Update for True Image 2013 on Windows 8.1 ?

I totally agree with you. It's totally ridiculous that a lot of users (including me) bought a license for TI2013 and this software is not working on windows 8.1. I bought a license this year, even at the time everybody knew that 8.1 was coming. Acronis should have been working together with Microsoft to fix the problems with TI2013. I feel I am ripped off by Acronis as I have a totally useless license now. Even if I have a support call I have to pay for the supprto even though I bought a license. I am looking for other backup solutions now which are working with windows 8.1 because I really need those backups. Any suggestions for good backup solutions working with 8.1?

Patrick Smits wrote:

I bought a license this year... I feel I am ripped off by Acronis as I have a totally useless license now.

We even received a mail from Acronis Germany to buy more TI2013 licences for the family until July 13: "For you as an Acronis customer we now have an exclusive offer. SAVE with the Acronis Summer Sale!"

Guess what we now think about this software that does not work correctly anymore just three months later.

I have been using and promoting True Image since 2006 among family members and friends. With Win8, many people decided to upgrade to TI2013 for Win8 support. However, if this recently promoted Acronis software for Win8 now stops working correctly with the first Win8 Service Pack, and Acronis refuses a bug fix for TI2013 to force people into an upgrade to TI2014, I am thinking about contacting consumer protection in Germany.

I guess I'll dump acronis 2013 & go back to using norton ghost, it is more expensive but was using it for years with a minimum of problems.

I have ATI 2013 on my Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit laptop. I am wanting to use ATI to clone my HDD to a new SDD. So I burned the current ATI 2013 Build 6514 to a CD and when I boot it to use the clone disk option, it does not show my HDD as a source option, it is grayed out. But I can select my empty SDD as the source and then my HDD with 8.1 on it can be selected as the destination. WHY WON"T ATI2013 RECOGNIZE MY WINDOWS 8.1 HARD DISK AS A SOURCE???

I purchased ATI 2013 just before 2014 was released, and no upgrade has been offered other than one for $29?

Dear Acronis,

We’re long-time Customers and bought a pair of TrueImage 2013 licenses, plus a stack of previous licenses going all the way back to version 7.0.

We’re running Windows 8 on one of the PCs and went to install the free maintenance upgrade to Win8.1. But Microsoft reported that TrueImage 2013 is not compatible with Win 8.1. I’ve read your forums, and people seem to have posted all kinds of conflicting experiences so I don’t know what to conclude.

I’m really not interested in the new cloud features of TrueImage 2014 at this time, and it would cost $29.99 simply to be able to continue to use my PC that has Win8 today.

I realize that Microsoft has put Acronis in an uncomfortable position, but I really don’t think it is reasonable to expect loyal Customers like us to pay so much just to continue to be able to use your product with what really amounts to a Windows service pack.

** Would you please quickly release an update for TI 2013 that supports both Win8 and 8.1?

** Or alternatively, here’s an idea that also provides a business opportunity for Acronis while maintaining goodwill (a ‘carrot’ rather than a ‘stick’)…

Instead, make a new release of TI 2014 to support two levels of product keys: One set of keys would enable the new cloud features, and the other would not. Then give the limited keys to existing TI 2013 licensees for free, and offer the full licenses – with the added cloud support - for the normal upgrade price.

Please help!

Thanks for your consideration & best regards,
Al R.

I could not agree more, signed up just to add my voice.

Have 3 licenses of 2013, am not interested in clouds and want to be able use 8.1!

I also bought 3 copies of TI2013, most of them this year, so I could perform backups/recoveries with Windows 8. I just tried upgrading 8.0 to Win 8.1 to find of all my programs and devices, one program is not compatible: TI2013.

Acronis, Microsoft is providing a free upgrade to the latest and greatest, Win 8.1. Many of us have upgraded TI for several years, as it was the best program to backup Windows.

Now we NEED an upgrade to TI2013. Are you working on an upgrade? When should we expect it?

As someone already pointed out http://www.acronis.com/support/documentation/ATIH2013/index.html#22603… :
True Image 2013 has been tested on the following operating systems:

Windows XP SP3
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP2
Windows Vista SP2 (all editions)
Windows 7 SP1 (all editions)
Windows 8 (all editions)

Thanks.

