Image to be restored must contain same layout of destinatio to be over

Hi everyone!

image to be restored must contain same layout of destination to be overwritten:

I was expected that I can restore an image created by Macrium to a destination(hard drive) regardless of whether this hard drive contains the same layout of image restored or a different layout.
In other words, Must the number of hard drive partitions to be overwritten be equated with the number of image partitions restored?
Also, must the image be restored to the same layout of hard drive from which I was taken?
Besides, I wasn't expecting that I would face problem with restoring an image created by Macrium as long as the restoration succeeded via Macrium environment.

Even if the hard drive is new and it is not formated, I was expecting that when I restored an image created by Macrium to this drive, it will be restored successfully as long as the restoration completed successfully inside Macrium environment.

However, I think that I was wrong for what I was expecintg about because these what I have experienced while restoring images created by Macrium.

My hard drive has this layout:
System:active, C(Windows home premium), D(personal data), E(factory Recovery) , HP tools.
Both C and D are logical

Second: I moved all user accounts to D.

Third: I have made an image for all the entire hard drive by Macrium.

Fourth: I recreated my hard drive to be: C(OS), E(my personal data)

Fifth: I installed Windows ultimate(x86) on C. Also, I moved all users accounts to D

Sixth: I imaged the new layout.

Seventh: I booted to Macrium environment and I restored all the partitions(System,C, D,HP tools) in the image created in 'second' on while windows ultimate(x86) is still installed.

Eighth: Although the restoration completed successfully via Macrium, I faced this error after restarting my computer:
'No boo table device, insert boot CD and press any key'

Ninth: I booted to Mini partition wizard with bootable CD, although I restored images containing four partitions (system, C(windows, D (Factory recovery) , HP tools) on hard drive destination containing two partitions(C 'Windows', D 'personal data), I only found that this C in the destination became unallocated. However, D remained as it was:

Unallocated (300GB) "logical"
D(my personal data) "primary"
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I have tried from 'The seventh step' again, then after restoration completed successfully via Macrium, I faced the same error after restarting my computer: 'No bootabe devcie......'

However, this time when I booted to Mini partition wizard with bootable CD, I found this partitions:
C(OS)
D(my personal data)
However, I didn't find any active partitions. Then I made C active.
Next, when I exit Mini partition wizard and restart my computer, i found this error:
A disk read error occurred. Press ctrl +alt + del to restart.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I have returned back to restore only these two partitions (system and C) from an image created in the third step to a hard drive destination containing two partitions(C, D) which in the fourth step above.

Images restored was two partitions(system:active) and C(OS)] of Windows 64x home premium.
Destination overwritten was two partitions(C:active(Windows x86 Windows ultimate) ) and E: 'personal Data'.
When I restored image via Macrium CD, I drugged the two partitions(System and C) one after the other on partition (C) on destination. in order to keep Personal Data'.
So C on destination only overwritten. However, the personal partition (E) on destination remained as it was.
Then after restoration completed successfully via Macrium, I faced the same error after restarting my computer:
------
Windows Manager Boot:
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1- insert your windows installation dis and restart your computer.
2-choose your language settings and then click 'next'
3- click repair your computer.
if you don't have this disc, contact your system administrator.
---------
I booted to Macrium Secure CD 4.0 and I fixed PC Boot Code with Macrium Secure CD 4.0. Then, the Windows loaded successfully and I reached to windows' login. There were two user accounts, I logged in with a user, I faced that I was logged with a temporary profile because the user profile account I logged in was moved to the partition I didn't restore.



NB: when I logged off, and then I have tried logging in with same user account again, I found that
The group policy client service failed login. Access is denied.
The same thing happened with the other user account(on the first log in I logged in with a temporary profile, then Access is denied

In conclusion: I think that I should have restored all the layout of image(System:active partition, C:\ 'OS' and D:\ 'personal data' ) as long as I moved all the user accounts to another partition other than system partition because logged with the user accounts moved to D, windows created a temporary profile because it thought that profile of user deleted.
However, this raised another question which is very important: If I have OS installed on "System:active, C" and then I moved all the user accounts to another partition which is specified for my personal data, for instance 'D'
So, I have imaged only 'System and C:' alone
Also I have imaged D alone.
When I restore OS(system and C partition) alone, I will face like this problem 'a temporary profile' while logging in with a user account because the user profile account I logged in was moved to the partition I didn't restore.
So If I must restore all the partitions (system, C, D)all together, then what is the benefit from letting images of Windows(system and C partitions) be separated from the images of my personal data( 'D' partition) in my case.
In other words, I have always been hearing that some users say it is better to move all your personal data to another partition other than System partition on the internal hard drive. Then, put the images of 'OS'(full and differentials) on a partition on an external hard drive and all your personal data on another partition on the same external hard drive. Like this below:

I prefer this partition setup:
First HDD:
- C for the OS
- D recovery partition (often hidden)
- E for personal files (so you have to move your special folders 'Documents, Pictures, Downloads etc. there and preferably your mail etc. Anything that can change on a daily basis).

Second HDD:
- F for backups of your personal files (using Karen's Replicator for instance)
- G for images of C ( base image + new onces added after making system changes), of D (once) and of E (very, very often, like weekly or even better daily) (using Macrium Reflect for instance)
.

External HDD:
where you regularly make a copy of all that is on your second HDD. Preferably once a month or more often.

NOTE: there are not any benefit at all from separating the images of C, in Second HDD, from the images of E because you will face a problem logging in with 'a temporary profile' if you restore only C.


I really have been facing too many problems with restoring images created by Macrium, in particular if I restore image created of the different layout of a hard drive on a distenation containing another layout of a hard drive. However, if I have restore an image to the same distenation from which image was previously created I dind't face any problem.

