Acronis True Image Home 2011 used to create a bootable CD in 5 minutes

Scope of this guide

This guide is for people in a hurry to copy some or all files from a failed hard drive. Using this method will save a couple of days learning how to make an alternative bootable CD. Since most-recent computers do not have legacy floppy drives, only bootable CD/DVD & USB creation topics are cover in this guide.

Operating systems considered

Windows XP, Windows 2003 and 2008 Server, Windows Vista and Windows 7

Problem Definition

When hard disk crashes for the first time it is not advisable to start up computer afterwards. Data could be damaged after each normal start up when the source of the crash is a virus or hardware failure. Windows has two incompatible file formats FAT and NTFS. Starting the damaged computer in the correct format or operating system is a requirement to recover files.

Approach

A boot disk enables to start a computer using a clean environment instead of using the damaged hard disk. Scenarios to boot from:

Using a second hard disk

Pros: It is easy to copy from one drive to other once properly configured. Cons: This approach requires having a spare hard disk. A second hard disk requires a couple of hours to install the operating system also some wiring to the failed disk is necessary.

Using a bootable CD/DVD

Pros: It is inexpensive, easy to store when not used. Cons: Files in the damaged hard disk can not be moved to the CD/DVD. In order to save files, a third device is a requirement.

Using a bootable USB flash drive

Pros: It is not as expensive as a second hard drive. Files from the damaged hard disk can be directly copied to the flash drive. Cons: The capacity of the flash drive limits the number of files to copy

Using a legacy floppy disk

Pros: (???) Cons: Modern computers and laptops do not have a floppy drive.

Solution

There is plenty of information on how to create a bootable floppy disk for older operating systems like ms-dos, Win 95, and Win 98. Unfortunately, such bootable is inadequate for the scope of this guide. On the other hand, some solutions make an extraordinarily limited bootable disk. Moving files through the network from the damaged computer to other PC requires network software that a basic bootable CD might not have. Also in case a SCSI hard disk is present, SCSI setup files must be included in the boot disk; otherwise, the hard disk will not be detected.

Create a bootable CD/DVD using Acronis True Image Home 2011 (ATIH)

ATIH is one of the few backup & recovery software titles which is capable to create a bootable CD/DVD/USB, but unlike other solutions, ATIH lets the user move the backup to any other PC. One file or the entire hard disk can be copied to other PC via the local network or FTP. In addition, the bootable disk created with ATIH includes USB and SCSI drives.

1. Click Here to Download ATIH.
2. Install ATIH.
3. Open "Acronis True Image Home" from the desktop icon.
4. Go to option "main screen". Show
5. Click on "Create bootable media". Show
6. Click "next" button in the first step (Welcome screen). Show
7. Verify check box in option "Acronis True Image Home". Show
This action will select all the drives for USB, PC Card (Formerly PCMCIA), SCSI Hard Drives and Network Drives. This action will include a report which allows you to collect information about your system in case of any program problem.
8. Click "next" button at "Bootable media option". Show
9. Select the drive to make bootable. Show
A list of your current drives will appear (USB flash drive and CD/DVD)
10. Click "Proceed" button to start making a bootable CD/DVD. Show

Price

ATIH is not a free solution price may vary from $29.00 US to $49.00 US (depending on seasonal discount). The "bootable media builder" is just one of the features of this backup and recovery software, but other appealing features can be found in ATIH. Click here to check current price of ATIH

How to boot from CD and copy files from the damaged disk?

1. Insert bootable CD in damaged PC.
2. Make sure BIOS is configured to boot from CD. Read how to configure BIOS
3. Once ATIH started select option "Acronis True Image Home". Show
4. Select "Backup Files & Folders" to backup specific files. Show
Select Backup "My Disks" if you want to backup the entire disk
5. Select the folder or folders to backup and click "next" button. Show
6. Select the target location by clicking "browse" button. Show
Target destination may be other PC in the network or an FTP server.
7. Create FTP connection if target folder is in FTP server. Show
7. Or select target folder in network PC. Show
Enter username and password in case destination folder is not public.
8. Click "generate name" and click "ok" button. Show
This action will suggest an output file name with extension .tlb
9. Click "next" button after setting target backup location. Show
Additional options are available at left bottom corner.
10. Click "Proceed" Button. Show
11. Select backup method and click "Proceed" button. Show
12. Double click on the created .tlb file in the target backup folder. Show
Important: ATIH must be installed in local PC in order to explore the backup file.
13. Select files then copy & paste in one of your local folders. Show
Important: ATIH must be installed in local PC in order to explore the backup file.

Scope of ATIH

Files can become corrupt when a damaged hard drive boots several times after the first crash error. Fixing corrupted files is something that ATIH can not do.

Conclusions

When a hard disk failure occurs, it is worthy to have a fast and reliable method to continue working at other computer with the most recent files. Days of work can be lost when starting a PC without a backup after the first system crash. I was able to boot my Windows Vista laptop with a bootable CD created in windows XP; therefore, one boot disk should be enough to boot on any current windows version.

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