XPS 8940, no boot after running Acronis backup

I've been using Acronis True Image for YEARS, and many XPS systems, and never had this problem?

I checked their forum, https://forum.acronis.com/forum/acronis-cyber-protect-home-office-and-acronis-true-image-discussions/acronis-true-image-formerly-acronis-cyber-protect-home-office?ckattempt=1 and don't see any complaints like this? If not on their forum, where are these complaints? I even Googled "https://forum.acronis.com/forum/acronis-cyber-protect-home-office-and-acronis-true-image-discussions/acronis-true-image-formerly-acronis-cyber-protect-home-office?ckattempt=1" and only reports I see are on a RESTORE of an Acronis Back-up? That or when the CLONING is used and the resultant drive didn't boot?

Have any more info?

• Where does it stop?
• Do you get an error messages?
• Can you boot into BIOS?
• Does F12 work after boot?
• Can you run the diagnostics?
• What version of Acronis do you have? 2025?
• Did you run any Acronis tool other than back-up?
• Have you tried to RESTORE your back-up? I assume you created an Acronis Boot disk (Flash drive, CD/DVD)?

From the sounds of it, the BOOT Sector might have been damaged/wiped out?

If so, I suggest you Goggle "windows 11 create boot sector" and there are many links to look at. However, may not fix it depending problem.

I'd also suggest before doing anything else, post your problem with full details on the Acronis Forum.

As for re-installing Windows, fairly easy, get the Windows Media Creation tool, see details at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

@ispalten​ 

Dell logo then blue screen of death with error message saying OS device not accessible. 

I can boot to BIOS and I can access all partitions on my SSD boot device. I have mounted an external drive and copied files and folders off of the ssd. Chkdsk reports no issues.

Yes I can get to the Bios seto screen.

I assume is is Acronis 2025 since I downloaded the trial version yesterday and ran a file and folder backup to an external 6TB drive. Was taking a long time so I went to bed with shutdown computer at completion of backup. In the morning it would not boot.

I only did a file/ folder backup of images and docs. Restore would not help. No I did not create a boot flash disk since I have a Dell Rescue flash drive and didn't think I would have my computer corrupted. DELL diagnostics says there are issues that can't be fixed.

For whatever reason, my system no longer sees the ssd drive windows installation during boot.

BTW... there are plenty of posts in Google about unable to boot after Acronis backup. I use to use Norton Backup but they changed the tool. I was impressed with the Acronis interface and simplicity with defining the backup set

Very sad

@Skip9210​ 

@ispalten​ 

Dell logo then blue screen of death with error message saying OS device not accessible. 

What is the exact message?

@ispalten​ 

Dell logo then blue screen of death with error message saying OS device not accessible. 

I can boot to BIOS and I can access all partitions on my SSD boot device. I have mounted an external drive and copied files and folders off of the ssd. Chkdsk reports no issues.

Yes I can get to the Bios seto screen.

What are you using to see the disks? Does it show on the C: drive a BOOT SECTOR? If Windows,, DISKMGMT would show if C: had a healthy Boot partition.

Does BIOS show where it is booting from?

I assume is is Acronis 2025 since I downloaded the trial version yesterday and ran a file and folder backup to an external 6TB drive. Was taking a long time so I went to bed with shutdown computer at completion of backup. In the morning it would not boot.

I only did a file/ folder backup of images and docs.

That isn't even a full back-up. My wife's XPS had a LOT of files, over 3 hard drives, and a few TB's of data and routinely does a full back-up. Many time Acronis is still running and she sets it to shutdown when completed.. Never had your issue, so it does work OK.

Files and Folders basically does a back-up of all the folders and files with compression, nothing else.

You should have made the boot media before doing anything. It copies all the needed drivers as well to the media used to restore. Although, in this case, I don't think that would be of any use. I full PC back-up if you had made it would allow a restore.

For whatever reason, my system no longer sees the ssd drive windows installation during boot.

How do you know this, or is that what the Blue Screen stated?

BTW... there are plenty of posts in Google about unable to boot after Acronis backup. I use to use Norton Backup but they changed the tool. I was impressed with the Acronis interface and simplicity with defining the backup set

How did you search? When I did it, all I saw was reports of failed Clone's or Restores that after finished the PC would not boot. NONE were exactly what you have, after a back-up, PC does not boot. Have a link for one that matches your problem?

I still suggest you post your problem into the Acronis Forum. Alternatively, if you don't want to do that you have 2 alternatives, try to fix the boot record or do a new Windows install and then restore you files and folders.

Hi

The boot process is well known, but still....

POST - BIOS/uEFI - BootManager

Then it would normally go to the small partition at the start of the nominated Drive, where it finds and uses a BOOTLOADER.  This is the step that is missing/wrong.

Either the BIOS/uEFI setting has changed from RAID to AHCI or similar, OR the Boot Loader is corrupt/missing.