Macrium Reflect can't restore my image

[PegM_4]

I made a backup image that was successful. When I try to restore it, everything looks fine until it comes to the window to choose which drive I want it installed to. That window stays blank. I get no options.

So far, I have downloaded the newest version and created a second boot disk, but still no options.

My laptop OS is Windows 7. I have 2 drives configured on the hard drive, but it doesn't seem to see either of them.

Would appreciate any help.
Thanks
PegM

[J_L]

It might not be able to detect your hardware due to lacking drivers. Try the Windows PE version.

[crank]

This is a problem with all the programs. driver support can be a bit iffy. JL's idea is a good one, unless that is the version of recovery of were using. You can use doubledriver to get a handy copy of all of the drivers used in your system. Is there anything unusual about the drives like RAID? Get back with us if this doesn't help, good luck.

[Anupam]

I have similar problems with the Paragon Backup & Recovery 2013. Its disc too does not see any of my hard drives on the system. I guess it has something to do with AHCI mode. I don't have AHCI mode turned on in the BIOS. I had not thought it would be necessary, and I also did not have any knowledge about it, but it seems like it's good to turn this mode on. Well, to do that, I will have to reinstall Windows, which I do not want to do at this stage.

So, maybe AHCI mode is the problem in this case too?

[crank]

You do not have to reinstall windows, AHCI allows windows to let the drive do most of the work, offloading much from the cpu. The data on the disk is not affected at all. It can be a bit tricky turning it on in windows, but not really. You have to turn it on and them reboot, changing the BIOS before it gets into windows, it will crash if you try to boot into windows while windows expects not-AHCI and BIOS is set to AHCI. There are very substantial performance gains in probably nearly all aspects of disk access. I would just go do it, you really can't hurt anything, there is always a way, let the force guide you.

[Anupam]

I have tried that.. I did change the setting in BIOS, but then Windows won't boot. I changed the setting back, and it booted alright.

It seems like drivers have to be installed while installing the OS. If you have anything I could try to make it work without having to reinstall the OS, am all ears.

[crank]

Forgot to answer your actual question! It should not be the AHCI setting, linux handles these things without all the silly drama windows requires. Getting specific recovery media to work with specific systems is a black art I haven't mastered all that well myself. It seems insane to me that, were you to boot a live -disk linux on your system, the same linux that is used by the recovery media, it would have zero difficulty with your drives, but as built for the recovery media, which should make the effort to ensure compatibility, it chokes. Unfortunately, it's one of those things you have to just mess with and hope for the best. It's one of the reasons I prefer winPE environments where access to a compatible driver is pretty much assured.

[crank]

Sorry, got out of sync. Are you sure your drives support AHCI? Maybe I see what's going on, you have to change windows, then change the BIOS. Or, if you change the BIOS, then you need to get into the registry from a suitable recovery media. So, edit the windows registry, then reboot, and edit the bios before you get back to windows, and everything should be OK.

Originally Posted by Anupam

I have tried that.. I did change the setting in BIOS, but then Windows won't boot. I changed the setting back, and it booted alright.

It seems like drivers have to be installed while installing the OS. If you have anything I could try to make it work without having to reinstall the OS, am all ears.

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by crank

Sorry, got out of sync. Are you sure your drives support AHCI? Maybe I see what's going on, you have to change windows, then change the BIOS. Or, if you change the BIOS, then you need to get into the registry from a suitable recovery media. So, edit the windows registry, then reboot, and edit the bios before you get back to windows, and everything should be OK.

Sorry to reply late on this crank. I haven't yet mustered up the courage to do a registry change, in case the PC does not boot . I may try it later, when I have enough time and desire to reinstall Windows, in case I come across problems. You never know with Windows.

Thanks for all your help. Have replied more on a comment in your review.