Solved Am I doing the right thing ?

[paulobao]

Hi,

Now I'm imaging too
But I would like to knw if I'm in the right dircection and doing the right thing!

1- In the XP laptop I have free Macrium (I ended with this version!) and I already made the recovery CD and make a full image of C! I,ve no partitions! I assume that if anything go wrong I would be able to restore it to the image date state (and I mean everything....SW and settings/preferences specially).

2- In the Win7 Pro laptop I went another direction! I use the built in Backup/Restore utility using the Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB hdd that I removed (replaced by the M5P 512GB ssd) for the images backup (the hdd is connected via USB 3.0). Please let me know if this is correct:
(note: my disc 0 have only the main partition and a 1.46 GB active partition automatically created when I restore the ssd to the factory state)

2.1- Backup and Restore / Create a System Image opens a window showing that the following drives will be backed up: Plextor internal ssd (C): (System) and System (System). Backup location: Seagate external hdd.

2.2- Next will start the backup. A folder named WindowsImageBackup is created in the external hdd. The backup finish all the time without any issue (what did not happen when I used a Iomega Prestige 1 TB USB3.0 external hdd !!!).

2.3- I rename the WindowsImageBackup as WindowsImageBackup-copy-n.
(currently n=3).

Is everything correct until now?
I'm I backing up everything in my laptop?

Now for the restore part (that I never did!). In the case I need to restore my laptop for a previous state would be these steps correct (and yes I've created 2 copies of the System Reapair Disc) :

2.4- Rename the WindowsImageBackup-copy-n I want to restore to WindowsImageBackup. This could be done via a Command Prompt (Brink's tutorial) or, if I've another computer, I could connect the external drive to that computer and rename the folder easly before connecting the external to the computer that needs to be restored.

2.5- Proceed with the restore in Windows (if windows boots) or using the System Reapair Disc (if windows do not boots).

Is this correct? Any thing I should know?

Many thanks,
paulo

 

[ignatzatsonic]

A couple of questions:

Is there any particular reason you are not using Macrium on the Windows 7 machine?

In step 2.1 you say "Plextor internal ssd (C): (System) and System (System)".

What is "System (System)"?

 

[paulobao]

Hi,

No, there's no particular reason! But if the win7 utility works for me is ok! What I want is a reliable way to make Images of my entire system and the abilty to restore to that image! I use Macrium free in the XP because is an old machine and I do not kow if XP have a built in back/rest utility that works!

System (System) is a partition in my disc created automatically after windows installation!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I don't see anything in that picture called "System (System)".

What is the size of the backup image file created by Windows Backup on your Win 7 laptop?

Win 7 Backup is fussy and a bit cryptic. You'd better be sure you understand it and its limitations.

 

[whs]

I would recommend you use only free Macrium - and that for many reasons. That will give you the best results in the long run.

 

[paulobao]

Hi,
I am still recovering myself of a major crash of my Tecra 2 or 3 weeks ago! I had almost 70 Gb of softwareI installed in my hdd! I loosed everything (yes I have the installers!). I finished the reinstall to the ssd today! Now, I just want to prevent this reinstall from zero again!!! So, I think the best way is to image the entire computer! Just an image of everything that I would use to restore in the case of a crash! Is anybody using Win bck/rst for this? Why is Macrium or Acronis better for this task? At this moment I have 4 images already, made in dif. dates after I made substantial changes (sw installation)! Everything worked fine for the backups! For the restore I do not know because I did not tried!!!
Paulo

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yes, some use Windows Backup successfully.

The issues with it concern whether or not the user understands how it works and its limitations. Those who are accustomed to it seem to use it with few issues. Those who are not accustomed to it can run into surprises when they don't fully understand how it works or what it is doing.

That's the primary reason Macrium is often recommended---ease of use and fewer limitations.

I probably wouldn't "image the whole computer" unless your SSD consists only of C and System Reserved. I don't recall if you have a separate data partition.

As a test, you can make an image and restore it to a spare drive you may have--rather than restore to the SSD. That's about the best you can do to confirm it will work when needed.

 

[mjf]

Is this correct? Any thing I should know?

To answer your basic question it's what I do without problem.

You can also move WindowsImageBackup into folders within the same partition and basically do the same thing.

I use both Windows own imaging within its limitations and Macrium for flexibility and a safeguard. Macrium Reflect is an excellent product. I am one of the few who find Windows own imaging more straightforward for routine imaging of the OS partition.
If you were to go for one and only one program then Macrium may be the safer bet.

 

[paulobao]

Ok, thanks all for the tips and comments
Yes I only have one partition (C)! No data partition since I allways have my data backed up to at least 2 external hdds. So, what it really matters for me is the OS + software + preferences + settings! Why? Because it's a pain (lot of time needed) to install all those GB of sw I use (+ put everything running aka preferences/settings again!!!). If I can reduce this painfull work with a restore/recovery it would be just great (of course it would be nice that if I never needed to use it....I mean never need to restore because a stable machine )

mjf: when you say "You can also move WindowsImageBackup into folders within the same partition and basically do the same thing", what do you mean? Are you saying that instead of rename each "WindowsImageBackup" as "WindowsImageBackup-copy-n" I could create separate folders in the external hdd where I keep my Images like "Image 1", "Image 2",..etc and put a WindowsImageBackup file in each one? Is this what you mean?


