DD10 2160 & OS Loader don't work

Hi folks,

I don't know if this has been discussed before but I'm new to Acronis and this forum.

1. Problem:
DD10 2160 doesn't resize System Partition. After a reboot its all back to scratch (Sytem = WinXP SP2). It seems like everything goes well, but when the OS has rebooted, the system partition is back to the old size.

2. Problem:
The OS loader doesn't seem to recognize the second WinXP I have installed on partition (primary) no. 2 on the same Harddrive.

The partitions have been created and used with Symantec's Partition Magic with no probs. But it don't run under Vista :-(
The flags are set on 'Pri/Act' for the first WinXP (which starts up) and Pri/Hid for the second - so it does not show when the first XP is running.

Under PM you could switch to 'set active' on the Hidden partition and the first went into Hidden. Reboot! Done!
... and back the same way...

I hope someone has a clue. I hate to have wasted my money on this software.
I also have TrueImage10 which works fine.

cheers
Wolfgang

 

For problem #1 - Try booting from the rescue cd to resize the system partition. It generally works better than initiating the procedure in Windows.

For problem #2 - Did you just copy the first partition to the 2nd? For example, restored a TI image of partition 1 onto partition 2. If this is the case, then you need to edit the boot.ini file so it points to the correct partition. If you're not sure, double check the boot.ini file in each partition using DD or TI and make sure they're correct.

OSS sometimes has problems detecting OS's on hidden partitions. Boot from the rescue cd. Uninstall OSS. Load DD and mark both Windows partitions as "unhidden". Reinstall OSS. Hopefully it will detect both and you can then setup the options for each, such as hiding the other XP partition, etc.

If OSS still fails to find both of your XP's then you can try this workaround. I've used it before, and it works, but you have to create another primary partition on the hard drive. Uninstall OSS. Using DD, make a small EXT3 primary partition at the end of the drive. Mark it as "primary" and "active". This will remove the "active" flag from both of the XP partitions. Reinstall OSS from the rescue cd.

 

Yes I just did, that works better. Question is, why a program like Partition Magic does that on the fly and a 'much better and newer' program has trouble with it...

No, it was installed with PM. I just created the 2nd partition and made it active and booted it up with the XP CD in the drive. It is a different language than the first XP.

Thank you for your help. I'll try this workaround tomorrow. I opened a case with Acronis but I don't think it'll help much. Seems like a lot of people have the same probs.
The OSLoader (www.osloader.com) seems to be a much more promising Bootmanager. I'll try that 2morrow as well, if I don't succeed with your workaround.

cheers
Wolfgang

 

Thanx again MudCrab,

I am using the osloader now!
It kicks in before an OS loads. It installs in the MBR, so it doesn't rely on an OS. Doesn't have a fancy desktop but it works. No matter what DD10 says, it switches the inactive partition to 'hidden' and the active one to 'active'. I checked it with Partition Magic and DD10.

At least some programers know their stuff... when it comes to DD, Acronis still has homework to do! TrueImage works, though...

wolfmanjack