BartPE + TrueImage - WINNER!

For several weeks I struggled trying to get TI9 boot disk to access my archives across the net. I had no problems with TI8 and an older (Dell) notebook, so I assumed installing a new HD on this fairly new Dell Inspiron 9300 would be easy. Wrong!

Long story, including reading the messages from Acronis techs about booting and telling Linux to produce log files, and the crazy instructions for getting those logs on to USB snap drives (I have no floppies) -- WOW!

Here's the solution (which I found by spelunking in this forum earlier today) - Get BartPE and the TrueImage plugin! Build a BartPE CD-ROM with the TI9 plugin. If it doesn't connect to the network, then you don't have your net adapter drivers in BartPe.; But is it SO EASY to add drivers off your main disk. Go to the BartPe site and follow the incredibly simple directions to add drivers.

Forget all that Linux console mumbo jumbo and waiting for Acronis techs to analyze logfiles, etc. Just grab BartPe from http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/, then (assuming you are a paid up TrueImage user!!) go to the TrueImage site and get the PartPE plugin.

Make a CD, and you will be able to restore across the net!!!!! I have now made BartPE+AcronisPlugin disks for all of my systems. Forget the Acronis bootable rescue disks, you're taking a big chance that your rescue disk wn't be able to get to that archive across the net! BartPE + TrueImage plugin rocks!

 

Hi rdenny,

As far as I'm aware, Acronis has only produced a plugin for TI 8 not TI 9. Mustang has produced a very good TI 9 plugin (recently updated), which is available from his website. Check out this previous thread titled <TI 9 plugin for BartPE is available> for more info and and relevant links. For what it's worth, I found Reatogo's BartPE+XPE builder easier to understand and create than Nu2's version.

Regards

 

rdenny, Menorcaman is correct the Acronis released version of the plugin is V 8.0. I can also vouch for the Reatgo CD with Mustang's plugin. I recently used it to restore my hard drive several times prior to replacing it. I also used it to clone the new drive. In all cases it performed flawlessly for me.

 

to all,
question on BartPE -
any way to build that disk, if I do not have an original windows XP disk? All I have are disaster recovery disks that come with my tablet, home computer, etc....?
any info appreciated
Nick

 

I have the same question as aoz.

What I have been able to find out is that first one has to make a Windows installation CD from the recovery CD/DVD:
http://www.easydesksoftware.com/recovery.htm
http://www.easydesksoftware.com/news/news8.htm
I haven't yet tried this myself, but will have to do so soon.

Then, use that Win installation CD to make a BartPE boot disc by following the instructions in http://www.reatogo.de/Reatogo_Getting_Started.htm or http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ ( or http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/01/12/windows_xp_a_goner/page9.html ).

----------------------------

QUESTION: Have any TI9 users here successfully used the TI8 or mustang's unofficial TI9 plugin with either Ultimate Boot CD ( http://www.ubcd4win.com/howto.htm ) or with 911 Rescue cd ( http://www.911cd.net/911cd/ )?

I ask because it sounds like building an Ultimate Boot CD might not require a Windows installation cd. See, for example, http://www.911cd.net/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t10155.html (specifically, gringojack's comments about Ultimate Boot CD for Windows).

 

If your referring the UBCD4win at http://www.ubcd4win.com, you definitely need an installation CD with at least SP1 to build this CD or you can use the installation files on your hard drive but you must have SP1 installed or higher. I have successfully used Mustang's V9.0 plugin with the Reatgo CD to restore and clone. I have not yet built a UBCD4Win CD with any TI plugin yet. I recommend Autostreamer to make a slipstreamed version of the install disk with SP1 or SP2 on it. I believe Reatgo needs SP2. Looks here for FAQ on Reatgo http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14332.

 

I have to say that after coming over from Symantec's Ghost which I used for nearly 6 years, I was very leery of Acronis TI. I was able to read what appeared to be a mountain of complaints about how TI failed other users before I ever got a chance to put its recovery capabilities to the test. So I was a bit unsettled about relying on this new imaging program. I was really fortunate to come upon BartPE which I knew about but had decided a few years ago was way too complicated for this brain to grasp. I guess I was ready. I started with BartPE then moved over to Reatogo's version of BartPE employing the TI8 plugin and I was amazed how easy a full disk image recovery was even on my RAID0 setup. No issues at all. Tested it several times and the recovery was flawless. It's the only way I will do a recovery from now on. Thanks for bringing up the topic!

 

Thanks, thomasjk, for the clarification.

I have XP Home SP2 preinstalled in my laptop, but no installation cd, only the recovery disc.

I am going to try this weekend to build an XP Home SP2 installation cd from my recovery disc. If successful, I will then build a Reatogo BartPE+XPE disc using that installation cd. If building the installation cd is not successful, I will build a UBCD4Win disc using the installation files in my int hd.

2 remaining questions, if I may:
(1) Does anyone know if the 911 Rescue cd can also be built with only the installation files in my int hd (not requiring a separate XP SP2 installation cd)? Also, does the TI plugin work for the 911 Rescue cd?
(2) Has anyone here built and successfully used the UBCD4Win disc with the TI8 or TI9 plugin?

 

(1) Does anyone know if the 911 Rescue cd can also be built with only the installation files in my int hd (not requiring a separate XP SP2 installation cd)?
Look here for more info on the 91 Rescue CD http://www.911cd.net/911cd/index.html. The 911 CD is DOS based as described here http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14419

(2) Has anyone here built and successfully used the UBCD4Win disc with the TI8 or TI9 plugin? Ask here at http://ubcd4win.com/forum/, I think some folks may have.

 

Not sure if it's made clear

if you need windows xp cd but don't have one because it came preinstalled and you only have a recovery cd if that, you can make a windows cd from the files on your hard drive.

On every pc i've seen that came with windows preinstalled, there has been a folder created by the windows installation called i386. All the files needed to create the windows cd that was used to install on to your pc are inside this i386 folder. I haven't as yet come a cross a pc/laptop without it but i suppose it is possible.

http://www.mechrest.com/plugins/BartPEGuide/BartPEGuide.htm

refer to the section titled "How to Create a Windows XP Installation CD from an I386 Folder" and you'll end up with a windows setup disk that it is LEGAL - it's basically the one used to install windows on your machine.

One of the first things i do when i or a friend gets a new pc/laptop is to create a windows cd this way or at least backup the i386 folder.