Solved Image your system with free Macrium

[kado897]

As you said, the HDD speed is certainly a limiting factor. But more compression needs more CPU. So that could play a role in favor of EaseUS. Maybe you can make a comparison imaging to an internal HDD.

But then again, a different configuration (slower CPU, faster disk, etc.) may yield different results. I run my images in the background. So length of time is not a big deal.

Can't do I'm afraid. Only the one internal disk.

 

[alan10]

As you said, the HDD speed is certainly a limiting factor. But more compression needs more CPU. So that could play a role in favor of EaseUS. Maybe you can make a comparison imaging to an internal HDD.

But then again, a different configuration (slower CPU, faster disk, etc.) may yield different results. I run my images in the background. So length of time is not a big deal.

Can't do I'm afraid. Only the one internal disk.

Could you use Windows Disk Management to Shrink drive C:\
and then create a new partition for images in the space released ?

 

[kado897]

As you said, the HDD speed is certainly a limiting factor. But more compression needs more CPU. So that could play a role in favor of EaseUS. Maybe you can make a comparison imaging to an internal HDD.

But then again, a different configuration (slower CPU, faster disk, etc.) may yield different results. I run my images in the background. So length of time is not a big deal.

Can't do I'm afraid. Only the one internal disk.

Could you use Windows Disk Management to Shrink drive C:\
and then create a new partition for images in the space released ?

Not easily. All 4 partitions came as defined so I would have to convert to logical. I thought about doing it some time ago to create a separate data partition but I just kept running into issues.

 

[whs]

In fact I did that on a laptop the wife uses for travelling. Rather than having her lug an external disk, I occasionally put an image into an extra partition on the single disk. That way she can at least bail herself out of any system trouble. That does not help when the HDD breaks, but that would require my intervention anyhow. That is the only laptop where I kept the HDD and did not install an SSD - just for that reason to have enough real estate.

 

[kado897]

Yes. Well the laptop is my only PC ATM so I didn't fancy doing anything exotic on it. Sometime soon I will get my self a desktop and set that up the way I want it. There always seems to be something more urgent to spend the money on however.

 

[mjf]

I have found speed wise all software on default settings to a USB3 connected external HDD. Speed in rank order:
1) Easeus (clear winner)
2) Macrium
3) Windows

I thought 1) & 2) was similar default compression and 3) was little or none.
Compression and the speed cost of the compression is a big unknown.
Also the location on the spinning disk the image is stored can make a very significant difference to speed. Radial velocity and transfer rate to magnetic media etc. Observed fact.

 

[JDH1]

Yes, if you are on windows 7 x64 you can use my little app to make macrium pe3 instead of downloading WAIK.

Regarding the "little app" you referenced, if it streamlines the making of a non-linux recovery disk for use with Macrium under Win 7 64 bit, how can one get the app? Thanks!

 

[SIW2]

Instal macrium v5. The trial version is fine any edition you like.

2. D/l this, unzip it. View attachment 172858 (It is to be run on 64 bit win 7 only )

Inside is a .7z file.

Un 7-zip that onto your Drive - you should have a folder C:\Easype-x64-v2

Inside is an app called RunMeAsAdminv2.exe

Rt click it and run as admin.

Takes about 1 min to make the pe3 media for you.

 

[JDH1]

Instal macrium v5. The trial version is fine any edition you like.

2. D/l this, unzip it. View attachment 172858 (It is to be run on 64 bit win 7 only )

Inside is a .7z file.

Un 7-zip that onto your Drive - you should have a folder C:\Easype-x64-v2

Inside is an app called RunMeAsAdminv2.exe

Rt click it and run as admin.

Takes about 1 min to make the pe3 media for you.

Thanks for this!

Sorry, but your program is new to me -- what does RunMeAsAdminv2.exe do? Does it create an ISO file to make a PE3 runtime CD? What about the Macrium files which will be needed on the CD? If your EXE finds them on my HDD and then includes them, that's one handy program!

 

[SIW2]

Does it create an ISO file to make a PE3 runtime CD? ...If your EXE finds them on my HDD and then includes them, that's one handy program!

Yes, that's exactly what it does. No need for WAIK.

 

[maxseven]

Takes about 1 min to make the pe3 media for you.

