User manual ACRONIS TRUEIMAGE DELUXE

Acronis TrueImage Deluxe User's guide Acronis TrueImage Deluxe Copyright © SWsoft, 2002. All rights reserved. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. OS/2 is a registered trademarks of IBM Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademarks of The Open Group. Windows and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and copyrights referred to are the property of their respective owners. Distribution of substantively modified versions of this document is prohibited without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. Distribution of the work or derivative work in any standard (paper) book form for commercial purposes is prohibited unless prior permission is obtained from the copyright holder. DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED «AS IS» AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE DISCLAIMED, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH DISCLAIMERS ARE HELD TO BE LEGALLY INVALID. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 5 1. 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5.1 1.5.2 1.5.3 1.5.4 1.5.5 1.5.6 INSTALLING AND STARTING WORK WITH .................................................. ACRONIS TRUEIMAGE DELUXE ............................................................... 14 ACRONIS TRUEIMAGE DELUXE SYSTEM PACKAGE ................................... 14 INSTALLATION ........................................................................................... 14 REPAIRING ACRONIS TRUEIMAGE DELUXE .............................................. 23 REMOVING THE SOFTWARE ....................................................................... 24 USER INTERFACE ....................................................................................... 24 TERMINOLOGY ...................................................................................................24 USER INTERFACE BASICS ....................................................................................24 WINDOWS...........................................................................................................25 DIALOGS AND CONTROLS...................................................................................27 INFORMATIVE ELEMENTS ...................................................................................33 SPECIAL DIALOG TYPES .....................................................................................34 1.6 1.7 2. 2.1 RUNNING ACRONIS TRUEIMAGE DELUXE SOFTWARE .............................. 35 FINISHING THE WORK WITH ACRONIS TRUEIMAGE DELUXE SOFTWARE .. 35 CREATING DISK/PARTITION IMAGES ....................................................... 36 CREATING A DISK/PARTITION IMAGE ON A HARD DISK ............................. 36 WELCOME PAGE .................................................................................................36 SELECTING AN OPERATION .................................................................................37 SELECTING PARTITIONS FOR IMAGE CREATION ...................................................38 IMAGE DEVICE TYPE ...........................................................................................39 A PARTITION/DISK ARCHIVE FILE........................................................................ 40 IMAGE'S DATA COMPRESSION LEVEL.................................................................. 43 CREATING ARCHIVE VOLUMES ...........................................................................43 PROTECTING AN ARCHIVE FILE WITH A PASSWORD .............................................45 COMMENTING AN ARCHIVE FILE .........................................................................46 IMAGE CREATION SCRIPT ..................................................................................47 CREATING AN IMAGE ........................................................................................48 FINISHING IMAGE CREATION............................................................................. 49 SELECTING A PARTITION AND AN OPERATION .....................................................49 SELECTING A REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE ...............................................................49 THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS ..................................................................................50 THE SCRIPT WINDOW ..........................................................................................52 THE SCRIPT PROGRESS ........................................................................................52 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.1.3 2.1.4 2.1.5 2.1.6 2.1.7 2.1.8 2.1.9 2.1.10 2.1.11 2.1.12 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4 2.2.5 2.2 CREATING A DISK/PARTITION IMAGE ON REMOVABLE MEDIA................... 49 3. RESTORING A DISK/PARTITION FROM AN IMAGE.................................... 54 3.1 RESTORING A PARTITION (DISK) ................................................................ 54 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3 3.1.4 3.1.5 3.1.6 3.1.7 3.1.8 3.1.9 3.1.10 3.1.11 SELECTING AN ACTION: RESTORE A PARTITION/DISK.......................................... 54 SELECTING AN ARCHIVE FILE.............................................................................. 55 ENTERING A PASSWORD...................................................................................... 57 ARCHIVE FILE PARTITIONS.................................................................................. 57 DESTINATION PARTITION.................................................................................... 58 EXCLUSIVE PARTITION ACCESS........................................................................... 59 PARTITION TYPE (PRIMARY/LOGICAL) ................................................................60 FILE SYSTEM....................................................................................................... 61 CHANGING SIZE OF A PARTITION TO BE RESTORED.............................................. 62 SELECTING A LETTER FOR A PARTITION TO BE RESTORED .................................64 THE NEXT PARTITION/DISK TO BE RESTORED ....................................................65 Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 3 3.1.12 RESTORATION SCRIPT .......................................................................................66 3.2 PARTITION RESTORATION PECULIARITIES ................................................. 