EZB Forum » Printable Version of Topic » HOWTO: Integrate Acronis tools to Multiboot CD

Forum: EasyBoot
Topic: HOWTO: Integrate Acronis tools to Multiboot CD
started by: Incroyable HULK

Posted by Incroyable HULK on Dec. 18 2006,22:39

NOTE: this in an excerpt from < my blog >

I am using EasyBoot to make my multiboot CD/DVD and I here I discuss some various method to integrate Disk Director and True Image as part of my project. I will focus on three methods: easiest, regular and cleanest.

Easiest - the fastest way to get it working (with Acronis Selection Menu)
Regular - a standard (obsolete?) way (with Acronis Selection Menu)
Cleanest - a way to launch from your menu (without Acronis Menu)

To get the files requires with this tutorial, you'll need to use the Acronis Media Builder which is part of the program installation (unless you deselected it). We'll use it to build our ISO files or Floppy disk Images. Launch the media builder from your acronis folder or use the "Create Bootable Rescue Media" in the "Tools" menu of your favorite Acronis program.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Easiest

Advantages
+ fastest method
+ simplest method
+ easy to keep up to date
Disavantages
- dependency on BCDW (Bootable CD Wizard)
- require more space than cleanest method
Requirement
1 - Latest version of EasyBoot which include the BCDW module

Steps

A - Use the Acronis Media Builder and choose the products you want and save it as an ISO file (name with 8 or less caracter). Copy to your ezboot folder
B - Make sure the bcdw.bin file is present in your ezboot folder
C - In your EasyBoot menu, use the following command to launch the ISO:

CODE

bcdw /ezboot/acronis.iso

Now you can compile your project and test with free virtualization product like VMware Server (recommended) or MS Virtual PC. This will allow you to test and make sure it is working properly before burning to a real CD and using it on various computer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regular

Advantages
+ no dependency on BCDW
+ method used for a long time
+ relatively easy to keep up to date
Disavantages
- requires UltraISO
- method which requires the most disk space
Requirement
1 - Latest version of EasyBoot which include the BCDW module
2 - Latest version of UltraISO

Steps
A - Use the Acronis Media Builder and choose the products you want and save it as an ISO file (name with 8 or less caracter). Copy to your ezboot folder
B - Open your ISO file with UltraISO and select "Save Boot File..." from the "Bootable" menu. You will be prompted for the location to save this BIF file so select your ezboot folder.
C - Still using UltraISO, select the CD-ROM icon in the left pane (upper left corner) and press F4 (or right click folder and select "Extract To...") and you will be prompted for a location to extract the visible files and folders in the ISO (if any, like the Recovery Manager folder). Theses files or folders must be at the root of your CD (usualy Disk1) not inside the ezboot floder.
D - In your EasyBoot menu, use the following command to launch the ISO:

CODE

bootinfotable;run acronis.bif

Now you can compile your project and test with free virtualization product like VMware Server (recommended) or MS Virtual PC. This will allow you to test and make sure it is working properly before burning to a real CD and using it on various computer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cleanest

Advantages
+ launch Acronis program directly from your menu (no Acronis selection menu)
+ lowest disk space usage
Disavantages
- longest method! (I warned you!)
- harder to maintain
- requires floppy disks or a virtual floppy drive
Requirement
1 - Latest version of EasyBoot which include the BCDW module
2 - Latest version of WinImage
3 - 1.44MB floppy drive and disks OR a virtual floppy drive (like FileDisk included with WinImage)

