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

 

[Brink]

Make backups, then be bold though.

 

[kado897]

"There are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots"

 

[whs]

I have added this note to the tutorial. It should speed things up.

   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 to my Fileswap site. 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.

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.

Here is the link. Note that Fileswap makes a 15 second pause before you can actually download from their free service. I guess they want to sell me their Pro version.

 

[Phone Man]

"There are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots"

There is one I know about.

Chuck Yeager | Ask.com

Jim

 

[kado897]

"There are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots"

There is one I know about.

Chuck Yeager | Ask.com

Jim

And how may other brave pilots died trying to exceed the speed of sound?

 

[mjf]

"There are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots"

:roflmao:
Maybe not just pilots.

 

[Britton30]

John, you are doing fine. I think your main problem is that you are sometimes too timid. Be bold (not bald)

Make backups, then be bold though.

Absitively!

I have added this note to the tutorial. It should speed things up.

   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 to my Fileswap site. 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.

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.

Here is the link. Note that Fileswap makes a 15 second pause before you can actually download from their free service. I guess they want to sell me their Pro version.

Very nice addition Wolfgang, appreciated.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I have added this note to the tutorial. It should speed things up.

   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 to my Fileswap site. 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.

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.

Here is the link. Note that Fileswap makes a 15 second pause before you can actually download from their free service. I guess they want to sell me their Pro version.

Sorry late reply Wolfgang ok my friend I will do just that thanks once more

 

[meltie]

This program is fantastic. Since WHS recommended it to me a couple of years ago, I have used it three times to "restore". I image my system once a month (which is often enough for me). His tutorial is excellent as well!

Good stuff!

 

[whs]

This program is fantastic. Since WHS recommended it to me a couple of years ago, I have used it three times to "restore". I image my system once a month (which is often enough for me). His tutorial is excellent as well!

Good stuff!

Thanks for the supporting position. Macrium is indeed an exceptional imaging program. I must have done more than 25 restores on various systems and never had a problem.

 

[Britton30]

I also agree, not only for imaging but for cloning drives as well.

 

[mjf]

Also any image of your tiny system reserved partition (if you have one) and your OS partition is not technically but effectively just like a compressed clone of your system. Many can be stored away on a single external HDD waiting for the day your old HDD dies. Reimage to the new HDD and it's effectively the same as if you had made a clone.

 

[harry973]

Macrium winpe rescue iso file link is for 64 bit , will it work for 32

Hi all

Very good tutorial.I have created the win pe rescue cd from iso link in the tutorial.
Thanks a lot for that.Made my work easy.!!!!!
After i made the rescue cd from the iso file i came to know that its for 64 bit system but I have windows vista sp2 home premium 32 bit installed in my hp laptop.

Need to know will 64 bit win pe rescue cd will work for recovering my 32 bit windows partition (c drive) in case of failure.??????

 

[whs]

If your PC system is 64bit capable, you can run the WinPE CD without problems. Since you load that from the CD reader, it is independent from the OS that is installed.

Btw: You can also use the WinPE CD to make imeges, not only for recovery.

 

[harry973]

I am bit confused here.I am able to run the 64 bit win pe rescue cd on my 32 bit system and from that if you are saying from that it is independent of OS installed then why there are two options 64bit or 32 bit while creating win pe rescue cd...?

I am stressing on two versions bcz whenever i do some manual windows update or any software for windows it generally come with two versions one : x86(32 bit) and other 64 bit.

Are you sure 64 bit or 32 bit has nothing to do when i am able to run the 64 bit cd on my 32 bit system.

 

[SIW2]

Couple of reasons - you might to put other programs in as well if you are a geek - much easier to do that with 32 bit.

Also you might to add special drivers from your Host os - you would need to use the same bit version you already have installed for that.

For the average person - it makes no diff - the wim loads into ram and runs there - doesn't matter what o/s you have installed.

 

[mjf]

I have all my utilities including the pe ISO on a USB. But if you run the Rescue pe from a CD/DVD you can have whatever additional drivers (eg. 64 bit USB 3) on a separate USB and load them on the fly.

 

[Britton30]

Harry, I'd suggest you just try it.
I've used the X86 version on my X64 system without issue.

 

[harry973]

Couple of reasons - you might to put other programs in as well if you are a geek - much easier to do that with 32 bit.

Also you might to add special drivers from your Host os - you would need to use the same bit version you already have installed for that.

For the average person - it makes no diff - the wim loads into ram and runs there - doesn't matter what o/s you have installed.

I am not that much into the os. I donot wanna do special efforts during failure, just wanna restore using backup of system image of c drive and want everything - drivers, activated windows, windows updated, sp2 installed during failure all that i had installed during clean install to be installed again in one go. If i am not wrong that is all possible by restoring from back up of windows partition (c drive) only.???

Also, I tried restoring a dummy partition ( d drive) from its back up using Winpe 64 bit rescue cd. It worked. But i am bit concerned for restoring my c drive during failure with 64 bit cd. As you said i might have to install special drivers likewise there may be some other issues as well.

Do u suggest i should create 32 bit rescue cd separately. ??

 

[harry973]

Harry, I'd suggest you just try it.
I've used the X86 version on my X64 system without issue.

32 bit application,softwares work very well on 64 bit system but not otherwise.