A problem restoring system images on my OCZ Vertex SSD

Earlier today I tried to restore a windows system image to my 120 Gb OCZ Vertex III SSD. The restore process started with no problems, but stopped after a few seconds and would go no further. So then, I decided to try another image I had created with Easeus Todo Backup and the same thing happened. The restore process started and then suddenly stopped. I thought about it for a while and decided to try to Clean All command in Diskpart to wipe the disk and start over. When the disk was successfully wiped I started the restore process once again and it worked like a charm. Since I was concerned about the system restore not working the first time, I decided to see if I could restore the image from Easesus Todo Backup, but once again, the restore started, but then stopped and when I tried the windows system image again, the same thing happened. The only way I seem to be able to get an image to restore on my SSD is to wipe it first. This has never been the case with my hard drives and I was wondering if anyone else had encountered this problem with SSD's, and if there was a solution for it.

Thank you, Little Jay

Basing my comments on Acronis, normally while restoring an image the partition is first deleted and then recreated at the same place resulting in a clean formatted drive. After that only does the imaging process begin. All these steps of the process are shown on the Monitor Screen. Do you see them?

From your message it appears that your imaging programs are not performing the pre-imaging tasks properly and therefore you have to wipe the drive first before you can restore the image. Why this is happening is beyond me.

Thanks for your reply wanchoo. It is really strange, because if I can use either imaging software program to restore a system image to the hard drive I have installed in my system, without the need to wipe it. It only happens on my SSD. I tried updating the firmware on the SSD to latest version, but that made no difference either. Oh well, luckily wiping the SSD only takes a few minutes, so it isn't that big of an inconvenience.

LittleJay said:

Thanks for your reply wanchoo. It is really strange, because if I can use either imaging software program to restore a system image to the hard drive I have installed in my system, without the need to wipe it. It only happens on my SSD. I tried updating the firmware on the SSD to latest version, but that made no difference either. Oh well, luckily wiping the SSD only takes a few minutes, so it isn't that big of an inconvenience.

Hi LittleJay, it seems that I am facing the same problem. I am using 120 Gb OCZ Agility III SSD, when I restore my system, 'fail to apply image' jumped out and then process stopped. I am really clueless. If I can not backup my system in this SSD, then SSD does not provide any efficiency at all, and it is just a big waste of money. Just would like to know what the exact processures to 'Clean All command in Diskpart to wipe the disk' is. Thanks.

Thanks wanchoo. I use Easeus Todo to Backup the whole hard disk, and will verify whether it works when the current system falls. Really feel tired to reinstall system again and again.

I can't say whether it is entirely related or not, but I've had issues with OCZ's Vertex 2 and 3 SSDs. Both would occasionally throw out restore errors like you are experiencing. The Vertex 2 wouldn't boot after sleep (or bluescreen afterwards) and the 3 wouldn't always boot on restart or cold start. After RMAs a couple times, I got fed up with their drives and opted for a Plextor M3 (other option was a Crucial M4) and haven't had any of these issues. IME, the older OCZ drives are finicky and can have weird little (or big) issues and idiosyncrasies more often than most would prefer. I can't speak for non-Sandforce OCZ drives, though. I may not purchase another Sandforce-based SSD again after my experience.

In any case, checking the imaging software first is the easier and cheaper option.