Using True Image 2015? Check your images asap!

altae

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After what I experienced yesterday I feel compelled to warn everybody here who uses Acronis True Image 2015. I know that there has already been a discussion about all the features Acronis has cut out with the release of 2015 edition. But so far I did not pay attention since I used True Image for it's main purpose which is to backup my system and all the important data. But yesterday I wanted to restore a certain file out of a particular image. I started True Image and wanted to restore the file in question but lo and behold, all the differential images where defective, the only one that could be accessed was the initial full backup which dated several months back. Shocked by that outcome I immediately started to check all my images (I frequently back up 4 drives, one being the system drive, all images are differential). The result of that check was a veritable disaster, none of my differential images were restorable, for two images out of four even the initial full backup was defective! Really, I was shocked. I tend to go around telling everybody to back up their data, telling them that not backed up data virtually does not exist. And there I was, realizing that since I had started using Acronis True Image 2015 my data had actually been unprotected for almost an entire month.

After that discovery I immediately looked for another backup solution (testing Paragon Backup & Recovery 14 right now, looks good), uninstalled True Image 2015 and demanded a refund (still within 30 days refund period). But I am still somewhat clueless. I let True Image verify all my backups after their creation and every singe time True Image told me that the image had successfully been veryfied and thus would be restorable. This could not have been further from reality since when I checked only 2 images out of maybe 20 backup processes where actually usable.

So here is my advice for everybody out there using Acronis True Image 2015: Check your backups immediately! Try restoring the images or at least try to open them and restore a single file. Don't rely on True Images verifying function. Your data might be unprotected without your knowledge!
 

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Good advice, thanks!
 

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I used to use Acronis. It failed me twice trying to restore. It didn't get a third chance. I now have Macrium Reflect.
 

My Computer

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    Home Built
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    i7 6700K
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    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
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    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
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    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
I have switched to Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15 Professional. So far nothing to complain. I Made a few test images and was able to restore them without any problems. The UI of Paragon's software needs some getting used to but once you have familiarized yourself with how everything works it's actually quit logical. And what's really important: It seems to be reliable.
 

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    16 GB
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    Zotac GTX 770 Amp 2 GB
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    GDATA Internet Security
I always make 2 image backups, one with Acronis True Image 2015 and one with Macrium Reflect. Call me paranoid, you bet!!
Tested both and no problems to report. I agree though that I do not like where Acronis is going.

For info: With Acronis I do a full image backup then 5 differentials and start over. I also do separate file backups of my most important files.
 

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I quit using TI since TI2011 for the reasons:
  1. Restore failed even Image verification was successful.
  2. TI took over the boot manager and installed services that cannot be uninstalled even I uninstalled TI, these services kept running and if I manually removed them, Windows crashed.
    Acronis Leftover Drivers? | Knowledge Base
  3. I don't use incremental backup. My SSD only contains Windows files and it takes under 2 minutes to do complete Windows backup to another SSD with Macrium and never once failed me.
 

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    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
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    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
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    MSI-Z97
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    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
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I just upgraded to True Image 2015 and after reading reviews I'm shopping as well.

I picked up NovaBACKUP 16.5 Professional cause it was on sale for $24.97. However I''m leaning on Macrium Reflect v5 Professional or Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15. Paragon is pricey ($99) but hey... if it's the best so what!

I have like 2 months of install on my music computer. Hundreds of VST synths and other stuff so I just want to be able to make a reliable Clone so if my C drive (OS) every crashed I'm up and running.

Any tips? Paragon? Macrium?

Thanks!
 

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I have a Sonar X3 studio. Everything I have is backed up twice. All my Sonar projects are backed up on a second hard drive and then I use Macrium to backup the entire drive(s).
 

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    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
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    Cable - 100MB Downlink
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    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
I have a Sonar X3 studio. Everything I have is backed up twice. All my Sonar projects are backed up on a second hard drive and then I use Macrium to backup the entire drive(s).

Have you ever made a Clone drive using Macrium Reflect of your OS drive and the boot off of it just to make sure you can restore everything if you OS drive crashes?

Getting ready to "Pull The Trigger" on Macrium soon (or at least I THINK I am) LOL!

Thanks!
 

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    Win 7 64 bit
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    Dual Xeon 12 core
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    Asus
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    32 gigs
I haven't tried the clone drive function. I just make full backups, and I've restored off of the full backups.

Macrium has a free version that you can try, first.

I also like the WinPE rescue disc function better in Macrium. Macrium has a basically automated procedure to make the WinPE rescue disc. Acronis is mostly a manual procedure. I like the WinPE discs better than the Linux rescue discs. Another problem I ran into with Acronis, the Linux rescue disc program didn't recognize all the hard drives in the system, where the WinPE did.
 

My Computer

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    Win 10
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    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
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    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
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    27" Dell SE2717HR
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    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
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    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
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    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
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    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
I haven't tried the clone drive function. I just make full backups, and I've restored off of the full backups.

Macrium has a free version that you can try, first.

