Thanks mjf
since I'm a newbie in this more technical stuff, what do you mean by "I definitely do not recommend this for large image folders" (sorry!) ?
In my backup external hdd I only have one partition (I mean I formated the disc and used only for backups)!
In this case should I worry about the large (my bigger one is abou 56 GB) backup folders?
Regards,
paulo
Each partition (volume to be exact) has a MFT (Master File Table) which describes what lives where in the partition. When you move something within a partition you don't physically move anything just change the entry in the MFT.
When you move something into a new partition on the same HDD or to a different HDD you add an entry to its MFT and actually move the file data. You don't want to do this for images.
My experience and practice is to move WindowsImageBackup to folders anywhere within a partition and back again. Also, I do not rely on shadow storage for difference imaging. That is I always make one an only one image at a time.
Maybe it is simpler to do as Brink suggests and just rename your images in the root.
I have to say that Macrium Reflect is probably kinder to those new to imaging and gives flexibility to image storage rather than using workarounds.
Thanks a lot, you made it clear to me now
About Macrium: how intrusive is this sw?
Will it be doing things in the background?
I like sw that only starts when I want to! I do not like to schedule anything too!
Any problem with stability?
paulo
Another option I like is to clone my fresh Windows 7 install, right after I get the software I like installed, to a spare HDD. Then, whenever Microsoft comes out with new updates, I hook the spare HDD back up and update it as well. That way, I always have a clean copy of Windows 7, complete with all the updates to periodically redo the OS installation on the HDD in my PC. I still do system imaging as well.
Intrusive? Not at all as far as I can see. It runs when you open it and otherwise does nothing. I don't schedule anything and use it strictly manually when wanted.
It does nothing in the backround. You open it when you want to make an image and shut it down when the image is finished. It takes me 5 minutes to image a partition that has 30 GB occupied.
You make the recovery disk and boot from it if and when you have to restore.
It doesn't have a 100% success rate with image making and restoration, but neither does any other consumer imaging program. You are a fool if you have no Plan B for when it fails---which you already knew.
Thanks again
I will install it too in this laptop and have both Win7 and Macrium imaging! I hope never need to restore ...
Paulo
Having 2 imaging methods is probably a good idea.
You might alternate them---using Macrium in even-numbered months and Windows Backup in odd-numbered months. Something like that. You'll likely decide that Macrium is easier to use.
Pay attention to that Macrium recovery disk. Most would tell you to make the "WinPE" version of it, rather than the "Linux" version. That would reduce the possibility of bad surprises.
Thanks again!
I have the 1.7 GB stored in one of my external hdd already!
paulo
If you do not want to install Macrium, download the Macrium WinPE .iso from my Skydrive and burn that to a CD. Then when you load from this CD, you can do everything that you could do with an installed Macrium - make images and recover from images.
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=475a0...A6D4035%211812
Well, I've already installed it as you know!
But that seems a nice feature!
Is the Macrium WinPE.iso file the same that the one Macrium creates when you click the "Create bootable rescue disc" icon? If so, it means that the file I have at my rescue DVD is that one!
If all this is correct I just can unistall Macrium and use the DVD to create and restore images?
Any advantage in uninstall Macrium from my laptop?
Thanks,
paulo
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