Imaging T60's with Acronis True Image - Dog Slow!

[ssimon]

OK, I have been using Acronis True Image since it came out and never before have I had such issues imaging a machine till I started working with the T60 series.

It sems like something is really wrong as an image that takes 20-30 minutes on a T41 or T43 now takes 2 days on a T60!!! Outrageous!

This is with the latest Acronis version/build, and I know the HD is SATA and I know to disable AHCI in the bios and set to "Compatible" yet the entire backup process, even browsing a remote network share from the Acroinis interface is very sluggish.

Has anyone else experienced this with the T60 series and has a solution? (an Acronis Solution, not 3rd party software )

[jhkaska]

I cloned to an identical hard drive in the slim bay drive using Acronis 8.0 and it took an hour or so, can't remember for sure. But it was not an unreasonably long time. Both drives were 7K100gig. The drive was nearly full with about 90 gig of data.

[NightStorm]

I used the latest TrueImage to make an image of the entire HD of this 2623DDU to an external USB drive. Took about an hour and generated an 8G+ image.

[RonS]

Have you tried setting SATA in Compatibility mode in the BIOS? It could be that your Acronis doesn't have native SATA drivers and is reverting to Int13 calls which are translating very slow. Even then, it won't be as fast as using Acronis that directly supports SATA.

I think Acronis version 9 supports SATA. If so, that's what you want.

[ssimon]

I clearly stated that I set SATA to Compatibility mode in my 1st post!

* SATA set to "Compatibility" Mode in BIOS
* TPM Security Chip is NOT enabled
* Dual-Core Disabled in BIOS
* Tested with Acronis Enterprise Server 8.1 & 9.1 build 3534
* Connecting to NAS via LAN to write image - Slow Navigation

Result: DOG SLOW!!!

This problem has occured exactly the same with v8.1 & v9.1 on 2 separate models of T60 thinkpads and I see a pattern developing.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

[RonS]

My apologies - I should have read your first post more carefully.

My T60p has a 100G hard drive, and the C: partition has 62.2GB used. Using Acronis True Image version 9.0 (build 2323, Workstation edition), it took 26 minutes and 23 seconds to do a complete backup image over a PCMCIA FireWire controller to a FireWire drive. I've sad similar performance using a 2.5" ATA drive in the slim bay.

I do NOT have compatibility mode set and am running right in Windows. I was using my system (browsing the web) this the image was being written.

There are many differences between my test setup and yours:

1. You're writing over the LAN
2. To a NAS
3. Using the Enterprise edition of Acronis
4. With Compatibility mode set
5. And with Dual-core disabled (I didn't even know you could do this!)

I would try to isolate the problem by first, re-enable SATA and dual-core mode. If you still get slow backups, try making an image to a local drive. If it's still slow, then start focusing on you T60 and Acronis configuration. If not, then it's something about the LAN or NAS.

[ssimon]

Thank you for your reply and I appologize if I seemed short about re-listing the setup and you not reading it.

The more I experiment the more I am leaning towards an issue with networking and less the hard drive.

I do NOT image from within Windows, I boot with the recovery CD and image OUTSIDE the Windows OS. This is normaly the fastest and most reliable way to image, normally....

It is interesting to note that as soon as I authenticate on the LAN browsing remote folders is excruciatingly slow, even before the image startes to be built.

I really wish that someone else tries to do an image over the LAN and posts their findings....

[ssimon]

Confirmed, problem IS with the Acronis Network Drivers, and not with the SATA HD settings.

A test backup of the entire HD to a 320GB USB External HD took 30 Min!!

Proof positive that the Acronis Ethernet Driver has problems....

[ssimon]

OK, problem fixed! Acronis confirmed that there was an e1000pro Ethernet issue and are in the process of updating the drivers on all their versions. Nice!