Same here, been a user of Acronis products for many years.
When is support for Win 8.1 being made available?
Cheers
Gerry

My Paragon BU and recovery 2013 is compatible with Win 8.1 according to Windows Upgrade Assistant. And this is the FREE edition.

I agree! I'm another long time customer of Acronis - starting with TI Workstation 9.1 and now TI 2013.

Is Acronis really going to make all of us pay for every service pack Microsoft issues from now on? I just bought this product from you earlier this year (May 2013) and now just 6 months later I'm being forced to buy an upgrade because MS released the update everyone knew was coming???

I feel like I'm getting ripped off ...and I don't like that feeling!

[This is a good strategy if you want to increase dissatisfaction & frustration rather than loyal long time customers, esp since there are good (even FREE) alternatives like Paragon's Backup & Recovery 2013]

IMHO, this seems to be a way to slowly move toward subscription based software.

I own 2 copy's of this software and if they aren't going to support us im not going to buy another upgrade to program from them, EVER! They better give us an answer if they dont want to loose customers! Also, they cancelled my right to email their support. WTF, i bought this program less than a year ago!

Apparently my previous post violated TOU by posting the email. Suffice to say we're being given the finger by Acronis and their solution to it is to buy Acronis 2014, which is completely unacceptable in my opinion. I replied again and was told that my concerns were being passed onward, but given my previous contacts with Acronis over the last issue, which was the whole fiasco regarding 2012 and Windows 8 compatibility, I'm expecting, at best, some half-hearted offer at a discount to give them more money, rather than an actual solution.

Same frustration here. Windows 8.1 RTM is here since some time, so far I would had only good experiences with Acronis True Image, so I simply assumed it would work. However, I get a blue screen when I try to mount a backup.

I hope a fix for Acronis 2013 will come, I upgraded from 2010 not long ago and don't like to pay each time MS updates its OS.

Little addition: The Backup itself seems to work, I can't validate though if it is of any use :(

AR wrote:

Here’s an idea

Make a new release of TI 2014 to support two levels of product keys: One set of keys would enable the new cloud features, and the other would not. Then give the limited keys to existing TI 2013 licensees for free, and offer the full licenses – with the added cloud support - for the normal upgrade price.

+1

I think this is a great idea. I can understand that Acronis does not want to support two versions, but Acronis also has to understand that TI 2013 users who just recently bought the product for Windows 8 cannot be left with a faulty product after a Windows 8 update pack.

So please Acronis, if you cannot patch TI 2013 to remove the bugs with Win 8.1, just disable the new cloud features and anything else that is new in TI 2014 and offer this reduced version as a patch for TI 2013. Otherwise, we simply cannot trust your products any longer if there always is the risk of a product failure after a Windows update.

Another thought might be for Micro$oft to stop with the minor updates which make so many vital programs to stop working. I wonder what it would take for Windows 8.1 to have compatibility mode so we can still use our current software?

I fully agree with the above comments. Acronis should surely support us long-term customers without making us pay for a full upgrade to TI2014?

Arg! Add me to the list of long time Acronis users stuck in this predicament. Just did all my backups (in TIH 2013) in preparation of updating to Windows 8.1, but now I'm not sure what to do....Don't really need to upgrade all 3 PCs to TIH 2014, since 2 of them are older laptops, running XP, but I do like to have all 3 running the same version, since they're networked.

Well, this makes this Aronis customer feel like a real turkey. Happy Thanksgiving, All!

Add me also to the list. Using TI Home and its variants since 2007. Excellent product and absolutely no issues, until now.

Acronis published TI 2013 was compatible with Windows 8. In January, I purchased a family pack of TI 2013 to comply with my upgrades to Windows 8. TI 2013 worked perfectly until about 10 days ago when I installed Windows 8.1. TI 2013 would not backup any of my Windows 8.1 PCs or laptops. No problem I thought, wipe the drives and reinstall a TI 2013 Windows 8 backup (prior to installation of Windows 8.1). The recovery process worked but subsequent backups (Windows 8-TI 2013) would not; " The backup is corrupt. Backup terminated by user" is what I got. No, I did not terminate the backup, you, Acronis terminated the backup. So now, I'm in "no man's land". Thank you very much!