I also like the WinPE rescue disc function better in Macrium. Macrium has a basically automated procedure to make the WinPE rescue disc. Acronis is mostly a manual procedure. I like the WinPE discs better than the Linux rescue discs. Another problem I ran into with Acronis, the Linux rescue disc program didn't recognize all the hard drives in the system, where the WinPE did.

Thanks for your input! I'm picking up Macrium reflect v5 Professional at a 25% discount today for $44.24. If this doesn't "Float My Boat" all the way I might go with Paragon! I have true Image 2015 and NovaBACKUP 16.5 Professional so SOMETHING'S GUNNA WORK!!! :cool: :thumb:

I figured I'd try 3 Clones on 3 different drives from all 3 software. I have 2 HotSwap 350 gig drives and lets mess with them first. I'll try Macrium the NovaBACKUP. Then... I'll try to boot off of each one! :D

SEA
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Dual Xeon 12 core
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    32 gigs
Have you ever made a Clone drive using Macrium Reflect of your OS drive and the boot off of it just to make sure you can restore everything if you OS drive crashes?

Getting ready to "Pull The Trigger" on Macrium soon (or at least I THINK I am) LOL!
@SEA,
Yes, I have cloned my Windows disk to another drive and it worked. However, few things you need to know when cloning:
  1. The disk that you intend to clone must be equal or larger capacity
  2. When cloning: you are making an exact copy from the source disk to the destination disk ie. sector by sector, bit by bit and in addition, the disk signature will also be cloned so if you have both disks connected to the PC after cloned. One will be put offline due to identical signatures in both disks so you must disconnect one. It is better just to create a backup image for Windows OS (Macrium has an option just to backup the required files/partitions for Windows OS only) then restore to the new disk then each disk will have its own unique signature.
 

My Computer

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    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
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Have you ever made a Clone drive using Macrium Reflect of your OS drive and the boot off of it just to make sure you can restore everything if you OS drive crashes?

Getting ready to "Pull The Trigger" on Macrium soon (or at least I THINK I am) LOL!
@SEA,
Yes, I have cloned my Windows disk to another drive and it worked. However, few things you need to know when cloning:
  1. The disk that you intend to clone must be equal or larger capacity
  2. When cloning: you are making an exact copy from the source disk to the destination disk ie. sector by sector, bit by bit and in addition, the disk signature will also be cloned so if you have both disks connected to the PC after cloned. One will be put offline due to identical signatures in both disks so you must disconnect one. It is better just to create a backup image for Windows OS (Macrium has an option just to backup the required files/partitions for Windows OS only) then restore to the new disk then each disk will have its own unique signature.

What if my original OS disk is 500 gigs but I only use 250 gigs and your Clone HD is 350 gigs. Would that work? Doesn't seem like it should matter as long as the data fits on it.

Also, what if I go into my BIOS and tell my system to boot off the Clone drive? Would that work or would I
STILL have to physically disconnect the original OS drive (which is not a biggy)

Now if I have an Image drive (and lets say my OS drive crashes) will ALL my 100's of programs that took me weeks to install STILL be preserved ON that Image Drive? And then what? Just reinstall Windows 7 from DVD... Then use the image to reinstall all the 100's of synths and programs etc?

Either way would work. But a Clone drive (in theory) would be plug and play. :D

So let's say I clone a drive. How do I test it? Do I physically disconnect the OS drive and then tell my BIOS to boot off the Clone drive or just tell my BIOS to boot of the NEW Clone drive with my OS drive still connected?

Thanks again!

SEA
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Dual Xeon 12 core
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    32 gigs
I just upgraded to True Image 2015 and after reading reviews I'm shopping as well.

I picked up NovaBACKUP 16.5 Professional cause it was on sale for $24.97. However I''m leaning on Macrium Reflect v5 Professional or Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15. Paragon is pricey ($99) but hey... if it's the best so what!

I have like 2 months of install on my music computer. Hundreds of VST synths and other stuff so I just want to be able to make a reliable Clone so if my C drive (OS) every crashed I'm up and running.

Any tips? Paragon? Macrium?

Thanks!

I guess both will do just fine, just stay away from Acronis True Image. The older versions were ok but with their 2015 version they completely went south. Like I already wrote I'm currently using Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15. Just one tip for everybody who decides to go Paragon: If you have a big HD of which you want to make an image don't use their new backup containers (PVHD). It takes ages to backup huge drives with this format. Use the legacy mode which creates standard backup archives, not stored in a container. Backup containers are a nice way to easily mount an image. But they are simply far to slow if you have something big to backup. I made a support request but so far I haven't got a response.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Update 1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    self built
    CPU
    AMD FX-8350
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD7 Rev. 3
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GTX 770 Amp 2 GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    GDATA Internet Security
I just upgraded to True Image 2015 and after reading reviews I'm shopping as well.

I picked up NovaBACKUP 16.5 Professional cause it was on sale for $24.97. However I''m leaning on Macrium Reflect v5 Professional or Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15. Paragon is pricey ($99) but hey... if it's the best so what!

