How to restore an acronis true image system. F11 rescue key and Acronis True Image Recovery Environment on Windows boot

Today began like many others: I woke up, had breakfast, turned on the computer and ... got colder - the usual download “did not work”. Comp zasis - on the black screen there were unhappy system messages.

I immediately remembered that for half a year I was going to install and test ACRONIS true image home. And since the note came to life the second time, I decided that it was not worth tempting fate any more and began to increase my information reliability.

The multifunctional software package ACRONIS True Image Home not only provides backup data, but also provides reliable protection against a wide range of threats, including computer viruses, the installation of an unstable software and failure of hard drives.

With this product, you can create full computer hard drive backups, and backup copies of the most important files and data.

By timely backing up your data, you can, if necessary, fully restore your computer in the event of software or hardware failures, as well as restore any accidentally damaged or deleted files.

The price of 1 license is 499 rubles.

1. Download and install the program

After installing the program and restarting the computer, a shortcut will appear on the Desktop:

2 Click the ACRONIS True…

The ACRONIS True Image Home Main Window will open:

The main part contains "traffic light" stripes and category icons.
The type (color) of the traffic light allows you to assess the current state of the system in relation to backup at a glance. This bar also displays information about the date and time of the last backup performed and its result, as well as whether backup jobs are scheduled or not.

Detailed information about the purpose of the 4 main categories can be obtained from HELP (F1).

And before continuing to use the program, I recommend that you first study at least the first 2 Help sections:

Beginning of work
Archiving and Restoring

The rest - in process of development of the program.

In order to be able to recover lost information, or return the computer to a certain working state, it is necessary create an archive user data or the entire system.

If you are planning protect only certain data(for example, your current project) and you are less concerned about the ability to restore operating system with all settings and applications, back up your files and folders. A small archive size will save disk space or reduce the number of removable media used.

Backup copy ( image) Total system disk will be larger, but will allow you in a few minutes restore system in the event of serious damage to data or equipment. In addition, the process of creating image is generally faster than archiving files and can significantly reduce the time it takes to back up large amounts of data.

Let me give you a few tips that you can use to plan your backup.
The system disk image should be saved in Acronis Secure Zone or, even better, not in partition C: on the main hard drive, but on another hard drive. This provides additional assurance that you will be able to restore the system in the event of a failure of the primary hard drive.

You should also keep your data separate from the operating system and applications, for example, on the D drive. This speeds up the process of creating disk (or partition) images of data, as well as reduces the amount of information that needs to be restored.

Let's start with the main - Backup the entire system disk (C:):

4. In the Backup and Restore window, click the operation Data archiving
(or select the menu item Actions -> Create archive).

You can also start a backup directly from the Windows Explorer window by right-clicking on the desired drive and selecting New from the context menu. Then the program will automatically select the type of backup My computer.

Follow the next steps in the Backup Wizard:

5. In the Backup Type window, select "My Computer" and click the [Next] button.

6. In the Select data to create backups window, select Disks and partitions.
This will create an image of an arbitrary set of disks/partitions.

A disk archive is less compact and takes longer to create than a file archive, but it allows you to restore the system in a matter of minutes after software or hardware failures.

7. In the window Section selection select disk FROM: and click the [Next] button.

8. In the next window File exclusion do not change anything and click the [Next] button

9. Since we are backing up for the first time, we click the [OK] button

The window " Where to save the archive».

The "further" from the copied folders you place the archive, the higher the probability that it will survive in case of data corruption in these folders. For example, saving an archive on a different hard drive will protect it in case the original drive becomes corrupted.

You can also store archives on network drive, FTP server, removable media - this is also reliable, but there are some technical features(See the notes in the Help section Where to save the archive).

As a last resort, you can store archives on your computer in Acronis Secure Zone or in Archive vaults. In this case, you do not need to enter a file name. In order to take advantage archive repository it must first be created using the Archive Vault Creation Wizard. This is done in the 4th category "Controls" (see fig. 3)

Since I have an external hard drive (K :), I will create a "reserv" folder on it and save the archive file in it:

10. Select an external drive (in this example - K:)

11. Click the button [Create a new folder]

12. Enter the name of the folder, for example "reserv" and click the [OK] button

13. Enter the name of the archive file or click the button [Name Generator]:
the "address" of the archive will appear in the Folder field - K:\reserve\MyBackup.tib

The Backup Mode window opens.

