Question Acronis True Image Free question

[Muse]

Some years ago I used to use this freebie that worked for Windows systems that had any Western Digital HD installed. I made quite a few backups of partitions.

I have some data that I can't find. It's video files that I made using a firewire card plugged into an analog video recorder, i.e. it used very small tapes. So, I ripped that data from the tapes (weddings) in anticipation of creating DVDs with edited video of the weddings to give to the principal participants (i.e. the wedding couple, for the most part). I tried a few video editing softwares (most freebies that came with PCI cards), but never got the hang of it and didn't get those DVDs created. Problem is, now I can't find the digital rips of those tapes! I must have backed them up, but I haven't found the files. File names undoubtedly contain the word "wedding."

I am wondering if I can tease out the files from Acronis True Image backups. First, it would obviously be necessary to find out if the backups contain the files. I remember that there was a utility to examine the contents of Acronis True Image backups. Can I do this sort of thing although the system that created the backup no longer exists? I have had motherboards die on me, that sort of thing. I have external HDs with Acronis True Image backups on them. I wonder if those files are in one of those backups.

 

[Steltek]

Browsing Macrium Reflect images and backups in Windows Explorer - KnowledgeBase - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

knowledgebase.macrium.com

With Macrium Free installed, just attach the external hard drive, use Windows Explorer to navigate to the backup image(s) in question, and then follow the instructions above to mount the image as a virtual drive. You can then manually browse the drive for the files, or use Explorer's search feature to search for the files (the image won't be search indexed, so the search might take a little while depending upon the size of the backup image). If you locate them, you should be able to copy/paste them from the image to a location of your choice on your system.

Make sure to unmount each image when you are finished before you unplug the USB external drive to prevent corruption.

 

[TheELF]

Can I do this sort of thing although the system that created the backup no longer exists? I have had motherboards die on me, that sort of thing. I have external HDs with Acronis True Image backups on them. I wonder if those files are in one of those backups.

A lot of drive makers give you a free version of acronis,look at all the drives you have available and check their webpages to see if you can get one.
Failing that you could probably read the tib files in a VM, at least there are a lot of blogs and forum posts that suggest that being possible.

 

[Steltek]

Browsing Macrium Reflect images and backups in Windows Explorer - KnowledgeBase - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

knowledgebase.macrium.com

With Macrium Free installed, just attach the external hard drive, use Windows Explorer to navigate to the backup image(s) in question, and then follow the instructions above to mount the image as a virtual drive. You can then manually browse the drive for the files, or use Explorer's search feature to search for the files (the image won't be search indexed, so the search might take a little while depending upon the size of the backup image). If you locate them, you should be able to copy/paste them from the image to a location of your choice on your system.

Make sure to unmount each image when you are finished before you unplug the USB external drive to prevent corruption.

Sorry, I apparently have Macrium on my brain this morning. Especially since you actually asked about Acronis True Image and not Macrium.

Here is the webpage containing WD's free Acronis downloadable software.

Acronis also provides a 30 day free trial version of their software you could try to use as well. I'd actually suggest installing this before you try the WD version (you might have to clean the registry image from the WD version for the trial to properly function).

I believe if you install it, you should be able to plug in the USB drive and browse to the backup image (.TIB file) location, then right click on it and open it and browse it. You should also be able to mount the backup file as a virtual hard drive in Windows.