Steps
A - Use the Acronis Media Builder and choose only 1 product you want and insert your first empty floppy (or use a virtual floppy drive). Let the media builder finish the first diskette and copy the files from the floppy drive to a temporary folder named SOURCE. The thing you will notice is that Windows still have those files in memory so there is no actual reading of the floppy!
B - Do the same for the rest of the floppy required for your Acronis product.
C - Use EasyBoot to create a floppy image of the FIRST diskette (under "Tools" select "Make Floppy Image...")
D - Use EasyBoot to create a floppy image to the size required by the number of diskettes and use the floppy image you created at step D as the SEED image (under "Tools" select "Create New Floppy Image...").
E - Open this new oversized floppy image (empty) with WinImage
F - use the INJECT option and add all the files from the SOURCE folder
G - save
that's it! No more tampering with diskettes.
H - In your EasyBoot menu, use the following command to launch the ISO:

CODE

run acronis.img

Posted by joe941988 on Apr. 08 2007,22:11

You can also use the easiest method to boot Active@ Boot Disk.

Posted by Hamy on Jul. 24 2007,13:13

Acronis use a very very very speciall boot sector. ( After 2 working days ( for me, each working day is about 14 hours!), I mean it). I tried every thing that you can imagin. injectin boot sectors, repairing TOC, simulating hard, using none standard floppy images, decompress faking files, compairing boot sectors in diffrent devices, compairing boot sectors with bootwiz.sys and so on... but the result was always the same. I think your cleanest way may not work on newest version ( disk director 10 ). but bcdw worked just fine. wow, I can't believe it. after 2 days I found the Solution in this topic. Thank you for your describtion and of course thanks Alex Kopylov for his perfect simulator.

Posted by AhrimanSefid on Nov. 16 2009,07:14

Hi Dear.
Plz Help For Fix Error.

Posted by balder on Nov. 21 2009,11:32

@AhrimanSefid

Quote: “Plz Help For Fix Error.”

I don’t know what you used for menu commando in EasyBoot

– and you didn’t tell what file you launched

is it a large floppy image

or is it ISO-file

and if ISO file which one

Anyway here is a “standard procedure” to integrate Acronis latest possibilities (creating rescue ISO-files)
Do it this way:
1. Create “rescue ISO-file” using Acronis “Bootable Rescue Media Builder” (you have this option in Acronis)
2. Put created ISO in folder ezboot
3. Use menu command in EasyBoot: bcdw /ezboot/restore.iso
Note: you may need to adjust file name “restore.iso “ to the one you get when creating ISO file

balder

Posted by wanako1 on Apr. 09 2011,21:41

Thanks
I Will learn from all of you!!

Posted by tridy on Feb. 05 2012,06:54

(balder @ Nov. 21 2009,16:32)

QUOTE

thanks, it worked perfectly

Posted by tridy on Feb. 07 2012,01:10

I actually got a problem with Acronis. It's a recovery disk from Acronic True Image Home 2012. It works from ISO (Oracle VM) but it does not work from USB drive. I tried both Oracle VM and a real PC.

When I select Acronis from menu, it gives me the following error:

any ideas about what could be the problem here or how can I investigate it?

thanks

Posted by balder on Feb. 07 2012,04:35

@tridy

Quote: "I actually got a problem with Acronis"

I tested ; 'Acronis-True-Image-Home_2012_15.0.0_Build_5545.iso' (rescue ISO-file)

I have no problem make it up and run

I used this method:

1. Copied ISO to folder EZBOOT

2. Used menu command in EasyBoot menu: run acronis.iso (or whatever name you use to acronis iso-file)

I only checked 'Joliet' when creating ISO in EasyBoot.
Note: I have 'Joliet' constantly checked, as it is needed in plenty of knoppix\linux distros :cool:

When 'Burn' to USB stick I tested:

1. USB-HDD+ without checking 'Create Boot Partition'

2. USB-HDD+ v2 but checked both 'Create Boot Partition' and 'Deep Hidden'

I have no problem launching acronis from EasyBoot menu from both alternatives

Some info regarding 'bcdw'-command:
You cannot use 'bcdw' command from USB as 'bcdw' cannot be used to FAT32\NTFS file systems - only to CD\DVD-units

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 07 2012,08:04

Thanks for the answer. With Joilet checked I get VM crashing when I attach ISO (not the FlashDrive).

here are the screenshots of the steps and the error that VM shows when I am trying to select Acronis from menu:

<

>

and here is acronis.iso running separate mapped as ISO file on the same VM:

<

>

Clicking on the images should open the bigger priview.