15. Since we are backing up for the first time, we select Creating a complete archive and click the [Next] button.

Acronis True Image Home can perform complete, incremental And differential backup.

At complete In a backup, the archive includes all archived data as of the moment the archive was created. A full backup always underlies subsequent incremental or differential backups, and can also be used as a standalone backup. The recovery time for a full backup is minimal compared to the recovery time for incremental and differential backups.

incremental the archive only contains data that has changed since the last full or incremental backup. Therefore, such an archive usually has a much smaller size and is created somewhat faster. But, since it does not contain all the data being backed up, in order to restore it, it is necessary to have all previous incremental archives and the full archive created first. The incremental archives and the full archive must be in the same folder.

Unlike incremental backup, which adds one more file to the existing "chain", when differential copying creates an independent file containing all data changes in relation to the last full archive. As a rule, a differential archive is restored faster than an incremental one, since there is no sequential processing of a long chain of previous archives.

Thus, for ordinary users who are not fond of frequent system changes, it is advisable to occasionally make a full backup of the system, for example, once a month. And if you are only interested in the latest state of the data, in order to restore them in the event of a fatal system failure, it is reasonable to apply regularly (for example, once a week) differential copying. This method is especially effective when the changes occurring in your data are small in relation to the total amount of this data.

This is true for incremental copying. Incremental copying brings the maximum benefit when it is needed. often save the state of the data and be able to return to anyone from these states. Creating a full backup once a month and an incremental backup everyday, you will get the same result as if you did a full backup every day. Incremental archives are much smaller than full or differential archives.

Do not forget that you need to store all incremental and differential archives in same folder where the full archive is located. If you create a new full backup, you will need to save its incremental and differential backups in the same folder as this full backup.

Note

An incremental or differential backup created after disk defragmentation can be much larger than usual. This is because the defragmenter changes the location of the files on the disk, and these changes are reflected in the archive. That's why after defragmenting the disk, it is recommended to re-create a full image.

16. In the next window, leave the option Use default options and click the [Next] button

17. The Archive Comments window will open. If you wish, you can enter your comment or immediately click the [Next] button.

18. In the next window, click the [Proceed] button.

After some time (20 - 30 minutes), the program will please you with a message about the successful creation of the Archive.
From 44GB, an archive of 29GB was obtained.

Congratulations! We have completed the main part of the work.

Let's make one more finishing touch - we will create boot disk.

In some cases, Acronis True Image Home can be launched exclusively from a bootable floppy disk or CD (for example, if the information on the disks is so damaged that the computer cannot be booted).

If you purchased the program on a CD, then this CD is bootable and is sufficient. The installer also offers to create boot disks. However, you can also create them after installation is complete.

You will need a blank writable or rewritable CD or other removable media that your computer can boot from, such as a Zip drive.

Let's create a boot disk on a CD-R blank:

19. Insert a blank disc into the drive.

20. Select menu item Service -> Create a boot disk.

22. Click the [Proceed] button.

After creating the disc, label it and set it aside in a place that excludes the possibility of damage.

For today, that's all!

But in order to get maximum protection further you need to develop your own backup policy in accordance with the characteristics of your system and your tasks, i.e. you should determine: with what regularity and what types of reservations are optimal for you and strictly follow them.

I will share this information later - as I master Acronis.
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As an alternative to the standard Windows functionality for data backup and recovery, the software product from company Acronis work on resuscitation of the operating system can be carried out both in desktop mode and from removable media, and even in its own recovery environment. Just as you can get into the pre-boot troubleshooting mode of Windows 7 by pressing the F8 key during system boot, you can get into the Acronis Recovery Environment by pressing the F11 key during boot.

The Acronis Recovery Environment will be discussed below. Let's consider the functionality Acronis True Image 2016 in Windows preload mode.

Acronis Recovery Environment when booting Windows

Get into the Acronis Recovery Environment when Windows boot much easier than fiddling with the regular system environment. IN Windows versions 8.1 and 10, the moment from the computer self-test to the system boot process is very fast. And the F8 key, as well as the combination Shift + F8, with which, ideally, the standard recovery environment supposedly starts, the operating system simply does not have time to perceive. The Acronis bootloader will also flicker on the monitor screen for a short time, only a couple of seconds, but this time will be enough to press the rescue key F11.

