Solved Image your system with free Macrium

[kado897]

I would imagine that the unmovable files are part of the System Volume Information (restore points etc) and the page file which are not part of the image unless you select the forensic copy option.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

my understanding is that the placement of the data is irrelevant it is the quantity that matters.

That seems to be what everyone is saying but that would require that some files are moved to different locations as part of the restore process. In that case the Original Partition and Imaged Partition would not be identical.

Can Macrium move files to accomplish that? What about the unmovable files that I have near the center (approximate 500 GB point) of my 1TB disk as described above?

You are still overthinking it. Don't worry about it.

 

[Electron]

If still in doubt read this article. v5: How to restore a backup image (Restore, v5). Particularly the section on modifying the partition.

Thanks once again. I actually bookmarked that link yesterday but just read through it now and watched the video.

It will take some study to fully understand everything discussed. However, I just had the thought that perhaps Macrium could move files around as necessary. Files marked as unmovable by Windows would not be unmovable when Windows is not running. Moving files, however, would require that Macrium make changes to the file directory that knows the location of every file. Lastly, the original disk file locations would not all be the same as on the restored disk.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

If still in doubt read this article. v5: How to restore a backup image (Restore, v5). Particularly the section on modifying the partition.

Thanks once again. I actually bookmarked that link yesterday but just read through it now and watched the video.

It will take some study to fully understand everything discussed. However, I just had the thought that perhaps Macrium could move files around as necessary. Files marked as unmovable by Windows would not be unmovable when Windows is not running. Moving files, however, would require that Macrium make changes to the file directory that knows the location of every file. Lastly, the original disk file locations would not all be the same as on the restored disk.

Still overthinking it. I give up.

 

[whs]

LF, Good point. I gave up a long time ago.

 

[Electron]

In regards to the technical discussion on how these programs actually work, Wikipedia provides some answers. It appears that Imaging programs may move files to different locations allowing a smaller image and a smaller partition on the restored drive. If this is the case, then these programs are not creating a true sector by sector copy of the original image. Moving files would not be difficult and would be similar to the operation of any defrag program.

"Most commercial imaging software is "user-friendly" and "automatic" but may not create bit-identical images. These programs have most of the same advantages, except that they may allow restoring to partitions of a different size or file-allocation size, and thus may not put files on the same exact sector."

Disk image - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I assume this explains how a disk image that is spread all over a large partition with a lot of empty space can be placed on a smaller partition.

My apologies to those not interested in the finer details of Macrium Reflect or any imaging program. Some individuals may only be concerned with having a program work and be easy to use and that is fine. Others may want to learn more and understand the operation in greater detail.

 

[SIW2]

A sector by sector copy is an option in most of them. Default is to image used sectors, which saves time, space, and allows restoring to smaller drive than the original.

Haven't we said this already?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

A sector by sector copy is an option in most of them. Default is to image used sectors, which saves time, space, and allows restoring to smaller drive than the original.

Haven't we said this already?

Ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

 

[alan10]

"Most commercial imaging software is "user-friendly" and "automatic" but may not create bit-identical images. These programs have most of the same advantages, except that they may allow restoring to partitions of a different size or file-allocation size, and thus may not put files on the same exact sector."

My experiences of restoring an intelligent Used Space only Incremental backup of the Licensed version of Macrium reflect include :-
Exact Same Sectors when restoring to the same partition on the same Disk
Fully Defragged when restoring to the same size partition on a different Disk
Fully Defragged when restoring and shrinking to the same partition on the same Disk
Fully Defragged when restoring and shrinking to any partition on any Disk

I love the fact that when I decide C:\ has been corrupted and I need to restore an earlier incremental backup,
I can delete ALL the subsequent incremental backups,
and create a new incremental backup that is very small.
Previous experience with Acronis was that it always fully defragged during the restoration,
and the next incremental backup would find 40% of the same files in different sectors,
and for that reason the next incremental backup I created was stupendously large.

 

[kado897]

That's some interesting observations Alan. I would imagine that it is quicker to restore to the same sectors. I wonder if it doesn't restore unchanged sectors.

BTW I think it is risky to use incremental backups. Corruption of a mid chain incremental makes any later incrementals unusable. I prefer to use differentials. Provided the base image is sound then corruption of a differential does not affect others.

