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]

Ok will do that I was just making sure - have had a bit of a horror trot just lately and just want something to go right for a change.

 

[lehnerus2000]

As Wolfgang suggested I would image using Macrium then simply "drag an drop". SSD alignment should be fine- I've done it and it worked fine. Software like CrystalDiskInfo will show if alignment is ok.

The alignment can be set in Macrium too.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok will do this as soon as the machine returns - had to get a couple of things fixed under warranty.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Wolfgang I ant to extract My Music from the images I have done because I don't want to put back the image and possibly the problem that had me having to do a clean install. Is this possible??

 

[lehnerus2000]

Hello Wolfgang I ant to extract My Music from the images I have done because I don't want to put back the image and possibly the problem that had me having to do a clean install. Is this possible??

You should be able to right click on an image and choose "Explore image".
This should mount the image so that you can browse it and copy files from it.Note:
You may need to click the "Enable access to restricted folders" option.I've done it quite a few times.

 

[whs]

Hello Wolfgang I ant to extract My Music from the images I have done because I don't want to put back the image and possibly the problem that had me having to do a clean install. Is this possible??

In theory yes, in practical term no - because of the write protection of the image. If you can figure out a way of how to remove that write protection, then it would be easy. I have not yet found the method - not with Take Ownership, not with command prompt, just no way.

To copy files from the image is easy, to delete them seems to be impossible.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply having problems at my end Peter yes I get that message and it will not let me pick the "E" drive they are on it just defaults to C: and Wolfgang I have had a look at Properties and done what I have in pics with the result that "E" will not open at all and the other images you can just see open with the other option sin the second pic.

Mine is a paid for version and I might just ask support what the heck I can do.

 

[whs]

Try again and check only C

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok I will when I get home from work tomorrow meanwhile Macrium support have sent me my codes and this link perhaps you can make some sense of it for me please.

v5: How to browse an Image or 'File and Folder' Backup in Windows Explorer (Browse, File and Folder, v5)

 

[whs]

What they sent you is the standard way of mounting an im age. Then you can browse it in Computer. But you cannot change the image because it is write protected and that seems to impossible to change.

 

[kado897]

There is a good reason for that. It would destroy the integrity of the image. Also if you could write to the image just think what a virus could do to it.

 

[whs]

Good point Keith

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Wolfgang I might try to find out from the fellow who sent me that how to do that with the copy write stuff.

 

[mjf]

Hello Wolfgang I ant to extract My Music from the images I have done because I don't want to put back the image and possibly the problem that had me having to do a clean install. Is this possible??

Maybe I haven't read enough of the thread but I have no problems at all doing this type of copy from a mounted image. Furthermore, if you mount the image using the pe restore DVD ownership doesn't appear to matter even copying data from another user account.

 

[whs]

Hello Wolfgang I ant to extract My Music from the images I have done because I don't want to put back the image and possibly the problem that had me having to do a clean install. Is this possible??

Maybe I haven't read enough of the thread but I have no problems at all doing this type of copy from a mounted image. Furthermore, if you mount the image using the pe restore DVD ownership doesn't appear to matter even copying data from another user account.

Michael, he wants to delete files in the image. That is not possible because the mounted image is Read only.

 

[kado897]

I think John is trying to remove files from the image not copy.

Damn too slow again.

 

[mjf]

Hello Wolfgang I ant to extract My Music from the images I have done because I don't want to put back the image and possibly the problem that had me having to do a clean install. Is this possible??

Maybe I haven't read enough of the thread but I have no problems at all doing this type of copy from a mounted image. Furthermore, if you mount the image using the pe restore DVD ownership doesn't appear to matter even copying data from another user account.

Michael, he wants to delete files in the image. That is not possible because the mounted image is Read only.

I see now. I wouldn't be comfortable altering an image anyway. I'd be worried about system file integrity issues.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Edit and Re-image?

Hello Wolfgang I ant to extract My Music from the images I have done because I don't want to put back the image and possibly the problem that had me having to do a clean install. Is this possible??

Maybe I haven't read enough of the thread but I have no problems at all doing this type of copy from a mounted image. Furthermore, if you mount the image using the pe restore DVD ownership doesn't appear to matter even copying data from another user account.

Michael, he wants to delete files in the image. That is not possible because the mounted image is Read only.

In that case, why not restore the image to a random partition, edit the files in that partition and then re-image the edited image?

 

[kado897]

That's the only way to do it.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes all I wanted to do and what I thought would be easy would to access the My Music library in the image and copy / paste it to the C: drive library.

It is just I cannot "open" the image out to do that I just didn't want to use the whole image as I think there are problems in there that caused me to reinstall, plus ripping them all again was not a pleasant thought.

I am a little confused as to why the image should be made read only or some such apart from someone else trying to access it.

One option I did think of was using a Ubuntu boot and transferring the music that way but it is going to have to wait until tomorrow now as Iit is get ready for work time :huh: