New to TI Home 2009, confused,even by the Guides! help please

1. In Acronis-speak, Backup and Image are the same.
2. You should register the software and download the latest build for that version, install it, then make a new bootable CD.

DwnNDrty wrote:

1. In Acronis-speak, Backup and Image are the same.

Thanks for that,

(Why oh why don't Acronis call a spade a spade, rather that a "Digging Implement"?)

After all they are best known for IMAGING software!

DwnNDrty wrote:

2. You should register the software and download the latest build for that version, install it, then make a new bootable CD.

This is confusing, I've registered my copy, and clicking on updates shows build No xxxxx.

opening the programme, there is no "About" button which you get in most other software, to show me the build number that mine is constructed from so I can't tell if the update is the same or not.

Also, that still leaves the question of whether my software disk is also useable as a boot CD.

Then there is the real biggie!

If my created image has the warning referred to in the log file in spite of a successful validation, is it indeed a viable image which I will be able to restore from, or should I repeat the process with the priority set to "Normal" and not the default "Low"??

About the About:

Acronis, realizing that with Too much knowledge, you might become a danger to yourself and others - has chosen to Hide the FILE and HELP buttons so that they can only be seen when the ALT key is pressed. Only those with a high-enuf clearance are to be made privy to this information. Do take care!

Yes, your boxed version disk should be bootable. Try it and see. Is a very valuable piece of property. Suggest you read items 4, 5, and 6 inside my signature index below. But if you download a newer build, retain the old boxed cd but make a new cd with the new build.

Your backup is fine.
the phrase "Warning Priority changed to low Error code 11 (0x64000B)"
is way to scary for what they are trying to tell you.
Just ignore it as what they were trying to say was "Notification" not a "warning" and "condition code" instead of "error code".

First of all, my apologies for not responding more quickly to all your helpful advice!

Under "Comment Followup" in "My Account", I've left "Node Followup" unticked, 'cos I don't know what it means!

I've asked for "Replies to my comments", but something 's not right 'cos I don't get emails advising that you guys have responded!

What am I doing wrong, (I'm a simple sorta guy and prefer plain English!)

RICHARD, Thanks for that little gem, probably a good idea to hide much from me; but ABOUT ? lol

GroverH, Thanks for confirming that my purchased CD is infact bootable. Excuse my "scardy cat" approach, but I don't have any means of restoring my OS if I mess it up, no Windows Disk, no restore disk..nothing! So I'm placing an enormous amount of trust in Acronis, their reputation is comforting, but my own shortcomings scare the hell outa me!!

I've saved your PDF's re: creating and restoring images, and hope that the Wilders page will continue to be available for reference to your links in the future.

oracledba, Thanks for confirming that my Image is "restorable", is there some way I can prove this to myself without messing up my internal disk.

The image is stored on a 320GB ext HDD, and I also have another EXT HDD (160GB) but it is about 50% filled.

Could I connect both disks to my PC and "restore" a couple of files from one external disk to the other without involving my internal HDD, and would that prove the whole Image was viable, or is there an easier way?

1. As for receiving emails, return to your forum MYaccount page and look at the window below the node check and see if All comments is checked.
Also, below the text entry on each post is a checkmark location which can be whenever you make a post. You can edit your original post (edit button is at the top) and make sure the notfiy option is checked. Then save the change.

2. Most of my guides are now stored on this website and many of my index links points to this website.

3. Certainly, restoring a few folders is better test than no test. The only real test is to perform a full restore preferable to another disk. Sadly, I must add that there are have been far too many postings made where the backups were made but a restore test was never completed. When disaster struck, their backup did not work. Do as much of a test as is possible. Spare hard drives are more reasonable with each passing day. There are numerous past postings as to how and why a test restore is needed. Take the time and do a little file search for these past postings.

Couple of thoughts.
1) There IS a difference between accessing your backup from within windows versus from the bootable cd. The difference is the CD boots into LINUX OS with linux drivers and those drivers may NOT recognize your hardware. (or so I've been told as I have restored crashed HD"s several times over the years and never had an issue with the bootable cd's and hardware). That said, You would be wise boot your PC off the cd, and follow Groverh's guide in doing a full image restore. Follow the guide step by step all the way upto the "proceed" button (and then don't click it as you would then actually be mucking with your only HD. This practice not only educates you with how to do a restore but proves your cd can "deal" with your hardware.
While your here, go ahead and do a validate while you are booted from the CD this is further proof the image "works" is "valid".

2) GroverH's guides are great. I have never done a full restore without re-printing them. If I had to do a restore again today I would probably end up re-printing them again and following them step by step as they work and provide enough detail to one can easily follow along.

3) You don't need me telling you the acid test is to actually do a full HD restore onto a blank virginal disk. I haven't done the following but some even go so far as to buy a HD, practice and then leave it a working restored/proven HD on the shelf. Their point was they have already done the process when pressure was zero and the risk of failure zero. And on the fatal day they already have a working HD in house to either use now or re-image.

4) If your just looking for additonal confirmation that image is "good"
a) do a validate (if you haven't already).
b) click tools /mount image assign it a drive letter.
c) using drag/drop recover a few files as proof it "works"

Hope this helps, maybe others have better suggestions.

TROUBLE RESTORING JUST MBR

Even though I have the MBR restored, now, would appreciate any of your thoughts on the following:

MBR corrupted on Dell XPS 410, Windows XP Pro, Acronis TI Home 2009 (upgrade not yet installed since just found today). Missing MBR file according to error report: "system32\Drivers\pci.sys". Obviously, Windows would not boot; system CD not an option.

Used combination of Grover H's great guides and Acronis Users Guide.

Bootable CD worked well; Acronis TI Home 2009 seemed to work well; was attempting to just replace the MBR. I validated the backup each time before attempting to restore. About 3 times after processing of restore, there was message "Restore Successful." However, restore was not successful. Windows continued to have same error message.

Should I be able to use the Acronis Secure Zone to restore only the MBR to the OS? I could not make it work.

The MBR in a full backup that is part of an incremental backup on an external HD could not be restored to the OS either.

What did I overlook?

Thanks

Phyllis,
Glad you found the guides helpful. Thank you for the comments.

I don't use the secure zone so unable to comment. However, if you booted from the Rescue CD, you have been able to restore the MBR as a single transaction from any backup archive which showed the mbr/track0 as being available for restore. This likewise applies to the disk ID should it be necessary. The disk ID option in on the same screen where you choose the disk to receive the MBR.