Acronis Recovery Environment when booting Windows- this is the same functionality that True Image offers on bootable removable media created in the desktop mode of the program. This is an opportunity Windows recovery, non-system disk partitions and individual files in the pre-boot mode of Acronis True Image, regardless of the operating system. In the event of a critical failure Windows work, when it stops booting, you can get into the Acronis Recovery Environment without a bootable USB flash drive or DVD, only by pressing the F11 key. And there already carry out an operation to restore the system from a previously saved backup.

The Acronis Recovery Environment, of course, by those same couple of seconds allotted for pressing the F11 key, increases the usual Windows boot time. But it eliminates the need to create and store bootable media. So, many modern PCs and laptops are already equipped without a DVD drive, and in such cases the only bootable media can only be flash drive. If there is no second computer device in the house, so that it can be used to quickly create bootable flash drive Acronis True Image, a separate flash drive will have to be initially sacrificed in case of problems with Windows.

Alas, not all users will be able to use the Acronis Recovery Environment when loading Windows at a critical moment. Many device owners with BIOS new format UEFI will have to forgo its benefits and enable a regular BIOS if they choose to use a tool like a third party recovery environment when booting Windows. In the future, perhaps this problem will be solved.

Activation of Acronis Recovery Environment at Windows startup is carried out inside the True Image desktop program. Below we will consider the operation of the recovery environment using the current version of 2016 of Acronis True Image as of the date of writing this article.

Activating Acronis Recovery Environment

Launch TrueImage.

When using the trial version of True Image 2016, which can be downloaded for free on the official Acronis website and freely tested for a month, click the button.

In our case, there are already two Windows backups stored on the non-system disk partition.

Switch to the program section and click the inscription "More tools".

The system explorer will open with separate True Image utilities. We launch the utility.

In the window for activating the recovery environment when loading Windows, click, respectively,.

Recovery environment activated successfully.

That's it - after that, every time you start Windows, for a couple of seconds we will see the Acronis bootloader window with a notification that you can get into the recovery environment by pressing the F11 key.

Windows Recovery

Having got into the Acronis Recovery Environment using the F11 key, in case of problems with Windows, we can return it to the state from a previously created backup. Press Enter in the boot menu window.

We fall on start page True Image functionality in preload mode. Choose .

In the next window, click "Update Backups" so that all the files on your computer ".tib"- Acronis True Image backup format files - appeared in the table below. If Acronis backups are not detected automatically during scanning, you can specify the path to them manually using the search button below. After the available backups appear in the table below, select the current one, call the context menu on it and select .

Recovery method during Windows resuscitation - disks and partitions. We press "Further".

We put marks on the boot record MBR, and to the section with Windows . We press "Further".

We do not change anything in the recovery configuration. Just click "Further".

In the target disk selection window (the drive to which the data will be restored) in our case, only one is visible HDD. Therefore, there is no need to choose. We press "Further".

The Windows recovery process has started. We can wait until it finishes, or we can use the options automatic shutdown computer or reboot.

After restarting the computer, we will find Windows in the state in which it was saved at the time the just used backup was created.

You can disable Acronis Recovery Environment in exactly the same way as you can enable it. We go to the program section, click the inscription "More tools", run the utility from the system explorer. Only now we press the inscription "Deactivate".

Download Acronis True Image 2016 from the official website.

How can I restore a non-bootable Windows using Acronis True Image 2016 bootable media from a previously created backup? Create a Windows backup with settings, drivers, installed programs and games - a reliable way to save the system and data for further resuscitation in the event of a system failure, virus infection, deletion of important files and a host of other problems. Despite the presence in Windows of the standard functionality for backing up the system, third-party software is used for these purposes in most cases. And users often trust Windows resuscitation to Acronis True Image, which has been the market leader in data backup and recovery software for more than a decade. Having made a backup copy of Windows in advance using Acronis True Image, in case of problems with the system, it can be revived by rolling back to the state from this very backup. Even if Windows won't boot, True Image bootable media will come to the rescue.

We will discuss this entire process in detail below: we will create a backup copy of Windows in Acronis True Image 2016 and restore it using bootable media.

