Macrium Reflect Free making multiple images?

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  1. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #31

    simrick said:

    So, just to be clear: Let's say my HDD bites the dust. I get a new one (that's at least 10% larger than the used space on the original drive), boot from the WinPE disk, restore the full image, then restore the latest C image, then attach my Crashplan drive and restore the latest versions of my data (unless, of course, they're encrypted, then I would restore to a previous version). Does that sound right?


    You may be confused. I'm guessing you are because you say "restore the full image, then restore the latest C image".

    What's contained in the so-called "full image" you mention? What partitions does it represent?

    To restore Windows and get it running, you need to make and later restore an image file that represents C. You also need to make and later restore an image file of another partition IF, I say IF that other partition contains your boot files. This other partition is typically called "System Reserved", but your boot files can be anywhere, depending on who built the PC.

    Let's say your boot files are on System Reserved.

    You need to restore both C and System Reserved. So you need to have image files of both partitions.

    You could make a single image file containing both partitions or you could make a separate image file for each. If you did the former, you'd presumably make that single image file on some repeating schedule. If you did the latter, you COULD do that repeatedly also, but more likely you'd just make one image of System Reserved and then make repeated images of C according to your schedule.

    You can make images of your data partitions if you want, but I'd never fully rely on it.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 80
    W7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #32

    ignatzatsonic said:
    simrick said:

    So, just to be clear: Let's say my HDD bites the dust. I get a new one (that's at least 10% larger than the used space on the original drive), boot from the WinPE disk, restore the full image, then restore the latest C image, then attach my Crashplan drive and restore the latest versions of my data (unless, of course, they're encrypted, then I would restore to a previous version). Does that sound right?


    You may be confused. I'm guessing you are because you say "restore the full image, then restore the latest C image".

    What's contained in the so-called "full image" you mention? What partitions does it represent?

    To restore Windows and get it running, you need to make and later restore an image file that represents C. You also need to make and later restore an image file of another partition IF, I say IF that other partition contains your boot files. This other partition is typically called "System Reserved", but your boot files can be anywhere, depending on who built the PC.

    Let's say your boot files are on System Reserved.

    You need to restore both C and System Reserved. So you need to have image files of both partitions.

    You could make a single image file containing both partitions or you could make a separate image file for each. If you did the former, you'd presumably make that single image file on some repeating schedule. If you did the latter, you COULD do that repeatedly also, but more likely you'd just make one image of System Reserved and then make repeated images of C according to your schedule.

    You can make images of your data partitions if you want, but I'd never fully rely on it.

    The full image I was referring to would be the system reserved and C partitions of my drive - that's all there is on my computer. So I was thinking I make one full image and then subsequent images of C partition. So for this particular system of mine.. I just reinstalled Win8Pro on the new HDD then updated to 8.1...it has System Reserved and C. In Disk Management, it says that Boot is on C: partition. So in this case, could I make one complete image (both partitions) and then just update C on a regular basis?

    Then if the boot was on the system reserved partition, I would need to periodically update that image as well? or am I confused....I thought the boot didn't really change...

    To further confuse me, on the ASUS W8.1 machine my friend has, there are 8 partitions (ugh!):
    unallocated 1MB
    win re tools 800MB NTFS
    system260MB FAT32
    other 128MB reserved
    windows C 800.35GB NTFS
    D data 112.63GB NTFS
    recovery (including install.wim) 17.37GB NTFS
    unallocated 7.11KB

    I don't have access to it at the moment, so I don't know where the boot files reside. I'm not sure how to tackle this one?

    Thanks for your patience with me!
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #33

    simrick said:
    In Disk Management, it says that Boot is on C: partition.
    Post a MAXIMIZED screen print of Disk Management
    Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

    In Disk Management the partition that shows "Boot" is the partition that the Windows OS is installed on, and currently running.
    In Disk Management the partition that shows "System/Active" is where the boot code is, used to boot up the correct Windows OS partition.
    Yes, it's confusing...
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #34

    see comments in bold

    simrick said:


    The full image I was referring to would be the system reserved and C partitions of my drive - that's all there is on my computer. So I was thinking I make one full image and then subsequent images of C partition. So for this particular system of mine.. I just reinstalled Win8Pro on the new HDD then updated to 8.1...it has System Reserved and C. In Disk Management, it says that Boot is on C: partition. So in this case, could I make one complete image (both partitions) and then just update C on a regular basis?

    No, I wouldn't do it that way. Here's the problem with your method. Suppose on May 1 you "make one full image", representing both System Reserved and C. Then on May 10, you make an image of C only. Then on May 20, your drive fails. You'd have to restore the May 1 image, not the newer May 10 image because you don't have an image of System Reserved ONLY. If you restore the May 10 image only, it won't boot because that image file does not include the boot files. You could restore the May 1 image and then immediately restore the May 10 image of C, overwriting the May 1 image of C, but why bother going through 2 restoration procedures? Why complicate a procedure that is shaky to begin with? You can't restore just part of an image file (C but not System Reserved). It's all or none.

