boot into True Image via USB drive

Question

Hi,

Ive just got a brand new Latitude 5400 done all updates im on Bios version 1.6.5 Im trying to boot up via working USB stick which works on 2 other laptops different brands.How do I do it step by step please.I`ve tried to do it via external DVD drive using Trueimage 2019 disk I can get it to boot into True Image but then I cannot use the mouse its frozen? any help please.

Before I start loading this new Latitude up with software I want to be able to make a backup image like I do with my other laptops

Many Thanks

LSUFAN51 · Accepted Answer

it boots up into True Image and thats it the mouse is frozen only arrow keys work?? ---------------------------------------- Same here, my touchpads (laptops) and mouse (all in one desktop) freeze and arrow keys didn't work as well. I had to do a force shut down by pressing power button. Keep in mind, there are a few updates in True Image 2019. They told me in Acronis Community forum, there will be on some occasions, True Image media on the flash drive / DVD  will have to be updated especially if the True Image software is updated to a new build. You have to test the recovery media every once in a while to make sure it function normally.

jphughan · Accepted Answer

@bigkenny  what version of Windows PE is your True Image boot media running on?  On some systems, the touchpad is still connected internally using a USB 2.0 interface, and sometimes even a legacy PS/2 interface.  Others use a more recent Serial IO interface, and if the WinPE version you're using doesn't support Serial IO, then the touchpad won't work.  I mentioned this Windows PE issue in my very first reply here.  If you're not sure what version you're using, does True Image allow you to open regular Command Prompt somehow?  If it does, check the build number shown at the top of the Command Prompt window when it opens.  Or just see if whatever wizard you use to build your True Image recovery media allows you to choose which WinPE version to use, and select the most recent one offered.  Building True Image media on the system that you actually intend to use it on instead of another PC might help too.  I realize that isn't always feasible, and sometimes using media created on another PC is fine, but if True Image is anything like Macrium Reflect, its media builder should analyze the system it's running on and decide whether any additional drivers for that system need to be incorporated to ensure everything works as expected.

bigkenny · Accepted Answer

Hi,

With some help from a mate I`ve managed to get this USB stick working now (seeing it in Bios and boots up into True Image) there is still an issue but nothing to do with Dell side its the True Image side (cannot see SSD drive) but thats another problem to sort out. I can boot up with it now on the USB stick and the mouse is not freezing

So thank you for your help

jphughan · Answer

The Latitude 5400 would require UEFI booting, which means your USB device would need to be formatted in FAT32 rather than NTFS to be bootable in UEFI mode. And it will probably also need to be built using a recent version of Windows PE 10 as its baseline in order to have the necessary support for your new system’s hardware. If your TrueImage environment is built on an older version, that might explain the mouse. I’m not sure how to tell TrueImage to build from a newer a WinPE version though because I greatly prefer Macrium Reflect for imaging. Worst case, there’s a free version of Reflect that you could use to make the image.

On a side note, while I too have made images of systems before I use them, these days I doubt I’d ever go back to them. Microsoft issues a new Windows 10 version roughly every 6 months, so chances are that even if I did ever want to wipe my system, the OS, and drivers in that image would be so outdated by then that it would be easier to just start with a fresh install of whatever Windows version was current at that point.

bigkenny · Answer

Hi

Thanks for the info, I`ve tried to reformat the the usb drive to Fat32 (it was anyway) but did it again from the Dell laptop I put all the software back on it again but when I restart it again I cannot see the usb stick in the Bios

When I used my external DVD drive it sees the usb dvd drive and boots up off it but like I said the mouse is frozen the left/right/up/down controls work

Both these problems above are not problems when running off 2 other machines so I know the dvd and usb stick are not faulty. Its the maze of options in the Bios system on the Dell if someone can help me. It seems the Bios on the Dell is a newer version and the info on the `net is showing slightly different Bios layout.

True Image has always been a winner with me and has been a god send, so wanted to kep on using it as I feel its a great back up tool. Many thanks for the help

DELL-Cares · Answer

@bigkenny,

It looks like you trying to create back up and recovery using 3rd party software, sorry this is out of our support boundaries.