Today I installed TI 2014 Trial version on one of my laptops. Backup-perfect. Wipe drive and recover TI 2014 backup-perfect. I could install TI 2014 on my PCs and laptops for an upgrade price of about $60. I don't think so. Acronis please note:

Long term customer
Extremely frustrated and dissatisfied
Do not believe your claim TI 2013 is compatible with Windows 8
Looking for another solution

What did "TI2013 is no longer fully compatible" mean? I just created an image of my HDD and tried to validate it and TI said it is ok... is it possible that I cannot recover my system by using it?

In this case, I believe that's possible. You never really know if you have a good backup until you have a successful restore. Maybe that's what not "fully" compatible means. Microsoft really pulled a fast one this time with Win 8.1. It sounds like a minor upgrade, when it is anything but that. And I heard you can never go back to an earlier version of Windows after going to 8.1. I can't believe they could not have had some "compatibility" mode to avoid all this software problems. But then software companies usually take care of their own interests before, or at the expense of, the customers'.

I recently got an email from Acronis with the following subject:

Looking forward to presents this holiday? Here’s one from Acronis

I was hoping they were telling us they would give us an updated TI2013 that would be compatible with Win 8.1---WRONG

I feel we all need to keep reminding Acronis how upset we are that companies like Microsoft... upgrade their products (Win8 to 8.1) at no charge to us, and that some updates require companies like Acronis to follow suit. Heck, computer manufacturers constantly upgrade drivers... when major updates come out. I have never been charged for any of these updates. Then you get companies that upgrade major operating systems, such as Mavericks, for NO charge to their customers.

Well i will never ever buy a product from Acronis ever again. I hope they feel that it was all worth it, screwing existing customers and never see their money or positive feedback ever again. Good job Acronis, i nominate you for the Asshole of the year award!

Hello everyone.
What product for Win 8.1 do you suggest to buy instead of ATI2014?

Thanks
PC

pc470 wrote:

What product for Win 8.1 do you suggest to buy instead of ATI2014

After losing faith in Acronis' support for Win 8.1, this week I tested several backup software suites from other companies. The backup software I liked was Paragon. They even offer a free version:
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/

What I liked best in testing was the new Paragon Disk Manager, combining all kinds of backup functionalities with incredible functions for disk partitioning and a clean user interface:
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hdm-personal/features.html

However, the one thing I would miss very much from ATI2013 is "Try& Decide" which is a unique Acronis feature I really like and use often.

So, currently I am undecided. I am using ATI for many years now, and I really like this software, but the Acronis non-support is becoming unbearable. I do not know any other software that is completely losing support within a few months after purchase, leaving faithful customers who just bought ATI2013 for Win 8 in the rain.

I totally agree. Paragon is the way to go and someone at Acronis should loose their job. Pathetic service policy. Company's like this has a special place reserved in hell.

And Acronis isn't even acknowledging the situation. All they are doing is sending offers for TI 2014 at a "good" price. And their emails can't be replied to. So in case they want to talk to me, my email address is no-reply@comcast.net. So long suckers.

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/trueimage/free-upgrade/win8/check…

Look what I found. Acronis is stepping up providing a free upgrade to 2013 users on windows 8. If you have plus pack you'll get a 2014 premium key.

Joey wrote:

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/trueimage/free-upgrade/win8/check…
Look what I found. Acronis is stepping up providing a free upgrade to 2013 users on windows 8. If you have plus pack you'll get a 2014 premium key.

Unfortunately, it looks like this offer only is valid for customers who bought their copy online from Acronis directly.

When I enter my serial number purchased from a retailer, the upgrade page tells me it cannot find the purchase in the Acronis database and forwards me to the regular *paid* upgrade page:

Acronis wrote:

"The serial number is valid,however, we could not locate your order in our database. Please click here to submit a request to Acronis Customer Central. You will be asked to provide a digital copy of your purchase confirmation."

When you then "click here" you receive:

Acronis wrote:

"If you have purchased True Image 2013 by Acronis in English, German or French between July 18 and August 28, you are eligible for an upgrade at no additional charge. If you have purchased software earlier, please purchase an upgrade."