Free trial version of Acronis True Image 2016

In the latest versions of 2015 and 2016, the True Image interface has become simpler and more intuitive than in its predecessor versions. Organization and appearance programs to match Windows 8.1 and 10: the design of the interface is dominated by simple lines and shapes, and large controls simplify touch control. Acronis even claims superb backup and recovery performance, as much as 50% faster than the competition.

Acronis True Image in version 2016 is a paid software product. By purchasing the program, we get not only the functionality of Windows backup, but also a lot of other features:

several ways to restore Windows, including repair at boot by pressing the F11 key;
transferring Windows to a computer with another hardware;
safe mode Windows works like a "sandbox";
other useful features.

Acronis offers a free trial of True Image for a whole month with some functional limitations, which do not include Windows backup and recovery. As well as the possibility of creating bootable media is not limited. Let's take advantage of this free opportunity to the maximum, and first download this very free version True Image 2016 on the official Acronis True Image website.

In order to receive a link to download the trial version, you must provide Acronis with your email address. Subsequently, it will occasionally receive letters informing about Acronis products, promotions, discounts, etc.

After installing and running the program, we can close the login to the Acronis cloud storage account offered from the start and confirm the use of True Image in trial mode.

Create a Windows backup

In the True Image window, we need the first section. click "Entire computer".

In our case, only the system partition with Windows is backed up, so the next choice will be, respectively, "Disks and Partitions".

In the backup source selection window, check only system partition C. Click "OK".

In the window for choosing a backup destination, you must specify the location where the copy of Windows will be stored. The program provides for saving a copy in the process of its creation on:

local space of the computer,
removable media (USB-HDD),
network resources, in particular, in Acronis cloud storage.

What's better? Cloud storage from the creator of the program is practically imposed on users, since this pleasure is paid. However, that the cloud service from Acronis, that any other web resource is not the most reliable place to store data if there is no high-speed Internet. And how, in some cases, inoperable Windows can connect to the Internet? There may also be problems connecting to local network resources. The most reliable place to store backups is an additional internal or external hard drive. A non-system partition on the same hard drive that hosts the system partition with Windows is not the best place to store it, because if this drive fails, you will be left without backups.

In our case, there is no external hard drive, but there is a connected internal HDD, so select "Browse" in the backup destination window.

We will specially allocate one of the partitions on the second internal HDD for storing Windows backups and call this partition Backup to make it easier to navigate when restoring. If, when choosing a backup location in the tree structure of the computer, disk partitions are not opened, a specific path to the folder of the storage directory can be written in the column at the top with the inscription "Save copy to:". After selecting the location for storing the copy, click "OK".

Next, we will see a window for starting the backup process. In the lower left corner of the window there is the “Settings” option, this is the Acronis True Image configuration functionality that allows you to set flexible options - for example, set periodic scheduled backups or select an incremental backup method when only changes are made to each subsequent copy. Also, in the settings, you can exclude certain types of files or directories from the backup, set up duplication of the copy in an alternative location, select a low priority for Acronis True Image to allocate computer resources in parallel with ongoing operations, etc.

In our case, resort to additional settings We will not, but immediately proceed to create a backup copy. Click the "Create a copy" button. By the way, Acronis True Image allows you to delay this moment for several hours in the drop-down list of this button.

During the creation of a backup, at any time you can check the box to turn off the computer and go about your business.

After the operation is completed, the backup copy will appear in the window of the first section of the program. In the same section, you can also start the recovery process from a backup - even Windows, even individual files.

In our case, we will not start the Windows recovery process inside the installed program. Let's complicate the task and create bootable Acronis True Image media in order to consider the process of restoring an unbootable Windows.

Create bootable media

To create bootable media, go to the "Tools" tab of the program and select "Bootable Media Builder".

Since the free trial version of Acronis True Image 2016 is limited to a month of testing, this process should not be shelved. By the way, bootable media will allow you to restore Windows, but being created as part of the free trial version of the program, it will not allow you to create a backup copy, as is provided in the full version of Acronis True Image 2016.

Choose the first type of bootable media.

In the next window, you need to select the media itself directly - a DVD, flash drive or ISO file for storage and subsequent recording on any of the media. If you select a DVD or flash drive, Acronis True Image will carry out the burning process itself. Keeping an entire flash drive for a rainy day is probably an excessive luxury for many. It would be much more practical for these purposes to allocate a DVD disc or create an ISO file that can, for example, be stored on another computer and burned to a USB flash drive at the right time. Plus, Acronis True Image cannot create UEFI flash drives, and for computers with a UEFI BIOS, in any case, you will need software with the ability to create bootable UEFI flash drives.