I recall that it took alot longer for me, and it (RunMeAsAdminV2.exe) does not give you progress indicators so JDH1 leave the thing alone until you're sure it's finished (I recall it will even offer to burn a disk for you at the very end!).

 

[JDH1]

Takes about 1 min to make the pe3 media for you.

I recall that it took alot longer for me, and it (RunMeAsAdminV2.exe) does not give you progress indicators so JDH1 leave the thing alone until you're sure it's finished (I recall it will even offer to burn a disk for you at the very end!).

Great, thanks for the tips. Since my burner is external, it'll be interesting to see if this EXE will be able to locate and use it.

 

[JDH1]

Does it create an ISO file to make a PE3 runtime CD? ...If your EXE finds them on my HDD and then includes them, that's one handy program!

Yes, that's exactly what it does. No need for WAIK.

Thanks, I DL'ed the file earlier and now look forward to trying it!

 

[bigcitycat]

I installed Ubuntu Oneiric Alpha 3 as a dual boot with windows 7 and had to use the alternate install cd. When I logged into windows and looked at my disc I saw that Ubuntu had been installed in front of windows and was labeled C: . I decided to remove Ubuntu but could not extend into the empty space, so I re wrote the MBR with easy bcd and did a restore with Macrium. When I rebooted I had a grub rescue prompt. I have no idea what happened. I decided I would need to re install windows and then restore the back up .I decided I would use a Windows 7 upgrade disc and not the recovery disc that came with the pc because I did not want all the system crap and I figured it would take forever to re install windows. After putting the disc in it would not let me install over what was on the disc so I deleted everything. I may have deleted the MSR I can't remember but it is there now so I guess if I did it either restored itself or I never deleted it. At this point it did allow me to install Windows 7. After installing I did not activate it or update it. I immediately put in the Macrium rescue cd and restored the back up. It worked but it initially gave me an error that the vendor id did not match up or something so I put in the system recovery cd from the manufacturer and clicked on repair windows. It did find a problem and asked if I wanted to fix it. I clicked on yes and rebooted. It worked but the process turned what was an MBR disc into a GPT disc (GUID Partition Table). How about that. The one time I used it it saved my system. Now I can't use it anymore because Macrium will not work with GPT. I had to create a backup on my hard disc with windows back up. I liked how Macrium allowed me to put the whole thing on a 14 gig USB.

 

[stonebear]

Been liking Macrium a lot - but this just happened, stuck on 99%, I had to use Task Manager to shut it down. I then tried to verify the image but Macrium couldn't see it.

 

[stonebear]

I tried again and it's done the same thing - I have waited 5 mins with it on 99%, it seems stuck.

 

[alan10]

Been liking Macrium a lot - but this just happened, stuck on 99%, I had to use Task Manager to shut it down. I then tried to verify the image but Macrium couldn't see it.

No way that anything could see an image if the file size is zero,
and I guess the file size is zero if the file creation failed at 99%.

Perhaps if you launch Windows Task manager or Process Explorer you might see that something (e.g. malware protection) is in conflict and using 90+% of the CPU core that Macrium is using.

 

[stonebear]

Been liking Macrium a lot - but this just happened, stuck on 99%, I had to use Task Manager to shut it down. I then tried to verify the image but Macrium couldn't see it.

No way that anything could see an image if the file size is zero,
and I guess the file size is zero if the file creation failed at 99%.

Perhaps if you launch Windows Task manager or Process Explorer you might see that something (e.g. malware protection) is in conflict and using 90+% of the CPU core that Macrium is using.

The file size was 10GB not 0, but that doesn't matter, it stopped on 99% and the image is not complete - the reason I tried verifying was to confirm that.

I will have a look at Task Manager and see if anything odd is happening. Thanks.

 

[Golden]

Hi Stonebear,

Is there a chance your HDD you are imaging might be fragmented> Can you check that, and then defragment it if neccessary? I'm not 100% sure this is an issue.....just a suggestion.

Regards,
Golden

 

[stonebear]

I am backing up to a drive connected by esta, never tried that before so that seems the obvious culprit. I forgot to mention that! Sorry.

The drive works fine in other respects though, I just recently ran WD-Lifeguard extended diagnostics on it because I hadn't used it for a while, it has lots of space on it and is not defragmented. I just dragged and dropped a 10GB file onto it and it transferred at 100MBs.

So if it the problem the problem only exists between it and Macrium.

@Golden, it isn't defragmented.