Problems imaging VISTA

Yeah, it's some sort of problem between Vista and Acronis True Image. I ran into this just the other day.

The solution I had to follow was this:
1. Instead of imaging from one hard drive to another hard drive, I created an image file on an existing partition.
2. After that, once in the original machine, I had to put in the Vista install disk, and use the startup repair option. After that, it booted right into Windows.

Now, it took me MUCH longer than this, b/c I was trying all sorts of other things originally. If I can find the link where I found the info on Acronis' site, I'll post that as well.

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"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

Here's one link about it, but it looks different than when I saw it.


I'll see if I find anything else any different. Or actually, here's the Google search I used:

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"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

Actually, this Google search may get the info for you faster, as it's a little more specific:

And really, from what I've seen with the search results, the first link covers it all. Anyway, what I typed is what I did that actually fixed it. I had tried various boot fixers, actually browsing to verify the files were there, etc, and that was the only thing that fixed the issue (my first reply).

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"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

An alternative Imaging program that I have been using for years on XP, Vista, and later on Windows 7, backing up and restoring without any problems, ever, (famous last words), is "Image For Windows", or (the included) Image For DOS, the whole package is about $30 and even comes with Image For Linux thrown in too.

Terabyte Unlimited

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the info. The image for windows sounds just the ticked and is a fair price to. Thank again for the great advise. This really is the place to come with a problem. just one more thing....can i have next weeks lottery numbers (now that would really impress me)

That's easy, do a system ticket with numbers 1 - 40? (whatever the top number is), it would cost many billions, no doubt. If you are as lucky as me, you would lose such a ticket before you could collect.

Ok, I image windows a lot.
There is some prep work that you have to do no matter what program you use for imaging Vista (the program you are currently using will work fine)
Ok here are some of the steps:
• You have to edit the BCD in the command prompt as Administrator…This only works on the current bootable drive and within the OS…for now I will not list the other drive method so it reduces confusion

bcdedit /set {current} osdevice boot
bcdedit /set {current} device boot
bcdedit /set {bootmgr} device boot
bcdedit /set {memdiag} device boot
bcdedit /set {ntldr} device boot

Click to expand...

• Then you have to edit the registry before the clone…do not boot to the OS after you do this step. Otherwise you will have to do this again for the image to work
•

Delete the whole folder of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

Click to expand...

this step is important so your C:\drive propagates and the OS assigns itself as C:\
This step will reset all the drives and not just C:\

That was the steps for the image

Now for the steps to load the image/(clone) from the previous setup that can either be a clone or image of the drive:

• The next step is to unplug the USB connection to the motherboard if you use a USB card reader. This reduces assignment of drive letter confusion
• You need to have the hard drive you want to clone/restore to as the first drive and the drive with the image can be anywhere else…NO OTHER DRIVES CONNECTED
• Use the software that you would normally use …I use Acronis products
• Just to note: I use a blank zeroed drive with no drive letters

With an image that is setup the way I showed. It can be installed on as second primary partition on the same drive or any other primary partition…you do have to have a third party boot manager that hides the other partitions and lets the imaged drive propagate as C:\

DO NOT USE THE WINDOWS BOOTMANAGER…it sucks for this

You can find all this info on this website: For the Boot manager I recommend Bootit NG: There is a great help guide and walk through on those websites

the last time I remember...Image for windows comes with a purchase of Bootit NG

I used Ghost 11 that I have on my Bert Pe boot disk, I had Vista 64 on a drive that was over heating and going dead. I just just ghosted it to a new 500G drive and had no problems.