Solved Image your system with free Macrium

[mintwaxed]

Is it possible to restore an image file to a drive other than C:\ and then set the BIOS to say Drive X and bootup? I want to replace my existing drive with a new larger unit. Thanks.

 

[whs]

Is it possible to restore an image file to a drive other than C:\ and then set the BIOS to say Drive X and bootup? I want to replace my existing drive with a new larger unit. Thanks.

Of course you can do that. But the OS will always keep C:\. The letter 'C' does not denominate a physical drive but a logical partition which is independent of the disk drive.

Just put the new drive in and initiate it. Then you can restore the image to it. I would suggest you image ALL partitions on your current drive (with 1 run) and restore them all on your new drive. At least the system partition (the little 100MB partition) has to go too because that is your bootmgr. Else you would not be able to boot.

If it is a one to one replace,ent of your current drive, you need not change the BIOS.

 

[Britton30]

Is it possible to restore an image file to a drive other than C:\ and then set the BIOS to say Drive X and bootup? I want to replace my existing drive with a new larger unit. Thanks.

Sort of, whatever drive is booted will become C.

EDIT: whs said it first.

 

[mjf]

When you are creating/editing the definition you need to select Advanced Options to find the verify checkbox...

View attachment 303433

Are we talking about the paid version here?

 

[kado897]

I am. I'm not sure whether it is in the free version.

 

[mjf]

No it is not as far as I can see. You need to verify manually.

 

[kado897]

Yes you have to do it manually on the Restore tab.

 

[Bellzemos]

So with Macrium Free I have to create the image, then go on like I'd want to recover it and then verify it there? That's no problem for me, as long as the verify function is still present.

 

[Scoop]

So with Macrium Free I have to create the image, then go on like I'd want to recover it and then verify it there? That's no problem for me, as long as the verify function is still present.

That's the way that I do it, if I understood your question correctly.

I don't use the "verify" option when creating the image but I do a "test restore" with the WinPE CD and restore to a spare HDD. I don't do that with each (full-disk) image but I'll test 2 out of 3, for example, to verify the methodology and reliability of the procedure, from the creating to booting up and running on the spare HDD for a few minutes.

As others have mentioned, it's a robust reliable imaging tool. It's hard to beat that "peace of mind" mode you get with imaging (or cloning) tools that are proven HDD restoration backups.

 

[Phone Man]

So with Macrium Free I have to create the image, then go on like I'd want to recover it and then verify it there? That's no problem for me, as long as the verify function is still present.

Yes the verify function is always available. On my system I backup to a 2nd internal drive, verify it and then copy the backup files to an external drive. I then verify the copy on the external drive. Whenever I need to restore I always verify again before restoring.

Jim

 

[Bellzemos]

Wait, doesn't verifying the image mean just to run a verification of the image? Do I have to restore the image to a HDD in order to make a verification of the image? I hope not, I don't want to do that.

 

[Scoop]

Wait, doesn't verifying the image mean just to run a verification of the image? Do I have to restore the image to a HDD in order to make a verification of the image? I hope not, I don't want to do that.

No, you don't need to restore to a HDD That's just how I like to do it, to test the complete procedure. I like to see the image restored and verified by booting it on my spare HDD. I don't do that for all of my images due to time constraints. I'm using cloning for my plug-and-play recovery method and imaging for storing a few full-disk images as a double layer of protection.

 

[Britton30]

you can verify when the image is created or when restored, or both.

 

[Bellzemos]

All I would like to do is make an image of my whole HDD (C, D and the "hidden" partition) and then test it (verify it), that's it. No restoring. If that's possible with Macrium Reflect Free I am happy.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

All I would like to do is make an image of my whole HDD (C, D and the "hidden" partition) and then test it (verify it), that's it. No restoring. If that's possible with Macrium Reflect Free I am happy.

If you aren't going to restore, what would be the point?

 

[Britton30]

Verify is Macrium checking the image for veracity and completeness. The only way to see if an image works is to restore it to some drive.

Well I think you could boot an image in a Virtual Machine (VM), but I don't know how to do that.

 

[mjf]

Wait, doesn't verifying the image mean just to run a verification of the image? Do I have to restore the image to a HDD in order to make a verification of the image? I hope not, I don't want to do that.

There is nothing wrong with verifying the image as a first but not complete check. You can also (double click) mount the image and have a look then unmount (right click mounted drive). If you can explore the mounted image then this is a second check.
The ultimate test of course is to restore the image. The safest way is to do this is to a new or spare HDD. This way you also have confidence that if your HDD dies, recovery is guaranteed.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Ok, I have the Pro version so I can't check myself but can one click on the Other Tasks tab at the top of the screen in the free version, click on Edit Defaults, and get this screen?

 

[whs]

I think verify checks the hash total. What else could it be doing.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I think verify checks the hash total. What else could it be doing.

I'm thinking mounting the image and comparing to the original. Verification takes too long to just be checking hash totals. It takes almost as long to verify the image as it does to make it.

Back to the question in my previous post...