USB Keys and boot device types on T42P

[Marc_G]

Hi group-

With all the talk of Acronis True Image, I took the plunge and spent my $49.95 for a copy. It seems nice enough but I'm having trouble getting its recovery environment to boot from a USB key.

It will build the recovery environment OK onto the key OK, but the key doesn't boot on my T42P. If I go into the F12 boot list, it is seen as a hard drive. Apparently it needs to be recognized as a Floppy.

Any ideas?

Marc

[Marc_G]

Hi Leon-

Gentle reminder noted.

I figured that since it's probably a bios-recognition-of-USB key thing, it might be better directed here, but some folks in the windows forum might have input too. I'll expire the other thread and focus on this one.

Meanwhile, I've made slight progress, but I'm not there yet. During the Create Recovery Media step for Acronis, it formats the key. Before, I had been leaving it at FAT32, the default. I tried the other option, FAT, and the key actually boots!

I get the "loading Acronis Boot Loader" or something like that, but then it gives an error about not finding the expected partition.

EDIT: I tried booting again. The error was from the Acronis Launcher, and it said that it could not find the boot partition. Then it gave me an opportunity to hit any key to boot the OS. Nothing happened when I hit the keys. I think that the key is set to the wrong style of emulation.

Anybody know if the T42P Bios can be set to handle USB keys in floppy emulation mode? Or, is there something special I can do to the key itself to make it "seem" like a floppy? I have tried FlashBoot, but it didn't help.

Anybody have any thoughts?

Marc

[edelrc]

Can´t help you in your particular case but next weekend I will be in the same task as you ar now with Acronis.

One thing I know; you can make bootable USB keys (there are posts here in how to do that) but you cannot make a USB drive become A:\. That letter is reserved to floppy only*.

*(There is a program that temporarely can behave as A:\ so files can be exported to it, but it only works when windows is already loaded. )

[Marc_G]

Hi Edelrc-

Thanks for the support. If I crack this nut I'll definitely post the way to do it.

I've made lots of USB boot disks before, but always DOS. That's easy, just format the drive and check the box to make it an MSDOS startup disk. Then copy any needed auxiliary files to it. There are also some utilities that will do it for you.

Since I'm not a linux-savvy guy, I'm going to be relying heavily on other members for assistance in this case.

Marc

[CoolRunnings]

Any way to do this with Ghost 9.0??? I'm all ears!

[edelrc]

I don´t know what approach Marc_G will take, but what I have envision will be applicable to any bootable floppy... But now with the warm it is here I preffer go to rad by the beach today... I will see it next time weather is worse

[CoolRunnings]

Hey now! No rubbing it in there edelrc Course, I'm in Tucson, Arizona, so I can't really complain about weather yet either...

[Marc_G]

Just a quick followup: I've posted a question about how to do this on the Acronis forum at:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=65

I'll report back here if I get any good feedback from the Acronis folks.

Marc

[Marc_G]

Followup: Acronis responded to my post, asked me for screenshots of what I've been doing so far to create the "partial boot" key, and said they will investigate. I've sent them the screenshots so I'm hopeful they will eventually get back with a good process for creating the key.

I bet this will take some days, so this thread may be fallow for a while unless someone else has feedback.

I promise to update it if/when I get further feedback from Acronis.

Marc

[edelrc]

You really look determinant on this task Marc! beliveme, many T4x owners will appreciate your posts in the future.

Sunday will rain, so no beach for me , will start with the issue myself too.