I got an email this morning from Acronis, saying they had a new version of True Image available. It was touted as having better file synching capabilities, and compatibility with Win 8. Yesterday, I had successfully created a backup of a Win 8 partition using True Image 2010, so I wasn’t too impressed with the Win 8 compatibility claim (I never thought they’d break something). I’ve been evaluating programs like the new server version of Vice Versa and GoodSync, so I was interested in trying out that part of True Image 3012. I ordered a copy and downloaded it. It’s a big program for a simple utility: over 200 MB.
I tried to install it over the old version, but it didn’t like that:
It did not offer to remove the old versions, as any polite installation program would. I removed them manually. By the way, Win 8 is making me take a few steps backward. If you’re on the desktop, the fastest way to get to the control panel is to key Windows-R to get the run a program window, and type “control”. The second time you do it, you’ll only have to type the c.
Installation went fine, although the installation program made me go look up the serial number of the old program which it couldn’t see because it made me uninstall it. . I started using the program by trying to create a partition image and writing it to a network folder. I was surprised when True Image asked for credentials:
I entered a legitimate set of Active Directory credentials. It didn’t like them:
I set up a network drive, using the new Windows Explorer, which now uses a menu bar like Office. To map a drive, you click on the Computer icon in the left pane, then click on the Computer menu item in the top, and you’ll see the mapping icon in the menu bar that comes up.
I tested the mapped drive,and it worked fine. I’ve noticed that network transfers in Win 8 are substantially faster than in Win 7 on the two notebook computers I’ve tested — 80MB/s vs 30 or 40 over gigabit Ethernet.
Back in True Image, I pointed the program at the mapped drive. My first indication of a problem was when it indicated that the drive was disconnected. It still showed me folders in the supposedly disconnected drive, which was passing strange:
Trying to do a backup resulted in an error:
I tried everything several time with the same result. Time to call Acronis support.
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