2009 and now with TI-2010. Going back to TI-ver 11 works. I went through several iterations with tech support last year with TI-2009 and finally gave up. Since I used True Image for many years previously with no problems, I thought I would give it another try when TI-2010 came out. Unfortunately, it is still broke.
I have the same problem with TI-2009 running in XP Pro SP3.
I can browse/restore files in the TI images in explorer but my attempts to mount veriied images result in a message of "cannot assign a drive letter to a partition from the backup archive".
What does the message "cannot assign a drive letter to a partition from the backup archive" really indicate is wrong ??????
What does the message "cannot assign a drive letter to a partition from the backup archive" really indicate is wrong ??????
It indicates that W7 has a different method for enumerating drives in registry than Xp or Vista.
2010 is able to mount a drive. With 2009 you are able to explore an image, just as you've found out, not mount one.
Colin,
Thank you for the reply, but as noted, I am running XP SP3, not windows 7. In my case I can't identify the reason TI 2009 should have quit mounting images in XP.
I would still like to know what the message "cannot assign a drive letter to a partition from the backup archive" really indicates is wrong ??????
It appears to indicate there is some reason these images will verify, browse, and restore, but will not mount??????
Thanks,
Colin,T I am running XP SP3, not windows 7.
Whoops sorry missed that. Check in Windows Task Manager that timounter.dll is running. This service controls the mounting of images. Check in services.msc that RPC Server is running on automatic - though as you can make images this is probably the case.
If Timounter doesn't appear in the task manager list, then open up MSConfig and see if it has become 'unticked' for some reason.
Colin,
TimounterMonitor.exe is running in processes.
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is set as automatic in Services
I can successfully mount older images - but I am unable to get any image to mount that was made after I did the last upgrade (changed the physical drives in the mirrored RAID to 1.5 GB from 500 MB) and changed the motherboard from an Intel ICH9R to an Intel ICH10R. (the RAID is contolled by the Intel Matrix storage of the ICH10R)
I can't get the recent images to mount on another computer either (also using TI 2009) so the problem appears to be the newer images (not the machines attempting the mount).
I would have suspected TI 2009 has a limit on the image size it can mount, BUT I have read somewhere on this board TI used to have a 2 GB limit but even that limit was removed in TI 2009.
Some of the older images that mount ok actually are larger file sizes at about 200 MB, than the recent images that will not mount.
Thanks
Here is some more interesting info regarding this problem:
I have a HTPC running Win 7 Home Premium. I have Acronis True Image 2010 (build 5055). I've stuck with build 5055 for now because newer builds have problem with recovery CD (USB keyboard/mouse not recognized).
Initially, I could mount backups made with T!2010 and TI11. Now, I get the same message everyone above has described -- I try to mount, autoplay in W7 asks me what I want to do, I choose view in explorer, I can view files briefly but then window closes and I get error "Cannot assign a drive letter to a partition from the backup archive" Main difference between when I could and could not mount backup is I restored this PC with a disk image backup made with TI2010; whether that is root cause or coincidence I don't know.
I opened disk manager to see what happens during this event. The mounted drive E: does show up in disk manager initially but then disappears when error appears. I've attached JPG file with screenshot showing mounted backup.
I also successfully changed the drive letter from E: to F: in disk manager. The mounted drive still closes even when it has been changed to F:
Relative to experiment suggested above - I successfully changed the drive letter on my DVD burner.
One thing I've noticed: mount wizard has drive E: for 100mb system partition and F: for my drive C:. I uncheck system partition and only ask to mount my drive C: data. However, when drive shows up in disk manager the drive letter is E:, not F:. Either W7 or TI2010 has decided to change the drive letter. I've tried mounting both and get the same result - can view both partitions briefly.
Maybe the disk manager screenshot will help debug this problem? There are 2 "active" disks but I've had this before when plugging in a disk from another PC and had no problems.
More info - potential solution for TI2010 on Win 7 x64 (and other OS'es?)
I was running TI2010 build 5055 but decided to go to build 6053 since there is now a custom ISO to take care of USB keyboard/mouse issue and I also wanted to see if 6053 would take care of this mounting issue.
I uninstalled 5055, installed 6053 and now mounting works properly. I even mounted a backup from TI2010 and TI11 in two different drive letters and everything went smoothly.