For dell computers, here is the link https://dell.to/2Vevqa0 to create backup media. Do reach out to us if you have any query. ^KR

jphughan · Answer

@bigkenny  don't look for the USB drive in the BIOS setup.  Press F12 during initial startup to access the one-time boot menu.  You should see the flash drive there.  If you've never booted UEFI systems before, they work very differently from Legacy BIOS systems, so you don't typically see USB devices listed in the BIOS Setup's permanent boot list unless a bootloader file on that specific flash drive has been registered into the UEFI firmware, but that won't be the case for temporary boot devices like this.

bigkenny · Answer

Hi, Thanks for the help I`m a bit of a loss when I get into this Bios menu after pressing F12 I cannot see my USB stick any more help where to go next      Many Thanks for this help     Cheers

bigkenny · Answer

I now True Image is 3rd party software so I dont want/expect any help using this it was just seeing the USB stick in the Bios menu thats all I`m after. After this I`m on my own I know

LSUFAN51 · Answer

You should have seen the Acronis True Image media (flash drive) in Dell Preboot Menu (F12 key)…..

Anyway, I suspect Acronis True Image software did an update on the computer, causing the problem. I know this because it basically happen to me. I was able to use the disc but wasn't able to use the flash drive. I was able to see True Image 2019 recovery media( flash drive) in Dell Preboot menu ( F12 key), select it and then booting right into the recovery screen but wasn't able to move cursor. Surprisingly, flash drive work on my other two computers but one day later, flash drive didn't work on any of my three computers furthermore, flash drive didn't even let me boot into True Image 2019 recovering media.

I quickly figured out True Image 2019 updated to 2020 on all three computer which cause the problem. Lucky I saved all my True Image updates (builds) in my downloads (File Explorer), I were able to go back to True Image 2019 and was able to use the flash drive again. I did reported problem to Acronis Community Forum and Support, they added three free months to my account. Now, I'm back to True Image 2020 and using the updated flash drive.

I would suggest you use another flash drive or download the Cleanup Utility from the link below. This will erase all data from True Image 2019 flash drive and make it bootable. You could now try to boot from it again.

Acronis True Image: Cleanup Utility

https://kb.acronis.com/aticleanup#Windows0

You can now sign into your Acronis Account (Dashboard)and get the recover media (Image 2019 or earlier build)

Account - Acronis.com

https://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/other/myaccount/

Please post same question for further assistance in link below. The good knowledgeable people are very nice and helpful in the Acronis forum.

Home | Acronis Forum

https://forum.acronis.com/

LSUFAN51 · Answer

Just in case you need it...…. Starting Acronis product from USB flash drive https://kb.acronis.com/content/1526 And..... Knowledge Base - Acronis https://kb.acronis.com/

bigkenny · Answer

Many thanks for this info. I think I will try a new USB stick as like I said I could not see it at all. So will get new USB stick and start again, I think thats best.

On another note my 2019 disk of True Image works/boots up Ok on other laptops but when I try the same (I can see usb disk drive in Bios when press F12) it boots up into True Image and thats it the mouse is frozen only arrow keys work??

Thanks for the help

bigkenny · Answer

Hi again thank you for your help. Right started from scratch made a new iso file from my 2019 True Image disk and installed it again on same USB stick (San Disk) I can now see it in Bios (F12) so thats good when I press into it, it all starts up and goes  into TrueImage but it goes same as the CD drive. Mouse keys all frozen so its something in Bios stopping the mouse keys working?? so nearly there now just this last bit to sort out..........

bigkenny · Answer

Hi,

Got the main problem on Dell side working I can now boot up the USB stick and the keys/mouse are not freezing. Only one problem but this is on True Image side (cannot see SSD drive) but like you say I will install it on my Dell and tell it to make a USB stick from the machine its installed on, so nearly there.

Thank you for your help

jphughan · Answer

@bigkenny  not seeing the SSD is probably because Dell ships their systems defaulted to RAID mode rather than AHCI mode, which means you need a sufficiently new version of the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver to see that controller and therefore the storage behind it, even if the storage isn't actually set up as a RAID virtual disk.  With a new system, even the RST driver built into a recent version of WinPE 10 might not be new enough.  You can switch to AHCI mode prior to performing a clean install of Windows, but if you have a Windows installation that was set up in RAID mode and you switch to AHCI afterward (or vice versa), then your Windows installation won't boot unless you go through Safe Mode once to allow it to update its boot-time driver configuration.

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boot into True Image via USB drive

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