So, I am clueless for now about the problem. Are there any special settings that I need to adjust when creating a disc from Acronis?

thanks again.

Posted by balder on Feb. 07 2012,08:11

@tridy

Quote: "I am clueless for now about the problem"

Please, if not already done - test with a 'real' boot of your USB stick

You are also recommended to use the latest release of Easyboot (v_6.5.2.695)
Same to UltraISO - use v_9.5.2.2836

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 07 2012,13:37

You are right, it works better with the real computer boot.

Acronis now boots but does not get to the screen that says "What would you like to do? Back Up / Recover" (I think after searching for the hard drives) the screen turns black and it stays like that.

Acronis mounted ISO works as expected.

Could you try your version to see if it goes the whole way, please.

Thanks.

P.S. I updated both UltraIso and EasyBoot to the latest versions.

Posted by balder on Feb. 07 2012,15:41

@tridy

Quote: "Could you try your version to see if it goes the whole way, please"

Done! And working excellent - as expected

If still having problem test using my script 'easyboot-iso.script' to integrate acronis.iso-file :cool:

Note: DO NOT check 'Run ISO from RAM' in script as this is pointless!

When 'Burn' build to USB, use USB-HDD+ and uncheck 'Create Boot Partition' and 'Deep Hidden' because we cannot use these options, as the 'grub-loader-mechanism' used in script, cannot run from Boot partition that EasyBoot create

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 07 2012,19:14

It was so close

.

I ran the script and saved iso. Mounted and tried it on a virtual machine - works perfectly!

So, I wrote the image to USB Stick and tried to boot my notebook. Acronis boots, shows splash screens and just like before a black screen and no info.

However I was able to record a video and got the error text that appears for one second just before the black screen is shown:

<

>

bin/ipwatchd: error while loading shared libraries: libpcap.so. 1: cannot open shared object file. No Setup AVD devices.

libcap.so is missing, it seems. but it is not in the image:

<

>

any ideas why it works with ISO on a virtual drive and not from written image to USB stick? any ideas about the error message?

thanks

Posted by balder on Feb. 08 2012,00:28

@tridy

Quote: "So, I wrote the image to USB Stick and tried to boot my notebook."

Then test this:

1. Use my script 'easyboot-usb_v2.script'

2. Point to acronis.iso when script asks for file to use

Test if this works. If not - then it can be something wrong with your USB stick

If you have a second stick -test that one :cool:

Note: you have in script 'easyboot-usb_v2.script' a separate test-button: "Test USB in qemu"
Check for "Allocate 512MB RAM" to make sure you have enough RAM to run Acronis in this 'Virtual test' system.

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 08 2012,01:28

In the emulator, it shows the same message but then the process goes on properly and I got to the next Acronis menu:

<

>

That probably proves that USB stick works properly. I was wondering if you have the same message when you are running it on your machine?

I will try my stick on another computer at work today to see if it will boot properly there.

If Acronis works just on some computers, I should probably get Ghost as another option for USB drive.

I will write more later after the experiment on another computer.

thanks

Posted by balder on Feb. 08 2012,01:43

@tridy

Quote: "I will try my stick on another computer at work today to see if it will boot properly there"

Good idea :;):

Quote: "I should probably get Ghost as another option for USB drive"

Even an better idea, as I'm a great fan of Ghost and - in my opinion - the very best choice to use

Quote: "I was wondering if you have the same message when you are running it on your machine?"
No I don't receive this message!
--------------------------------------
Notebooks isn't the very best to test such builds

I always test to stationary computer as BIOS to such motherboards is a little bit better designed.
Hmmm... If I could get my hands on those BIOS manufactures :angry:

He, he no hard feelings - but sometimes its very frustrating when 'things go wrong'

------------------------------------
Note: in script built-in test to USB device is a little bit slow - have patience when using that test facility.
On the other, you don't need to reboot computer which take some time as well

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 08 2012,03:30

I tried it at work and I get the same error but it continues properly after that, just like in the case of script build-in test. So, it's kinda shaky but it seems to work on some machines.

