How to create a bootable CD from Backup

To clarify, I wan to be able to do this with an existing backup

TrueImage provides capability to create a bootable CD backup at time of backup creation but no capability to do what you want to do.

Depending upon the size of the existing backup file, there are 3rd party programs which will split the file into CD or DVD size pieces but in order for you to use them, they would need to be reassembled into one file on a hard drive before any restore of a file would be possible.

If the new backup comprises several disc, it can be very cumbersome to restore. My suggestion is to keep it on an external hard drive. If you have room for additional backups, put them in a different folder on the same backup storage disk.

Thanks for the reply. Not the answer I Wanted to hear, but thanks for the reply. Let me expalin what I am ultimately trying to do and see if you have any input. Every so ofte, a Windows Update renders my XP Pro machine unbootable. No one can ever figure out why, and no one can figure out how to recover from it, excpet a new install of XP. That is very time consuming. So, my solution is to turn Automatic Updates off, and then apply them manuall AFTER I do a partition backup. Then., if I get hit by the problem again, I can just simply restore the partition. I partioned my hard drive into a logical C and D drive, and all that is on the C drive is the O/S. That has all been successful. What I was hoping for was a way to test the C drive partition backup to ensure that if the problem hit, I could just restore it and pick up where I left off. What I wanted to do was to test that theory by restoring to a CD and then try booting from there. Since I now hae totally rebuilt the drive, both C and D, I was hoping to avoid having to test a restore to C, just in the event that it would fail. I guees, it shouldn't since True Image did the backup. Does this make sense to you? What other thoughts might you have to share with me?

Thanks again Grover!

What I wanted to do was to test that theory by restoring to a CD and then try booting from there

Not sure exactly what you meant here. If you are saying
"What I wanted to do was to test that theory by creating a backup onto a DVD and try booting (into TrueImageHome) using the DVD and restore the backup", then yes this is certainly possible. Simply start your backup and direct the backup to your optical drive. Don't be in a hurry as this may take some time.

I do have an alternate suggestion and might provide a little more peace of mind.

Click on my signature link below and look at the listings in index item #11.
That reference involves the item below.

Antec Easy Sata Hot Swap Hard Drive Caddy
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371028

Youtube vidio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kztiseGvvis

Assuming that your computer is a desktop and has an available 5.25 bay and that your disks are SATA type disks.

My suggestion is that you insert one of these caddies (which are extremely easy to insert) into your case.

1. Place your current hard drive into the newly installed caddie.
2. Take a new backup of your system and include all your partitions (everything on the disk) in the backup to an external storage disk.

3. Next, get yourself an additional hard drive of the same or larger size.
(which we will use to create a duplicate of your current hard drive.)

4. Remove the old drive from the caddie and insert the new disk into the caddie.
5. Use the TrueImage Bootable Media Recovery CD (made by you) to Restore your new all inclusive backup onto the new disk. This will provide you with two disks which are the same (except maybe for the size) with the same contents.

In Practice:
The old disk is in the caddie
At your choosing whenever an Windows update is to be applied
A. Take a partition backup of the old disk.
B. Remove the old disk and insert the matching new disk.
C. Do a partition restore of your partition backup onto the spare disk. This will bring your spare disk up to date with the current disk.
D. Apply the updates to the spare disk and adjust accordingly.

If the updates fail, simply put your old disk back in the caddie and you are back to normal.
If the updates work without issues, simply continue using the new disk until a new set of updates needs to be applied. Then repeat the sequence of creating a new backup. Switch disks and restore your backup onto the non-current disk to make it current. etc.

This procedure would allow you to have two rotating disks. One is the most current and in use. The alternate disk could be brought into current by the restore of a current backup so both would be exactly current or the same.

I have an XP Pro desktop setup with two caddies and several hard drives (with different programs) and it works great and makes for easy switching. I do shutdown before removing or switching disks. Originally, I had IDE disks but added a PCI Sata adapter and now I use SATA disks exclusively.

