VMware vCenter Converter and Acronis True Image 11 .tib files

[combsrm77]

I am trying to convert a backup of my XP partiton (which was done using Acronis True Image Home 11 release) to a virtual machine. When I browse to the tib image file and click the View Source Details link or click Next, it shows an error message at the top of Converter window stating "The source paramteers are invalid." I thought Acronis True Image 10 and 11 were fully supported and would work? Does anyone have any ideas what I can do to use this image? Do I need to do anything different when creating the image file in Acronis True Image?

[continuum]

use the acronis LiveCD and restore the image to a brand new VM

then use Converter against the new vmx-file when the image is restored and before booting into the guest the first time

_________________________

VMX-parameters- WS FAQ -[ MOAcd|http://sanbarrow.com/moa241.html] - VMDK-Handbook

[admin]

Acronis True Image Home versions 10 and 11 are supported by Converter Standalone 4.3.

Older versions of Converter standalone, such as 4.0.1, only support Acronis True Image Home version 10.

Check out page 21 of the Converter 4.0.1 Users Guide at http://www.vmware.com/pdf/converter_standalone_guide401.pdf and page 22 of the Converter 4.3 Users Guide at http://www.vmware.com/pdf/convsa_43_guide.pdf for additional details.

Hope this clarifies why Converter was failing to restore your Acronis True Image Home 11 image.

Regards,

Graham Daly

Knowledge Champion

VMware Inc.

[dogskool]

I am getting this error as well trying to convert an Acronis True Home 2011 .tib file with vCenter Converter 4.3.0 build 292238.

If it is supported why is the error persistent?

I read the articles you pointed out, so any other help would be appreciated.

[a_p_]

Acronis 2011 is not the same as Acronis 11.

If I'm not mistaken, the Acronis version are/were as follows:

Acronis True Image Home 10

Acronis True Image Home 11

Acronis True Image Home 2009 ==> Version 12

Acronis True Image Home 2010 ==> Verison 13

Acronis True Image Home 2011 ==> Version 14

Supported verisons are: Acronis True Image 10.0, 11.0 (Home product)

André

[dogskool]

That explains it, thank you.

[0WayneH0]

I'm trying to use the converter (5.0.0 build 470252) now on an Acronis True Image 11 (Home version) image which is supposedly compatible, but am getting the same "The source parameters are invalid." message that others keep seeing. - FAIL

Acronis True Image 11 Home is definitely listed as compatible here:

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/convsa_50_guide.pdf

Have found many posts pointing out that 2010 is not version 10, and 2011 is not version 11, which is fine because those 20xx versions are not the versions I am using. I am using a supported version of Acronis, yet the converter fails at the first hurdle!

Is there anything I can try (besides concluding that the converter doesn't work?).

In the meantime I'll try the Acronis recovery disk and new VM route to see if that will get me going.

Thanks.

EDIT: In interim to any thoughts from you experts, I am going to try these things (some in parallel)...

1. Use VMware vCenter Converter to convert the OS live (it's a laptop that has shown some signs of dying). - FAILED at 98%, FINISHED 2nd Try*

2. Download v4.3 of the converter and try that with the Acronis Image (which is currently on the replacement machine for the laptop). - FAIL

3. Failing #2 on the replacement machine, try the new VM/Acronis boot restore approach. - FAIL (took forever to restore then couldn't get it to boot without blue screening).

* Ran a chkdsk on the problem laptop and it repaired some stuff after which the conversion completed; so I have a VM that I will try out tomorrow.

UPDATE:

In the end the only option that worked was the VMware VCenter Converter conversion of the powered on OS. As mentioned above it failed first time, but my guess that was due to some disk issues that were resolved with a CHKDSK run. (Acronis did mention those, but only at the restore stage). The image created by VMware vCenter Converter seems to be solid which is pleasing. The best part of that is that compared to the other processes it was very quick to run (even twice) so that part of the converter gets a thumbs up. After seeing that in action I might avoid using Acronis in future.

NOW here's a question for people...

Seeing the live OS conversion seems to work pretty well and quickly, and also bearing in mind that M$'s in-built backup system (if I recall correctly) is just creating a virtual disk, other than for the case of external data drives (which can be handled by other means anyway), why couldn't VMware cCenter Converter be used as an alternative back-up tool to something like Acronis? I'm talking specifically about the home office use case; just a couple of computers that I need to keep backed up. Am I missing something? (Maybe I'm missing the restore to bare metal use case...)

[0WayneH0]

Bump for the update above.

[urbanman2004]

I am having this same problem using VMware vCenter Converter 5.5.3 with a .tib created with Acronis True Image 2015. I came up with the idea to use a virtualized version of Windows Vista in VMware Workstation 10 and install the drive to be cloned into an enclosure, then install True Image 11 in Windows Vista and create a .tib of the drive, transfer the .tib to host and eventually use VMware vCenter Converter on the host to convert it to a virtual disk. Wish me luck, I'll update details on my findings.

[urbanman2004]

My solution worked. However if I would've never made the assumption that Acronis True Image Home 11 wasn't compatible with Windows 8.1 x64 (host) I could've done it that way instead since my original method was overkill.