Tip for imaging software that works with truecrypt?

I have tested acronis backup & recovery in vmware with win7 64bit and truecrypt.

Making a backup in windows works fine, but restoring from acronis media not working here.

-Truecrypt freezes after entering code.
-With Truecrypt i have tried the different restore options. Either get "no boot partiion" or no operating system.

My question is there some imaging software that can make image inside windows, then be restored from bootable media?

Dont know if its just a problem with acronis, but willing to test something else.

 

Simply put, no. There's no software that can backup uo an TrueCrypt encrypted partition from within windows successfully. The cloisest thing you'll come to is probably Image For Windows, and that's because they don't use the standard VSS. In order to back up any TrueCrypt encrypted partition successfully you'll need to do so outside of windows, using a variation of winpe, and create a "raw" image. Now, depending on the software you use to create the image, that can be called different things.

 

Are you trying to image a Windows boot partition that has been encrypted with Truecrypt full disk encryption? If so you should have no problem imaging from within Windows and restoring with recovery CD.

Imaging within Windows will result in a decrypted image since the volume is decrypted at that time.

After restoring the image to a new disk you should see the Truecrpy boot loader screen. Just hit ESC to boot Windows.

Next time you boot Windows you can use Truecrypt to re-encrypt your new volume or remove the Truecrypt boot menu.

 

Yes thats what i was guessing. Backup inside windows and its decrypted, restore and press esc to bypass the truecrypt loader.

I made a bootable usb i use with wmware with ubcd, acronis media, partition master and truecrypt rescue iso. (iso replaced after each try)

Maybe try the windows system image tool. So far with acronis the bootloader\mbr is messed up after a restore and press esc does not work or restore original\repar truecrypt does not work.

 

I am thinking if you use the recovery disk from acronis backup
It would work, I do all my imaging from outside of windows

 

well, i just tested the win 7 stock imaging.

Added win 7 64 bit recovery iso to my grub MultibootISO usb. The result the image recovered just fine, pressing esc at the truecrypt prompt at start.

So something wrong with acronis, or i did something wrong in that program. But tested several options with my vmware image. With acronis pressing esc resulted in no bootable partition and restoring original was no os installed.

Still want some imaging software that can schedule backup, so dont know what to test next. Only know that the latest acronis versions have been trouble even restoring standard image backups.

Edit.Using truecrypt rescue iso and restore original loader worked, no truecrypt at startup.

 

Look @ StorageCraft Shadowprotect, Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery or Macrium Reflect V5. I have tested all 3 with Truecrypt disk partitions and all restored OK. Tested on several systems ranging from XP to Win 7 x64.

Image for Windows is also good, but its not so automated for scheduling and some knowledge is usually required to make it work the way you'd likely want.

 

Not touched symantec since ghost days. Will try some more if they have trials.

If i can make 3 easy backup\recovery in vmware i will deploy it on some private and job machines.

Do have copies before using truecrypt,- but a restore made within truecrypt should be "easy" and not missing boot partitions and OS.

 

If you haven't already read it, you may find this TeraByte KB article helpful. It's written for Image for Windows, but a lot of the information applies to TrueCrypt and imaging in general.