67 3.3 PECULIARITIES OF RESTORATION FROM REMOVABLE MEDIA.................... 69 3.4 RESTORING SEPARATE FILES ..................................................................... 70 3.4.1 3.4.2 3.4.3 CONNECTING A DRIVE FROM A PARTITION IMAGE............................................... 70 SELECTING AN ARCHIVE FILE.............................................................................. 71 DISCONNECTING A DRIVE ...................................................................................75 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................. 78 APPENDIX A. GENERAL INFORMATION. HARD DISKS ................................ 80 A.1 HARD DISK ORGANIZATION ...................................................................... 80 A.2 OPERATING SYSTEM AND HARD DISKS..................................................... 81 A.3 HARD DISK PARTITIONS ............................................................................ 82 A.4 CREATING PARTITIONS FOR OTHER OSES................................................. 83 A.5 PRIMARY AND LOGICAL PARTITIONS ........................................................ 83 A.6 FORMATTING HARD DISKS........................................................................ 84 A.7 FILE SYSTEMS............................................................................................ 85 APPENDIX B. GLOSSARY ............................................................................... 86 4 Table of Contents Introduction What is Acronis TrueImage Deluxe Acronis TrueImage Deluxe is the first title in a new generation of software for creating exact images of hard disks (and partitions). It will let you store an image of your disk in an archive file on a hard disk or on one of numerous removable media, such as Iomega Zip or Jaz, CD-R(W) or DVD-R(W) disc. Having an exact copy of your hard disk, you will be able to restore its data at anytime ­ in case of a system error, virus infection, or even disk malfunction. With the help of a hard disk image and the Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software, you will be able to deploy a system on a new PC hard disk, i.e. install all operatings systems, applications without using installation disks/discs, and thus avoiding the re-set of all those system and program parameters. Having created an exact hard disk image, you can be assured that all your data, operating systems, and applications (along with all their related settings!) are safe. In case of an operating system error or a virus attack, you will be able to easily restore the content of your PC hard disk, having created its exact image with Acronis TrueImage Deluxe. If you need to restore only several files, Acronis TrueImage Deluxe will let you connect the stored file as a logical drive and copy all the files you need from it. The unique technology developed by Acronis Inc., and used in the TrueImage Deluxe software, will let you create exact disk images and restore your PC disk contents under Windows without rebooting. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe makes image creation and hard disk content restoration easy for users of any level. Irrespective of their qualification and PC experience, every user can truly use this software. The TRUE differences between Acronis TrueImage Deluxe and other back-up software: · The opportunity to create images of disks (and partitions), including system partitions, under Windows, without rebooting your computer. No other software for storing images of partitions (and disks) in archive files allows you to perform these functions under Windows! · The opportunity to restore partitions under Windows (with the except of system partitions or those containing swap files). At the point of partition restoration, Acronis TrueImage Deluxe will let you change its size and location on a disk, as well as its type and file system. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 5 · Convenient tools for restoration of separate files and folders from an archive file: you can connect a logical drive from an archived image and simply copying files. Connecting a logical drive from an image file means that you will be able to browse stored and encoded partition contents like any real disk partition in Windows or in a Windows Explorer window. (see Figure 3.24 below). · Unlike per-file back-up software, Acronis TrueImage Deluxe allows you to restore partitions even if they were deleted, formatted, had its Partition Table erased, or its disk bootsector infected by a virus! The software combines a convenient graphical user interface with exceptional simplicity and user availability. Back-up and restoration operations can be performed in several easy steps! Archive file An archive file is a file containing images of partitions and disks. The images contain both data of partitions and/or disks and information, allowing you to restore a partition (disk) from the image. Partition images include all its files and folders, irrespective of their attributes (hidden, system, etc.), Master Boot Record (MBR), File Allocation Table (FAT), and a root directory (Root). Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software stores only the data sectors of a hard disk in its partition image. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software creates an archive file with a '.tib' extension. The .tib file can contain images of several partitions and/or disks. An archive file of large disk partitions or several partitions (and disks) can become quite large. In this case Acronis TrueImage Deluxe will split the image into more than one archive volume or archive volume files. Splitting an archive into separate volumes may also be required for writing to removable media. Computer errors Unfortunately personal computers are not 100% reliable or foolproof ­ operating systems (OS) are subject to failures; application and hardware drivers can cause errors as well. The Internet brings additional information security problems such as the threat of virus infection and the computer's future inoperability. A hard disk also accumulates various «garbage» as a result of installing and removing software as well as decreases in the perfomance of your PC from