Since you don't get this error message that I have with (note that this libpcap.so error message comes just for a second or so and then it disappears), I am wondering if you actually have libpcap.so file inside of acronis iso? I am trying to figure out the source of the problem. Is there actually a file missing and is it possible to solve it? Search for the file inside acronis installation on the computer and copy it to the image or download it, etc. etc.

The thing is that I am creating a bootable flash drive to send to my parents that have Eee Pc without an optical drive. I want to install Windows 7 and then make an image of drive. So, I cannot really risk having something that might or might not work. So, today, I will try to integrate Ghost 15 into EasyBoot as well, just in case Acronis fails.

So, now I will have to find the right post on how to use Ghost 15 with EasyBoot

.

thanks for the help

Posted by balder on Feb. 08 2012,03:54

@tridy

Quote: "So, now I will have to find the right post on how to use Ghost 15 with EasyBoot "

Solution to Ghost15
Copy Ghost15.iso (rescue-iso-file) to folder ezboot and use menu command: run ghost.iso (or whatever name you use to iso)

However I'm a little bit confused

Did you test using solution in post nr,15 to acronis.iso (skipping Easyboot and directly launch Acronis.iso)

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 08 2012,04:01

QUOTE

However I'm a little bit confused

Did you test using solution in post nr,15 to acronis.iso (skipping Easyboot and directly launch Acronis.iso)

no, no. I used the EasyBoot created image (an image that was created with the help of running script for Acorins.iso that created the ISO\ACRONIS\ACRONIS.img + iso files) to write to usb and tested it with usb script as you suggested.

Posted by balder on Feb. 08 2012,04:08

@tridy

Quote: "I used the EasyBoot created image"

Please test solution in post nr;15 to make sure there isn't some problem with your installed Easyboot configuration

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 08 2012,04:15

For the sake of experiment I tried to boot a virtual machine just from Acronis.iso. It does it, but it displays the same libpcap.so error during the boot process. So, this isolates the problem to Acronis. There is nothing wrong that EasyBoot or scripts do. The problem is the generation of rescue iso by Acronis engine that does not include the file with the image.

If you could look inside your acronis.iso, do you have this file? Since you do not see the same error coming, you probably have the file inside iso.

I am not sure that this missing file causes my notebook not to boot to Acronis, but I would like to try to fix it.

Posted by balder on Feb. 08 2012,04:22

@tridy

Quote: "If you could look inside your acronis.iso, do you have this file?"

I do not have such file in my acronis.iso

How about find and download another acronis.iso

It could some 'scratch' to ISO-file

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 08 2012,04:34

Aaaaaalright

, I will try to find another acronis.iso file

, to see if I get the same problem with the missing file.

Posted by tridy on Feb. 08 2012,08:38

I had 3 builds that I tested by mounting them to VM and booting from ISO.

I tried builds 6131 and 6154, and they had libpcap.so problem.
Only 5545 is the one that does not have this problem.

Ghost 15 seems to work perfectly from EasyBoot generated ISO.

Now, I need to get home and write image to USB stick and try to boot my notebook with it.

It's a pity though that it is not possible to hide the boot partition, since my parents could mess up files by accident.