In our case, select the ISO file and specify the path to save it.

Click the "Get Started" button.

The bootable media has been created.

Windows Recovery

Suppose that black day has come, and Windows does not boot. We go into the BIOS and set the computer to boot from a DVD or flash drive created in Acronis True Image. The start window of the bootable media will offer several options for further actions, from which you need to select the launch Acronis True Image 2016 with the appropriate bit depth.

In the recovery window, click either "Update Backups" to have Acronis True Image find files of its own format, or use the button "Search Backup" specify the path to the desired file.

As soon as the backups appear in the Acronis True Image window, call the right context menu and click "Restore".

Choosing a recovery method: in our case, we are talking about resuscitation of Windows, and not folders and files, so we choose "Recover disks and partitions". Click "Next".

Selecting items to restore: in this window, check both the system partition C and the MBR boot record. Click "Next".

In the window for setting recovery settings, in our case, no changes will be made, and, in principle, you will have to change something only if you transfer Windows as a separate partition to another connected hard drive. Click "Next".

If several internal hard drives are connected to the computer, then Acronis True Image will ask you to specify one of them for recovery boot record MBR. Specify and click "Next".

The preparation is completed, we can proceed directly to the Windows recovery process.

The recovery operation progress window is equipped with options to automatically restart and shut down the computer after the process is completed. You can use them if necessary.

Recovery completed successfully.

Now we can set the BIOS to boot from the hard disk again and test the reanimated Windows.

Have a great day!

So. Another article on Acronis. We have already installed a fresh Windows, set everything up, and everything works fine. But something bad happened. Virus, prono banner, or just ruined Windows… What to do? Easily. We restore the image that we created with Acronis.

So. Windows has crashed, there are a lot of viruses on it, it’s just terribly dull ... What should I do?

We restart the computer and see a screen that asks you to press F11 to start Acronisa. This is how the security zone works.

We press F11 and Acronis starts to boot. After downloading, a window will appear that will suggest actions. In my case it is either to launch Acronis True Image Home or Windows startup. Choose Acronis True Image Home

The following screenshots are taken from under Windows, but you will have to do everything in the Acronis Secure Zone. The settings are the same. 🙂

Choose System Restore

We will be greeted by the System Restore Wizard. Click next.

In the next step, select the location where the archive with the image is stored to restore the system. In our case, this is Acronis Secure Zone. Click Next

Select: Recover disks or partitions and click next.

Specify the partition or hard drive to restore the image. In my case, this is drive C:

We select the disk partition on which we will write the image. We select the C: drive, because the image was originally taken from the C: drive, and information can be stored on steel disks. And if you select another drive (for example, D:), then all information on the D: drive will be erased without the possibility of recovery.

Specify the type of partition to be restored. Drive C: Must be Active. If you specify a logical one, there is a chance that the hard drive itself will no longer be detected and it will have to be hooked up to another computer for recovery.

In the next step, do not touch anything and click next.

Use the default recovery options and click next.

After that, click proceed ... And the restoration of the image will begin.

When the system restore is complete, a sign will appear. Click OK on it. We reboot. And we get a newly configured system, with all the programs and files that were on drive C: at the time

It is believed that on new computer or the same one, but after replacing significant components, it is better to roll Windows over a new one. But what if you really don’t want to lose a system finely tuned for yourself, configure it again, install a bunch of software, and you need to move to another hardware? In this case, you can do it in different ways:

Create your own distribution kit on the basis of the accumulated Windows - untie the components and pack the system into an installation image, as we once did with the Dozens example;

Connect the hard drive to a new computer, clone Windows and, if there are problems starting it on the new hardware, try to fix them;

Make a backup copy of the system, restore it on another computer and, again, play with the elimination of problems that may appear;

Resort to the previous two options, but using technology Acronis Universal Restore.

About this technology and its application, in fact, I propose, friends, to talk below.