I really wrote a lot, but I would only like to let the problem quite clear. So I hope you understand me.

Thank you gregrocker for your kind reply.

I hope I could clarify the issue. I really wrote a lot, but only to convey the issue.

NB: When I create an image whatever the partitions are, then I restore the entire image or some partitions to the same layout of hard disk from which it was imaged, I never found problems.

Only the problems are shown when I tried restoring an image imaged from different layout and then restored to another one.

Will restoring an image containing, for instance, three partitions, to a new hard drive containing one partition not let windows be loaded even it was completed successfully via Macrium environment?

Does restoring an image via Macrium environment not format the destination?

I'm not a Macrium guy but was only suggesting a better backup scheme that wouldn't hang you up like your describe. There's simply no good reason to image any other than the OS partition, which can then be reimaged to its partition or unallocated space.

I've only heard that Win7 backup imaging app requires you to include the data partition in the image if you've moved the User files there - since they're considered System files. I gave you the workaround for that if it's causing you problems with Macrium.

So if you don't need the Recovery partition (since you use imaging recovery and can save it on Recovery Disks to recover its space), and don't need to image the data partition which should be backed in a way like I described using file and not image backup, then you are left with a simple C image which should be not be complicated at all.

But since you ask a very specific question about Macrium which probably does have a direct answer, I'll ask someone more familar with Macrium to look in here.

gregrocker said:

I'm not a Macrium guy but was only suggesting a better backup scheme that wouldn't hang you up like your describe. There's simply no good reason to image any other than the OS partition, which can then be reimaged to its partition or unallocated space.

Thanks a lot,

I'm not a Macrium guy but was only suggesting a better backup scheme that wouldn't hang you up like your describe. There's simply no good reason to image any other than the so partition, which can then be reimaged to its partition or unallocated space.
But if I have two images of two different versions of Windows, and I only imaged the OS partition without including the other partition that I move all user accounts to, then if I needed restoring Interchangeably images, I would be finding a problem logging with a temporary profile when restoring the image because the Windows will expect that the profile of user has been deleted as looking to it and didn't find it.
Take this scenario:
I have this layout:
C and D
I installed Windows premium 64bit on C and then moved all user accounts to D. After that, I imaged only C.
Next, I reinstalled Windows ultimate 32bit on C and then moved all user accounts to D, then I imaged only C.
Finally, I restored image of Windows premium 64bit to C.
I restored the image of Windows ultimate 32bit to C.
Will the users of both windows remain without affecting?
Assume if I have named a user account of Windows ultimate 32bit with the same of Windows premium 64bit, so there will be inconsistency.
So I think that it would be better if I have image the two partitions C and D of each image. Also, before installing Windows ultimate 32bit, I should format the D or at least delete user profile accounts in case if I need to use the same name of user accounts in both the versions

Do you think that partition setup I have posted in my first post is good?
Second HDD:
- F for backups of your personal files (using Karen's Replicator for instance)
- G for images of C ( base image + new onces added after making system changes), of D (once) and of E (very, very often, like weekly or even better daily) (using Macrium Reflect for instance)
If so, I would be asking that if I want to restore the image of the data partition along with the image of the OS partition whenever I restore image of OS, then what is the benefit from imaging data partitions separately from OS images as underlined above?
I hope you understand me.

I gave you the workaround for that if it's causing you problems with Macrium.

I don't have problems with Macrium at all, except if I imaged two different versions of Windows and then restored them Interchangeably.(one after the other). Also, if I have restored an image containing different layout(partitions) to a destination containing different layout (partitions)
As you know that some laptop came from the factory with reinstalled windows on two partitions (System and C). So, if you have imaged these two partitions, then reinstalled another windows version to only C.
After that, imaged C only. Finally: while restoring the earlier image(two partitions) to existing windows installed on C, I had a problem (no bootable device, please insert boot CD and press any key) after close Macrium environment, although that the restoration complete successfully via Macrium.

When reimaging the OS partition be sure to make it Primary Active and copy the MBR and track 0, include System Reserved if its there to begin with. If it still fails to start, confirm it is marked Active and run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times

Did you understand my point that if you have moved User folders to the data partition it may be deemed also to be a System partition and must be included in the image - at least this is the case with Win7 backup imaging.

The solution to this is to move the User folders back to their default location on C, leaving their content on the data partition. User Folders - Restore Default Location - Windows 7 Forums

Then rightclick each one to add to the related Library - Include a Folder and tell Win7 you want them to be the default download location for that User folder as shown in the Yellow Info box in User Folders - Change Default Location

I've now explained this twice so hopefully it is clearer now.

When reimaging the OS partition be sure to make it Primary Active and copy the MBR and track 0, include System Reserved if its there to begin with. If it still fails to start, confirm it is marked Active and run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times

Thanks a lot,

There is no option to make OS partition be Primary Active during restoring an image via Macrium.

There is only an option to restore MBR or not.

I think that when imaging OS partition with Macrium, partition was originally active and primary, so it will still primary and active in the image. As a result, when I restoring image, I think that I would not need to do anything, except whether I need MBR to be restored or not?

confirm it is marked Active and run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times

Yes, I really detected a solution of this problem 'no bootable device, .insert boot Cd and press any key', when I booted to Mini partition wizard, and then made OS partition active. However, the question is still, why this happens as long as image completed successfully via Macrium environment. Also, If each restoring an image via Macrium will be needed to be fixed, then what is the benefit from these images?

Also, the other problem which is
Windows Manager Boot:
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1- insert your windows installation dis and restart your computer.
2-choose your language settings and then click 'next'
3- click repair your computer.
if you don't have this disc, contact your system administrator.
---------
I fixed it by booting to Macrium Secure CD 4.0, which has an option to fixed PC Boot Code. Then, the Windows loaded successfully.