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

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I think one advantage to imaging is one can store several on an external drive whereas a clone will occupy an entire drive. I think, think, Macrium will allow an incremental back up too. That is it will update an existing image with changes since it was first made. It may be possible to image a single partition as well, but I'm not full of knowledge on this either.

Yeah, I'm full of something though.

OOPs sorry Gary missed your post typing you have just added to what MJF has said and I am beginning t think that maybe I should adjust my habits as it does make more sense than just a clumsy clone.

Erm that wouldn't be full of pizza would it? LOL!!

Anyway have got to dash to work.

 

[whs]

There is indeed a lot of confusion about cloning versus imaging and the terms are being mixed up. I for myself have made this easy definition (which may not be comprehensive):

Clone = a system copy that I can boot
Image = a sytem copy that I can restore

I hope that this does not add to the confusion.

 

[seavixen32]

I'd go along with that.

I try and look at it that a system image creates an image of the whole drive, which can then be used as a backup restore as and when needed, whereas cloning copies the contents of one hard drive to another.

In other words, imaging relates to a drive you are currently using, while cloning relates to a drive you are going to use.

I hope that makes sense.

 

[Britton30]

OR..
Clone=Exact copy which works
Image=A picture waiting to be printed

 

[mjf]

There is no effective difference between
1) Cloning to a new HDD and sticking it in the cupboard
2) Reimaging to a new HDD and sticking it in the cupboard

Both achieve the same end result.
Both will immediately boot to the state the computer was in when they were made.
Cloning will include everything even if it isn't needed such as pagefile contents.
I have 2 standby HDDs "in the cupboard" and they were made by imaging.

With Cloning you need the new HDD immediately. With imaging you only need the new HDD when you are ready.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks you fellas I was a bit gung ho with my perceptions on imaging and cloning and far from confusing me it really starts to make a bit of sense so I had better start imaging and I sort of like the idea that Gary put up re incremental imaging too - not conjures up in this sometimes erratic and impetuous mind like keeping my "clone" up to date.

So I am not such an old dog that I cannot learn from all of you eh? In fact it was in a way rather fortuitous that I ranted on about what I do.

Having said that I think I still might keep a clone in the drawer of the original setup in case everything goes belly up with the drive and it's image as four reinstalls just recently have been getting tedious as my OEM didn't come with SP1 on it plus the updates - need I say more.

 

[whs]

The idea of imaging is to do it on a regular basis - at least once per week. A 5 year old image (or clone) in the drawer is not very helpful.

During a while I made a full image every morning after boot. That was automatically scheduled and ran in the backgrouns. Now I went back to 2 or 3 times per week depending on activities.

Btw - I hate incremental images because if you lose one in the chain you lose the whole bit. Diffentials are a bit better. But both are more difficult to manage than full images which I prefer. With acres of disk space that most of us have that should not be a problem.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

The idea of imaging is to do it on a regular basis - at least once per week. A 5 year old image (or clone) in the drawer is not very helpful.

During a while I made a full image every morning after boot. That was automatically scheduled and ran in the backgrouns. Now I went back to 2 or 3 times per week depending on activities.

Btw - I hate incremental images because if you lose one in the chain you lose the whole bit. Diffentials are a bit better. But both are more difficult to manage than full images which I prefer. With acres of disk space that most of us have that should not be a problem.

Ok point taken Wolfgang I might just set it up like that only I'll still keep that clone in the drawer as a ready to go install, and save at least some updates etc. .

At the moment it i s difficult for me to do an image at boot every three or four days because of work and the limited time I have before having to leave but I suppose I could leave it for an evening time slot when I am having some TV time.

 

[mjf]

The idea of imaging is to do it on a regular basis - at least once per week. A 5 year old image (or clone) in the drawer is not very helpful.

It depends on your needs.
1) If your HDD dies and can wait until you get to the store to buy a new one all you need is a recent image.
2) If you can't afford that delay then keep a spare HDD and be up and running with a recent image in say 1 hour. A little risk it will all go smoothly.
3) Keep an operational spare HDD even if 6 months old to get you up and running in minutes. 5 years is stretching it.

