Missed me?

Just in case anyone was wondering why I have'nt uploaded any dreams for the past few weeks, my main system started acting up a couple weeks ago and I ended up with a BSOD every time I booted.

I did a system restore using the back up I created with Microsoft's back up software that came with Vista Ultimate but it appears the hard drive was toast. I replaced it but to my surprise, my back up wouldn't restore because the new hard drive was a different size from the original. Come to find out,  this is a form of piracy protection Microsoft added to thier back up software. To me it makes the program worthless. Funny thing, I have another backup program that I bought with Nero 9 that I've never used, looks like I'll be needing it now.

Sad to say, I've lost some of the dreams I was working on but oh well, it could have been worse...C'est la vie.

Anyway, I've started some new dreams and should be back to uploading this weekend.

5,514 views 23 replies
Reply #1 Top

Wow, crappy news, Cars. I learned from my experience with "HDD Toast" (not as good as French toast I'm here to tell you), and purchased Acronis True Image. Best of investments.

Come to find out, this is a form of piracy protection Microsoft added to thier back up software.
End of quote

To me, it is fraud. Since when does MS have the right to tell you what sized HDD you can have?

Good to have you back any which way, mate! :thumbsup:

Reply #3 Top

Missed me?
End of quote

:|  Mmmmmm.....no!:rofl:

To me it makes the program worthless
End of quote

Only if you have to change your drive, as in your case.#:(

Anyway, I've started some new dreams and should be back to uploading this weekend
End of quote

I mean think about it.  What more can a person do besides backup all of their important data as a contingency in preparation for disaster?  But when you finally do need it the most, the backup doesn't work.

That sucks big time bro, hate to hear that and hope you're up and runnin' smooth really soon!

:thumbsup:  

Reply #4 Top

You might want to look at Acronis backup solutions.
Imcremental backups are also supported.

It's never failed me...

 

Reply #5 Top

Missed me?
End of quote

 

Missed you?

Who are you anyway?

 

 

;) XD

Reply #6 Top

Just in case anyone was wondering why I have'nt uploaded any dreams for the past few weeks
End of quote

Was not only wondering but indeed missed you a lot at da dreams gallery............and your dreams on my desktop !!

To me it makes the program worthless.
End of quote

You can try Norton Ghost or Acronis for your backups in the future n hope you wont face such probs.

Anyway, I've started some new dreams and should be back to uploading this weekend.
End of quote

Nice to know this.

Reply #7 Top

I missed you! *pinches butt*  |-)

Reply #8 Top

Missed me?
End of quote

Nope, didn't miss you at all   You're back before I knew you were MIA. :-" :w00t:

What a pain that your HDDD died and MS backup let you down.  That sucks.

I have another backup program that I bought with Nero 9 that I've never used, looks like I'll be needing it now.

Sad to say, I've lost s
End of quote

Yeah, I have Nero BackItUp and it works well.  I've never used it to restore an OS drive image, but it's excellent for restoring data that accidentally got erased, etc.  It is capable of imaging and restoring OS partitions, so if it works as well for that as the other tasks I've asked of it, Nero BackItUp will do the job for you admirably.

:)

Reply #9 Top

:ninja:

Reply #10 Top

my back up wouldn't restore because the new hard drive was a different size from the original
End of quote

It isn't the backup software.  This is the real issue right here.

Obviously Microsoft doesn't allow the ability to backup any size drive rendering a backup useless on anything but the original.  And it appears that this entails drive spec and partition info. 

I guess if it wasn't this way you could buy a drive duplicator, spec up a warehouse full of systems, and actually open up a PC store on a single OS copy.

That's Anti-Piracy and EULA and Microsoft ain't havin' it.

The question is, if CarGuy returns the new larger drive in exchange for the exact same size and specs as the original, will his backup work then?

:maybe:  

 

Reply #11 Top

i missed ya  *smuahhh*:*

Reply #12 Top

Theres a lot of things MS tries to slip in.  Some get in and some don't.  Like the one that hasn't  yet is the they are not part of our partnership so we cannot recognize them, so your system won't work.  Please check yes so we can check your system to make sure you have all authorized hard and software.  Right.

Reply #13 Top

Missed me?
End of quote

I promise to take better aim next time....;)

Reply #14 Top

Hey! Who's the new guy? :P

Reply #15 Top

LOL...you guys & gals are great!  :thumbsup:  

Thanks for the Acronis tip, I'll check it out. If the Nero BackItUp doesn't work out, I'll definitely pick it up.

 

I guess if it wasn't this way you could buy a drive duplicator, spec up a warehouse full of systems, and actually open up a PC store on a single OS copy.
End of quote

The crazy thing is there's nothing in the software that would prevent this if the machines were identical.

With the activation checks built into Vista, this kind of anti-piracy is redundant and an annoyance to the user.

 

The question is, if CarGuy returns the new larger drive in exchange for the exact same size and specs as the original, will his backup work then?
End of quote

If I picked up the same size drive as the one before it should have restored just fine.

It's funny, I actually bought a smaller drive. The one I picked up was much faster than a larger one so I traded size for speed.  I was pleasantly surprised that I could really tell the differance...the system is much faster and it has shaved off an hour or two of render time on a one minute avi.

 

Theres a lot of things MS tries to slip in. Some get in and some don't. Like the one that hasn't yet is the they are not part of our partnership so we cannot recognize them, so your system won't work.
End of quote

Not sure if MS could get away with that one. If they did, it would be time to look for a new OS.

 

Reply #16 Top

I promise to take better aim next time....
End of quote

Ah, so that's where that stray arrow came from.... expect the doc's bill to pull it outta me arse in the mail.. ;P

Reply #17 Top

expect the doc's bill to pull it outta me arse in the mail
End of quote

That wasn't your ass Cappy!

Reply #18 Top

Quoting cplair, reply 17

expect the doc's bill to pull it outta me arse in the mail

That wasn't your ass Cappy!

End of cplair's quote

You wouldn't be insinuating a curried cabbage bark had the arrow quiver in fear and redirect, would you? :-"

Reply #19 Top

You wouldn't be insinuating a curried cabbage bark had the arrow quiver in fear and redirect, would you?
End of quote

#:(  Oh heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell no! x_x

:rofl:  

Reply #20 Top

Um, you wouldn't happen to have a Dell XPS M1530, would you? I'm just wondering because the EXACT same thing happened to me. :ninja:

Reply #21 Top

Quoting starkers, reply 16
I promise to take better aim next time....

Ah, so that's where that stray arrow came from.... expect the doc's bill to pull it outta me arse in the mail..
End of starkers's quote

You of course mean the duck's bill to pull it.... 

'coz if yer waitin' fer me..... <_<

Reply #22 Top

Um, you wouldn't happen to have a Dell XPS M1530, would you?
End of quote

No. For desktops, I always build my own systems. I can't see paying the higher price for someone to set up a nice rig for me. 

I've actually built another PC since this I had this problem. It's an Intel Q9550 Quad core with 8 gigs of 1066 DDR2 ram, Velociraptor HD, and a NVIDIA GTX 260 Superclocked 896MB video card. I'm going to set the old dual core PC mentioned in the original post as part of a render farm.

Reply #23 Top

Glad your back CarGuy.  I know the feelings, my HDD finally crapped out.  I dread all the re-installation time. X(