I'm running on a fresh install of Win7 64-bit, with build TI Home 2010 build 6053.
Unfortunately, I am having the same symptoms that a1smith described 2 posts above this one.
Look forward to hearing a solution from Acronis.
I updated TI 2010 - 6029 to 6053 Now, when I try to mount an image (any image), TIH 2010 - 6053 posts the error message cannot assign drive letter.
TIL BU error with TI2010: Had a 160GB encrypted full BU from TIH under Vista64. Upgraded machine to Win7-64 and when I tried to mount the BU, TIH gave me the "cannot assign a drive letter..." message after a LONGGG time.
So I uninstalled THL and loaded the TI2010 (did not do the Acronis uninstall and clean registry). When I tried to mount the BU again, I got the same "Cannot assign a drive letter..." message, but having read this thread, I looked and saw that the drive WAS mounted. The first level directories were ok, but when I tried to explore deeper in the filesystem, I got access errors.
I was depending on this BU to restore some files into Win7. Fortunately, I also use Carbonite, which save the day. But I would like to keep this BU (assuming it can be made readable.)
Help!
Thanks,
Rick
I have the same problem. I backed up a Vista-64 notebook onto a 260GB USB drive using ATI 2009, bought a new Notebook with Win7-64, bought and installed ATI 2010. Now when I try to mount the backup image on the USB drive, I get the same messsage... "Cannot assign a drive letter...".
There are many reports of people having this problem and I'm amazed that there are no patched/fixes available to resolve the problem. Acronis does not seem to care much about their customers!
Btw, also when I try to to a restore of files/folders from the USB drive backup, it doesn't work. So I'm stuck with no access to the data I entrusted to Acronis' software.
Have you tried going into Win Disk Management and trying to assing a drive letter or reassigning another drive if it is using that drive letter?
Assign a drive letter to what? Windows Disk Management just shows current partitions and drive letters, right? If there is some drive letter conflict I don't know what it is. ATI, I assume, just tries to use the first un-used drive designator (letter) to assign to the backup images. It seems to work fine if I tell it to map drives to a backup I created with ATI 2010. If I try to map to a backup I created previously with ATI 2009, it chokes with the above error messages.
Btw, I am using the latest ATI 2010 build (6053)
This is really a nasty bug. If I hit the "cancel" button multiple times to get out of the repeating "Cannot assign a drive letter" error box, my Notebook running Windows 7 crashes with a blue-screen of death.
I haven't seen a blue screen problem for a very long time running prior versions of Windows, so this does not speak so well about Windows 7 either - though obviously I have no idea which piece of software is at fault.
I found this error msg in the event log, probably is a clue to the problem...
"The Acronis True Image FS Filter service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified."
I'll bet this has something to do with all the problems I had with upgrading from 2009 to 2010... install, uninstall, re-install, uninstall, run the various cleanup procedures found on this forum, re-install 2010.
Personally, I don't think the ATI cleanup utility is truely cleaning up everything. I saw many mentions of Acronis in the registry even after running the cleanup utility.
Are there any true COMPLETE ATI 2010 un-install/re-install procedures?
As a follow up, at some point, this started working again for me and has been ever since. This error occurred on a fresh factory image, where ATI was the first thing I installed after imaging the machine. After several reboots following installation of other software, ATI began working again.
I am disappointed that Acronis has not been supportive and engaged in this thread.
Bradley,
There has been a few reports---When a mounting fails with the "can't assign drive letters" error, sometimes if you go into disk management afterward, you will find the partition is there and you may(?) be able to assign a drive letter.
Thanks for the pointer, but it doesn't fix the bug even if it works. I have other serious problems since I can't do a restore from the backup. And often when trying to map/mount the a drive letter to the backup my machine blue-screen crashes on me.
I think this is related to a messed up upgrade/re-installation and the directions on this forum for doing a clean un-install did not work.
A system will try to assign the drive letter previously assigned to thedrive. IF the drive leter is already in use, that can soemtimes block assignment tothenewly connected drive, a situation that is easily fixed by reassigning drive letters. That's all I was alluding to.
If you want to remove all registry traces after an uninstall, the surest way is to use a registry tool that can search and find strings such as "trueimage" and "fomatik" and then delete all those entries. Using the built-in registry tool in Win is tedious because you have to do each entry one by one. But aftermarket tools can find them all in one sweep and let you delete them in one keystroke.
