Which version makes a truly bootable cloned drive?
Sorry, but I was not able to find an answer to that question via a search. Acronis cloning allowed you to clone a disk that when installed in place of a C:\ drive, the system would boot automatically.
The comparisons I have seen regarding how this works between versions is not clear on that point.
Thanks
Comments
Sorry, my use of the term "automatically" lacked context. In my mind, a clone should be capable of being swapped (off line/power off) with the system drive that it was cloned from. IE, the original drive removed from the system and the clone plugged in and voila, a working system with a clone of the system drive now being the system drive.
My original question still begs an answer.
Thanks again...
When you say "Disk Clone on all versions of Aomei and every cloned disk is bootable.", I'm having difficulty with that when comparing the properties of the disk clone to the original C:\ drive.
The clone drive has 24GB less than the C:\ drive and the Windows folder is missing 7000+- files.
Is there any documentation on the differences between "Disk Clone" and "System Clone"?
After doing some additional searching, I ran into this thread:
https://www.aomeitech.com/forum/discussion/1045/difference-between-disk-clone-and-system-clone
Unfortunately, that thread ended with the same question I'm asking not being answered.
I had previously read that info and still came away confused. Here's what the "Disk Clone" says: "third party software which aims at system, partition/volume, disk as well as file/folder backup and restore.".
And here's what the "System Clone" says: "will clone entire operating system including system reserved partition and hidden related partitions to the target place."
The only inference I can make from those two statements is that the "System Clone" doesn't do apps/docs???
What I have not been able to figure out is why my "Disk Clone" test drive is short 24GB as I mentioned above.
system=system + c partition
disk = system + c partition + any other data partition on that disk.
no other data partitions? --> system = disk ergo disk = system
further: system restore does not wipe the whole disk, disk restore always does.
Where is the documentation for that?
Not going to the trouble to find exactly which files are missing and whether or not the cloned drive boots, I'll wait until I see the documentation.
The good news is that my c:\ drive is healthy and working properly.
My experience with Cloned drives is they contain a true/total image of the source drive and that does not appear to be the case here??
Will shut down my PC here this afternoon and plug the eSata drive into a test machine and see if it boots.
Did try to find the missing files and found some folders but no specific files. The hibernate file came across, but the pagefile.sys (8GB) did not.
The SoftwareDistribution folder itself transferred, but that folder accounts for 6808 of the missing 7000+ files.
That helps, but C:\users lost 72 folders and 539 files??? Someone who has all the answers should really chime in here. Sent a link to this thread to support for some input.
Thanks for the help...
Here's is the response from support - appears that there is no documentation or that the respondent missed the point entirely, or???
___________________________________________
Thank you so much for contacting us.
If you have any other questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us back.
Megan
AOMEI Support Team
www.aomeitech.com
Did try the cloned drive on a spare pc (exactly the same) and it did boot, but was really slow getting to the desktop. Didn't do much with it as I need to get to the bottom of the missing files.
What is the procedure to clone a drive from a CD/USB? Maybe that's the answer for making a complete clone (read that as no missing files)?
Thanks...
Just a suggestion. I used to use Norton Ghost 15 which in my opinion was one of the best backup programs in its day. It was discontinued after Win 7. I still read the forums there and a lot of former users have moved on to Macrium Reflect Free version (google it) for their backup needs. It's one of the most recommended programs for backups and cloning. It is more complicated to use than Aomei but has more options. Maybe that's what you're looking for.
Have decided to upgrade my Acronis True Image. Cloned 200GB drive (1TB size) to various hard drives, even a 5300rpm laptop drives, and it took less that one half hour. Standard version took 6 hours for the same 200GB and the image was as close as anyone could expect.
Sorry it didn't work out.