So another Acronis disappointment for me :(

Yes, same problem here. I sent them my proof of ownership and still no response. They claimed that it would automatically detect that you are running on Windows 8.1 with ATIH 2013 and offer the free upgrade, but it instead loads the same upgrade page they have had up since ATIH 2014 came out. Apparently they are only offering the "free" upgrade so far if you purchased ATIH 2013 online from their web site. So those of us that bought it from retail stores are not getting this "free" upgrade offer even though our license is valid and is registered in their database when we entered our serial numbers.

Acronis, you have multiple upset customers that are extremely disappointed in your handling of the minor Windows 8.1 update. This upgrade is little different than Windows XP and Windows 7 service packs. ATIH 2013 was advertised as working with "ALL VERSIONS OF WINDOWS 8". So it should be upgraded to handle Windows 8.1 users FREE OF CHARGE!

Tom

In these days I tried to clone an HDD with Windows 8.1 on a new disk using TI2013! I did two attempts:

1) creating a *.tib image and than recover it on new drive: no problems at all;
2) direct clone: again, no problems at all.

Is it only fortune?

BTW, I'm elegible for a free TI2014 update, this should solve the problem, shouldn't it?

"..........this should solve the problem, shouldn't it?.........."

What problem?

David Barker wrote:

"..........this should solve the problem, shouldn't it?.........."

What problem?

The one about TI2013 not being compatible with Windows 8.1...

For everyone? Or just you?

I think you should read the first post...

Please note that a sticky post in this forum now offers a "FREE UPGRADE for Windows 8.x users who have True Image 2013 by Acronis": http://forum.acronis.com/forum/50750

Acronis wrote:

If you have True Image 2013 by Acronis license and use Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 operating system, you are eligible for free upgrade to Acronis True Image 2014.

To receive a free upgrade serial number, please open this link on your Windows 8.x machine and follow the wizard.

(!) Please note that automatically upgrades can be received for licenses purchased online on our website (via Cleverbridge) only. If you have a box version please contact our support team.

So if you have regular a ATI2013 retail version, please contact the Acronis support team. I will do so in 2014. Happy new year!

Their "gracious offer" is only to extend their current policy by 10 days! So it's only good if you purchased by July 18th 2013, which is useless for most of us loyal long time customers!

This is their full disclosure:
"Acronis True Image has a standard 30 day before the new version release free upgrade policy. As a gesture to our Customers, this year we extended the free upgrade period for 10 days. This means that if you purchased True Image 2013 by Acronis (English, French or German version) from an official outlet between July 18 2013 and August 28 2013 at full price, you are eligible for a free upgrade to Acronis True Image 2014."

The article you quoted says nothing about Windows 8.1 . I assume it applies to other OSes as well where 2013 works just fine and there is no need for free upgrade.

Fedor Larin wrote:

The article you quoted says nothing about Windows 8.1 . I assume it applies to other OSes as well where 2013 works just fine and there is no need for free upgrade.

You are correct, I quoted the Acronis policy for any OS, you can upgrade to a newer version if it comes out within 30 days. This is my point exactly, their gracious offer was only to extend their normal policy by 10 days if you have windows 8 and TI 2013.

Anna.Trifonova wrote:

Dear Customers,

I am happy to announce that we have released a free upgrade page for Windows 8.x users who have True Image 2013 by Acronis.

If you have True Image 2013 by Acronis license and use Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 operating system, you are eligible for free upgrade to Acronis True Image 2014.
...

My point is that the sticky at the top of this thread is very misleading, deceitful actually, because the statement is false.

If we own TI2013 with Windows 8 or 8.1 we DO NOT have a free upgrade! We are ONLY eligible if PURCHASED BY July 18, 2013 (40 days prior to the TI2014 release)!  For most of us this is useless!

Come on Acronis, at least be honest with us!

Anna Trifonova, I think you should edit your post so that it is accurate and not so misleading! 

EDIT: I didn't contact support directly when I got this answer... have done so now (1/2/14), waiting on their response. Will update/delete this post accordingly.

I purchased mine online on May 17, and the link Anna posted worked for me.

Hmm, good to know. It didn't work for me and I was forwarded to the page with the statement about purchasing by July 18... did you purchase from Acronis directly?

