Windows 7: Creating image using acronis

Using Acronis 11 Home and trying to create an Image of my complete hard drive.
What file format do you select , there are 2 , "tib" and "all files*"?? .

I've used" all files" and disks could not be read. I assume it has to be TIB or have I missed something here? Thanks

All of my images are saved as TIB. At what point cant disks be read? Before creating the image? Selecting the file name/destination? Or after the image is created?

Thanks for your response. After burning 10 disks and then trying to restore from the last disk as the instructions said. I also tried from the 1st disk, no luck.
I'll use the TIB format on the next setup. I should add I asked the same question to Acronis on the help web page and got an answer only God could understand. I've never had any success with Acronis , yet it's highly rated.
I used the BACKUP in Windows 7 to create the image and it worked like a charm. Thanks again.

Its nice to know Windows 7 Image utility works. I had some trouble with it under Vista. But as for your problem... Im tempted t osay your not doing anything wrong. Acronis walks you thru the steps and I cant see anything that you could do to cause a problem.

Have you tried creating an image and saving it to a hard rive or external drive. Then towards the end where you can select the advanced options like compression ratio, validation etc. choose the split archive/image option. This would create file sizes that you could burn yourself to CD/DVD's. Rather than directly burning with Acronis.

I've never used the direct burn feature in Acronis. I create my images and save them to an external HDD. I then backup those images onto DVD's. I've always been able to reload an image from a DVD in a pinch when I didnt have access to the external drive.

Just out of curriosity how large is your image?

I have an external drive but Win 7 says no to that, so I downloaded the image through my Home Network to a HP2.6 running XP.The image is now sitting in Shares Documents with a size reported as 12GB,containing 17 files and 3 folders.yes 17 files.

Just how I'll recover the image back to my Dell(running Win 7) I have no idea at this time , I'll have to do some reading.

When i feel up to it Ill try an Image(Win 7) using Acronis direct to a hard drive( not through the network) and then to disks as you have suggested.

just on another subject, i bought a BOX Win 7 Home Premuim Upgrade as Staples had them on sale today $112.95. It's only good for one computer?
I understand there's a work around for that as well and not difficult to do. I suspect MS will be doing some revisions on this version at there next print. So it be....

I have used Acronis for several years and performed many restores. My computer is setup with 2 partitions. I backup my "C" to the second partition and I can freely access it during the restore process. Acronis Home will not restore from an external drive. The files must be on DVD or a partition.

If you have only 1 partition, Acronis will not backup.

I was able to install Windows 7 on my computer and my wifes. After I activated my sys, I installed on it on hers. Activation failed and I called the toll free activation line. Using the automated system I went thru the steps and it asked me how many computers do I have 7 installed on. I pressed 2 and it gave me the activation code to enter into the Windows Activation dialog. Both systems are working and activated.

My brother did the same thing and it also worked for him. I dont know if that was the method you had mentioned.

Just a note, I have a full version and not an upgrade. I dont know if that makes a difference.

i would think the full version may just make the difference. The workaround is doing a minor adj in a registry file, the other unit must be on the same home Network .I don't believe it's discussed on this site. I've never seen it.

I screwed up by using "all files" rather then TIB .

To reload Win 7 is such a snap and quick I just have everything else on my external drive and just bring it back after the reinstall.

1-Using "all files"
2-Select "validation"
3-Create IMAGE ".tib"
4-After restart, right click on IMAGE.tib
properties and select "Read-only"