 

[lowie1]

Thanks WHS for this easy to understand image maker!!!!

L.

 

[whs]

Thanks WHS for this easy to understand image maker!!!!

L.

You are very welcome - any time.

 

[Scoop]

I have a contact that's asking for the best download site for Macrium Reflect Free version. I can't recall which site I used last year for my PC's. The contact wants to avoid the potential for a "PUP" download site.

Is there a preferred site from users here for the download?

I see a few of the sites from a search:

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download (Cnet host download?)

Download Macrium Reflect 5.3.7149 - FileHippo.com

Download Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - MajorGeeks

Macrium Reflect Free Edition Free Download

Macrium Reflect (Free Edition) 5.3.7100 Trusted Free download - tested and reviewed software downloads from SnapFiles

 

[kado897]

FileHippo or MajorGeeks are usually PUP free but don't rely on that. You can usually avoid PUPs if you take the custom install route and carefully read the dialogs. Alternatively you can install Unchecky which will do it for you.

 

[Scoop]

Thanks. FileHippo jogged my memory, I think that's where I downloaded it last year.

I use MBAM to scan downloads. it usually does a good job detecting PUP's. My contact doesn't yet have that installed on his PC (planned). I think I've heard about "Unchecky" somewhere, thanks for the link. I think that's a good idea for the contact without MBAM at present.

 

[kado897]

Yes. I also use MBAM PRO and it does a good job of stopping PUPs but Unchecky is free.

 

[stasioau]

WHS
Thanks so much for all your information with Macrium.
Following you I created CD and Hard Disk as below.
My computer data is as below.
I would like to check how my Macrium work is working, so disconnected my regular C: and connect Macrium hard disc.
What I get:
F8 = CD = Windows Loading = Microsoft Corporation.
Get Macrium Reflect
Browse for Image File
Select Computer = Image ID (C = Image ID = 1AA2AD280D9A39E5-00-00 = Open
Macrium Reflect = Image Restore
First = MBR Disk not here
Second = 1AA2AD280D9A39E5-00-00 = C:\Image ID\ = Full
All Drives change for C: (Images that contain drive)
Restore Image
Select disk = Image ID (C =Next\
Get: Not all partitions copied. Insufficient space.
I did number of openings in this Macrium but do not know how to open my Windows 7?.
Will appreciate your help.
Regards


CD
Boot, 7.82 MB, 9 files
Drivers, 2 KB, 2 files
Efi, 912 KB, 2 files
Sources, 142 MB, 1 file
Bootmgr, 374 KB,
Bootmgr.efi, 652 KB
PEVersion, 3 bytes, 2 KB
Version, 57 bytes, 2 KB
X64, 0 bytes, 0 bytes
Macrium rescue iso 5.2.6504, ISO File, 158976 KB

Hard Disk
Hard Disk, Image ID, Used=75 GB, Free=223GB
MediaID.bin, 528 bytes, Size 4.00 KB
Rescuepe, text, 94 bytes, 4.00 KB
Temp, 12.8 KB, 24 KB on disc, 6 files
WindowsImageBackup, 16 bytes, 4.00 KB, 1 file
Image ID, 1AA2AD280D9A39E5-00-00, 24.5 GB, I File

Computer Summary
Operating System
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
CPU
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
Thuban 45nm Technology
RAM
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 668MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. Crosshair IV Formula (AM3) 28 °C
Graphics
273PQPY (1920x1080@59Hz)
1024MB ATI AMD Radeon HD 5700 Series (XFX Pine Group) 42 °C
Storage
465GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKS-75V0A0 ATA Device (SATA) 28 °C
465GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKS-75V0A0 ATA Device (SATA) 24 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH10LS30 ATA Device
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24NS90 ATA Device
Audio
VIA High Definition Audio

 

[whs]

Rather than going thru this I suggest you create a small 1 or 2GB partition, copy some random data into it and image and restore that partition. That will go very fast and will bear no risks.

 

[stasioau]

Thanks so much. Can you tell me please what it is Random Data? Is it like : Programs, Users, Windows...? How to image this data?
Regards

 

[whs]

For 'random data' I usually use a couple of picture folders. But you can also use documents or music or whatever. Just anything that's data.