. . .Personally, I don't think the ATI cleanup utility is truely cleaning up everything. I saw many mentions of Acronis in the registry even after running the cleanup utility. . .
Over the years I have used at least four versions of Acronis including 9, 11, and 2009 with XP Pro and Vista Ultimate backing up to SATA drives. I used to recommend it to clients.
The ability of Acronis to do high speed full images plus the ability to restore either the full drive or selected files has met my needs.
Unforturnately we know from these posts Acronis 2009 and 2010 both have serious flaws that prevent mounting the images even in XP Pro SP3 as well as Vista and 7.
We also know Acronis appears to be unconcern their product does not work correctly. I think this is proven because the biggest online and biggest brick and mortar stores are selling Acronis 2010 for 19.95.
I have started testing other backup software. Dependability of backup software is #1. Acronis no longer meets the dependability requirement.
G Rule
Hello all,
Thank you for posting your question, I will be happy to help.
Please see the below information, it can be useful for you:
1) Using Acronis True Image you are unable to mount an image of a disk or partition of over 2 Terabytes in size. When mounting, Acronis True Image emulates the image as a partition of an MBR disk (even if the image is of a dynamic disk). MBR disks do not support partitions larger than 2 terabytes.
2) Try to mount the image in read-write mode instead of read-only mode where the additional driver is not used:
In the Mount Wizard, click Options:
Tick off Mount the partitions in read-write mode:
3) Also please note the archive shouldn't be corrupted, verify the archive to be sure in its integrity.
4) - Unmount the image;
- Run the following file on the machine:
Windows 32 bit: \Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Timounter\Timountermonitor.exe
Windows 64 bit: \Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\Timounter\Timountermonitor.exe
- Mount the archive again.
If nothing helps, please wait for the next build release, we expect it soon. Update the software and see if the issue remains.
If the issue persists, we will continue troubleshooting.
If the provided information is not clear or if you have any other question do not hesitate to post them and we will be glad to answer.
Thank you.
I appreciate Oleg Lee's effort to help.
However,
(1) The image is less than 2 TB. The image is from two Seagate 1.5 TB drives configured as RAID 1 using XP PRO SP3 on a ASUS P5QC board and matrix storage in the Intel ICH10R chip set. This was a clean install of XP and TI 2009.
Earlier 500 GB images from an earlier Intel ICH9R board will not mount on this system - I think the problem is between TI and the ASUS P5QC board with ICH10R chip set.
(2) The images are verified. None of the images will mount. I can explore and extract files from all of the archives. They just will not mount.
(3) The Timountermonitor.exe process is already running in XP Pro .
(4) I had not attempted to mount in READ/WRITE mode, but that change made no difference.
(5) The image does not mount at all - there is no image to "dismount"
The mounting fails with the message '"cannot assign a drive letter to a partition from the backup archive" .
This is clearly a problem in my True Image 2009 build 9809 as well as for some users with TI 2010. This is a long term problem with TI 2009 and TI 2010 and some common hardware.
I have two licences for TI 2009, I can't think I would go buy TI 2010 when people are clearly having the same image mounting problems that I am having.
thanks,
G Rule
Hello G Rule,
Thank you for your response.
I suggest you to try Acronis True Image Home 2010 (the trial version). The trial version of Acronis True Image Home 2010 is available here.
The issue can have different reasons, moreover, the appropriate module has been updated for this version. If the issue is reproduced for the latest version of the program, please obtain the below information and send me a Private Message, I will create a FTP account to upload the files:
1) Download AcronisInfo file ; Run the downloaded file. The gathered information will be put in AcronisInfo.zip in the same folder, where the AcronisInfo was saved. Running AcronisInfo may take up to 5 minutes.
2) ProcMon file.
We are looking forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience.
Please do not hesitate to ask additional questions if the provided information is not clear or you need a further assistance.
Thank you.
I just installed ATIH 2009 and have had the very same mounting issues on my Win7 Ult x64. I went to register for this site and found I was already registered for my ATIH11. I registered my 2009 and it said there was an update, so I checked my current version and couldn't seem to locate it. Anyone know where it is located?
Anyway, I went ahead and updated the program anyway. Upon reboot it said it found an earlier version and needed to reboot to correct some conflict or something. Upon reboot I fire up 2009 and viola! it mounted successfully. however, I now am being denied permission to my Mark folder. Not sure why. I was accessing before the patch, it just unmounted after a minute or so.
