Imaging with free Macrium

   Information

This tutorial shows imaging with free Macrium Version 5.0. If you are still using Macrium Version 4.2, go to this Vimeo site where the tutorial of that version is stored.

The Video does not show the recovery part because I have no setup to screen capture it. But Keith (Kado) made this excellent recovery tutorial with text (but no sound) that he captured from a virtual partition.

   Warning

Note that the external disk to which you image must be formatted in NTFS. A disk that is formatted in Fat32 will accept an image, but the recovery programs cannot restore that image. You can, however, mount (open) a Fat32 image as VHD.

   Note

The production of the WinPE recovery CD (which is highly recommended) may take up to 3 hours because Macrium needs to download the 1.7GB WAIK (Windows Application Installation Kit). For your convenience I have uploaded a ready made .iso of the WinPE recovery disc. That can be downloaded in appr. 8 minutes which clearly beats the WAIK download. Once you downloaded and unzipped the folder, you can burn it directly to a CD with e.g. ImgBurn.

Here is the link to my Skydrive site.

Here is an alternate link from FileSwap (courtesy of Gary - Britton30)

I draw your attention to the fact that this WinPE CD can also be used to make images. That may be convenient in case you do not want to install Macrium on your PC.

This video tutorial explains the full cycle of the imaging process which is:

· Initial setups
· Image definition
· Image scheduling
· Image production

The imaging program that was used for this tutorial is free Macrium. But the basic principles are the same for other imaging programs although the user interface will be different.

This video runs for appr. 7 minutes.
There is a related thread on the Vista forum which gives a brief introduction to Macrium followed by a discussion.
You can download the free Macrium edition from here.

Note: If you have a problem with the loudness of the sound output of the video, check the "Loudness Equalization" box in your Playback device. It is under the 'Enhancements' tab.

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Create a System Image Backup in Windows 7
• How to Do a System Image Recovery in Windows 7
• How to Backup User and System Files in Windows 7
• How to Restore Backup User and System Files in Windows 7
• How to Restore your System with a Broken Windows 7 System Image
• How to Create a Bootable Rescue USB Flash Drive for Macrium Reflect

 

[kado897]

If you did not check the box to delete the WAIK it should have been installed to the C: drive in Program Files and can be reused.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

If you did not check the box to delete the WAIK it should have been installed to the C: drive in Program Files and can be reused.

Ok I get it. That is there in program files (Windows AIK) and when there is an update its those files that are updated. The initial 1.7gig download can now be stored offline (externally) in-case of a reinstall of WAIK. Am I right

Danny

 

[kado897]

Yes Danny.

 

[whs]

Have a look in your C:\Program files (not Program files x86) whether the 'Windows AIK' is still there.

 

[mjf]

Once WAIK is downloaded you will be presented with this screen when creating a rescue pe disk.

Note: I am running a 64 bit OS
Down the bottom you will see the location of the default winpe.wim.
I am actually using a custom winpe.wim in an other location. The custom winpe.wim was made by moving the default to this other location and then I used the DISM command to add my USB3 drivers. So I update my custom winpe.wim.

What I don't know is what Macrium does to determine you have already downloaded WAIK and therefore have a winpe.wim. It may not need all of the WAIK but I want to keep it anyway.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Ok thankyou all I think Iv'e got it now. Was just trying to make sure I fully understood what was actually been updated. I presume the 1.7gig WAIK ISO is good for life and doesn't need to be replaced/updated then.

Thankyou all

 

[SIW2]

You might better using the SP1 WAIK update.

The winpe.wim's in that have better support for afd.

Alternatively, use winre.wim off your own hard drive. No need for a large download - and you will have windows system recovery options included.

I am not sure why macrium doesn't check to see if you are running 7 - then use the winre.wim you already have . ( Those using macrium on XP will still have to d/l waik , of course).

I did a very simple app which does exactly that - and throws in a couple of other useful free apps. as well.


On a related note,

I was looking at a way of building a proper full scale pe using only what is already on your HD.

It works well for those who had sp1 pre installed.

Sadly, it doesn't work for those who got sp1 via windows update.

 

[rovopio]

hi everyone, my name is kungfupanda from indonesia.... :beer:


I read the pageone tutorial.... saw both the video...., but there are some things im still not clear... :hammer:


If I would like to make a partition backup/recovery, e.g. recover C only, or D only, etc, how can i do that...?


how to do the backup, and how to do the recovery...?


also on macrium there are 2 options... clone this disk and image this disk... so... image this disk means... imaging the entire disk... is it...?


what does clone this disk means...? is it like cloning to different computer/hdd like acronis...?


again, thank you :beer:

 

[kado897]

Cloning is making an exact copy of a disk or partition on another disk. Imaging just creates a file that you can restore from. You would use cloning if you want to "copy" your system onto a new disk and use imaging for backup and restore.