    Take your pic from the following, either would work:

    1: ALWAYS make one image file, containing both C and System Reserved. Each and every time, at whatever schedule you want. Restore this single image file when you have issues.

    2: Make an image of System Reserved ONLY. Make another image of C ONLY. Don't make more images of System Reserved unless you do something radical like install a dual boot (2 operating systems). Make periodic new images of C ONLY. When disaster strikes, you restore both images, separately.


    Then if the boot was on the system reserved partition, I would need to periodically update that image as well? or am I confused....I thought the boot didn't really change...

    "Boot" is never going to be on System Reserved. Boot will always be C. That's where Windows lives. C will be changing constantly. System Reserved will rarely if ever change.

    To further confuse me, on the ASUS W8.1 machine my friend has, there are 8 partitions (ugh!):
    unallocated 1MB

    Unallocated space is NOT a partition. It's unallocated space. Your friend has 6 partitions.


    win re tools 800MB NTFS
    system260MB FAT32
    other 128MB reserved
    windows C 800.35GB NTFS
    D data 112.63GB NTFS
    recovery (including install.wim) 17.37GB NTFS
    unallocated 7.11KB

    I don't have access to it at the moment, so I don't know where the boot files reside. I'm not sure how to tackle this one?

    You'd need to look at his Windows Disk Management to decipher things. He'd need to restore C and whatever partition is marked as "system" in order to recover from a drive failure. He COULD restore additional partitions, but they wouldn't be required to get back to a bootable Windows.

      My Computer


  5. Posts : 80
    W7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #35

    DavidE said:
    simrick said:
    In Disk Management, it says that Boot is on C: partition.
    Post a MAXIMIZED screen print of Disk Management
    Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

    In Disk Management the partition that shows "Boot" is the partition that the Windows OS is installed on, and currently running.
    In Disk Management the partition that shows "System/Active" is where the boot code is, used to boot up the correct Windows OS partition.
    Yes, it's confusing...
    YES! Confusing! LOL
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Macrium Reflect Free making multiple images?-disk-management.png  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 80
    W7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #36

    ignatzatsonic said:

    2: Make an image of System Reserved ONLY. Make another image of C ONLY. Don't make more images of System Reserved unless you do something radical like install a dual boot (2 operating systems). Make periodic new images of C ONLY. When disaster strikes, you restore both images, separately.

    "Boot" is never going to be on System Reserved. Boot will always be C. That's where Windows lives. C will be changing constantly. System Reserved will rarely if ever change.
    Yes, option #2 makes sense to me now. Thanks for that.
    ignatzatsonic said:
    Unallocated space is NOT a partition. It's unallocated space. Your friend has 6 partitions...
    ignatzatsonic said:

    You'd need to look at his Windows Disk Management to decipher things. He'd need to restore C and whatever partition is marked as "system" in order to recover from a drive failure. He COULD restore additional partitions, but they wouldn't be required to get back to a bootable Windows.
    I will have access to it later next week. I'll have a look and report back. Thanks!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 80
    W7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #37

    ignatzatsonic said:
    see comments in bold

    You'd need to look at his Windows Disk Management to decipher things. He'd need to restore C and whatever partition is marked as "system" in order to recover from a drive failure. He COULD restore additional partitions, but they wouldn't be required to get back to a bootable Windows.
    Okay, so here is the info on my friend's machine:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Macrium Reflect Free making multiple images?-disk-management-knust.png   Macrium Reflect Free making multiple images?-macrium-partitions-knust.png  
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 80
    W7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #38

    DavidE said:
    simrick said:
    In Disk Management, it says that Boot is on C: partition.
    Post a MAXIMIZED screen print of Disk Management
    Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

    In Disk Management the partition that shows "Boot" is the partition that the Windows OS is installed on, and currently running.
    In Disk Management the partition that shows "System/Active" is where the boot code is, used to boot up the correct Windows OS partition.
    Yes, it's confusing...
    I've had a chance to grab screen shots of my friend's machine (above). Any chance of deciphering it, or should I head on over to eightforums?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #39

    Create a Backup Image of the [C] partition periodically.
    Create a Backup Image EFI System Partition at least once in case that ever gets corrupted.
    As the EFI System Partition is so small you could also include that partition in the periodic Backup Images.
    That way you always have it easily available whenever you need to restore the system.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 80
    W7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #40

    DavidE said:
    Create a Backup Image of the [C] partition periodically.
    Create a Backup Image EFI System Partition at least once in case that ever gets corrupted.
    As the EFI System Partition is so small you could also include that partition in the periodic Backup Images.
    That way you always have it easily available whenever you need to restore the system.
    Thanks David.
    I also noticed that Macrium have the option to "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows". I assume that selection would capture boot, OS and restore partitions - have I got that right? So if a computer had been upgraded to W10 from W7, or W8.1 from W8.0, that would be useless, unless you wanted to go all the way back to original configuration, correct?
    Thanks so much for your help!
      My Computer


 
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