Acronis could not find Recovery Partition on a Hard Disc
Windows 7 Home
Acronis True Image Home 2012 (Build 6151)
I use the Acronis True Home (ATH) 2012 for a backup of my computer.
My computer has one physical hard drive with disc partitions C:, D: and O:. The disc C: is dedicated for Windows 7 and all other program files and data, the discs D: and O: are dedicated for my own data.
In August, I created two backups: one for C:\ including a recovery and the second one for D: and O:. The aim is to have separate backups when Windows crashes but not to change my own data. In ATH Menu, I could see every partition and RECOVERY as a FAT32 separate disc. So I choose for the first backup C:\ and RECOVERY.
It run smoothly but today I have realized that the first backup for C:\ and RECOVERY, According to the protocol, ATH could not find the way to RECOVERY. But I don't think that RECOVERY has been deleted or missed (it is an integral part of Windows), I assume that ATH could not find the way. Therefore, the backup crashed and no new backup has been done.
If I click on details on the hard disc in ATH, I can see "Unallocated space" at 25 GB. I assume this is space for recovery.
My question how can I see this RECOVERY in ATH that I can backup this RECOVERY in cases that Windows crashes.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Thank you.
I meant: the original backup included a partition "RECOVERY" type FAT 32 with approx. 17 GB. In the protocol: it was written that ATH could not find the way to the "RECOVERY" and therefore the backup crashed.
"RECOVERY": I mean the Windows Recovery Manager, it is an integral part of Windows. I don't mean recovery after a Windows crash, this is another recovery.
Generally speaking, my physical hard disc can four partitions: C:, "Recovery", D and O. It was done by default in a factory (except O:). It might be this "Recovery" is MBR.
Now, when I want to create a backup in ATH, I could not see this partition "RECOVERY". I used to backup only C: + "RECOVERY" without my own data in other partitions. The reason for this: if Windows crashes, I can restore the backup with C: and "Recovery" very easily without changing or damaging my own data.
The point is how should I make an efficient backup for C:\ for cases if Windows crashes without restoring my own data. What I wonder is why could I see earlier the partition "RECOVERY" and C: when creating a new backup in the past and now I could not see this partition "RECOVERY". I fear that a backup only with C: would not successfully restore the Windows in cases of Windows crashes.
I hope I have given a better and clearer picture.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Vista, W7, W8 include a hidden partition that is the loader (replaces the ntldr that XP used) and the boot manager. You indeed need this partition present for the OS to boot. Are you saying that when you tried to create a backup that the backup failed to be created and ATI reported that it could not find the hidden partition? You shouldn't be able to see the hidden partition from within windows; windows hides it on purpose. Are you in file mode or partition mode or diskmode when you try to make the backup.
Some pc makers include in this hidden partition files that can be used to restore the hardisk to it's original image or to install some of the programs that came with the computer or both.
One thing you can do is make a diskmode backup -- this gives you everything. Whenever you want them saved make a backup of your data files. When you need to restore your system disk, restore the disk image then restore the data files.
Thank you for your post.
I made two printscreens:
1. printscreen see the attached file "Desired-backup... Here you can see that the old backup was for two parts: RECOVERY (aprpox. 16 GB) and C: (approx. 60 GB).
I do not know what happened but I could not backup this part RECOVERY anymore.
2. printscreen in the second attached file "Current_backup..." you can see which partiotions I can backup at the moment. THe part RECOVERY is not visible. When changing to the hard disc mode, I can backup a complete hard disc on my notebook (see the next printscreen). When clicking on the hard disc, I can see every partition. But there is unallocated space at approx. 25 GB, I assume this is RECOVERY.
In the past, when the Windiows crashed, I restored my backup with C: and RECOVERY without any need to restore my own data. Now if I want to restore the Windows, I have to restore the complete disc and then restore my own data which is time consuming.
Therefore is my question: how can I unhide this RECOVERY that Acronis is able to recognize this part (RECOVERY) and backup this RECOVERY as a patition. I wonder what happened that Acronis is not able to see this partition.
Thank you very much for your help.
<p>Vista, W7, W8 include a hidden partition that is the loader (replaces the ntldr that XP used) and the boot manager. You indeed need this partition present for the OS to boot.
I'm not sure that's necessarily the case. I've worked on a few Win7 Home Premium systems that had no such hidden partition.
The O'Reilly book Windows 7 Annoyances says: Windows 7 setup creates a 100 MB "System Reserved" partition when you install on a blank disk (Professional edition or better). IT also specifies a method that can be used to prevent this extra partition, even on Professional edition or better.
You can install without it-- considered less secure and must be done manually--the main advatage is that you get to go throu an extra step when installing ;) .
OEMs install via the standard method and sometimes the partition is larger than the 100mb windows uses because they put their own stuff in it, usually recovery stuff--e.g., on one of my sony's it's 19GB.
I just know that many systems don't have it, and that book says that it's only necessarily present on Professional edition or better, not on Home Premium.
On Dells that I've worked on, there's also a large recovery partition to reset to OEM state (mine was almost 20 GB, like your Sony), but also a much smaller partition that held the boot files.
lol, the sony in question came with 4 partitions, the 19gb hidden, two 260 mb partitions--windows assigns no letters so they arre superficially off the grid. I contacted sony and their tech support couldn't say what all of them were for--no wonder sony has been losing money hand over fist for years.
IIRC, ccording to ms, you csn install to an existing partition, and then a second partition won't be created.
Thanks to all for your comments. But I am sorry, I am now confused.
Therefore is my question: how can I unhide this RECOVERY that Acronis is able to recognize this part (RECOVERY) and backup this RECOVERY as a patition. I wonder what happened that Acronis is not able to see this partition.
I have not seen the answer.
Thank you very much for your help.