continuous Internet access. PC hard disks can encounter critical errors when executable files and applications cannot be run and operating system cannot be loaded. In many 6 Introduction cases this means that some system or data files are corrupt or newly updated driver are inoperable. Quite often it is extremely difficult to fix such problems, or even determine the exact software component that is causing the problem. The necessity of software back-ups Data files are the most critical and valuable files on your PC hard disk as they contain information of a «personal» nature. Operating system and applications can be reinstalled with disks/discs. Information in data files are unique, so it is vital to keep back-up copies of the most important on a hard disk as well as on other back-up removable media. The restoration of operating system and applications with their diskettes or CD-ROMs usually takes a considerable amount of time. And do not forget the need to restore all those settings! It should be obvious that this is not the best way to restore your PC hard disk drive. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software offers you the most effective way to restore your PC's operability. You can quickly and easily restore system or data partitions or even whole hard disks from a previously created partition (disk) image. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe offers back-up copying of whole hard disks and their partitions, with separate partition (and disk) images stored in archive files. General information on back-up copying The need for system and data files back-up was realized long ago. The majority of industrial systems still feature bulky tape back-up. This type of back-up is usually performed by qualified specialists with the help of rather complex and time consuming devices. With widespread PC use, the variety and volume of back-up data grew exponentially. At same time the need for simple back-up devices and software to help even inexperienced users became apparent. There are two groups of software for back-up copying of individual PC users' data. They differ most in the level of work and the type of back-up copies they allow one to make. These programs back-up: · (group 1) Separate files and folders, · (group 2) Partitions and whole disks data. Both groups have benefits as well as some disadvantages. But as hard disks and removable media capacity grew, and their cost decreased, it turned out that back-up copying of whole disk partitions became more effective and simple. Back-up copying of hard disk system partitions became largely available to new users. Performing back-up copying and restoration of system files and folders by means of the first group's software assumed that the user had great system and PC operating knowledge. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 7 The usage of partition and disk back-up copying software turned out to be simpler as well as more visual. Such programs allow the user to work by means of a simple and user-friendly interface, while minimizing storing and restoring operations to several easy steps. The purpose and capabilities of Acronis TrueImage Deluxe system Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software is used to create exact images of hard disks (and disk partitions) that can be used to restore disk contents, deploy hard drive on new PCs, or to replace a hard disk. A disk image is stored in an archive file on a hard disk or any removable media. This file may contain images of several disks (and partitions) at once. Restoring a disk/partition from an archive file, a user can easily select the image of a needed disk/partition; select a disk/partition to restore to, and change its size, location, and other parameters. A user can restore whole disk/partition as well as separate files from a disk image. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software works under Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT/2000/XP and supports FAT16/32 and NTFS as well as the Linux ext2, ext3, ReiserFS file systems. You can install the software only under Windows, but you will be able to run Acronis TrueImage Deluxe from a bootable diskette or CD-R(W) under any other OS including Linux. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software works with any disks connected to your PC (including IDE, SCSI, USB, FireWire, and/or PCMCIA interfaces). An archive file can be created on a hard disk as well as on any other recording device running under an OS, such as Iomega Zip, CD-R(W) or DVD-R(W) drives, magneto-optical disk, and other media. The software has a user-friendly graphical user interface that allows you to work with both the mouse and keyboard. Working with the software is performed through our easy image creation and restoration wizard. It takes just a few simple steps to start the disk/partition image creation procedure: · Select the operation of partition (disk) image creation; · Select partition(s) and/or disk(s) to create images of (store data in an archive file); · Select type of a device for image creation (storing image in an archive file): fixed or removable. For example, a hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-R(W), DVD-R(W), etc.; · Enter archive file name and specify its path; 8 Introduction · Select the disk/partition data compression level for archive file creation; · Specify if you need a single file or the one split into several volumes of fixed size (for example, for creating a large disk/partition archive file on a CD-RW); · Protect an archive file with a password if needed; · Enter a comment for your archive file with information about stored images of disks/partitions, their data files, OS version, or any other information if needed; · Execute the disk/partition image creation script, you created while working with the software wizard. It takes a few simple steps as well to start disk/partition restoration from an image stored in archive file, or to deploy disk/partition contents onto a new PC hard disk: · Select the operation of disk/partition restoration from a disk/partition image; · Select an archive file on a hard disk (or removable media) that contains the image of a disk/partition to be restored; · Select a disk and/or partition to be restored in the archive file; · Select a partition (disk and free space) to restore a disk/partition image, stored in an archive file, to; · Select the type of a disk/partition to be restored; · Select the disk/partition file system; · Change partition size and/or location as needed; · Select the next partition to be restored to change its size and/or location as needed; · Execute restoration script. Procedures of disk image creation (restoration) on a hard disk (from a hard disk) and removable media (from removable media) slightly differ (these differences will be described below). Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software runs either under Windows from the Start menu, or from a specially created bootable diskette or CD. Disk operations are delayed in Acronis TrueImage Deluxe. It means that a partition or disk image creation (or restoration) script is created first, and then executed only when you are ready. Until a script is executed you can return one or a few steps back to select another disk and/or partition and image creation parameters. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 9 Opportunities for Acronis TrueImage Deluxe usage There are several variants of Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software usage: 1. Creating images of and restoring your PC's information. You can use Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software to create images of separate partitions of your PC hard disk, or the whole drive in an archive file on another disk or removable media. You can use our software to regularly create images of your information, applications and your operating system update. If new drivers, new applications, or an operating upgrade or change leads to instability of your PC, you can easily revert back to its previous state. In the same easy way you will be able to restore your system in case of a serious error or accidental destruction or deletion of files. The more you use Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software to create disk images, the higher the possibility of restoring the newest version of your data, applications, and operating systems. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software can be used not only to restore system in case of a critical error, but also to revert the system back to its previous state. For example, you may wish to restore after a perfomance falloff or instability caused by a driver update. Disk/partition image creation and data restoration from disk/partition images are the main function of Acronis TrueImage Deluxe. However you may want to use it for other purposes . . . 2. Deploying the system on identical PCs (disk cloning). If you have to regularly set-up many identical PCs (install and set-up the same operating systems and applications), you can utilize the disk-cloning feature implemented in Acronis TrueImage Deluxe. All you have to do is: Install and set-up an operating system and applications to a hard disk of one of identical PCs. Create a disk (system partition) image in an archive file. Boot the next PC up with a diskette containing Acronis TrueImage Deluxe, and restore the hard disk contents from the image stored in the archive file. If you already have a PC with installed system and applications, you will be able to clone another in just a few minutes! Create an image of the first PC's disk on any media (hard disk, CD-RW, DVD-RW), connect it to the second PC, boot it from Acronis TrueImage Deluxe diskette or CD, and restore disk contents from the image. You will save considerable time and effort with Acronis TrueImage Deluxe! 3. Replacing a hard disk of your PC. If you want to install a new higher capacity hard disk on your PC, and do not want to spend all the day re-installing operating system and 10 Introduction applications, and restoring their settings, simply use Acronis TrueImage Deluxe! Create an image of your hard disk in an archive file on any media, be it another hard disk or CD-R, CD-RW. Install a new disk, boot with a CD (or diskette) containing Acronis TrueImage Deluxe, and restore the old disk contents from the image to a new disk. You can also change disk partition size and location along with their type and operating system if needed. Who Acronis TrueImage Deluxe is intended for As everybody faces possible hardware or software failures, Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software can help the widest circle of users. PC users get software with simple and user-friendly interfaces that will guarantee data will not be lost in case of any PC failures. And after serious malfunctions with their system, they will be able to restore in no time without help of an outside IT specialists. More experienced users who test all new software on their PCs, will be able to restore back to an original stable operating state any time should they encounter an unsuccessful application or driver version or after any experiments with their OS settings. Administrators in small companies will get a simple, effective, and inexpensive tool for creating images of disks (workstation and server system partitions, user data partitions). PC assemblers can use Acronis TrueImage Deluxe for quickly equipping whole PC consignments with software. The simplicity and convenience of Acronis TrueImage Deluxe allows all users, to take advantage of its unique technology and utility. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 11 How to find the necessary information in this guide Acronis TrueImage Deluxe user's guide contains the following main chapters: · 1. «Installing and Starting Work with Acronis TrueImage Deluxe» - this describes how to install, run, and remove the software; · 2. «Creating a disk/partition image on a hard disk» - this describes how to store an exact disk/partition image on a hard disk or removable media; · 3. «Restoring a disk/partition from an image» - this describes how to restore partitions with an image stored in an archive file, and how to restore separate partition files; · Appendix A. «General Information. Hard Disks» - this describes the construction of hard disks, installation into a PC, disk file structures, and interaction with an operating system; · Appendix B. «Glossary» - contain a dictionary of technical terms to help you to better understand this Guide. Legend Designation Courier New font · Enumeration 1. Press a button... Meaning Strings displayed or entered by a user. Enumeration item. A procedure step performed by a user. Information we recommend you pay very close attention to. Operation selection Quit Dialog boxes and their element names. Button and key names. 