Windows PE Rescue Disk for Macrium Reflect Free - testing question

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  1. Posts : 69
    Windows 7 Pro sp1 64 bit
       #1

    Windows PE Rescue Disk for Macrium Reflect Free - testing question


    I have just installed the free Macrium Reflect and created the rescue disk. It is suggested to test it, which I did. The CD did boot and it appeared files were being copied but then, nothing. Nothing ever showed up on my monitor, the screen just remained black.

    Do I need to have an image file for it to locate, in order for the process to go any further? I haven't yet created an image.

    My thanks,

    Mary
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       #2

    Welcome Mary
    When you make the image, for the first time, you will set up the destination. I use an external hard drive. When you want to restore that image, you make sure that the drive is connected. You will then see all the images on the drive.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 69
    Windows 7 Pro sp1 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you for your prompt reply. Do you think this is why, when attempting to test my rescue disk, that the monitor remained black/blank, because there was no image file for the restore function to locate and display on the screen? It kept searching for something that wasn't available?

    I've never seen anyone say that to test the rescue CD, you first need to create an image. I had the impression that the testing of the rescue disk came before creating the image (backup) file as it is always stressed to do this. Am I getting ahead of myself?

    Mary
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #4

    I think the rescue media should be able to create a backup image even if none have been created.
    If booting the rescue disc shows a blank/black screen something is wrong, imho.
    I've never booted a pc with a MR rescue disc that had no backup images for that pc, so i'm just guessing.

    What PE version did you create the rescue disc with ?
    Can you try the MR rescue disc on a different pc to see if it displays correctly ?

    You can try different PE versions if you want, to see if that makes a difference.

    I've tried/tested them all as best i can, and they all work for me, but i do have multi-boot pc's.

    Windows PE Rescue Disk for Macrium Reflect Free - testing question-macriumpe.png
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  5. Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       #5
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 69
    Windows 7 Pro sp1 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I have tried latest version of Macrium Reflect Free, uninstalled and then reinstalled my v5 Macrium Reflect Professional on my desktop with Win 7 Pro OS. I thought maybe the lastest version of Macrium was conflicting with something on my computer so decided to uninstall and reinstall my older purchased version of Macrium v5 Pro. I turned off my Anti Virus software before installing it.

    As with the free version of Macrium Reflect, each time I attempt to test the rescue disk just created by the Macrium v5, which always finishes and tells me it is successfully created, it loads at boot but shortly after the screen tells me it is analyzing the disks, my monitor goes black. I cannot see anything and nothing ever displays after this. If I cannot see how to locate and install my backup image, then this is not trustworthy for me. I know it must be something unique to my system. I did some research and it was suggested I remove the drive letter on the small partition that Dell creates as this was causing the free Macrium to throw an error. Once I did that, the free Macrium was able to successfully create a backup image file, which was created on a 1TB USB SSD drive. All reported successful and I can see the files there. It is just the problem with the rescue disk. If it doesn't work, I have no way to restore if the need ever arose.

    Has anyone ever experienced this situation and if so, could you share your solution with me? I have no problems with my computer, plenty of unused space on my C drive, which is an internal 1 TB SSD. My monitor is a Samsung SyncMaster 245BW and I've had no problems with it.

    I realize the need to have a good backup and would like to have something I feel I can rely on.

    Thank you for taking the time to read. All advice gratefully accepted.

    Mary
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 69
    Windows 7 Pro sp1 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I just re read one of the replies and I see it is suggested to try different PE versions when creating the rescue disk so I will give that a try. I've always used the 3.1 (?), the first in a list of three versions. I don't remember these different versions being offered on the free Macrium but my v5 does offer a list of three to chose from when creating the rescue disk. Will try creating with a different one. Thanks for the suggestion.

    Mary
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #8

    I use v5 but use a bootable Macruim Reflect PE USB to boot from. I believe that gets around any driver issues for CD drives.
      My Computer


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

    Mary,
    Another thing you can try is to add a Boot Menu option for Macrium.

    To do this, run Macrium (installed) in Windows.
    In the MR menu select Other Tasks and then select Add Recovery Boot Menu Option
    Then add it for whatever PE version you want.
    This is not a substitute for a reliable rescue CD/USB,
    If the HD/SSD fails, this boot option won't work !
    It's just something you can test to see if the issue is with a bootable CD/USB.
    If you do this, when you boot the PC you should be able to select Macrium as the "boot device".

    Here's a snip of what i'm trying to explain:

    Windows PE Rescue Disk for Macrium Reflect Free - testing question-macriumbootoption.png
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  10. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #10

    Thinking a bit more about this, if i had this problem i would run a Disk Check and SFC.
    Here are tutorials:
    Disk Check
    SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

    I'd want to be sure as possible i don't have some HD/OS problem i'm not aware of.
      My Computer


 
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