I have a 500 GB external hdd just for the images with no partitions! With all the images, for the moment as "WindowsImageBackup-copy-n", I also keep a Log.txt file in the same hdd where I record all modifications I made! As an example: "WindowsImageBackup-copy-1" : OS installation, bloatware removed, Sysinternals and MSE installed; "WindowsImageBackup-copy-2": Microsoft Office 2010 installed;....


As you already discovered (!) I live in panic now, after that crash I had 2 weeks or so ago, with a 6 months old laptop (my big crash with my ancient, but still functional laptop running XP sp3 occured after 6 years of use)! And I blame myself for not have adopted a backup (Image) strategy from the beginning :-(.


About Macrium free: I don´t like apps tha run in the background, and do things that I did not asked for! Is Macrium an intrusive software? Will it try for example make backups/images in a schedulled base or just when I want to?
Cheers,
paulo

 

[mjf]

mjf: when you say "You can also move WindowsImageBackup into folders within the same partition and basically do the same thing", what do you mean? Are you saying that instead of rename each "WindowsImageBackup" as "WindowsImageBackup-copy-n" I could create separate folders in the external hdd where I keep my Images like "Image 1", "Image 2",..etc and put a WindowsImageBackup file in each one? Is this what you mean?

Yes, that is what I mean. Windows looks for WindowsImageBackup in the root directory, not in subdirectories (or folders). You move and/or rename one back as WindowsImageBackup into the root and that's what Windows will see to restore. I do this all the time.

Remember when you move across partition boundaries you do a physical file move. I definitely do not recommend this for large image folders. Moving within a partition is just a change to the partition's file table.

 

[paulobao]

Thanks mjf
since I'm a newbie in this more technical stuff, what do you mean by "I definitely do not recommend this for large image folders" (sorry!) ?
In my backup external hdd I only have one partition (I mean I formated the disc and used only for backups)!
In this case should I worry about the large (my bigger one is abou 56 GB) backup folders?

Regards,
paulo

 

[mjf]

Thanks mjf
since I'm a newbie in this more technical stuff, what do you mean by "I definitely do not recommend this for large image folders"

Each partition (volume to be exact) has a MFT (Master File Table) which describes what lives where in the partition. When you move something within a partition you don't physically move anything just change the entry in the MFT.
When you move something into a new partition on the same HDD or to a different HDD you add an entry to its MFT and actually move the file data. You don't want to do this for images.

My experience and practice is to move WindowsImageBackup to folders anywhere within a partition and back again. Also, I do not rely on shadow storage for difference imaging. That is I always make one an only one image at a time.

Maybe it is simpler to do as Brink suggests and just rename your images in the root.

I have to say that Macrium Reflect is probably kinder to those new to imaging and gives flexibility to image storage rather than using workarounds.

 

[paulobao]

Thanks a lot, you made it clear to me now

About Macrium: how intrusive is this sw?
Will it be doing things in the background?
I like sw that only starts when I want to! I do not like to schedule anything too!
Any problem with stability?

paulo

 

[LittleJay]

Another option I like is to clone my fresh Windows 7 install, right after I get the software I like installed, to a spare HDD. Then, whenever Microsoft comes out with new updates, I hook the spare HDD back up and update it as well. That way, I always have a clean copy of Windows 7, complete with all the updates to periodically redo the OS installation on the HDD in my PC. I still do system imaging as well.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Thanks a lot, you made it clear to me now

About Macrium: how intrusive is this sw?
Will it be doing things in the background?
I like sw that only starts when I want to! I do not like to schedule anything too!
Any problem with stability?

paulo

Intrusive? Not at all as far as I can see. It runs when you open it and otherwise does nothing. I don't schedule anything and use it strictly manually when wanted.

It does nothing in the backround. You open it when you want to make an image and shut it down when the image is finished. It takes me 5 minutes to image a partition that has 30 GB occupied.

You make the recovery disk and boot from it if and when you have to restore.

It doesn't have a 100% success rate with image making and restoration, but neither does any other consumer imaging program. You are a fool if you have no Plan B for when it fails---which you already knew.

 

[paulobao]

Thanks again
I will install it too in this laptop and have both Win7 and Macrium imaging! I hope never need to restore ...
Paulo

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Thanks again
I will install it too in this laptop and have both Win7 and Macrium imaging! I hope never need to restore ...
Paulo

Having 2 imaging methods is probably a good idea.

You might alternate them---using Macrium in even-numbered months and Windows Backup in odd-numbered months. Something like that. You'll likely decide that Macrium is easier to use.

Pay attention to that Macrium recovery disk. Most would tell you to make the "WinPE" version of it, rather than the "Linux" version. That would reduce the possibility of bad surprises.

 

[paulobao]

Thanks again!
I have the 1.7 GB stored in one of my external hdd already!

paulo

 

[whs]

Thanks again
I will install it too in this laptop and have both Win7 and Macrium imaging! I hope never need to restore ...
Paulo

If you do not want to install Macrium, download the Macrium WinPE .iso from my Skydrive and burn that to a CD. Then when you load from this CD, you can do everything that you could do with an installed Macrium - make images and recover from images.

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=475a...cid=475A0A48CA6D4035&id=475A0A48CA6D4035!1812

 

[paulobao]

Well, I've already installed it as you know!
But that seems a nice feature!
Is the Macrium WinPE.iso file the same that the one Macrium creates when you click the "Create bootable rescue disc" icon? If so, it means that the file I have at my rescue DVD is that one!

If all this is correct I just can unistall Macrium and use the DVD to create and restore images?
Any advantage in uninstall Macrium from my laptop?

Thanks,
paulo