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

 

[BuckSkin]

Thanks to all of you.
I feel like I have been to the zoo, what with a tiger, an ostrich, and a spectacle-wearing monkey driving a coffin nail.

This bit that kado897 said: "Unfortunately I don't have a setup I can test this on at the moment." : put me to thinking that maybe I should scavenge me some old/inexpensive working HDDs just for playing around with and thus learn how things work.

 

[Barman58]

The best way to test things is hands on experience ...

Remember the Geeks Creed ...

If it's not broke, Back it up, Break it yourself, and then teach yourself to fix it

 

[kado897]

Thanks to all of you.
I feel like I have been to the zoo, what with a tiger, an ostrich, and a spectacle-wearing monkey driving a coffin nail.

This bit that kado897 said: "Unfortunately I don't have a setup I can test this on at the moment." ut me to thinking that maybe I should scavenge me some old/inexpensive working HDDs just for playing around with and thus learn how things work.

lol. We like our avatars. That sounds like a good idea I like to test before I use too.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...an ostrich...

Emu

 

[BuckSkin]

Emu

My apologies to the big bird; in my defense, all I could see was the face.

 

[RoWin7]

And a NY Mets cat.

 

[profdlp]

Moose, anyone?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Moose, anyone?

Where squirrel (said Jeannie in a Russian accent)?

 

[BuckSkin]

If it's not broke, Back it up, Break it yourself, and then teach yourself to fix it

I like to test before I use too.

Emu

If anyone is interested in the rest of the story, click here:

Major StartUp and Performance Problems After Blackout ??? - Page 2 - Windows 7 Help Forums

I was extremely careful in using Macrium to clone the O/S partition from one HDD to another; I don't know what I was doing wrong, but I finally had to use EaseUS Partition Master FREE to fix the mess I was making; with EaseUS, the first attempt was a winner; all of the gritty details are in that thread in the link.

Thanks to you guys for your help and information.

 

[tobymeister]

I have a question for you guys about how Macrium Reflect Imaging vs. Cloning handles the Windows Updates History list.

When I restore a Macrium Reflect Image, my Windows Updates History list correctly appears in: Control Panel > Programs and Features > View Installed Updates. But the history list is empty in: Control Panel > Windows Updates > View Updates History.

Does this discrepancy also occur when a disk is Cloned with Macrium Reflect, or is it just a function of Imaging? (Updates are listed in View Installed Updates but not in View Updates History.)

Thanks.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Macrium Reflect 7.1 ReflectMonitor

This version has some sort of monitoring function.

ReflectMonitor is a small utility that provides backup notifications and progress for scheduled backups.

It uses "Ctrl + Alt + M" as its default keyboard shortcut.

It was causing me some concern as it was overriding, my custom shortcut in GIMP (merge layers) and opening a Macrium Reflect window.

Here is some info from Macrium:
https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW7/How+to+configure+the+ReflectMonitor+hot+key

 

[Layback Bear]

You can turn off Macrium Reflect Service if you care to here. It's in msconfig/Non-Microsoft Services.



Jack

 

[lehnerus2000]

I'll play around with the Macrium Service setting, but I think that one only controls mounting images in Windows Explorer.

I've killed them (ReflectMonitor & ReflectUI) for now by renaming the files.
The normal interface still loads (I haven't tried creating/testing any images yet).

 

[lehnerus2000]

Back to MR v6

I'm going to reinstall MR v6.

The unwanted MR v7 services reinstall themselves when you run Macrium Reflect.
They are also broken (there's supposed to be a Notification Area icon).

Just like MS & W10, it seems that every software developer thinks they own your machine if you install their software.

 

[RedLad]

Hi everyone,

I have just done a clean install and did a Macrium Image backup once i had all updates and drivers installed.

I want to go back to this image I created, as I am having some issues with a piece of software. I probably do not need to go this route, but wanted to use this opportunity to test using Macrium Reflect 7.2. I just wanted to ask a few questions:

I thought I could simply run Macrium, then click on the Restore tab. Then under 'Browse for an image file,' point that to the image to restore - this is on an additional 2nd installed HDD.

But a window is appearing saying 'Build rescue media boot menu.'
'The restore must be completed in the Windows PE rescue environment. (What is this?)
This same window asks 'Do you want to build rescue media and add a boot menu now to automatically restore?

I did create a bot CD when I did the backup. Can this whole bot CD thing be avoided and simply restore it from the backed up image?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[SIW2]

Not with macrium, as far as I know.

Some other imaging programs do it - you start the restore process from within windows and they automatically go into their pre os mode to complete the process. Aomei Backupper and DiskGenius are examples that can do it that way.

 

[RedLad]

Ah, I see. that is a bit of a shame isn't it. If that is the case, I would say that the other pieces of software you mention have the upper hand over Macrium. Would you agree?

The fact they work like that - does this mean they have any drawbacks?

 

[RedLad]

Also, if I want to go ahead and use that bootable disc I created, what steps would you suggest to restore the backup that way?

 

[SIW2]

There are many imaging programs. They do basically the same job, but some have different features. They also vary in their ease of use.

Pick whichever you like best. I often recommend Aomei, because it works well and is probably the simplest to use. There is a free (standard) version which does what most people want.

I also like O&O diskimage because it has a lot of advanced features - but those advanced features are not so obvious for the average user. They don't have a free version ( though there is a free giveaway at the moment of their diskimage pro 11 ).

There are several others.

If ability to start restore from within windows is important to you - pick one that does that.

 

[SIW2]

If you are restoring using boot disc/usb, the steps are:

1) boot the media

2) Select restore from the program interface

3) browse to the image file you wish to restore

4) browse to the location you want to restore the image to.

5) Then click Start or OK ( iirc bizarrely macrium calls that "finish" )