Imaging BCM50 Hard Drives

[NorstarExpert]

I need someone with experience downloading the image files from Avaya's web site and imaging a replacement drive with these files. I do not have access to this site, so I had a support engineer download the files for me.

I have read the Avaya BCM50 and BCM450 Imaging Tool — User Guide thoroughly,
and the document appears to be flawed in many ways.

First, they don't give you any idea which version of Acronis True Image Home they used to create the files.

Here is a excerpt from page 11:
"Note: The image provided is in a format supported by Acronis True Image. To
purchase the Acronis True Image 2012 Home software, go to acronis.com
and search for Acronis True Image 2012 Home. BCM image files are compatible
with Acronis True Image Home 2010 and newer software versions."

The screen shots they provide do NOT match the screens in either Acronis True Image Home 2010 OR 2012. Especially the top image on page 13.

On page 13 the following shows:
"Note: You must save all parts of the BCM image in the same folder. When you
select the source image, select the folder. Do not select individual image files."

Neither Acronis True Image Home 2010 OR 2012 allow you to select the folder.
You MUST select one of the files before the OK button is made available.

Unfortuantely, the drive I purchased to create a backup was in bad enough shape that it had to be returned to the seller.

I have two Intel SSDSA2M040G2GC SSD's on the way; as I cannot find what I consider a reliable (and cost effective) source for the original Maxtor 6N040T0 drive that came in my BCM50.

Has anyone had direct experience with this?
If I DO select any of the files, it auto-selects the last file in the series for image files.

This auto-selection does match the image on page 14.

My goal is to go completely solid state on my BCM50,
and have a restore mechanism in place.

 

[curlycord]

SDD's not supported however there is a few that will work but not all will:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1593744

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1698661

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1699146

Try this guide?

http://downloads.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100122544

=----(((((((((()----=
curlycord

http://www.curlycord.com

Toronto Canada

http://www.telcopc.ca

 

[snd1234]

You can buy a used BCM50 one ebay if you need to source a platter based drive.

 

[snd1234]

I think you may be observing behavior peculiar to acronis. Its actually one image split into six. I used acronis 10 and it worked fine.

 

[snd1234]

Also the home version is not ideal. Get the demo version of the Workstation version.

 

[NorstarExpert]

Curlycord,

I have read all the threads about BCM SSD on here.
When you say unsupported to the drive I selected (assumed from your shorthand),
I have to say I chose the drive for two reasons:
1) It is an identical model (except that it is 40GB) to a drive that already has been reported to work here at Tek Tips.
2) My Lab BCM is Rls 2.0, which I figure is more flexible on drive space.

If mine was 6.0, for instance, I might have cause for concern.
I also downloaded and read the tutorial you mentioned as well, and I would be inclined to make a new archive
of the drive I had (thus eliminating the version issue for ATIH), but having already tried
that, I made the unpleasant discovery that my drive already has errors on it.

I have tried really hard to do my homework on this whole thing,
but must say it has been frustrating thus far. The defective HDs did not help.

Also, I still would like to know if the images on Avaya's web site are the slightest bit
useful, as I am not seeing a positive response to them here.

snd1234,
Did you really read my post? I already have tried and decided not to go the
platter-based route. Also, I am quite aware that there are 6 pieces to the archive as I
spent quite a bit of time downloading them from an FTP site, burning the 6 of them to a DVD,
and copying them from said DVD onto the machine I was planning to do the imaging on.
I have used the Acronis True Image Home Versions as they are mentioned in the AVAYA
document, so I want to use the EXACT same software they used to create the image files.
Acronis has made it quite clear on their website that you should restore backups using
the same version of ATIH as was used to create them. I got my copy of ATIH 2010 for $8, so
if it is not useful, I'm not going to be all that disappointed.

 

[NorstarExpert]

Curlycord,

I misunderstood some of your remarks, and I thank you for them.
The link you provided was for the same document I am referring to in my first post in this thread.
I feel the Intel SSD drive should work,
based on the comments of two different posts I had already read, but are in the threads you recommended.

I will be receiving the SSDs on Wed. or Thu., and I will be sure to share my experience here.

Thus far I have come to the conclusion that perhaps I can ignore Avaya's comments about choosing
the folder instead of the files, because ATIH refuses to let you do that.
I do not know if this is relevant, but I am using the ATIH Recovery CD to make all this happen.
It has all the functions I need, and I need not install the software on my PC this way.

Anyway, CHEERS!

 

[NorstarExpert]

I would be interested in knowing if anyone has successfully used the BCM50 Images posted on Avata's website,
including the exact version of Acronis True Image they used with these files.

I tried unsuccessfully to restore to an Intel SSD using these files. (See my original post in this thread for model number).
I did have success backing up the Maxtor 6N040T0 drive that originally was in my BCM50, then restoring it to the Intel 40gb SSD.
For what it's worth my BCM50 is release 2.0.

My lab BCM50 is working fine (thus far) on the SSD.

The issues I have yet to work out are:
The Avaya files arent working, as they expect more space available on the SSD than it provides.
My backup was difficult to create because "True Image" was really quirky when it encountered bad spots on the original HD.
Sometimes it would allow me to continue by ignoring the errors (there were a total of 25 at the tail end of partition "6").
Other times it would display BACKUP FAILED", and not allow me to go on.
I spent many an hour before I got thru all 25 errors, and completed my backup. I have reason to believe the bad blocks are unused space.
True Image seems uncomfortable with the partitions on the drive and I have been curious to know if I could do a backup without trying to copy the "unused" portion of the partition. Acronis True Image doesn't give me that feeling that all would be well,
however, if the "sector for sector" copy need not be used, the backup would fit on a CD, instead of a double-layer DVD.

I would really like to get in touch with someone who has followed this path and hear their experience.

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

I have used Acronis version 9 to do my own copies of BCM 50 at version 1 and 2 that both fit onto a DVD disk. I've also done in addition a copy at version 3 using a program called WinHex.

I also never got the Avaya tib files to work and I'd like to know what Acronis version they were used with?.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.

 

[NorstarExpert]

David,

Thanks for your reply.
Everything I have read here at Tek-Tips has indicated that the Avaya files do not work.
My experience parallels this.
I have a BCM50 1.0 on the way that may have a bad hard drive.
I am worried as I do not have access to a drive image for that version.
It would be nice if there was an FTP site we could share our images on.

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

Where do you live?. A good friend of mine as my Acronis BCM 50 Version 1 and 2 on DVD in the states. Contact me via the link below if you want any more help.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.

 

[ucxguy]

NorstarExpert, if all you need is a BCM50 R1 hard drive, I have a contact in the US where you could get one (or more) of them.

Just out of curiosity, what do you plan to do with the BCM50 R1? The release 1 software has been unsupported for a number of years. An upgrade from R1 to R2/R3 and then to R6 is pretty time consuming and expensive.

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

Although release 2 is unsupported, you can use the same keycodes as any issued for release 1 will also work on release 2 software.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.