Image your system with free Macrium

mjf · 30 May 2013

I use Macrium all the time and don't rename the images - just follow the bouncing ball and click ok.
Windows inbuilt imaging which I also use does require rename fiddling

whs · 31 May 2013

on the mac, I just set time machine as my backup and forget it. a few mouse clicks and done (never have to set or change anything again). wish windows had something as easy for backups...

You can do the same with Macrium. Scheduled images are no problem. And I don't see why you think Macrium is difficult to use. Have a look at this:

Imaging with free Macrium

lehnerus2000 · 31 May 2013

IMO, the old version used a better method (i.e. the "wizard").

Stephanie · 03 Jun 2013

I have been using Macrium for a couple of days now and very happy with it (easy to use and fast)

kado897 · 03 Jun 2013

agile1 · 06 Jun 2013

Hi. DavidW7ncus suggested I post my questions here for a veteran's perspective. I'm new to MR Free and only last week had to do my first restore. It was pretty straightforward and most important, successful! I was unsure why the partition letters of the Rescue Disk did not match up to my partition letters, but remembered reading somewhere (this forum most likely) that the Recovery CD (thank you whs for the pre-built WinPE) doesn't know what your system's letters are?

I currently run vista x86 and backup to an external HD. I'm getting ready to replace the HD with a new SSD onto which I'll install W7 Prof x64. The SSD is considerably smaller than my external HD and I'm concerned that I may lose access to all my "old" backups. I've read (free users can't post) throughout MR's official forum and here, but find nothing specific to, say, x86/x64 compatibility issues. So perhaps my concerns are unfounded.

But if x32/x64 issues aren't important, then why are the two builds available? Is x64 always backwards compatible but not the other way? How do you gurus think of these things? And bottom line, will my newly made (x64) rescue usb and MRF (x64) both have ready access to my old (x32 made) backup images? Or perhaps someone can suggest an easier strategy for regularly accessing (old) files/folders.

Thanks, Karen

kado897 · 06 Jun 2013

Hi agile1 and welcome to Seven Forums. It is my understanding that the format of the backup files is not dependent on the architecture so you should have no problem with your old backups. Macrium claim the images are both backward and forward compatible. That is to say an older image can be restored by a newer version and vice-versa. I'm not sure how far that extends though.

Britton30 · 06 Jun 2013

Hi Karen. Yeah Macrium does seem to have its own drive and partition lettering scheme and doesn't necessarily agree with w7's opinions. It may be due to the fact that some external media is used to store the image and adds an extra letter in the mix if only temporary. It does however retain any NAME I have given to a drive or partition, eg, w7 SSD.

whs · 06 Jun 2013

Regarding backwards and forwards compatibility there is no problem with Macrium - within limits. Every once in a long while they come out with a new release where they recommend to burn a new WinPE disc.

agile1 · 07 Jun 2013

Thank you for all your responses. I now anticipate no problems accessing backups made with different OS/MR architecture.

Yeah, during my restore I ended up relying on the names (and sizes) I'd given my partitions, not the new letters the Rescue USB assigned them.

I really am delighted with MRF. When I think of all the time/effort I've wasted these past several years trying to get Acronis to work, and ultimately never knowing if I really had a reliable backup strategy! Now if I can convince a sibling how important Backing up is, I'll know what to recommend. :)