Posted by balder on Feb. 08 2012,09:37

@tridy

Quote: "It's a pity though that it is not possible to hide the boot partition"

Eeeee, I think you misunderstood me

You can check 'Create Boot Partition' and check 'Deep Hidden' (use 'USB-HDD+ v2') to completely hide EasyBoot and of course set password in EasyBoot to avoid scenario quote: "since my parents could mess up files by accident" :;):

He, he you must starting to trust your parents

Note: you cannot fully use qemu test facility in my script to if having Ghost15.iso 'onboard' the build as 500MB RAM is to little to make it run fully out (you get in the end BSD)

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 08 2012,15:01

I have written the image to USB stick and tried on the notebook. however it fails to boot event with acronis iso that does not have the mentioned error. So I must admit this is notebook/bios issue that it does not want to boot acronis. It does start Ghost 15 and Win7 setup properly.

QUOTE

I tried that and Acronis does not event start. I don't think it will be possible to hide a partition that needs to run Acronis. Or should I try other methods?

I was thinking about letting my parents to store some other information (photos, documents, backups) on the same USB if the parition would be hidden. From time to time they want to take USB stick with pictures and go to photo place where they make paper photos. Without a hidden partition it would be risky.

Otherwise, I am pretty satisfied so far. I have:
1. Win7 setup,
2. Acronis True Image Home 2012
3. Ghost 15 (in case Acronis fails on their computer).

Posted by balder on Feb. 08 2012,16:04

@tridy

Quote: "I don't think it will be possible to hide a partition that needs to run Acronis"

It is fully possible - because I tested for a couple of minutes ago - works okay :;):

Files and folders (easyboot build) is 'Super Hided' - all i can notice is an unallocated area to USB stick.
And further more, I cannot access files or folders whatsoever as it is an 'unallocated area' not visible

However I'm unsure if setup of Win7 is working from unallocated area of disk - but most likely (no harm testing - as you always can abort installation during setup).

And ghost15 works and ghost11.5 DOS-version can also run from unallocated area.

Note: This unallocated area to disk is 'allocated' by a kind of 'fake' partition table :cool:

And if you format USB stick, only the allocated area of USB stick is formatted :laugh:

The unallocated area (EasyBoot build) is not touched, as there is nothing Windows can format (no partition to format - it is hided to Windows) :cool:

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 08 2012,16:45

really interesting
when I use write disc image with USV-HDD+ v2 / checked 'Create Boot Partition' / checked 'Deep Hidden', only Ghost 15 is able to run. The rest fails on all three: notebook, VM, and QEMU:

<

>

so, the first thing I need to make sure that I format USB stick correctly. I use FAT32 with Default allocation size (which gets set to 8192 bytes). Is this the correct format?

Then I am wondering why Win7 and Acronis aren't able to boot?
- In case of Win7 it is looking for boot\bcd file which is there.
- In case of Acronis it just shows the the grub command line.

Posted by balder on Feb. 08 2012,18:18

@tridy

Quote: "only Ghost 15 is able to run"

Ghost15 is based on Vista (nt6-system) and Win7 is a nt6-system as well

I'll se if I can occupy some time tomorrow to test setup of Win7 :;):

Quote: "I use FAT32 with Default allocation size (which gets set to 8192 bytes). Is this the correct format?"

It doesn't matter what file system your format USB stick to - EasyBoot force write to FAT32 (same to unallocated area).
If you format your USB stick to NTFS and choose to 'hide' Easyboot build - then the unallocated area (hided partition) occupy needed space from NTFS area.

Let's say you have a EasyBoot build that is 2 GB in size and you use a 8GB USB stick that you earlier formatted to NTFS.
You choose to 'hide' when writing that 2GB build (creating 2GB invisible unallocated area) - you will notice there is only 6GB left of the NTFS-partition.
And if you chose to from time to time format that 6GB NTFS-partition, the EasyBoot build is still on USB stick (on the unallocated=hided area of USB stick)

Note1: you only need to check 'Create Partition' to get the same result as above - the 'Deep Hidden' check-box is only to 'super-hide' created partition

Note2: if you do not check 'Create Partition', the whole USB stick is changed to FAT32 wiping out all your files (and photos etcetera).

--------------------------------
Do you only have one USB stick?

It looks more and more as a 'hardware-problem' to me.

