Deleted Partion D

So I successfully installed windows and downloaded macrium reflect, now what?

I'm supposing the macrium is different now than it was when the tutorial was made,

it asks for a windows file or asks to download it online (at 1.7 gb). It didn't seem to ask what disk drive I was saving to either. So I was getting confused with the menus.

zomboromano said:

I'm supposing the macrium is different now than it was when the tutorial was made,

it asks for a windows file or asks to download it online (at 1.7 gb). It didn't seem to ask what disk drive I was saving to either. So I was getting confused with the menus.

Did you get Macrium from this link?

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Macrium should not ask for any file. You should see something like below when you open Macrium.

What choice are you making at that point?

Yes, I downloaded from that link.

I followed the instructions and clicked to make the recovery disc.

Then it asked me to either download the file from windows (it said I would need 1.7 gb) or it asked me to find the iso file. It never asked what drive or anything either. So I'm not sure where to go from here.

Normally, you would do things in this order:

1: Make the image file. I assume you have NOT done this? When you make the file, you have to choose where to save it, just like any other file. You would choose another drive of some type. This image file will take up space roughly equal to half the size of the space used on the partitions you are imaging.

2: Then make a "recovery disk". There are 2 types. Linux-based, or WinPE. The WinPE version requires that download. Without a working recovery disk, you CANNOT restore the image file created in step 1. Therefore, it is VERY important that you test this recovery disk after you make it to make sure your PC does in fact boot from it and that you can locate the image file you created in step 1.

Linux or PE based should both work. The PE version is more likely to boot on your system, but takes more time to create due to that download. You can make both if you want. Or you could make the Linux disk and see if it works. If it doesn't, make the PE disk.

I have not been following this thread, but I assume you want to back up your Windows system, not something else?

If I am right about that, then you would poke that link in the upper left of the Macrium window where it says "create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows".

The next screen will ask you to choose your destination in the bottom half. This is where you choose your USB drive, or whatever location you want. You CANNOT choose the partition you are imaging (C).

The next screen will show you a summary to recheck your choices.

Then just hit the "finish" button at the bottom. It will take 5 or 10 minutes to complete.

Then make your recovery disk.

Then test it.

So a lot of things have already happened in this thread, so with my limited knowledge I'm not sure if I've already done a couple of the things your listing.

So I haven't created a system image as it wasn't in the instructions to do so. But I did install windows on a dvd, and boot from it, and clear my whole hard drive, and then install from that disc, I'm supposing that the Windows Install disc is entirely different than the recovery disc and I would need to make the recovery discs.

Then I question whether the ISO file I used to make the install disc, is the same file I could use for this. It is about 3 gb's in space, but it was an iso file and did install windows.

Again, I just formatted my entire hard drive, and I deleted my partition earlier. So I'm looking to make my own partition of sorts, so that I can restore to it if something happens.

Windows is installed, registered, and validated. I just need help with the Macrium image, because my options listed were different than the tutorial

See comments in bold

zomboromano said:

So I haven't created a system image as it wasn't in the instructions to do so. But I did install windows on a dvd, and boot from it, and clear my whole hard drive, and then install from that disc, I'm supposing that the Windows Install disc is entirely different than the recovery disc and I would need to make the recovery discs.

The purpose of Macrium is to make a system image file from which you could restore your system to the state it was in on the day you made the image, typically in case of a disaster such as a hard drive failure or major Windows corruption of some type.

A Windows install disc is different in that it will give you only a brand new Windows installation, and will NOT include whatever programs you may have later installed.

If you are willing to reinstall Windows and your applications from the Windows install disk, you don't need Macrium.

The purpose of Macrium is to save you some time in configuring Windows and installing applications.

I assume you downloaded Macrium for that reason?

Yes, the Windows install disc is entirely different from the recovery disk.

The recovery disk is entirely different from the image file made by Macrium. You use the former to restore the latter if you have a disaster of some type. The recovery disk is a burned CD. The Macrium image file is typically stored on a hard drive or USB drive. A hard drive is preferable.

Then I question whether the ISO file I used to make the install disc, is the same file I could use for this. It is about 3 gb's in space, but it was an iso file and did install windows.

The ISO file and Windows install disc are unrelated to Macrium or making images or recovery disks.

Again, I just formatted my entire hard drive, and I deleted my partition earlier. So I'm looking to make my own partition of sorts, so that I can restore to it if something happens.

You do have a partition. It's named C. You made it when you installed Windows.

You also probably have a small "system reserved" partition, also made when you installed Windows.

Both of those will be included in the image file you make with Macrium if you intend to use Macrium.

You don't have to make any more partitions.

If you restore the Macrium image file, you would restore it to your current C partition.

You do have to have some place to store the Macrium image file. That should be on a different hard drive entirely. If you have no different hard drive, a USB drive will reportedly work. DVD disks are not recommended for that purpose.

What exactly do you want to do?