"...There is a way to exclude files from being included in an image created while running Windows. It requires adding some registry keys. If anyone wants to see the reg keys, let me know and i'll post it..." DavidE
Can I have the registry keys?
I do see pagefile.sys in my MR backups but it's just a small one as I've got the page file for windows swapped to another partition. I don't think that backing up the page file can be important as when I restore an image everything works without the missing non backed up (swapped partiton) page file. Also I have page file set to clear every shutdown anyway!
Page file swapped to drive D and not backed up when creating a MR backup of windows partiton. Everything still works.
Here you go.
I added the reg keys of David-pagefile and David-hiberfil.
You can name the keys whatever you like, or add keys for any other files you want to exclude.
The keys are in HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToSnapshotMacriumImage
Windows rebuilds the pagefile and hiberfil every time it starts up, that's why they aren't needed in a backup image.
DavidE, I moused over your informative post, downloaded the png pic, can't find the two key files :)
Callender, tell me more about your page & hiber files operations! Has such made Windows more stable?
I'm aware of the possibility to zero the pagefile on shutdown for security purposes. Is that what you're talking about, or do you mean it's actually removed?Callender said:
Hibernation is disabled so hiberfil.sys doesn't exist anyway. Page File is fixed size and swapped to a non windows partition. That's nor recommended by most experts here but it works for me. I should state that I also use a RAMdisk. Some things have been disabled like Superfetch (not needed with RAMdisk)
Pretty much everyone will tell you that there's no benefit in a page file swap unless you use a second hard drive for the swap. However I do personally find performance seems to be much better simply by swapping it to another non windows partition.
A fyi followup to my POST #7
I've been testing the MR Registry Exclusions for pagefile and hiberfil and found a little gotcha.
If the partiton being imaged does not have a drive letter, the exclusions are not used, these files are included in the backup image.
If i temporarily add a drive letter, then run Macrium and create the backup image, these files are not included.
I have multi-boot PC's and normally my non-boot OS's don't have a drive letter.
I don't think this affects most people that have a single boot PC and the only drive being imaged is the "C" drive.
For me it means a several GB difference in space used for backups.
It's not causing an error for me if the drive letter is assigned or not.
It does make a big difference in the backup image size.
ymmv
Also, i've tested exporting my reg keys and merging them on a different PC/OS.
So far, no problems here and they work for me.
I can post my reg key export, if anyone wants it so they can merge this, and test it.
Then you wouldn't have to manually add these reg keys.
It has all sub keys under FilesNotToSnapshotMacriumImage, including the default RestorePoints key.
I make no guarantee that this will work for anyone else.
Make sure you can recover before making any changes !!!
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