True Image and MBR

Thank you for the replies regarding my previous post a few days ago. This forum is really outstanding.

I would like to know if True Image will back up the MBR on the hard drive as well as the hidden partitions on the Dell computers. Do I need a separate program to back up the MBR through a dos start up disk, or can I accomplish this by simply doing a complete image.

Thank you again.

 

TrueImage 8 does it all automatically. Simply select the 'entire disk' checkbox when creating an image and the MBR is copied automatically. Same process for restores and/or cloning.

Dell 'hidden' partitions are thus copied and when restored are fully functional.

 

The Dell partitions are fully functional, unless you use Dynamic Disk. All my servers use Dynamic Disk. The Dell hidden utility partition restores fine, but when I upgrade my hard disk to Dynamic after a successful restore, it upgrades the Dell hidden utility partition as well (this partition is and should always be Basic). Once it does this, it no longer works, since Dynamic Disk are only seen and managed at the Windows OS level but that partition is activated at the POST startup level. In order to fix this issue, I need to do the following in a bare-metal scenario:

1. Boot from Dell Server Setup CD first to recreate Utility Partition (pre-OS)
2. Restore image, minus the Utility Partition
3. When server comes up, verify and/or change drive letters. Make sure Utility Partition is Basic FAT with no drive letter.
4. Upgrade to Dynamic Disk and reboot.
5. When the server comes up, verify as in Step 3.

When I do it this way, I can upgrade to Dynamic Disk after a restore without changing the Basic status of the Dell hidden utility partition.

 

Hello pettyracing,

Thank you for choosing Acronis Disk Backup Software.

The image archive of the entire hard disk include the master boot record (MBR). During backup, Acronis software creates an image from the sectors that contain data, creating an exact duplicate image of the hard disk. Because the product creates a backup in this way, it can backup everything on the drive, including the master boot record (MBR).

Thank you.
--
Irina Shirokova

 

I hate these custom partitions. HP/Compaq used to do this, no more, I'm so happy!

 

You don't have to keep the hidden partitions on your hard drive. Once you create an image of the full hard drive with the hidden partitions and store it away safely you can then delete the hidden partitions and resize the C partition.

Of course the MBR changes but it doesn't matter after you delete the hidden partitions. If you ever want the original MBR and hidden partitions back again, just do a restore image to the drive.

Also, the smaller hidden image, the diagnostics image, will continue to work even if the MBR is changed. Unfortunately, any change to the MBR renders the larger partition, the Dell restore image, non-functional.

Feel free to experiment.

 

Page 18 of user manual states the if start up recovery manager is activated it will overwrite MBR with its own code.

jacnyr