Thinkpads Forum

I have observed a quirk with Acronis True Image Home 11. This observation was made using three identical Hitachi Travelstar 7K100 100GB HDD(s). I used T30 Ultrabay HDD tray.

Observation #1

Step 01:
During Acronis True Image - First Pass
Source HDD - created using T30 Recovery CD(s).
IBM_PRELOAD 91.5 GB
IBM_SERVICE 1.658 GB

Destination HDD - to be created by Acronis True Image
IBM_PRELOAD 91.5 GB
IBM_SERVICE 1.658 GB

Everything appeared to be normal, until I attempted to make a 2nd generation copy of the Destination HDD...

Step 02:
During Acronis True Image - First Pass
Source HDD - created by Acronis True Image in Step 01
IBM_PRELOAD 91.5 GB
IBM_SERVICE 1.651 GB

Destination HDD - to be created by Acronis True Image
IBM_PRELOAD 91.5 GB
IBM_SERVICE 1.651 GB

Note that Acronis True Image trimmed off 7.4 KB from the IBM_SERVICE (Hidden) Partition.

Step 03:
Upon closer examination using Norton Partition Magic 8.0 (DOS)...

Source HDD - created using T30 Recovery CD(s).
IBM_PRELOAD 93,695.2 MB
IBM_SERVICE 1,698 MB

Destination HDD - copy created by Acronis True Image
IBM_PRELOAD 93,702.6 MB
IBM_SERVICE 1.690.7 MB

Note that Acronis True Image actually added 7.4 KB to the IBM_PRELOAD partition -- most likely in its attempt to round up to the nearest cylinder.

The point that I'm trying to make is -- that in my experience, I have encountered copies of HDD(s) made by Acronis True Image, where the IBM_SERVICE partition is truncated by 7.4 KB(s).

Observation #2

My previous observation typically does NOT occur when the destination HDD is a new non-partitioned HDD. I first noticed this 7.4KB truncation problem, when I started to re-use HDD(s) over and over again.

Summary

Take a closer look at the size of the IBM_SERVICE partition of HDD copies made by Acronis True Image. If it shows 1.658 GB in Acronis True Image, then it is fine. If it shows 1,698 MB in Norton's Partition Magic 8.0 (DOS), then it is fine.

I found another serious problem with version 11 http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=62934 I'm reverting back to 9 because I no longer believe this version.

I think the general opinion is that v.11 has problems. That is why I stocked up on v.10.

These are the steps that I use while using Acronis True Image Home 11, to insure that the IBM_SERVICE partition (WinXP Pro on T30) remains as 1.658 GB and does not shrink down to 1.651GB.

01. Run Acronis True Image
[Start][All Programs][Acronis][Acronis True Image Home]
"Acronis True Image Home"

02. Welcome Screen
[Disk Utilities]

03. Disk Unilities Screen
[Hard Disk Utilities]"Clone Disk"

04. Disk Clone Wizard [Next]

05. Clone Mode
O - Manual [Next]

06. Source Hard Disk
Disk 1
IBM_PRELOAD (C:)
91.50 GB NTFS
IBM_SERVICE
FAT32 (LBA) 1.658 GB [Next]

07. Destination Hard Disk
Disk 2
IBM_PRELOAD
91.50 GB NTFS
IBM_SERVICE
FAT32 (LBA) 1.658 GB [Next]

08. Nonempty Destination Hard Disk
O - Delete partitions on the destination hard disk [Next]

09. Old Hard Disk Usage
O - Keep data [Next]

10. Moving Method
O - Manual [Next]

11. Manual Relayout (1st Pass)

Before Cloning:
IBM_PRELOAD (C:)
91.50 GB NTFS
IBM_SERVICE
FAT32 (LBA) 1.658 GB

After Cloning:
IBM_PRELOAD
91.50 GB NTFS
IBM_SERVICE
FAT32 (LBA) 1.651 GB (ought to be 1.658 GB)

O - Proceed Relayout [Next]

12. Partition Selection
Disk 2
IBM_PRELOAD [Next]

13. Size and Partition
<click once on blue down arrow of "Partition Size">

Unallocated space before: 0 bytes ----- 0 bytes
Partition size: -------------- 91.50 GB --- 91.50 GB
Unallocated space after :- 0 bytes ----- 7.383 MB [Next]

14. Manual Relayout (2nd Pass)

Before Cloning:
IBM_PRELOAD (C:)
91.50 GB NTFS
IBM_SERVICE
FAT32 (LBA) 1.658 GB

After Cloning:
IBM_PRELOAD
91.50 GB NTFS
IBM_SERVICE
FAT32 (LBA) 1.651 GB (ought to be 1.658 GB)

O - Proceed Relayout [Next]

15. Partition Selection
Disk 2
IBM_SERVICE [Next]

16. Size and Partition
<click once on blue up arrow of "Partition Size">

Unallocated space before: 7.383 MB --- 0 bytes
Partition size: -------------- 1.651 GB --- 1.658 GB
Unallocated space after :- 0 bytes ----- 0 bytes [Next]

17. Manual Relayout (Exit Pass)

Before Cloning:
IBM_PRELOAD (C:)
91.50 GB NTFS
IBM_SERVICE
FAT32 (LBA) 1.658 GB

After Cloning:
IBM_PRELOAD
91.50 GB NTFS
IBM_SERVICE
FAT32 (LBA) 1.659 GB (corrected to be 1.658 GB)

O - Proceed Relayout [Next]

18. Disk Clone Wizard

Operation 1 of 4 (Reboot required)
Clearing disk
Hard disk: 2

Operation 2 of 4 (Reboot required)
Copying partition C: IBM_PRELOAD
Hard disk: 1 --> 2
Size: ------- 91.50 GB

Operation 3 of 4
Copying partition IBM_SERVICE
Hard disk: 1 --> 2
Size: -------- 1.658 GB

Operation 4 of 4
Copying MBR
Hard disk: 1 --> 2 [Proceed]

19. After all operations have completed...

Synchronizing with operating system:

Congratulations!

You have successfully completed the hard disk cloning procedure.

Press any key to shut down your computer...

20. Remember to removed destination HDD, before next power-up.

As a user of Acronis True Image 11, I've got to say that it saved my bacon this week.

A random check of the XP Event Viewer showed a warning that my T60's hard drive was predicting imminent failure. I contacted Lenovo and ask that they ship me a replacement (you can apparently do that under the on-site warranty and skip having to wait around for the service tech to show up). Interestingly, I received a Hitachi replacement for the Seagate that came in the laptop. The FRUs are different, but they're both 7200RPM 100GB drives.

I used True Image to back up my failing drive to both a network volume and DVD-R (12 discs!). I then swapped out the drive, and booted from the True Image CD. It let me connect to the network volume, select my save set, and restore it to the new drive with no hassle. The restore took about 6 hours, but when done, the laptop booted normally and everything appears to be perfectly restored.

It seems to be a rare occasion where I don't have to fight with software or hardware configurations and simply have things work as they should. This was one of those occasions, and for that, I'm grateful to Acronis!