ATI 2009 I want to try the latest build but Acronis won't let me!

I recently got a new notebook (Asus G50V) that has Vista Home Premium 64-bit. I used ATI 10, which worked great on my old XP machine. I became concerned about its Vista compatibility when I found my backups of the User folder didn't include the "special" folders (such as Documents) that had been moved to another drive. I had to manually include them.

A few weeks ago I downloaded the trial of ATI 2009 (build 9615). I value being able to test out a full-featured version of the product. When it started it hung and eventually Windows put up a message "Acronis True Image has stopped working". My research on this error led here and revealed the many problems of ATI 2009. I never got the program to work and uninstalled it. I started using Microsoft Backup, but after a couple of weeks, my external hard drive filled up because it backs up everything.

While researching other backup software last week, I learned in this forum that there was a new build of ATI 2009 (build 9646) that solves a lot of problems. I also learned that the trial version is always the latest build. Finally, I also learned that the "stopped working" error can be caused by antivirus software. I downloaded the new trial, installed it and was informed that my 15 day trial was over. Not a surprise.

I emailed Acronis support to explain the situation and ask for another 15 day trial (i.e. a 15 day key). To their credit, they replied quickly, but unfortunately refused to provide the 15 day trial. I emailed back to try to clarify that I had not actually had a trial, but the (quick) response was that they would not give me another trial. (I can post the emails if they would be helpful).

In my opinion, this seems like a wrong decision. Clearly I'm motivated to buy since I was willing to try again with a new build. In fact, I will state outright that if the latest build of ATI 2009 works on my system I will buy it immediately. My dilemma is that in order to see if the latest build of ATI 2009 works on my system I would have to buy it.

I appreciate any and all advice on this issue. At some point I will need backup software. For now I will go back to ATI 10.

 

You could try to contact Acronis via their Live Chat support and see if you get a better result. Also, you could send Acronis Support a PM from the forum (the response may take a while, though).

There were so many bugs in the first releases of TI 2009 that, in my opinion, you should be entitled to try the updated build. If Acronis insists on releasing software that isn't ready, they should allow potential users the opportunity to try the latest builds (especially if previous builds didn't work for them).

 

Heck, why not let any build be run for 15 days trial, regardless of whether you've run a prior tiral build? It's not like it's gong to supplant purchases if you can only use if for 15 days.

 

Excellent idea!

Also note the recently posted topic on how to get a big discount, which might help you feel better about purchasing without a trial: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=226633

 

Thanks for the advice. I've decided to look for another brand of backup software. In the short term I will reinstall ATI10 and use that with my external hard drive. I will just have to work around it's limitations on Vista.

 

This is incredible. This morning I got a form-letter email from Acronis support asking me if I'm satisified with the answer they gave me! (I do not consider this to be a "private" communication because it is a form-letter).

~Private communication removed per the Terms Of Service of the forums. - Ron~

 

Typical! So did you reply with a big fat NO!

 

Heh, the whole thing is comical and that is probably what I should have written, but I couldn't help making one last try at getting through to someone at Acronis. Here is my reply:

I have no doubt that "one 15-day trial" IS their official policy. This policy assumes that a given build will work sufficiently for an evaluation. Consider the likely case where the reviewer at PC Magazine reads the forums and find that a new build has been released that fixes the problems he experienced. Under Acronis' policy, he won't be able to test the new build on his system without buying it!

I'm still evaluating other software and, being a reasonable person, I remain willing to test ATI2009 if they change their policy.

 

I had one of these Form letters. I replied. No - I would only be completely happy when the manual and the software were in synch.

Never heard from them again.

 

Hello Gollan,

Thank you for your interesting in Acronis True Image

We can extend trial period of Acronis True Image Home 2009, just contact Acronis support http://www.acronis.com/company/contacts/request/index.html?t=2 explain the situation and make reference to this thread.

Best regards,
--
Dmitry Nikolaev