4 GB USB stick is really cheap these days :cool:

Only a suggestion :;):

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 08 2012,18:29

thanks for the answers

I will try another USB Stick tomorrow

since you mentioned that 'ghost11.5 DOS-version' also runs, how do I use with with EasyBoot? I tried to call iso directly and it did not work. it looks like I need to extract the files from iso and use IMG with Autoexec.bat and call IMG. The thing is I am not sure how to configure Autoexec properly (I have downloaded the sample ghost.img file).

thanks for your help

Posted by balder on Feb. 09 2012,00:40

@tridy

Quote: "it looks like I need to extract the files from iso and use IMG with Autoexec.bat and call IMG"

Yes of course you must run Ghost-11.5 DOS-version from an Floppy image

Settings in Autoexec.bat is done to the way you find it convenient :cool:

----------------------------------
And some clarifying about 'Burn'...
Each time you use *burn' it wipes out everything on your USB stick

However you can use the rest of space (what shows up in Windows Explorer) and format that space to whatever file-system you prefer.

Note: 'EasyBoot>>Burn' always wipes out the whole USB stick and if 'Create Partition' is checked, it also create a separate hided partition with EasyBoot files on that hided partition.
You can now use the rest of stick as it please you - but watch out - don't use 'Burn' if you have photos etcetera to USB stick during 'test period' - only when you have an 'working EasyBoot build' and not any more use 'Burn' anymore :cool:

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 09 2012,11:46

Thanks for clarification. I see how it works with the partition.

Alright, I tried another usb stick and it's the same story, neither acronis nor win7 work with deeply hidden partition. I tried on both notebook and virtual machine. really weird.

could it be so that the hidden partition does not support folders and everything needs to be in the root of the partition?

I could remove everything but Acronis from the ISO file and upload it to the server and PM the link to you, if you will be so kind and to have a look at it and maybe test it in your environment.

regards

Posted by balder on Feb. 09 2012,12:09

@ tridy

Quote: "I could remove everything but Acronis from the ISO file and upload it to the server and PM the link to you, if you will be so kind and to have a look at it and maybe test it in your environment"

Sure, I'll see what I can do... :cool:

Quote: "neither acronis nor win7 work with deeply hidden partition"

I have discovered that you don't need to check 'Deep Hidden'

Only check 'Create Boot Partition' if you are interested to hide build.

Another benefit with only checking 'Create Boot Partition' is that 'Password' is working correctly

If also checking 'Deep Hidden' password doesn't work correctly - so skip 'Deep Hidden' always

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 10 2012,04:49

I did the USB-HDD+ v2 with only Create Boot Partition checked and wrote it to USB. I tested Acronis, Ghost 15, Active Boot Disk and all of them worked perfectly.

Windows 7 setup started pretty well up to the point where it needed to look for the drives to install Windows into. Since it uses its own system to look for the files and partition was hidden, it could not even list all available drives and asked to specify the folder with the drivers that would help to look for the drives. Obviously it is not possible to tell it to look for a hidden partition with Win7 setup files with drivers. So, it was the dead end in this case. I do not think that Windows 7 setup will be able to run from a hidden partition.

But everything works alright if I do USB-HDD+ v2 without creating/hiding the partition. I think I can live with that for now.

regards

Posted by balder on Feb. 10 2012,05:51

@ tridy

Quote: "I do not think that Windows 7 setup will be able to run from a hidden partition"

Yes this is an expected scenario, and frankly - logical :cool:

Thank you for enlighten easyboot-community according to setup of NT6-systems

Note: same is to BitDefender and similar utilities - must run from 'visible area' of USB disk

------------------------------------
Glad rest of software worked as I briefly instructed you :;):

Great work @tridy

regards balder

Posted by tridy on Feb. 10 2012,06:24

@balder Thanks for your great help!

Posted by hmoney on Jan. 05 2014,08:08

it very helpful , thanks for sharing