Bootable Image Question.

[MaMister]

I am using this harddisk imaging software that allows to create a bootable cd just in case of any harddisk failure.

The cd is empty, just with the necessary booting files needed... which is abt 4MB.

The question is, I am trying to extract the boot files but can't...!

When I use winiso software to create a iso. file...it is 4MB. But the when use save boot info function, the boot info is only 2kb. ???

I just can't get it out, even isobuster can't help.

Any idea ?

[MaMister]

Thats the problem, when you view it normally, its a blank disc. But when you create a iso files or create image from cd using iso softwares...the output is a 4mb iso file. But when you open the iso, just can't see the files.

ISO buster manage to open it but view it as a track 1 audio cd format...ha I really salute these fellows that create this software.

By the way the software is Trueimage by acronis.

[RayH]

Now I understand your problem. Files are read by specific programs. The problem is how will your files execute?

I don't know about your specific imaging program. But with Drive Image 2002, it can be essentially run from hard drive or floppy. Either will read or execute the files.

Will your imaging program run from floppy? If so, boot the program and see if it can read the file. If it can find them, it will usually execute them. Until you need those files, there is no guarantee the files are good.

[MaMister]

What do you mean by specific programs... thanks.

[RayH]

I think you are incorrectly trying to use some third party software to create bootable CDs that will execute your Acronis files. You are confusing the term "IMAGE."

If you want bootable CDs to be able to restore your computer, I think Acronis should be handling the entire task when writing directly to CD. Acronis should be making the first disc bootable and installing enough of its program to execute the image file that will be written directly to CD.

But I think what you are trying to do is what I do to put image files on CD (except I use Drive Image). You want to burn image files that you already have on your hard drive to CD. I just use my regular CD burning program and burn the image files as regular DATA files.

In this case, the CDs are not bootable. In order to execute those files on CD, you boot the computer from floppies. Acronis appears to have a feature to allow for booting from floppies.