Image your system with free Macrium


  1. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
    Thread Starter
       #1041

    In the window above it is more practical if you give that XML your own name (in lieu of 'My Backup'). Then you can distinguish the different XMLs in case you make images of different partitions or if you image to different output devices.
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  2. Posts : 70
    Win 7 Pro 64 bit
       #1042

    Many thanks for that - much clearer now.

    Since my computer isn't showing a 100MB partition on the disk that has the operating system, can I assume that the MBR is part of the C-drive and so will have been backup up and will be restored if I ever have to do a restoration?

    One other thought, given how painless this has been: can I install Macrium on a laptop to back that up and use the same win PE rescue disk that I created for my desktop, rather than bother burning a second CD-ROM? I guess the answer's yes, though it would be helpful to have confirmation that I've understood correctly. On the laptop I think I have a C drive and a MBR partition so I'd have to image both of those.
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  3. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
       #1043

    If your C drive is marked as active then it is the boot partition, also if you took the option to image partitions needed to backup Windows then Macrium will have determined that for you. You can install Macrium on a laptop and use the same rescue disk. I believe that the disk whs pointed at is 64bit so it must be a 64bit capable PC. If you have the 100mb partition you need to image that too. You can either do that along with the C drive or separately.
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  4. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
    Thread Starter
       #1044

    The only way to determine whether you do or don't have the 100MB partition is in Disk Management. In 'Computer' it will not show up because it usually does not have a drive letter.
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  5. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #1045

    Agreed


    whs said:
    In the window above it is more practical if you give that XML your own name (in lieu of 'My Backup'). Then you can distinguish the different XMLs in case you make images of different partitions or if you image to different output devices.
    Agreed. :)

    I don't actually use that option, as I create a backup folder each month and inside that I create folders for the partitions I'm backing up.

    Image your system with free Macrium-macrium-backup-folders.png
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  6. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #1046

    For me, the XML files are only useful for making incremental and differential backups.

    I do something similar with my images. I put them in dated folders named for the HDD the image is stored on. I do also name the XML files the same as the folders, even though I don't really need them anymore.

    What's curious is I got the Pro version of Macrium Reflect so I could make incremental and differential backups on my notebook to save time when making backups (incrementals and differentials take less time than full backups) but now that I won't be needing them anymore (I'm finally getting around to splitting my data off the C:/ drive). I'm still glad I got the Pro version because it can restore and image to a drive in a different system than the original one the image was taken from.
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  7. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
    Thread Starter
       #1047

    I create a backup folder each month and inside that I create folders for the partitions I'm backing up.
    Hmm, that is certainly an option but more work. Since the images are dated, this is not really necessary.

    I make seperate XMLs for the 2 partitions I image (C and Data partition) and then for the 3 disks where I store the images, Internal HDD, external permanently connected disk and external disk that is only connected when in use).
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #1048

    Agreed


    whs said:
    I create a backup folder each month and inside that I create folders for the partitions I'm backing up.
    Hmm, that is certainly an option but more work. Since the images are dated, this is not really necessary.
    It does take a little more work. :)

    I have all of my Folder Templates set to "Sort by > Name".
    Macrium generates a random string (hash number?) as the name of the image by default.
    This means that the latest image isn't necessarily at the top or bottom of the list.

    I got stung by that last week, as I had two OS images in the same folder.

    I had created backup images before attempting to install:

    • IE10 for the 2nd time
    • The May "Patch Tuesday" updates.

    I deleted what I thought was the earlier image (IE10).

    A few days later I decided to reimage my PC, as it was acting a little "flaky".
    The System process (interrupts) CPU usage would surge whenever I tried to open Notepad++, causing a delay of at least 5 seconds.
    It would randomly surge when I tried to change to another tab.

    I discovered that I had accidentally deleted the second image () so I had to:

    • Reinstall all of my program updates again
    • Create a new image
    • Install the "Patch Tuesday" updates again.

    At least everything is running smoothly now.
    Last edited by lehnerus2000; 26 May 2013 at 11:16. Reason: Layout
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #1049

    whs said:
    I create a backup folder each month and inside that I create folders for the partitions I'm backing up.
    Hmm, that is certainly an option but more work. Since the images are dated, this is not really necessary.

    I make seperate XMLs for the 2 partitions I image (C and Data partition) and then for the 3 disks where I store the images, Internal HDD, external permanently connected disk and external disk that is only connected when in use).
    The images are dated? Where? I certainly do not see it in the file name.

    When I make an image (I only image my OS now, I back up the data drives by cloning for now), I first highlight the folder name of the previous backup that Reflect defaults to, except for the month and day) and copy it. I then click on the box with the ellipse inside that's to the right of the previous backup folder name, select the drive or folder the new folder is to go into, and click on New Folder. I rename the new folder by pasting in the name I had put on the clipboard earlier and add the current date to the end. I put a copy of the full folder name on the clipboard. When I get to the prompt about the XML file, I paste the new folder name on top of the original name: Backup. It took me way longer to write how I do this than it does to actually do it.

    By keeping the images in dated folders, I can home in on the image or XML file I want in a heartbeat. When a disk gets too full, I delete one or two of the oldest folders and XML files (except the initial image). Having them dated and cross-referenced makes them easy to find. I'm considering doing away with the XML files, though, since I don't use them anymore since I don't make incremental/differential files anymore.
      My Computer


  10. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
    Thread Starter
       #1050

    I don't know what you guys are doing. But your problems can be remedied easily - see picture.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Image your system with free Macrium-2013-05-26_2013.png  
      My Computer


 

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