Acronis True Image Home 2011 Universal Restore

[Burner27]

I purchased the Plus Pack for ATIH 2011 to enable me to restore my AHCI Win7 x64 image that currently resides on a single Crucial C300 128GB SSD to a RAID 0 of 2 x Crucial C300 128GB drives. Problem is when I specify the location of the RAID drivers I want to use (either on a USB key drive or on another HDD --- Yes they are already extracted and the *.INF & *.oem files are present) the installation fails stating it can't find the drivers.

Yes, I did go into the BIOS and change the Intel controller to RAID mode, created the array, and made sure the first boot device is the RAID array i just created.

I followed the instructions from Acronis' website but I do not know why I am getting this error. Has anyone successfully restored an AHCI image to a RAID array?

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you're booting directly into Acronis, you might need linux drivers rather than Windows.

At least with older versions, the bootable CDs ran off of a linux kernel. This might no longer be true, why don't you post the link to the instructions that you mention?

 

[EXCellR8]

I actually just pulled this off the other day using the Universal Restore option and all I had to do was exclude the MBR when I reapplied the image to the array. I used TrueImage Home 2011 to make the OS image (which at the time was on a single SSD) and then, with a rescue media CD, I was able to apply it to the RAID-0 array AFTER I DID A FRESH INSTALL OF THE OS. So yes, I have successfully done so.

here is my follow up post from another site in which this same issue was being discussed...

Sorry for a 2-week bump, but (after hours of experimenting) I was finally able to get the SSD RAID array working with the cloned image of my single disk OS. After many failed attempts I got Windows to boot under RAID-0 and it seems to be working just fine! Here's how I did it:

-used Acronis TrueImage Home 2011 to create an image of OS
-created bootable rescue media with TI 2011 plus pack (CD-ROM)
-configured SATA as [RAID] in BIOS (wiped SSD)
-configured RAID-0 array with Intel SSD's (149GB total)
-installed Windows 7 64-bit onto the array
-restarted the computer and used the bootable rescue media CD
-used rescue CD to recall the image of the OS excluding old MBR
-booted RAID array with cloned OS, installed RST and SSD tools
I know it's a lot of steps but I wanted to post them here just to prove that yes, it is possible to clone the OS from a single drive and then apply it to a RAID array. I haven't done any real performance testing but all of my programs are working and so far I haven't had any errors

if you follow the same procedure you should be able to get the same results, good luck!

 

[gamefreakgcb]

This is great, I'm trying to accomplish this very thing and was about to bash my head in a nearby wall because of frustration. THANK YOU.

 

[EXCellR8]

glad i could help, because i too was becoming quite frustrated...

one thing i should add is when using TrueImage 2011 universal restore, it automatically changes the windows registry so that RAID or AHCI can be used. this is basically where it gets its "universal" functionality. however, if you don't have RAID drivers installed when you image the OS, you may need to insert a CD/DVD or USB drive with the drivers when prompted before the software reapplies the image. TrueImage will automatically search removable media for drivers by default. if you're using Windows 7, you can just use the RAID drivers on there.

the most important part is omitting the old MBR (if backed up) because you want the image to use the new one after the fresh install of the OS. here's a simpler procedure if anyone is confused:

Image Creation --> RAID Array Setup --> OS Fresh Install (new MBR) --> Universal Restore (omit MBR) --> Boot from array --> Install Intel RST

That's how I pulled it off anyways; I'm open for questions if anyone is stuck. I also installed SSD Tweaker which optimizes SSD performance, but this is optional.

 

[Old Hippie]

I used TrueImage Home 2011 to make the OS image (which at the time was on a single SSD) and then, with a rescue media CD, I was able to apply it to the RAID-0 array AFTER I DID A FRESH INSTALL OF THE OS

Why do a fresh install?

If you apply an old image to a fresh install you're still gonna be using the old image.

A couple days ago I restored a 64GB OS image made on an Intel ICH10 to a 512GB RAID0 array on an LSI 9260-4i expansion card and it didn't require any drivers.

Who knows?

 

[Burner27]

For clarification,

I created the boot restore disk that includes the Universal Restore feature, I can boot to it, it sees the array, it sees my backup image, it lets me specify the location of the drivers I wish to install as well and it will start the process of restoring the image---but when it comes time to install the drivers I have specified previously.........it bombs out saying it can't find the files.


Here is the link to the knowlegde base article for doing a universal restore on Acronis' website:

http://kb.acronis.com/content/13671


Excellr8- I want to restore an image from a single drive to a raid array. I think a fresh install of Win7 to the raid array is an unecessary step. I should be able to do it without that step. Thanks for your advice though.