 

[rovopio]

may i ask how to do partition recovery (e.g. D recovery only or E recovery only) using macrium...?


i saw the video on page one... but i still don't understand...

 

[kado897]

1. you need an image that contains these partitions either by themselves or as part of an image with other partitions.
2. When you select the image in the restore screen you make sure the partition you wish to restore is checked and the others are unchecked. This is using the PE recovery disk. I have never done it with the Linux disk so I don't know what the procedure is there.

You might like to browse through the tutorials in the Macrium knowledgebase. They are for the Standard Macrium so some of the features you see may be missing but they are worth a look. Macrium KB

 

[whs]

If you want to image only one or two partitions, make sure only those partitions are checked (see checkmarks to which the red arrows point). If you have several partitions on the disk, you can uncheck all with the checkmark in the red box in front and then check the one partition you want to image.

For the recovery you need to burn the recovery disc. I suggest you burn the WinPE disc because it gives you more options than the Linux disc. You can also use it to make images.

 

[Dave76]

The WinPE version Boot Recovery option works very well, had to use it today on a laptop that wouldn't respond to any of the several other boot repair methods tried.

 

[rovopio]

If you want to image only one or two partitions, make sure only those partitions are checked (see checkmarks to which the red arrows point). If you have several partitions on the disk, you can uncheck all with the checkmark in the red box in front and then check the one partition you want to image.

For the recovery you need to burn the recovery disc. I suggest you burn the WinPE disc because it gives you more options than the Linux disc. You can also use it to make images.

1. you need an image that contains these partitions either by themselves or as part of an image with other partitions.
2. When you select the image in the restore screen you make sure the partition you wish to restore is checked and the others are unchecked. This is using the PE recovery disk. I have never done it with the Linux disk so I don't know what the procedure is there.

You might like to browse through the tutorials in the Macrium knowledgebase. They are for the Standard Macrium so some of the features you see may be missing but they are worth a look. Macrium KB

thank you for both suggestions...


i'd like to another question, when i restore the image, for example if i only restore the C image file to the C drive, or the D to the D drive, will the other partition stays as it is untouched...?


thank you... :beer:

 

[whs]

yes - each partition by itself. But you must not mix partitions during the imaging process. Then it is too easy to make a mistake. I always image each partition by itself and into it's own folder. Then I do not get mixed up with the XMLs and it is practically impossible to make a mistake during the recovery.

 

[rovopio]

yes - each partition by itself. But you must not mix partitions during the imaging process. Then it is too easy to make a mistake. I always image each partition by itself and into it's own folder. Then I do not get mixed up with the XMLs and it is practically impossible to make a mistake during the recovery.

hi whs... +1 and thank you for your answers and images...


i'd like to ask, when i do partition image backup (with the scheduled xml file for example) is it full partition backup or incremental backup from the last time i used it...? im using macrium reflect free


also, another dumb question, when i want to do imaging backup to external HDD, which "image this disk" icon should i click?


the one under C D E F partition


or the one under External HDD disk drive...?



thank you.... :cheers:

 

[whs]

1. Free Macrium always makes full images - which I prefer because they are reliable and easy to manage.In Macrium Pro you can use incrementals (sucks) and differentials (better).

when i want to do imaging backup to external HDD, which "image this disk" icon should i click?

2. This question I do not understand. Can you post a picture of what you are looking at with an explanation on the picture

 

[Kumaranil1918]

I tried with my usb drive.It came as follows.I couldnot take screen shots so i'm explaining the steps dat came in the blue screen wizard.Pls help me.
Wen i opened ithe rescue.iso during booting from pendrive,a window opened As
1.Restore Wizard V5.0.4286.
2.Press next to continue.I pressed next,den
3.It said to locate the image.It showed two portions.In upper portion i selected the C drive image file wich i had stored in another drive.In the lower portion it showed my C drive(type:NTFS) and the disk space as 29.491GB.
4.Next
5.Select partition in lower section
6.I selected C(typerimary)
7.Next
8.Choose the target disk(Select a disk to be used as the restore target)
9.Next
10.Select the drive from the following to start restoring.
But i could not see any drive there.It was fully white with no drive to select in it.Den wen i pressed next it said Please select the drive to restore or Select the target drive.But i did not find any drive in it.It was totally blank white screen.Pls help me wat to do.I'm not understanding y its not showing my C drive in it.

 

[kado897]

Hi Kumuranil. It looks like for some reason the recovery disk has not located your C drive.

1. Can you remember if it was shown in the tree when you looked for an image?
2. What type of disk is it and is it damaged?
3. Sometimes it helps if you shutdown your PC completely and leave it for a while before rebooting to the USB.
4. If none of that works and you have a running windows system it would be better to create the WinPE recovery disk although that will involve a 1.7GB download of the WAIK. It is a much more capable recovery environment.

 

[whs]

Keith is right. Go with the WinPE recovery disc. It is a little lengthy to create but it is worth it.