--=Mark=-
p.s. which is newer 2009 or 11? I only have 2009 installed ATM.
OK, I at least worked around the permission denial by disabling User Account Control (UAC). Not sure if I want to leave myself open like this though. I'll probably turn it back on after I copy my needed files.
-=Mark=-
Hi, I'm having a similar problem with 2010, on a Toshiba laptop running XP SP3, (started with v8, then v10 and v11 which were all fine) - I can browse a backup ok (which is ok for simple things), but cannot mount it (whether made with 2010 or earlier). It gives "assigning drive letter" and just sits there, and eventually my whole machine freezes up completely and the only way out is to power off. Some of the posts mention that it might be because the timounter service isn't running - well it appears that I don't have it at all (anywhere on C:) so it's a bit difficult to start it! (there's a timounter.dll in the install directory, but that's all). I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling to no avail - looks like my upgrade money was wasted. I'm going to try going back to v11 (but it probably won't read my 2010 backups!.
P.S. I'm pretty sure I don't have Spyware Doctor installed, but this: http://kb.acronis.com/content/4798 fix worked for me
Adrian,
TI 11 won't be able to read your 2010 images.
Back to your 'mounting' problem. Are you able to explore image archives with Windows Explorer?
Do you have the RPC server running in Services.msc?
In MSConfig is there a Timounter entry there which isn't ticked?
Same problem. Windows 7 (x64). Worked fine as of a month or so ago. Now won't mount any of the images of any of my systems. Upgraded to build 7046 with no effect on failing behavior.
When you badly need exactly what a protection product is made for, and it fails to protect you, and it is as critical as recovering corrupted things from a backup, annoyance quickly becomes rage at the realization of loss. This is a terrible problem that seems to be receiving little or no attention. Is it being aggressively studied by Acronis?
BTW, I just found a work around. Heinous but it works. Use the "Convert Acronis Backup" utility to create a Windows .vhd backup file and then open it with 7-Zip. You get its contents in a much more usable way than just browsing (OPEN) the .tib file.
Hello all,
Thank you for posting and your kind assistance with this issue.
We would like to get the issue with the error "Cannot assign a drive letter to a partition from the backup archive" resolved.
Unfortunately we have been unable to reproduce it in our testing environment, most likely it is caused by specific software/hardware environment or anything else that we have not been able to pinpoint.
If it is not a major inconvenience for you, would it be possible to provide us with the following:
1. Please try the solution from the following Knowledge Base article.
2. AcronisInfo report.
3. Can you upload the image that you are trying to mount to our ftp server? I will generate an ftp link and send it via a private message.
Please let me know if you have additional questions.
Thank you.
Ten months later and this is still an issue and Acronis has merrily moved on to TI-2011 and now TI-2012 and here we sit waiting for an answer. After these pleas for assistance from Acronis to send reports and screen shots galore, the problems are still never resolved and the forum threads are never answered or updated once the information gets back to them for review. There are many other issues besides this one that still remain unsolved with the very same feigned concern and no responses-- I have sent information on a couple of the other issues-- but now am experiencing the problem noted here as well. It really doesn't do a darn bit of good to buy a product, or in this case product after product and be told the next release should resolve the problem. How many dozen releases have we had since TI Home 2010 came out?
What did you find out Acronis? Where is the fix? I for one did not go beyond TI 2010 and won't until the problems are fixed. I bought Paragon Hard Disk Manager and although primitive in some respects compared to TI it does the job accurately, I can go through the images with no issues and customer service is responsive. Until TI comes out with a decent version of True Image the product is backup to my backup and Paragon runs the front line between me and disaster-- TI cannot be trusted. While we wait for a working version what the heck are we supposed to be doing for backup security other than go out and spend more money with a different company? This is the same pattern you will find all over this forum and the Wilder's Security forum Acronis used to use before this. Read before you buy-- don't believe the hype.
Based on my experience, after about March or so, one is unlikely to see bug fixes in a current version as, I suppose, resources are devoted to finishing the next version, which typically is released in the fall. After about mMarch, bug fixes are usually in the next version if they show up. I wouldn't hold my breadth for a bug fix for mounting issue in ati2010.