Failed UEFI restores to a new HD

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by Brian K, Feb 21, 2015.

  1. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    I've been testing the ability of various imaging apps to restore an entire drive image of a UEFI Win8.1 system to a new empty HD. Simulating a HD failure.

    These fail...

    AOMEI Backupper Pro 2.2
    Drive Snapshot 1.43
    Clonezilla

    With AOMEI the First Track is not being restored as LBA-0 to LBA-2047 contain no code after a restore.

    With DS the First Track isn't being restored correctly.

    Using TeraByte's MBRWork the First Track was backed up on a system that had already been imaged by DS. MBRWork was used to restore this First Track backup to a new empty HD. The DS images were restored (Restore Partition Structure wasn't needed as the partition table had been restored) and Win8.1 loaded normally.

    I'd already done something similar with AOMEI where I restored the First Track after the AOMEI images had been restored.

    Using MBRWork fixes the non booting issue but I'm certainly not suggesting it as a solution. These apps need to be fixed.
     
  2. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    Are those tests entire drives backups or partition type backups?
    Drive snapshot for example can perform only partition type backup.
    I do not see them as failures. Only as defaulting to mbr when restoring to a raw or empty HDs.

    Panagiotis
     
  3. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Panagiotis,

    I see them as failures because Win8.1 doesn't boot. How could a non booting OS not be a failure?

    DS does partition backups but all other apps did entire drive backups. These apps worked correctly...

    Image for Windows 2.94
    Image for DOS 2.94
    Image for Linux 2.94
    Acronis True Image 2015
    Macrium Reflect 6
    EaseUS Todo 8
    Paragon Backup and Restore 14 Free
    O&O DiskImage 9 Pro
    Symantec SSR 2013 R2
     
  4. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    If they are entire drive backups I agree it is a faille because they should have defaulted in gpt type.

    If you make a gpt disk with diskpart and then restore, do they fail?
    With DS have you restored the partition structure before proceeding to the partition restore?

    Panagiotis
     
  5. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Yes, that is compulsory or you can't restore anything. The disk is then reported as GPT in DS.

    Why don't you try some tests? Other opinions would be great.

    DS fails but it does work with AOMEI.
     
  6. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    I cannot/will not. Windows 8, 8.1 & OSX Yosemite are the 3 oses that I cannot stand. :ouch:
    Instead of testing the programs it would be a test of my patience.:p

    Panagiotis
     
  7. MisterB

    MisterB Registered Member

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    I contacted Aomei about this. I used an old version of Easus, 3.6, for whole disk backups a few years ago. It worked well for that purpose. When I tried a newer version, they had removed a lot features from the free version and put in annoying ads so I haven't used it much since.
     
  8. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Rofl! i even deleted my 8.1 VM just can't stand it. Funny thing is I am really liking 10 TP. Big differences.
     
  9. pandlouk

    pandlouk Registered Member

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    Same here, but until is released I won't get my hopes high...
    I also used to like Windows 8 betas, until they released the consumer preview...
    The one OS to master all devices is not for me. The day that I'll have the same OS, interface and apps on all my devices, will be the day that I'll go back in using DOS or I'll through all the gadgets and keep only the TV and the smartphone.:eek:

    Panagiotis
     
  10. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    Windows 8.1 is not that bad at all, especially with update 1 and after. The widely acknowledged Windows 10 TP is entirely based on Win8.1. Yeah, the metro UI is gruesome on PC, however people have the choice of just not using it. In fact, even Windows 8 is much snappier and more functional than Windows 7.
    Back to topic. UEFI and GPT is the future, like it or not. I embraced this new hardware and software feature early enough that I get used to it by now. The good old MBR is good, I miss it a lot, however I got over it now. For UEFI support, Macrium Reflect was the one that led the way, followed by IFL and Paragon.
     
  11. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    AX64 fails the test too. The restored HD is GPT but only 2 partitions out of 4 are restored. The restored partitions are Win8.1 and Recovery.
     
  12. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    Not even the EFI boot partition? then it fails big time. Win partition and Recovery, neither is the boot partition.
     
  13. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    If you buy a "brand name" Win8 computer the OS will be installed in Secure Boot, UEFI mode.. Win10 will be the same. Make sure you are using an imaging app that supports recovering from a HD failure.
     
  14. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Brian,

    Your tests are a real eye-opener. Based on your results I an shelving my copy of DS (at least until this deficiency is resolved) and will rely entirely on my 'Terabyte Trio'.

    Cruise
     
  15. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Cruise,

    I'm not putting DS down except to say it doesn't restore a UEFI system to a new empty HD. If you have a MBR system, no problems.
     
  16. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    LOL Windows 8 came out almost 3 years ago, I think majority of PCs out there are not MBR anymore.
    I de-listed DS from my collection as well.
     
  17. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Windows Image Restore passes the test, not surprisingly. But I dislike it. Be careful to "exclude" disks. I almost formatted two data HDs.
     
  18. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    I don't know about that. WinXP and Win7 are still well represented.
     
  19. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Active@Disk is another popular imaging app. Are you going to test it also Brian?

    Pete
     
  20. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Pete, is a trial available? Does it run in Windows?

    Edit ... downloading now.
     
  21. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Brian, I completely understand. Even though my 2 PCs are MBR and DS works well with them I would (now) feel more secure relying on IFD, IFL and IFW (for which I also have a license).
     
  22. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Active@ DiskImage passes the test. Win8.1 boots fine.

    The image was created in Windows.
     
  23. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    Thanks for the confirmation.
    How many partitions did you see when backing up with Active? And which version of Active DI you used?
    I used Active Disk Backup v1.02, but only see 3 partitions (without MSR).
     
  24. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Active@ DiskImage Pro (unregistered) 6.0.2 64-bit

    It sees all 4 partitions for the backup and restore.
     
  25. andylau

    andylau Registered Member

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    Active Boot Disk Suite is still based on a 32bit WinEP, but I do not know the Active@ DiskImage's bootdisk is based on 32bit or 64bit.
    Active@ is quite strange that still does not provide a 64bit WinPE as they have 64bit apps.

    I know some one do not use them because of this reason
     
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