Imaging with free Macrium

meltie · 14 Aug 2010

Well . . . I could do that.

I was concerned with the size of the "C" partition and the time it would take to mirror it. It's got 200GB of info on it now.

I also want to be able to back-up certain areas vs the whole computer (for data, photos, etc.)

I was thinking it would be better to break it into 2 partitions to make it more manageable, but I wasn't sure exactly how to do that effectively.

Sounds like breaking up the Program Data is NOT an option, so I'll forget that.

Just thinking out loud here . . . what are your thoughts on this:

1. mirror it exactly as it is now at the 200 GB
2. place all new items and new data to the new partition

I think this would accomplish what I want.

If you don't feel the size and imaging time would be an issue . . . and that it's better to leave everything on "C", I'll do that instead

Let me know.

Thanks

Meltie

whs · 14 Aug 2010

I think breaking the partition up into OS only in one partition and user data in another partition is a good idea. Figure 55% of the used space in the partition will be the size of the image. Time should not be an issue since you can run the imaging in the background. And for a possible recovery it would also be an advantage if you had 2 seperate images (1 for OS, 1 for Data).
I am not 100% certain that I understand your point #2

meltie · 14 Aug 2010

Please disregard Item 2. What I was thinking about doesn't really make sense to do.

Okay. The 2 partitions sounds good.

What's confusing me is what should belong to O/S and what should belong to Data. It shouldn't, but it is.

My brain seems to have shut down on me (been working on several things with the computer yesterday and today and that does it to me). I need to step away for a while and think about it. Once I'm fresh, I'll re-run the tutorials. Hopefully that will clear it up for me. If not, I'll reach back out to you.

Thank you again for taking the time to help me on this. I really appreciate it.

Meltie

whs · 14 Aug 2010

That is very simple. Every folder that has a Location tab in Properties can be moved to a data partition. Those are Documents, music, pictures, etc. - just check the folder Properties. The rest is part of the system. Here are more details: User Folders - Change Default Location You can also watch my tutorial on Data Partition which might shed more light on it.

meltie · 15 Aug 2010

Got it. I'll go ahead and do that. Thanks.

Had a system crash since we last chatted. Graphics card fried. Not good. When I said I need to step away for a moment, that's not what I had in mind -- yikes!! Appears to be fixed now.

Have installed the Iomega external drive. Appears to be functioning properly. Very easy to use.

Soooo, now I'm off to partition and image. Wish me luck.

Thanks again for your help.

Meltie

eldinv · 15 Aug 2010

I want to share my experience with having two partitions (OS & DATA) and imaging with Macrium.

I created a small (80GB) OS partition and after installing OS, updates, apps and games, I came pretty close to filling all the space. I then started saving new applications and games to the DATA partition and thought it would be fine.

I really wasn't using any of the DATA partition, some pictures and mp3's here and there, mainly just installing newer applications.

Probably a few weeks ago, I had to do a recovery to a Macrium image. I mistakenly forget to realized that if I replace a image to an earlier time any applications that were not saved in that image would not worked even though they were installed on the DATA partition which wasn't replace or touch during the recovery process.

I've since left that whole idea alone. (OS & DATA partitions)

Now when I create new images, YES, some of the data is being duplicated and the images are larger, but its not too bad. Like I said, I'm not really creating that much of new data to folders such as documents, pictures and music.

Don't make the same mistake I made, lol.

meltie · 19 Aug 2010

Thanks Eldinv - good to know.

WHS, I went and created the partition (after reviewing the tutorial again :) ). Everything went great. Partition up and ready. Only one issue.

I didn't get the "acknowledgment" from the computer that the new drive was ready. Mine is "K" btw. Sooo, I can't get to the part where it allows me to move the files over. Is this because I'm in Vista?? I can move them using cut and paste, but then I can't see the "location" tab. Did I do something wrong?

Please help!!

Thanks

Meltie

whs · 19 Aug 2010

It's the same in Vista and Win7. Do NOT use cut and paste. That is not the way to do it. Go to e.g. the Pictures folder, right click on it and go to Properties. There you will see the Location tab (the same is true for all other user folders - but NOT system folders). You should only move folders via the Location tab and only those folders that have a location tab in Properties.
IMPORTANT: Before you do anything, create folders on your K - e.g. Documents for moving documents, Pictures for moving pictures. You can also use other names - A, B, C or whatever. The important thing is that you move your original folders to FOLDERS on K - not to the drive K (that would create a mess).

meltie · 19 Aug 2010

I figured cut and paste was not the thing to do.

OK - this is odd. When I go to that folder and right click, only four tabs come up. They are: General, Sharing, Security, Customize. I went to several other Folders that I know are only data - same thing.

I went to a folder that I know belongs to the system and only got three tabs: General, Sharing, Security

Hmm? Could it be something with my folder preferences settings? Or do I have to run something as "Administrator"??

Thanks

M

whs · 19 Aug 2010

Assuming you run as administrator, there is nothing special you have to do. The properties should look like the picture below. This is Win7, but Vista is the same.
I have no idea what could have happened in your case. I can only imagine that the folders were once moved the wrong way. What is their Location (in Properties > General)?
Have a look at this tutorial whether that could help: User Folders - Change Default Location