 

[EXCellR8]

I know exactly what you are trying to do, but I couldn't get the array to boot without creating a new MBR and installing RAID drivers first. I got the BOOTMGR is missing error and I couldn't fix it with my OS DVD because it was a restored partition.

I'm just posting what worked for me... because I literally tried everything else. I realize that you shouldn't need to do a fresh install but at the end of the day it worked.

 

[Kenmitch]

I'm just posting what worked for me... because I literally tried everything else. I realize that you shouldn't need to do a fresh install but at the end of the day it worked.

A windows install on a SSD doesn't take long. I'd think doing it on SSD's in raid would even be quicker....I'd think that a person could/would waste more time trying not to do the fresh install first.

 

[Burner27]

A windows install on a SSD doesn't take long. I'd think doing it on SSD's in raid would even be quicker....I'd think that a person could/would waste more time trying not to do the fresh install first.

A fresh install with all of my apps and the OS tweaks takes me about 4 hours.

A restore would take ~10-15mins and it would already be configured.

 

[Old Hippie]

A windows install on a SSD doesn't take long.

I get horrendous pauses of up to 8 - 10 minutes at a time between various segments of a w7 install.

I've tried different install disks from many sources and different install methods (CD, USB) and it just doesn't make a difference.

My buddy has the same model Asus P6T and he has no problem with the exact same install discs.

Who knows?

AAR, a fresh install kinda defeats the purpose of an image.

 

[tplp02]

First of all, I joined just to thank EXCellR8! If you follow his instructions to the letter you WILL be able to restore a single disk Acronis 2011 backup to a RAID 0 configuration. I am proof...it took me a little over an hour to complete it. Remember to have your RAID drivers unpacked and on a floppy or flash/thumb drive. As he states, you have to do set up RAID in the BIOS, then install Windows (Clean) and F6/Add RAID Drivers during install. Once this is done...put your RAID Driver Disk back in then use the Acronis Boot Disk, Full Version, Restore Disk, Universal Restore, ensure Acronis has the check mark next to "Automatically Check Removable Drives for Drivers", omit the MBR/Track 0 when doing restore! (As he says...this is important). Takes about 45 minutes..when done...finish loading you specific hardware/software drivers. Worked like a charm first time! Thanks EXcellR8 again...great post and solution...you obviously know what your talking about!

 

[Burner27]

Ok,

I will try this over the weekend and let you know...

One thing. Did you activate your copy of Win7 after installing it on the RAID or should I just let my image take care of that?

 

[Yellowbeard]

I actually just pulled this off the other day using the Universal Restore option and all I had to do was exclude the MBR when I reapplied the image to the array. I used TrueImage Home 2011 to make the OS image (which at the time was on a single SSD) and then, with a rescue media CD, I was able to apply it to the RAID-0 array AFTER I DID A FRESH INSTALL OF THE OS. So yes, I have successfully done so.

here is my follow up post from another site in which this same issue was being discussed...



if you follow the same procedure you should be able to get the same results, good luck!

Very cool. Did you check partition alignment before and after the restore to the RAID array? I am looking into some tools for my personal use and this sounds like a good one as long as Acronis gets the partition alignment correct.

 

[Burner27]

Very cool. Did you check partition alignment before and after the restore to the RAID array? I am looking into some tools for my personal use and this sounds like a good one as long as Acronis gets the partition alignment correct.

YB: I will see what happens with the alignment this weekend when I try to migrate to RAID.

 

[Burner27]

Ok, ok, I will admit to ExcelR8 that his method works. Props to you. Here are my results from CDM:



AS-SSD



Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Alignment appears fine.

 

[EXCellR8]

It's cool to see that others having good results. I've been using Acronis products for quite awhile but I must say that universal restore is probably one of the most useful tools available for dynamic disk configurations. My SSD RAID array is still working great and I have also performed this little trick on a few other systems as well. Hell I'd still be reinstalling stuff on my systems if I hadn't tried it out lol. Cheers!!

 

[Burner27]

Only snag to report was when I was installing Win7 on to the RAID, i could not use the drivers that came with Win7. I had to supply the F6 drivers for the IRST 10.6.0.1022. It would not create the C drive without it. Could be something with the latest BIOS I have installed on my mobo too (Asus P8p67 Pro BIOS 1704)

 

[groberts101]

not sure why you guys are having so many problems here. MS AHCI drivers are raid compatible and I've flaashed/tested hundreds of images that were single drive setups over to raided volumes. I use Acronis 2010 with the simple backup/restore method.

I've used my images in every which direction imaginable with Intel and MS drivers without issue. Kind of odd to me as I'm close to 400 images with ATI 2010 and it never fails me. I don't use the clone feature though which has caused many to lose alignment with 2010 version and prior.