Solved windows 7 v Acronis for system image

[soundesciple]

Hello. what is the best or most reliable way to create a system image of a new install of windows 7?
All I want is (windows 7 with SP1 plus a few needed programs) in the image.

I have just purchased Acronis home 2012 edition but it keeps restoring all newly installed programs as well.

Am I doing something wrong in the backup process ?

 

[richnrockville]

Soundesciple, when you create an image with Acronis (BTW, they have 2013out) It is all or nothing if you create a new image. There are options for incremental but I always do the whole hard disk.

If your getting programs restored, you are picking the wrong option in Acronis.

Rich

 

[soundesciple]

Ok Cheers Rich, I will try a different option.

 

[richnrockville]

FWIW: I imaged my new C drive install of Windows 7 which was a Western Digital 160 gig hd..
With Acronis 2013, I was able to install the same image on a 160Gig SSD (intel oem) and when it booted
up, all was fine. It works just great and I kinda like the 2013 version, at least so far.

Rich

 

[soundesciple]

Well i I have given up on Acronis and un-installed it as I am having too many problems with it.

First of all as in this thread, it will not restore an image only, without them new programs that i have installed, which is defeating the object, because its the programs that are causing the faults, making me restore the drive in the first place, so it is just restoring the faults as well.

And secondly, every time i do a restore i get the old MBR ERROR-2 fault on bootup that has been a problem for some time and Acronis are just turning a blind eye to it.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Imaging programs in general are going to image EVERYTHING on the selected partition and won't allow you to pick and choose.

Paragon has a migration tool that I think may allow you to pick and choose, but I think it's a paid program.

You might want to take a look at Macrium. It's easier to operate than Acronis and at least as reliable---but like Acronis will image the ENTIRE partition, not just selected parts.

 

[soundesciple]

Imaging programs in general are going to image EVERYTHING on the selected partition and won't allow you to pick and choose.

Paragon has a migration tool that I think may allow you to pick and choose, but I think it's a paid program.

You might want to take a look at Macrium. It's easier to operate than Acronis and at least as reliable---but like Acronis will image the ENTIRE partition, not just selected parts.

I have just tried Macrium and when i try to recver the image it cant see my pci-e drive, even after i install the driver for that drive. I suspect its because it is a raid 0 pci- e card.

 

[0pTicaL]

If you want the best size I would recommend Macrium, Macrium does not backup your hibernation and page file (since those files get recreated when you boot into windows anyways).

I also don't recommend any of the new Acronis software past 2010.
2011, 2012 and 2013 are nothing but bloatware and bug hell.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I have just tried Macrium and when i try to recver the image it cant see my pci-e drive, even after i install the driver for that drive. I suspect its because it is a raid 0 pci- e card.

Did you use the Linux-based recovery disk?

Or the WinPE-based recovery disk?

 

[soundesciple]

The WinPE-based recovery disk

 

[ignatzatsonic]

There is a new version of Macrium out a week or so ago. Not sure if you are using it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/250566-important-macrium-users.html#post2077608

And I don't know if it will help you see that pci e raid card.

At any rate, what's the point of making an image of a partition that includes programs you say are causing your problems, per post 5??

I'd at least uninstall those shaky programs if they are causing you grief.

 

[soundesciple]

There is a new version of Macrium out a week or so ago. Not sure if you are using it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/250566-important-macrium-users.html#post2077608

And I don't know if it will help you see that pci e raid card.

At any rate, what's the point of making an image of a partition that includes programs you say are causing your problems, per post 5??

I'd at least uninstall those shaky programs if they are causing you grief.

Was makeing an image of a clean install with all updates and SP1. Storeing that image then installing the rest of my programs.
But somehow Acronis must be updating that image, as when i restore the clean install image there are programs on it.
Probly me not setting the image options correctly though.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Was makeing an image of a clean install with all updates and SP1. Storeing that image then installing the rest of my programs.
But somehow Acronis must be updating that image, as when i restore the clean install image there are programs on it.
Probly me not setting the image options correctly though.

I can't imagine how Acronis or any imaging program would "update" an image.

If program X is on your successfully restored image of partition C, it was on partition C at the moment the image file was made.

More likely, you are not successfully restoring the "clean install" image. The unwanted programs are as found on the drive before the restoration attempt and you didn't really restore anything.

Either that or you made an image of something other than a "clean install"--and then restored it.

 

[soundesciple]

[/QUOTE]More likely, you are not successfully restoring the "clean install" image. The unwanted programs are as found on the drive before the restoration attempt and you didn't really restore anything.[/QUOTE]

Mmmm could be this ^

 

[mjf]

As far as I am aware all imaging software will image whatever is on the HDD at the time of imaging. This includes OS and all installed software. Things like the pagefile are excluded.
A strategy is to make multiple images. One before you install apps if you like. I generally have an image before and after an app install.
If working with Macrium I would stick to the pe restore disk option.

 

[soundesciple]

Just an update,
I moved windows off the revoPci-e drive and onto a sata6gb Ssd drive amd Acronis is workin as it should now, image restore works fime, there is no MBR error on boot up.

So it looks like Acronis did not like the Pci-e raid 0 drive.