For those that use Acronis True Image for backups, a "gotcha" that I ran into.  I was trying to restore from a backup, using the Acronis bootable rescue disc and was unable to get past the point of selecting the target hard drive to restore the back up to. 
 
As it turns out, with certain hardware (and my new Gigabyte GAZ77X UD5H motherboard is one) Win PE is needed on the rescue disc.  The basic Acronis bootable rescue disc uses Linux and that was the problem.  The Acronis "Plus Pack" versions include Win PE for the bootable rescue disc operating system and that will recognize newer hardware. 
 
I would suggest those that use Acronis True Image and do not have the Plus Pack option, to test their system to see if they can restore a hard drive from a backup.  You don't have to actually do the backup, just boot the rescue disc that you create with Acronis and see if you can select the backup you want to use and if you can select the drive to restore to.  If you can select the restore drive you are OK.  If you can't you will need to buy the Plus Pack option.

I use to think Acronis was a simple and effective solution and they keep changing stuff in a way that makes me think that I'd like to find a simple and effective alternative.

Thanks for the heads up.


best regards,
mike

FWIW, I have no issues using an Acronis True Image 2012 Bootable Rescue CD to backup/restore machines using motherboards with Z77 chipset (including Gigabyte).

I have been looking at disk cloning software, reading reviews, looking at prices and features. Just trying to learn what is my best option. I have noticed that users seem to think that Acronis 2010 is/was much better than 2012 and IIRC, there is a new 2013 product that also utilized the "Cloud". Frankly, the cloud worries me just a little. I have seen this forum go away a couple of times due to the wind blowing the cloud away. Of course (so far) they have been able to restore everything but I think the first time it took a couple of days... and the Cakewalk forum may not be big potatos, as far as clients go... but compared to them I am an old dried up french fry under the car seat. I am just not sure that if my files disappeared from the "cloud" anyone would ever bother to try to get them back except me... so of course I would never back up to cloud only.
Since I have never used cloning software I feel like I am rolling the dice but if Jim says it is good... I guess I will take that to the bank but I am also going to buy a couple of external SATA drives and an enclosure. My laptop has an e-SATA port. I assume when I finally get to buy a Studiocat it will be able to use the drives too... but still, I don't trust the "cloud". Even the name, the cloud, instills no confidence, not for me anyway.
I read a lot here but I don't comment much because I really have nothing to add but since I have been trying to understand and make a decision on software I thought I would add my 1/2 cent.
What is it that Acronis haas done that has made people not like it as much as they used to? Is it just the same old thing like when Sonar went from 8.5.3 to X1 or the change from XP to W7 to W8... just the run of the mill, "we don't like anything new" thing?

J

An update to my original post.  As it turns out the Acronis "Plus Pack" does not contain the Win PE, that has to be created from a download direct from Microsoft.  The procedure, a long and convoluted procedrue, is required to get it fully implemented.

I looked at the other two popular backup programs, Macrium and Paragon.  Both of these use Win PE but there is still the need for a separate download of Win PE, its not included with either program.

I downloaded a trial version of Macrium to see what it does but it aborts with an error when trying to create a backup, which I assume is a limitation of the trial version.  If its not a limitation but a program bug that throws up a red flag for Macrium.

At least with Acronis, it does include the Linux version of the bootable "Rescue Disc" so if it works there is no need to install/create Win PE bootable media.

certain hardware (and my new Gigabyte GAZ77X UD5H motherboard is one) Win PE is needed on the rescue disc

Is the issue related to UEFI or secure boot?

What is Windows PE ?

J

Windows Professional Edition?

It has nothing to do with UEFI, according to what I got from the Acronis forum.

From Wikipedia":

WinPE was originally intended to be used only as a pre-installation platform for deploying Microsoft Windows operating systems, specifically to replace DOS in this respect. WinPE has the following uses:

• Deployment of workstations and servers in large corporations as well as pre-installation by system builders of workstations and servers to be sold to end users.
• Recovery platform to run 32-bit or 64-bit recovery tools such as Winternals ERD Commander or the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE).
• Platform for running 3rd party 32-bit or 64-bit disk cloning utilities.

The package can be used for developer testing or as a recovery CD/DVD for system administrators. Many customized WinPE boot CDs packaged with third-party applications for different uses are now available from volunteers via the Internet.
The package can also be used as the base of a forensics investigation to either capture a disk image or run analysis tools without mounting any available disks and thus changing state

jbow


What is Windows PE ?

J

BartPE