I have like 2 months of install on my music computer. Hundreds of VST synths and other stuff so I just want to be able to make a reliable Clone so if my C drive (OS) every crashed I'm up and running.

Any tips? Paragon? Macrium?

Thanks!

I guess both will do just fine, just stay away from Acronis True Image. The older versions were ok but with their 2015 version they completely went south. Like I already wrote I'm currently using Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15. Just one tip for everybody who decides to go Paragon: If you have a big HD of which you want to make an image don't use their new backup containers (PVHD). It takes ages to backup huge drives with this format. Use the legacy mode which creates standard backup archives, not stored in a container. Backup containers are a nice way to easily mount an image. But they are simply far to slow if you have something big to backup. I made a support request but so far I haven't got a response.

I think Macrium Reflect v5 Professional and Paragon Disk Manager 15 Professional are kinda in the same league. I wanted to try out Disk Manager 15 Professional but it was $99. If they had a special on Cyber Monday I might of went for that.

Macrium Reflect v5 Professional was on sale so I picked it up at a 25% discount. It was like $44.24 vs. $58.99

I'll try out a Clone with Macrium Reflect first and see if I can boot up from it! :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Dual Xeon 12 core
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    32 gigs
I guess Macrium will do just as well. As long as you do not get yourself Acronis TI 2015 everything ist fine ;)
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Update 1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    self built
    CPU
    AMD FX-8350
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD7 Rev. 3
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GTX 770 Amp 2 GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    GDATA Internet Security
If I have a 2 TB HD with 1 TB free and my OS drive I want to clone is 500 gigs... can I Clone to the 2TB without erasing the 1TB that's on there or will it erase the data that's already on the 2TB drive?

Also, if I get a 2 TB with nothing on it, then Clone to it... can I used the extra 1.2 TB that's on it as extra storage for archiving and STILL use that drive to boot off of?

Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Dual Xeon 12 core
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    32 gigs
That't two times yes. In the first case use a partitioning software to reduce the size of the first partition and create a second (you can probably do this with your cloning/ backup software).

The second case is almost the same except that you create a second partition for your data. Again partitioning can probably be done with your backup software. Oh, one last piece of advice: Don't mess with your partitions before making a backup of all the important data.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Update 1
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    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    self built
    CPU
    AMD FX-8350
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    Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD7 Rev. 3
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GTX 770 Amp 2 GB
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    GDATA Internet Security
"I guess both will do just fine, just stay away from Acronis True Image. The older versions were ok but with their 2015 version they completely went south."

Is there a topic on this or can you specify what 'went south' ? I upgraded to True Image 2015 from 2014. I can see few differences other than offering Cloud storage accounts and the new interface. True image s
aved me BIG time when I ran a bundled exe and found all my jpg, mp3's and Office docs had their extensions replaced and a ransomware demand to unlock them. I went to a 10 day old TI system image and restored w/o a problem, within an hour. I have the Recovery Manager enabled to boot up to TI by hitting F11 before Windows boots up and hit 'Recover'.

I might add that I only use TI to back up everything except working data files which I use GoodSync to sync every couple days. Both the operating system image and documents backup are on an ext drive that I disconnect after each use. I admit that, unlike the op, I have never had it backup the entire disk.
I never understood why one would make differentials just to save a few minutes. True Image only takes 30 min to back up and validate a 20 gb system image and what would be the point of restoring a prev image than the present one ? I'm most concerned with the operating system being able to start up to the same as as the last Windows Update, at the least. In short, both True Image and GoodSync, in tandem, have worked flawlessly for me, as I have them set up presently.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Hi there

Thanks for the info --I'm still using Acronis 2014 and see no reason to change.

I back up my OS with Acronis and backup data from dataspaces by data directories.

If I need HDD backups from the dataspaces I can't image the volumes with Acronis - however I just boot a Linux system from an external HDD and run the DD commands to clone the HDD's making up in the data space. However that's operating in "Mega paranoid mode" though as the data backup works fine so it's unlikely I'd have to reconstruct the entire data space --run overnight is no problem though. Using the Linux DD command enables ANY sort of file structure to be copied since it's just DATA to the system.

I might test acronis 2015 on a VM first --NEVER test a new release of a backup program on data you can't afford to lose - have another backup before you start. Also ALWAYS TEST THE RESTORE. I've seen many cases where the backup reports successfully done but the restore fails. Try also the stand alone / bare metal recovery too before using the new version. On a VM you can boot from the .iso file to test the program.

Tip - If you have a few spare old HDD's around (different sizes too) you could create a decently sized data space and backup data to the data space. The data space can consist of external HDD's. I've a load of old laptop HDD's from discarded laptops or when people want to upgrade to SSD's. 4 X 500GB laptop HDD's makes a useful 2 TB data storage area. Just put them away when you've done your backup. Note Dataspaces can use different size volumes too. (SATA=>USB2/3 connectors work fine - you don't need to put the laptop HDD's in any sort of caddy / case. 4 of these will easily run with sufficient power from a USB hub - a powered hub will work fine even on a laptop).

Cheers
jimbo
 

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    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
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    1 X LG 40 inch TV
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    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
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