ATTN: Any Acronis True Image 2013 folks -- Splash Screen??

[robert213]

Problem: After installing Acronis True Image 2013, during Windows startup, an Acronis Splash Screen appears -- asking me to run either Acronis True Image or Windows 7.

Description:
This evening I purchased True Image 2013 by Acronis Plus.

The instructions had an unusual request.
1. Run the setup file. Before starting the setup process. Acronis True Image 2013 will check for a newer build on the Web site. If there is one, the newer version will be offered for installation. It is recommended that you install the newest version.

So I clicked on "Download and install new version", which turned out to be version 16.0.5551

The install appeared to run correctly.
I activated the program by clicking "(?)" / [Activate] while connected to the internet.

I restarted Windows 7 Utl and I receive the following message...

Starting Acronis Loader...

followed by
True Image 2013 by Acronis Splash Screen
where one of the options is Windows.

I don't want any Acronis Splash Screen appearing everytime I power-up my machine.

Running "msconfig" under Windows Command Prompt,
1. Services
I unchecked "Acronis Scheduler 2 Service"
I unchecked "Acronis Nonstop Backup Service"
I unchecked "Aconis Sync Agent Service"

2. Startup
I unchecked "Acronis True Image"
I unchecked "Acronis Tib Mounter"
I unchecked "Acronis Scheduler Helper"

[Apply][OK] and...

I still am receiving Acronis Splash Screen.

I am about to see whether "Google" has any answers. Tomorrow, I will phone Acronis Tech Support to express how unhappy I am.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

I am running Windows 7 Ultimate on my T61.

[robert213]

Through trial-and-error -- I found a way to disable Acronis Splash Screen from appearing...

In Windows, run Acronis True Image 2013
[Tools and utilities]

click on "gear wheel" icon

[Integrate True Image into Windows...]

I left unchecked [_] Acronis console in Windows Control Panel
I unchecked [_] The Acronis Recovery tab in the Properties windows
I unchecked [_] Shortcut menu commands

[Apply]

I have no idea, whether powering off machine after updating MSConfig settings
or unchecking these seemingly unrelated options -- made the splash screen go away.

Now, my next concern is...

Did I break True Image that it won't be able to do my original desired task? -- Clone my HDD with clean Windows Install onto a SSD. I will find out tomorrow.

[RealBlackStuff]

When you now start ATI, it will only load whatever is needed.
You only played with the settings.

[robert213]

Reviews of Acronis True Image 2012 and 2013...

1) The best description of features...
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/acronis-t ... 013-review

2) Many complaints at Amazon and NewEgg...
http://www.amazon.com/Acronis-TI-16-DV- ... ewpoints=0

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832200037

3) Acronis is planning a release of Acronis True Image 2013 Lite...
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/pr ... /beta.html

As for my needs, I am simplying searching for a product that was as reliable as my good ole Acronis TI Home 11 (2007) with support for Windows 7/8 and SSD. I will try cloning my mechanical HDD with fresh Windows 7 install onto my new Samsung 840 SSD this afternoon -- and report back with the results.

[RealBlackStuff]

Why don't you revert back to Acronis's original idea?
Take an image of your HD, then restore that onto your new drive.
Or forget about it, and just install fresh on your new drive.

[robert213]

Why don't you revert back to Acronis's original idea?
Take an image of your HD, then restore that onto your new drive.

Because I have never used those features of Acronis TI before...

I started Acronis True Image 2013 from my Windows desktop.
I clicked on "Clone disk"
I received a message - "Clone disk" requires the scheduler service to be started.

I returned back "msconfig" under Command Prompt
1. Services
I checked "Acronis Scheduler 2 Service"
I unchecked "Acronis Nonstop Backup Service"
I unchecked "Aconis Sync Agent Service"
2. Startup
I unchecked "Acronis True Image"
I checked "Acronis Tib Mounter"
I checked "Acronis Scheduler Helper"
[Apply][OK], Shutdown Windows, and powered-up machine


I started Acronis True Image 2013 from my Windows desktop.
I clicked on "Clone disk"
The user dialogue panels were very similar to my familiar Acronis TI 11 Home (from 2007)
Source Disk: the mechanical HD in my T61's main bay.
Target Disk: the Samsung SSD in my T61's UltraSlim bay.
I manually re-allocated space between partitions.
-- System Reserved, Primary, Active
-- Windows 7 Ult (C:), Primary
-- User Storage (E:), Primary

Everything proceeded as expected, until Windows 7 restarted.
With Acronis TI 11 home, I receive a "text based" user interface, which provides status of progress.
With Acronis TI 2013, I briefly received a DOS-like black screen, which unexpectly became a plain blue-screen-of-death-like screen with a mouse pointer.
I anxiously waited three minutes, until a nice GUI-like panel appeared, which provided status of progress.
It provided the mandatory option "Shut down the computer when 'operation' is completed"

Machine shut-down.
I removed SSD from UltraBay.
I powered-up machine with old mechanical HDD, everything worked fine.
I powered-up machine with new Samsung SSD, everything worked fine.

-----------------------------

My T61 is Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7300 @ 2.00 GHz, with 2GB RAM, and Hitachi Travelstar 7200 rpm HD

Windows Experience Index, 7200rpm HD: 3.0 SSD: 3.0 Samsung Optimization Utility: 3.0

Samsung Magician Benchmark
1. Sequential Read: 125 MB/sec
2. Sequential Write: 104 MB/sec
3. Random Read: 5586 IOPS
4. Random Write: 13105 IOPS

------------------------------------------
Summary...
Acronis Splash Screen no longer appears during Windows start-up.
Acronis appears to work properly with Windows 7 and SSD

[Bánh mì]

Good luck if you ever try to uninstall that thing. Lack of synergies with R&R I think. Can say the end result will be a reinstall from scratch or reinstall of an image. BSOD galore!