12 Introduction Hardware and software requirements To take full advantage of Acronis TrueImage Deluxe one should have: · A PC-compatible computer with a Pentium CPU or similar, · 32 MB RAM, · A floppy or a CD-RW drive, · VGA monitor, · A mouse (recommended), · Free disk space for archive files. Software usage conditions The conditions for Acronis TrueImage Deluxe software usage are described in the «License agreement», included with this package. The supplied registration card is the confirmation of your legal purchase and usage of Acronis TrueImage Deluxe on your system. Each registration card has its own unique registration number. Under current legislation the «License agreement» is considered a contract between a user (you) and a software manufacturer (Acronis Inc.). The contract has legal effect and its violation may entail a court examination. Illegal use and/or distribution of this software will be prosecuted. Technical support Users of legally purchased and registered copies of Acronis TrueImage Deluxe receive free technical support from Acronis Inc. In case you have problems with installation or use that cannot be solved with this guide or read-me file, please visit our support web-site or e-mail our support department at the addresses shown below. You must also send us the registration number of your Acronis TrueImage Deluxe copy. This number is written on a registration card supplied with this product. Support URL: http://www.acronis.com/support/ E-mail: support@acronis.com Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 13 1. 1.1 Installing and Starting Work with Acronis TrueImage Deluxe Acronis TrueImage Deluxe system package Acronis TrueImage Deluxe system package includes: · An installation disc, · This guide, · License agreement, · Registration card, · Advertising materials. 1.2 Installation You can purchase the Acronis TrueImage Deluxe program on a compact disc (CD-ROM) or download it from the Internet. The CD-ROM contains an installer that can be run in Windows 9x/ and Windows NT/2000/XP operating systems. If you purchased TrueImage Deluxe on CD-ROM, to run it do the following: 1. Insert the compact disc into CD-ROM drive. If you have the Windows operating system installed, run the Windows Explorer and click the CD-ROM drive with the mouse. You will now see the set-up.exe executable on the compact disc. Double-click it to run the installation program. 14 1 : Installing and Starting Work with Acronis TrueImage Deluxe The executable will then be loaded into the computer memory and the following window will appear on the screen: Click Next button to continue. 2. To continue working with the software you will need to accept the conditions of the license agreement between you (the user) and the software developer. For this purpose set the switch in the lower part of the window to I accept this agreement position. Click the Next button to continue. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 15 3. If you disagree with the agreement conditions, set the switch to I decline this agreement position and click the Next button. In this case you will be thanked for the interest in the software, and the program will terminate. 4. In the next window you will need to enter the product serial number that you will find on the Acronis TrueImage Deluxe registration form ­ AND DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER YOUR SOFTWARE TOO! Click the Next button after entering the serial number. 16 1 : Installing and Starting Work with Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 5. In the next page you should specify a folder to install TrueImage Deluxe program to. The default folder is C:\Program Files\Acronis\TrueImage. If you agree with it, click Next. If you want to install the program to a different folder, enter its name and path into the appropriate field. If there is no such folder on a disk, it will be created during installation. You can choose a folder for program installation by clicking Browse.... You will see a folder tree of your hard disk. Select a folder with mouse and click OK. (You can select any computer disk for installation.) After selecting a folder, click Next to continue. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 17 6. On the next page you will be offered to make TrueImage Deluxe available to all users of the computer or only to the current user. If you want to make the program available to all users, check the Yes, I want to install Acronis TrueImage Deluxe for all users box. (This page of InstallationWizard is specificial for Windows NT/2000/XP operating systems.) If you use Windows 9x/Me family operating system the above page of the wizard will be omitted. Click Next to continue. 18 1 : Installing and Starting Work with Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 7. In the next page you will be offered to create a new program group for Acronis TrueImage Deluxe program or to select an existing. If you agree to create a new group just click Next. If you want to use one of the existing program groups, select it by clicking it with the mouse. After selecting a program group, click Next to continue. 8. After selecting program group the installation program will show you the generated installation script. Before you click the Proceed button you can change any of its parameters: disk and folder, program group, or for example, make the program accessible only for yourself. Acronis TrueImage Deluxe 19 9. If you are sure all installation parameters are correct, click the Proceed button. The process of copying of Acronis TrueImage Deluxe files on your computer will be executed and shown in a special window. 10. On the next page you will be asked to create a bootable diskette or CD-R(W) for Acronis TrueImage Deluxe. This is very important as the disk partition data restoration software can only be run from a bootable diskette or CD-R(W). Therefore it is strongly recommended you create either of them. You can also create the bootable diskette or CD-R(W) when the set-up process is finished. If you wish to create a bootable disk/disc, check the Yes, I would like to create bootable rescue media box and press Next. 20 1 : Installing and Starting Work with Acronis TrueImage Deluxe