I believe an Acronis restore would put your system back to before a failed update but you do not know for sure until you to it. Having a full disk backup of all your partitions inside the same backup enables you to create a complete duplcate disk at any time. This type backup also enables you to only restore one partition is that is all that is needed to restore.

What I ulimately want is to be able to restore my system if it gets taken out again by a Windows Update, or anything else for that matter. I was hoping to find a way to test that just to give me that peace of mind. I appreciate your lterntate suggestion but this is a laptop. I guess this all booild down to two questions. First, knowing that I have done a full partition backup of drive C, which ONLY contains the O/S, how can I be sure a restore will work? I gues it should, but that is why I wanted to test it. Seocond, if my system is unbootable due to someehing having happend to the O/S, then how do I go about doing the actual restore itself?

Jim,
The only way for sure to know whether the restore will work is to do a real restore. This can be done to a test disk or to the real data. If you are unable to do either, then the next best thing is to boot from the CD and at the very least to restore a couple files into a test folder. This will prove that your CD sees your hardware and that the backup is accessible.

Should you have a Windows update problem and you need to get back to prior to the update, then you would boot from the TrueImage CD and do a restore of the system partition.

As to how this is done, you need to get more familiar with using the CD. One of the nice things about this program is that you can practice or simulate performing a function such as restore or clone. It is practice until you reach the screen where you must choose between a PROCEED or CANCEL option. Choose the Cancel option when practicing. Should you click the Proceed option, you are committed to doing whatever you were practicing.

An additional choice in testing is to use the MOUNT option which will create a virtual disk copy of your backup. This virtual disk will show in Explorer as an additional drive with drive letter assigned. You can drag files from the virtual onto your C or D drives which is one means of getting copies of specific folders or files.

Click on the highlited link in my signature below. Look at some of the index items listed such as in #3. While the information may not be specific to your 2009 version, the guides could give you some background on what is involved.

As I stated in my prior posting, I much prefer a backup of the entire disk--not a single partition. Having such a backup makes the creation of a new disk much easier--should you have a need. A backup of the entire disk also enables you to restore only a single partition--if that is all that is needed to restore.

Do some practicing and don't forget to use the Cancel button instead of the Proceed button. In the 2009 version, the Windows version and CD version are almost identical so it is possible to get iin some practice from within Windows.

Grover,

Thank you soooooooo much! Your comments have helped me a ton. No excuses intended but I am buried beyond belief, ran into an isue, and am trying to figure out the best way of backing up full partitions and restoring on the fly. Your input aided in that greatly and I have accomplished what I needed. I wish True Image had a Quick Start Guide if you will.

One other questions. You made a comment that "True Image could create a bootable CD backup at time of backup". Is that in 2009 or do I need a newer version for that feature? I like that idea very much and I didn't see that option in 2009 when I setup the backup task.

Thank you so much again

Jim,
The 2009 user manual implies that you can but I have not tried it nor do I recommend it. If you use the On-click restore, be sure the backup includes everything as the restore will clear the disk before restoring.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16239443/Acronis-True-Image-Home-2009-Users-G…

2009 user manual extract
page 40-41, section 5.4.8

Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
41
When backing up to removable media, you can make this media bootable and will not need
a separate rescue disk.

The Acronis One-Click Restore is a minimal addition to your rescue media, allowing one- click data recovery from an image archive stored on this media. This means that when booting from the media and clicking “restore,” all data will be restored to its original place automatically. No options or selections such as resizing partitions will be available.
If you want more functionality during restoration, write a full standalone version ofAcroni s
True Image Home to the rescue media. As a result, you will be able to configure the
restore task using Restore Data Wizard.

By clicking theAdvanced tab you can select Acronis True Image Home (full version) and Acronis True Image Home (safe version). The safe version will be available for those who purchased the boxed version of Acronis True I mage Home and installed the appropriate add- on. If you have other Acronis products installed on your computer, such as Acronis Disk Director Suite, the bootable versions of these programs’ components will be offered on this tab as well.