Booting problem for restore
My computer is a new, Dell Alienware X51 desktop computer with Win 7 home premium and installed with ATI 2011 Plus Pack version. The computer was reset to boot from CD/DVD (not from hard disk for ATI restore purpose). ATI backup files are saved in an 1 tb Seagate portable drive.
ATI rescue/ bootable disk was created from ATI 2011 and also from ISO file downloaded from Acronis website.
Problem a) I tried to restore a backup tib within windows. During booting for restore, the computer started Windows not Acronis. I repeated a few more times. Got the same results.
Problem b) I tried to restore a backup tib with a rescue (bootable) disk (created from both Acronis and also with ISO file). Inserted the rescue CD and booted. The computer started Windows not Acronis. Repeated attempts failed to boot Acronis.
At this point, I was not able to restore any tib files. The bottom line is that Alienware desktop computer does not trigger booting Acronis for restore. Is there anyway to fix this problem?
I have been using ATI for about 10 years on a dozen of Dell computers. I have never encountered this kind of problem in the past.
No. It does not boot from the rescue media. It starts Windows immediately.
My hunch is that the computer does not see it as a bootable disk. When I use the same rescue medium into the non-Alienware Dell computers, they boot from the same rescue medium. I have been working on this issue for 2 days. So far, I could not boot from rescue CD.
>you must then select the menu option to continue into Acronis True Image, otherwise it defaults to boot from Windows
I am aware of this because I have been using ATI for 10 years.
You need to edit your BIOS to set CD/DVD boot as higher priority than the hard disk.
I set CD/DVD boot from BIOS. Because of the repeated failure, I tested whether the computer could boot from CD/DVD. This is how I did.
I tested CD-booting on the computer with Windows 7 "Professional" disk (this computer came with Windows 7 "Home Premium"). When booted with Win 7 Pro disk, the computer automatically booted with Windows 7 Pro. The initial screen I see was "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD...". This confirms that this computer indeed boots from CD/DVD.
Well, you appear to have ruled out the Acronis meda as a problem, since it successfully boots your other Dell computers.
Using the Windows 7 disk, did you confirm to boot from CD and did it continue to load the Win7 utilities booted from that CD?
You could always try booting the Acronis rescue meda from USB flash drive.
As described in the previous message, the computer boots from Windows 7 Pro disk. But I did not go further because the Win 7 Pro disk was used for my other computer. But with rescue disk, when booted, it immediately started Windows.
Today I was setting up Yahoo Email for my wife. The email page came out blank after log in UN and PW (on the other hand, she has no problem with Yahoo email page with her old Dell Computer). Eventually, I realized that the computer was equipped with a sort of filter system (see the attachment). After clicking "Ask me later" button in the attachment, Yahoo Mail came to live. Now, I feel that Alienware system rejects the rescue medium by its security system and (also did not allow to reboot during rebooting for restore within windows). I am now very regretted for buying this very complicated Alienware computer.
The problem is probably resolved.
About an hour ago, I purchased two more copies of ATI v. 2013 (I have one copy which was already used for installing on one of my office Dell Computer). 2013 ATI was installed and created a rescue disk. The Alienware indeed booted the rescue disk. The booting problem is now resolved. I am now trying to see how the restore works. It might work now. Thank you for all your help.
Congratulations.
Click on link #3 below and item the first 3 items within that link relate to restores of varying types.
If you are not familair with version 2013 or 2012, I would also suggest you review link #2 below.