About technology

Acronis Universal Restore is a tool to eliminate errors that may appear when restoring a non-native Windows backup on a PC or laptop due to the presence of inappropriate drivers in it. The technology was created by the developer company Acronis primarily for the business environment in order to simplify the deployment of a properly configured operating system on corporate machines. Like the regular utility Windows preparation for deployment on other Sysprep devices, Universal Restore decouples components. But it can also do what Sysprep can't - install controller drivers hard drives and other components from the custom distribution. And exactly, friends, from a custom distribution. Universal Restore is just a technology for adapting Windows to new hardware, but by no means a completely working system restore tool with a database of all kinds of drivers. Only if we specify the path to the folder where we store the drivers necessary for the operation of a separate filling of the target computer, this technology can help us.

Universal Restore is not a back-up mechanism with the initial unlinking of components, as many believe. Detaching components and installing drivers on a new computer is carried out after restoring the system from a backup. This technology works in tandem with the Acronis regular backup mechanism. As, however, it can work in tandem with backup or cloning mechanisms from other developers. Or even can be applied without system transfer in cases like controller mode change hard drive. This technology simply exists in the form of an add-on for Acronis bootable media, which, in fact, ties the user to using the backup mechanism from Acronis.

Well, now let's look at a real example of how this technology works. Let's create a backup copy of Windows on the source computer using the Acronis bootable media, restore the system on the target computer, then adapt it to the new hardware using Universal Restore.

Preparatory actions

Let me remind you, friends, Universal Restore is only a mechanism for injecting drivers into a Windows ported to another hardware. Ensuring the availability of the drivers themselves is our task. Either connect the DVD that came with the laptop to the target computer, or motherboard PC. Or place the folder with the distribution of the drivers downloaded from the Internet, say, on the same media where the system backup will be stored.

Note: if you are transferring Windows from an old PC or laptop, where the IDE hard disk controller mode was set in the BIOS, and the AHCI mode is on the new device, be sure, friends, take care of the AHCI driver installers. The same applies to the situation of transferring the system to a device with a RAID array.

Creating bootable media with Acronis Universal Restore

Backup tools from Acronis, including the Universal Restore add-on, can be found on board various artisanal Live disks. But the official, aka honest, 100% safe way to use this technology is to create a carrier inside the one installed in Windows environment and activated Acronis True Image. Create bootable media with Universal Restore in the environment current version True Image 2018 is available as follows.

Note: friends, in order to create bootable media from Acronis True Image, it is essential that it be activated. Media created in the trial version of the program will provide access to the Universal Restore add-in, but will not work in terms of creating a backup.

In the True Image environment, go to the "Tools" section, click "Acronis Universal Restore".

Click "Download".

We download the program to the computer using the link that opens in the browser. We install this program. And we launch. This is the Universal Restore Bootable Media Builder.

We follow the step by step wizard.

We leave everything by default.

Selecting components. Two components are of fundamental importance here - True Image (backup software) and Universal Restore technology. It is also important to choose 64-bit versions of them so as not to bother with disabling UEFI in the BIOS of computers with this interface active. But you can select all the components, it all weighs no more than 900 MB.

We select the media - a USB flash drive, an optical disc, or, as in my case, an ISO file.

In the case of choosing an ISO, give the file a name and specify the path to save it.

At this stage, IDE, AHCI, RAID controller drivers can be included in the media in case the system is transferred to a more modern, on the contrary, older or with a RAID-array computer.

We continue.

The carrier has been created.

Create a Windows backup on the source computer

Make a backup Windows means Acronis is possible both inside the system, using the interface of the installed True Image (described in detail), and using the functionality on board the bootable media. I, friends, will choose the last way.

We start the computer from bootable media. On systems with an active UEFI interface, we launch True Image in such an ascetic menu by entering the number 2.

If the regular BIOS mode is active, True Image is launched in the menu with a graphical interface.

Select disk backup.

Specify system partitions: three partitions (usually) for GPT disks and two partitions for MBR disks.

Create a new backup archive and click the browse button.

Specify the disk partition or media on which the backup will be stored. Give the backup a name.

In the summary of assigned operations, we check whether we have indicated everything correctly. Let's start creating a backup.

As a result, we turn off the computer and connect its internal disk or removable media to the target computer.

Restoring Windows from a backup on a target computer

Boot the target computer from the Acronis bootable media. And, as in the previous case, we select the True Image environment. Now we follow the "Recovery" section and look for our backup.