Creating and restoring backup images of SSD with correct alignment

[Puddle Jumper]

Is there any imaging software available that will preserve the correct alignment of a partition from a SSD? I want to create a backup image of my OS using Acronis/Ghost/etc but in the past I know those programs wouldn't correctly align partitions on SSDs. Does anyone know if they have fixed that problem with newer versions?

 

[LokutusofBorg]

I'm no expert on imaging, but I believe the image is independent of alignment. Restoring an image is when it matters.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I'm no expert on imaging, but I believe the image is independent of alignment. Restoring an image is when it matters.

True, I guess I should have included restoring in the thread title.

 

[Zap]

That's a good question which I was wondering too. IMO the likeliest solutions would be either the built-in backup that comes with Windows 7 or Acronis 2010 (they claim "compatibility" with SSDs).

Maybe someone should test it out?

If nobody else, maybe I will.

 

[flamenko]

http://www.paragon-software.com/support/early-adopter/index.html

 

[corkyg]

This recent post on the official Acronis Forum might help. What it says is that full SSD support will not happen until TI2011.

"Hello all! Thank you for your comments, and many thanks to GroverH for his valuable assistance. We entirely understand your concern regarding SSD alignment question. Officially SSD alignment is not supported in current versions of Acronis products.

"SSD alignment support will not be implemented to Acronis True Image Home 2010. The proper support for SSD drives which takes into account the specifics of the partitions offset is planned for the next version of Acronis True Image Home product, which is reported to be Acronis True Image Home 2011. You can find more information about SSD support in this KB article.

"We have just released Beta version of it, so it would be nice if you could join us and test it to see whether it suits your needs.

"If you’d like to join in our current beta program and try our new product, you will need to register first here.

"In case you are already registered in our beta program you will need to log in to your existing account here.

"Our Development team will be glad to address every your question or concern in our special Acronis True Image Home Beta Forum.

"Should you need anything else or have any further questions - feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience, we will be happy to help you!

Thank you! Yana Savchenko "

And, TI2011 has been released and is available. It also includes support for USB 3.0.

 

[Old Hippie]

I have Acronis Home 2011 (build 5105) and it shows USB3 support as a new feature but I haven't noticed anything about SSD alignment support.

This doesn't mean it's not there, I just haven't seen anything in writing in the "Help" nor tried to restore anything.

I've had my share of trouble with the 2010 version(s) and can only but hope they got their act together with the 2011 builds.

 

[FishAk]

Macrium Reflect (free) will keep alignment providing the partition was already aligned prior to creating the image.

 

[Zap]

So, does anyone know if the backup/imaging utility included with Windows 7 aligns properly?

 

[FishAk]

So, does anyone know if the backup/imaging utility included with Windows 7 aligns properly?

My guess is yes, but for many, including myself, Windows image utility simply doesn't work at all. It goes through the motions, but it's not possible to actually recover from an image.

 

[skid00skid00]

I'm runnning Acronis True Image Home 2010 build 7046, and it absolutely retains alignment when re-imaging from an *aligned* WD HDD, to an aligned/formatted Intel X25-M ssd... FYI.

 

[Zap]

My guess is yes, but for many, including myself, Windows image utility simply doesn't work at all. It goes through the motions, but it's not possible to actually recover from an image.

I've found it picky about the optical drive. I haven't seen a problem imaging to a secondary hard drive.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Thanks for all of the input.

Since True Image 2011 should support SSDs I guess I will go ahead and be a guinea pig.

 

[Diogenes2]

My guess is yes, but for many, including myself, Windows image utility simply doesn't work at all. It goes through the motions, but it's not possible to actually recover from an image.

I wish I had known this before I used the Win7 image utility to move from HDD to SSD ..

Is there possibly a problem with my SSD I should know about ?

 

[FishAk]

Is there possibly a problem with my SSD I should know about ?

I highly doubt it. I think Zap is correct about the issue with restoring a W7 made image. I think it's just an issue of Windows not working with many optical drives. I have 3 that don't work, and none that do. Perhaps you can emulate an optical drive in another OS on another drive to restore the Windows partition, but I haven't tried it.

Since my optical drives work fine for everything else I've used them for, I just use Macrium Reflect instead of Windows to create/restore images.

 

[Zap]

I think it's just an issue of Windows not working with many optical drives. I have 3 that don't work, and none that do.

What were the drives that didn't work? Also, what chipset? That may have something to do with it.

FYI the first drive that worked for me (and I tested burning straight to disc, as well as recovering from disc for an actual restore) was a desktop SATA DVDRW made by LG, on an X58 chipset board.

I've had slim optical DVDRW and BDRE drives (using a cable adapter) on similar X58 boards that wouldn't work. I'm trying to remember what other combination also did not work for me... maybe EIDE burners? Nvidia chipsets?