Failed UEFI restores to a new HD

It´s possible to convert an MBR data disk to a GPT data disk.

But, AFAIK, it´s not possible to "convert" an MBR boot disk to a GPT boot disk without reinstalling Windows. Perhaps the Paragon program includes this installation as a step in the process?

 

djg05,

I downloaded the trial. Can you help me find those conversions?

Edit... I can see Convert MBR data disk to GPT but not the reverse. I can't see any options for converting the System disk.

 

Brian,

The March release of DS has been posted (just in case you wish to see if DS still comes up short in your UEFI test).
http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/down.htm

Wendi

 

Wendi,

Amazing. Using the March DS, a new image was created of the UEFI system and restored to a new, empty HD. Success. Win8.11 booted fine.

Using the February DS, the February image was restored to a new, empty HD. Failure, as before.

Using the March DS, the February image was restored to a new, empty HD. On booting there was a "Preparing Automatic Repair" message and 30 seconds later a Restart request. Win8.11 then booted fine.

Thanks for telling me about the March DS.

Hats off to Tom. That's a fast update.

 

Brian,

It's been just two weeks since I notified them of your findings. Hardy (who seems to be the principal support person) said he would try to reproduce your results and fix any related issues. So yes, hats off to them for a quick remedy and hats off to you for conducting the test that revealed the problem!

Wendi

PS. You really should update your posts to note this change in test results.

 

Brian - If you are MBR it will only show GPT, but if GPT will show MBR. I haven't tried it a long while but pretty sure it works like that.

 

djg05,

OK. It only works for data disks. You can't convert an OS.

 

The most recent UEFI list....

Successful

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
Windows Imaging
Active@ Disk Image
ShadowProtect 5
Lazesoft Recovery Suite
Drive Snapshot 1.43.0.17634


Failed

AOMEI Backupper Pro 2.2
Drive Snapshot 1.43.0.17607
Clonezilla (won't even do the restore)
AX64
RealCopy Workstation

 

Thanks for the test.

It might be a good idea to update the first post with the latest results.

 

How can I edit that post?

 

I thought members could edit their own post? Not sure if there is any time restriction though.

 

Paragon doesn´t put any restrictions on this conversions, which is misleading.

I think it may be possible to use these programs to convert a boot GPT disk to a boot MBR disk. Paragon claims that, if necessary, the "extra" primary partitions are converted to logicals, which sounds reasonable.

In the case of conversions from boot MBR to GPT, Paragon warns that it may not be possible to boot from the converted disk. Then what is the point of the conversion?

Similar conversions options also exist in MiniTool Partition Wizard and AOMEI Partition Assistant. No explicit limitation to data disks in either case.

 

Add Ghost Solution Suite 3.0 (beta) to the Successful list.

 

LOL I thought the good old "ghost.exe" died a few years ago. Never thought it will make a comeback. Anyway, glad to know it now supports UEFI and secure boot.

 

No DOS ghost.exe anymore. WinPE now. Strangely enough the WinPE boots in MBR mode. Not sure why there isn't a UEFI boot option but I've only been using it for a day.

 

Is it(ghost32.exe/ghost64.exe) still very slow in speed?

 

Andy,

I've only done one procedure but it did seem slow.

 

same as what I expected

 

Add AOMEI Backupper Standard 2.5 to the Successful list.

Successful

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 Workstation & Free
Paragon Backup and Restore 14 Free
O&O DiskImage 9 Pro
Symantec SSR 2013 R2
Windows Imaging
Active@ Disk Image
ShadowProtect 5
Lazesoft Recovery Suite
Drive Snapshot 1.43.0.17634
Ghost Solution Suite 3.0
AOMEI Backupper Standard 2.5
Retrospect for Windows 10.0.0.123
DAYU Disk Master Free 2.8

 

Add Retrospect for Windows 10.0.0.123 to the Successful list.

 

LoL
Don't tell that you expected it to fail.

Panagiotis

 

I never heard Retrospect before. Is it strong and reliable in the field of disk imaging? How does it compare to Acronis Backup and Terabyte Image for Linux, from a practical point of view?

 

The Mac version which I saw is a very reliable. But it is not oriented for home environments.

Panagiotis

 

When I last used it (several years ago) it was a file-by-file backup program. Very slow but able to perform a hot backup of the Windows volume.

 

Very helpful thread and interesting results. Not surprised about the Image for Windows/DOS/Linux results. But I'm a little dazed that Clonezilla won't work. It's been rock solid for MBR restores for me for a long time (although mine have not been to blank HDDs.) Once I get a little time, I think I'll post over at their forum and see if I can get some response concerning why it won't work...