Yes, I purchased it directly from the Acronis website. If you purchased from another retailer, you should still be able to get the free upgrade by contacting support.

Anna.Trifonova wrote:

(!) Please note that automatically upgrades can be received for licenses purchased online on our website (via Cleverbridge) only. If you have a box version please contact our support team.

Thanks, you're right I didn't contact support directly but was sent to a page in the support site via the upgrade process online, it recognized my registered S/N but said I didn't qualify for the upgrade and so I thought I had the official response from them.

So, now I've contacted support directly via chat, spent over 30 minutes explaining what I wanted and giving the guy my serial number, where purchased, etc..., just for him to tell me I'd have to wait '24 to 48 hours' to hear back... (the Email option would probably have been much better). I'll update my post if/when I hear back from them.

Acronis wrote:

If you have True Image 2013 by Acronis license and use Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 operating system, you are eligible for free upgrade to Acronis True Image 2014.

(!) Please note that automatically upgrades can be received for licenses purchased online on our website (via Cleverbridge) only. If you have a box version please contact our support team.

I now contacted Acronis support, perhaps others would like to use this as a template:

Dear Acronis support,

I bought and registered ATI2013 and the ATI2013 Plus Pack for Windows 8.

Because Microsoft released the Windows 8.1 update and ATI2013 has problems with it, Acronis announced a free upgrade to AT2014: http://forum.acronis.com/forum/50750

According to this announcement, people having a box version should contact Acronis support what I do with this mail. Attached you find a copy of my invoice for ATI2013 and the ATI2013 Plus Pack to receive a free upgrade to ATI2014 Premium.

Thanks for your help

Acronis support now answered and obviously wants proof of having Windows 8 installed. I wonder what all this support time will cost Acronis. However, I will do so as told, and I will report back here next week.

The free upgrade worked for me, I am happy that Acronis listened!

However I have the same problem with 2014, when I mount images I still get a BSOD. I contacted the Acronis support and they say this is a known issue and will be fixed, without saying when. On the positive side the support is very fast and responsive, but for the moment I switched to another backup solution, I still hope it will be fixed one day and all those troubles are forgotten...

It took a while, but I now also received the free upgrade. Thanks a lot Acronis, I am happy that I can stay a faithful ATI customer.

Hello Everyone,

thank you all for your postings.

Generally you are eligible for free upgrade to Acronis True Image 2014 if you purchased True Image 2013 by Acronis within 40 days before the release. Here you can read more about basic upgrade policy.

And free upgrade for Windows 8.x users can be considered as an exception.

Thank you.

I attempted to remove Acronis True Image after it failed to "clone" a harddrive with two important programs requiring activation. Of course, it failed to recognize legal activation arrangements previously made (Adobe), while Microsoft XP support ended (we don't service what we sell past a deadline).

Both do not now provide this because Microsoft XP support no longer exists (no service for sold items) and Adobe and I had an aggreement to allow additional activations on the same computer's hdds. 

Acronis will not now allow it's removal from the hdd and adds an annoying pop-up on every boot.   Acronis has no tech support, compelling only forum chat to suffice for real customer service. They have none-only circuitous, time consuming runaround that goes nowhere.  They, more than anyone else, must know this. 

Currently, I am seeking to file a class action suit against Acronis for permanently damaging my computer and work flow, and/or an individual action for their gross negligence in this slo-mo disaster/scam.

Because I rely on legally obtained permissions/activations from Photoshop and Windows that Acronis has destroyed,  both programs have lost support/activation processes with time.  But Acronis' never said, support ended at purchase, as their behavior uniquely shows, and stiffs the user for Acronis' bad post sale practices.

The suggestion that Acronis colluded with other corporations in killing personal contracts may be valid.  No matter how much the buyer suffers, Acronis remains blythe and incomprehensibly reckless. There is no product support other than this forum/blog.  Acronis should be compelled, perhaps legally, to actively correct it's grossly negligent after sale behavior.

With this complaint, and with it Acronis' knowledge of the problem, it has no excuse.  It has my email address and should contact me directly to mitigate any potential legal action.  It is now informed publically. 

I am not alone.