Image Validation / Verification Failure

cymro123 · 30. Oct 2009, 12:55 PM

I have tried repeatedly to create a disk image using both Acronis True Image Home 2009 and Macrium Reflect and both fail when validating the image.

The image is sent to my external Seagate FreeAgent Pro via a USB connection and runs OK until the validation stage. The software people say it is a hardware problem. I have carried out long tests of the new FreeAgent Pro using SeaTools and they tell me it is OK so what next?

Any ideas appreciated.

I am almost at the point of giving up on imaging and just back up the data files to the FreeAgent but that means it will take longer to rebuild from a catastrophic failure.

Tom

Sope · 30. Oct 2009, 02:05 PM

It seems that faulty RAM or even a faulty cable could adversely affect either creation or verification of backups.

May be worth testing your RAM - best-free-memory-testing-utility
Also try a different cable maybe?

How is your external drive formatted - NTFS or FAT32?
With FAT32, if the images are larger than 4GB then they would presumably be split up which theoretically might increase the chance for errors to occur?
Additionally, if you choose the highest compression settings this again could potentially increase the chance for errors?

chris.p · 16. Nov 2009, 09:25 PM

I'd split the files to 700MB, and use no compression. Make sure the image creation parameters are right, on some versions you could exclude system files - obviously you don't want to do that.

The next stage is by substitution I think. For example you need another USB drive to test the backup run. If you don't have that, then how about to DVD or CD even.

You don't give any info on your set-up, for example if you're running Vista and RAID then we can only pray for you... Or, are you running that pesky ICH9 RAID controller chip?

30. Oct 2009, 12:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
cymro123 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1	Image Validation / Verification Failure I have tried repeatedly to create a disk image using both Acronis True Image Home 2009 and Macrium Reflect and both fail when validating the image. The image is sent to my external Seagate FreeAgent Pro via a USB connection and runs OK until the validation stage. The software people say it is a hardware problem. I have carried out long tests of the new FreeAgent Pro using SeaTools and they tell me it is OK so what next? Any ideas appreciated. I am almost at the point of giving up on imaging and just back up the data files to the FreeAgent but that means it will take longer to rebuild from a catastrophic failure. Tom

16. Nov 2009, 09:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
chris.p Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 1,092	I'd split the files to 700MB, and use no compression. Make sure the image creation parameters are right, on some versions you could exclude system files - obviously you don't want to do that. The next stage is by substitution I think. For example you need another USB drive to test the backup run. If you don't have that, then how about to DVD or CD even. You don't give any info on your set-up, for example if you're running Vista and RAID then we can only pray for you... Or, are you running that pesky ICH9 RAID controller chip? __________________ . . . . . . . SEO for CMS

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30. Oct 2009, 02:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sope Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 186	It seems that faulty RAM or even a faulty cable could adversely affect either creation or verification of backups. May be worth testing your RAM - best-free-memory-testing-utility Also try a different cable maybe? How is your external drive formatted - NTFS or FAT32? With FAT32, if the images are larger than 4GB then they would presumably be split up which theoretically might increase the chance for errors to occur? Additionally, if you choose the highest compression settings this again could potentially increase the chance for errors?