Option 2 is probably good enough for me. But then you would surely try option 3 anyway if you have never done this before.

 

[whs]

At the moment it i s difficult for me to do an image at boot every three or four days because of work and the limited time I have before having to leave but I suppose I could leave it for an evening time slot when I am having some TV time.

John, I am not quite sure what you are trying to say. The imaging can run in the background and should not stall your normal activities. Just 'hide' Macrium.

My total 40GB+ image takes only 5 minutes anyhow. But I image from the 60GB SSD to either an internal disk or an eSata disk. That is about as fast as it gets. And the other day a total restore took only 16 minutes. That was the fastest I have seen.

 

[SIW2]

And the other day a total restore took only 16 minutes. That was the fastest I have seen.

That is because you haven't used Paragon v12.

I am not using an ssd.

On my system, it backs up and restores at about 4gb/min.

The first time I used it - it was so quick I thought something had gone wrong.

It is not without issues yet.

They are tinkering with a few things still - the mount drivers ( which are perfect on win7 ) do not work on win8 - there are a few other things they are looking into as well.

If they get those sorted out - there will be a free version at some stage.

I believe the free version will also support gpt ( which macrium does not ).

It seems to be taking them forever to get this thing out.

 

[whs]

I had used Paragon a couple of years ago but then opted for Macrium which I found easier to use. But when they come out with their new version, I will certainly try if out. Would be kind if you alerted us when this is available.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes I am beginning to see what everyone is saying and yes of course a five year laying around in a drawer would be ridiculous and something that even bumble brain like me wouldn't do.

All I used to do was clone every say two months but what Wolfgang is saying makes more sense than what I have been doing. I've only been at this lark for a tad over two years or so and my previous contacts with computers have all been work and uni learning based - docs spreadsheets etc I never knew anything re say regedit, diskpart or even replacing hardware so I am relatively green at what you folks have been doing for years and do as matter of fact and take for granted as an everyday function bit like making a cup of coffee for you is like putting together a banquet for a 1000 people for me.

I just took what I thought was the easy way out and well here we are with me beginning to understand some finer and more adaptable points of working my machines.

Right now I am up to having a fair understanding of the hardware the hard part is knowing how to work it. I do have a ton of gear I have built up over time and currently have nine machines that I have either built, recycled or rebuilt from spare parts. Plus I do clean up stuff for friends which is why I am on SF so much when I get stuck with a curly problem.

But I digress I just need to get into having what Wolfgang says is having an ongoing imaging function because as I said I still work and have limited time to study what I need to do. Plus I do like to fully understand something before I do it and the cloning was like falling off a log - so I did.

Anyway I have an image now on an external that took about 20 mins and am going to track down how to keep it rolling.


I'm sorry for being a bit thick but do appreciate the time and patience from everyone.

 

[Britton30]

You're doing fine John. Soon all this will be as easy as making a banquet for 250 people.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

You're doing fine John. Soon all this will be as easy as making a banquet for 250 people.

Thanks Gary I have the bacon dish ready at least that one's easy

 

[mjf]

Likewise John - stop selling yourself short, you're getting into it with enthusiasm as far as I can see. I climbed a steep learning curve from knowing little to knowing a bit and it's fun.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Likewise John - stop selling yourself short, you're getting into it with enthusiasm as far as I can see. I climbed a steep learning curve from knowing little to knowing a bit and it's fun.

Thanks MJF for those kind words but I just feel like a bit of a sort of burden sometimes asking some things that must come so easy to you blokes and it makes me feel that I am kinda holding everyone else up.

Still it is nice that you all are so understanding and I do appreciate everything that everyone does for me in SF

 

[Britton30]

What seems to come easy was not so easy getting there.
I wasn't bald before computers.

 

[kado897]

My blood pressure was fine before W7.

 

[whs]

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