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

 

[SIW2]

Not sure what else to suggest as freebie.

Paragon works perfectly,but i don't think that function is in the free one.

Can't remember - it may be - might have a look to see.edit - no it's not in th freebie.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Are you using the latest version of macrium. The previous version had a problem with writing the mbr correctly.

I am using the latest version.

 

[mjf]

Cloning in Macrium isn't as it should be, I cloned a windows partition from the source to the target and when I tried to boot windows into the target drive I got this error;
The boot priority is set as the target drive.

One possible explanation is that the cloning operation is copying the disk signature (in the MBR) of the drive you are cloning from. When both drives are connected you will get a disk clash and the 2nd (cloned) drive will go offline.
What happens if you disconnect the first drive and leave the cloned drive then try to boot?

When I disconnect the first drive and leave the cloned drive, I get the error I posted. I was informed I have to restore a image of the partition or the drive because of UUID. Cloning doesn't work as it should.

I actually don't bother with cloning because you can achieve the same effective end result more efficiently with imaging.
I just noticed you are using GUID/GPT?? If so then I'm not sure if the free version supports this. Others may comment.

 

[kado897]

One possible explanation is that the cloning operation is copying the disk signature (in the MBR) of the drive you are cloning from. When both drives are connected you will get a disk clash and the 2nd (cloned) drive will go offline.
What happens if you disconnect the first drive and leave the cloned drive then try to boot?

When I disconnect the first drive and leave the cloned drive, I get the error I posted. I was informed I have to restore a image of the partition or the drive because of UUID. Cloning doesn't work as it should.

I actually don't bother with cloning because you can achieve the same effective end result more efficiently with imaging.
I just noticed you are using GUID/GPT?? If so then I'm not sure if the free version supports this. Others may comment.

The free version does not support GPT, nor does the standard paid version. You need the pro or server version for GPT support.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

When I disconnect the first drive and leave the cloned drive, I get the error I posted. I was informed I have to restore a image of the partition or the drive because of UUID. Cloning doesn't work as it should.

I actually don't bother with cloning because you can achieve the same effective end result more efficiently with imaging.
I just noticed you are using GUID/GPT?? If so then I'm not sure if the free version supports this. Others may comment.

The free version does not support GPT, nor does the standard paid version. You need the pro or server version for GPT support.

What if I told you I am using the Pro version ?

 

[SIW2]

They have been having issues with cloning. I think the recent update was an attempt to fix it.

I believe the previous update was largely for the same reason.

 

[mjf]

I actually don't bother with cloning because you can achieve the same effective end result more efficiently with imaging.
I just noticed you are using GUID/GPT?? If so then I'm not sure if the free version supports this. Others may comment.

The free version does not support GPT, nor does the standard paid version. You need the pro or server version for GPT support.

What if I told you I am using the Pro version ?

Then try using imaging to make your "clone".

 

[JerometheGiraff]

The free version does not support GPT, nor does the standard paid version. You need the pro or server version for GPT support.

What if I told you I am using the Pro version ?

Then try using imaging to make your "clone".

I haven't gotten to that point, but it is the only option. Cloning a drive under the current version is not a option to go, hopefully they fix that in future patches / releases.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Bad News Part A: Remember not to restore a backup from another drive overriding the current drive therefore loosing all your current drives data. I did that and well, it wasn't extremely valuable, infact some of it may not have been that important at all, and some of it I just can't remember. It is a lesson if you are dealing with valuable data.

 

[mjf]

Bad News Part A: Remember not to restore a backup from another drive overriding the current drive therefore loosing all your current drives data.

Jerome, I'm a little confused by the statement. When you restore an image you restore a partition. Do it the right way and other partitions can be unaffected when restoring to an existing drive. You can also restore partition images to a new drive builing up the partitions as you go.
When you clone you are generally talking about transferring a sector copy of one drive to another. What was on the drive being cloned to generally gets clobbered.

I am awaiting Bad News Part B:

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Bad News Part A: Remember not to restore a backup from another drive overriding the current drive therefore loosing all your current drives data.

Jerome, I'm a little confused by the statement. When you restore an image you restore a partition. Do it the right way and other partitions can be unaffected when restoring to an existing drive. You can also restore partition images to a new drive builing up the partitions as you go.
When you clone you are generally talking about transferring a sector copy of one drive to another. What was on the drive being cloned to generally gets clobbered.

I am awaiting Bad News Part B:

I overwritten an entire image onto another drive, including the partitions. I have a backup of one drive, but not the larger drive. It's equal to having a 500 gig drive and a 100 gig drive, if you take the 100 gig drive and restore it onto the 500 gig, it will remove whatever partitions were on the 500 gig drive and restore what was on the 100 gig drive. Either way it is gone, for good, there was some odds and ends, stuff I saved for about a year, stuff I never really did anything with for a while, so maybe it was for the better

Bad News Part B: I restored a partition image onto another drive, including the MBR and regardless what I've done, Windows won't boot into the drive.

 

[kado897]

The way to do it is to resize the 500GB partition to give you at least 100GB unallocated space then restore into that.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

The way to do it is to resize the 500GB partition to give you at least 100GB unallocated space then restore into that.

I don't follow ?

 

[kado897]

If you shrink the existing partition you can keep the data in it and restore the 100GB image into the space you have freed up.

 

[mjf]

I overwritten an entire image onto another drive, including the partitions. I have a backup of one drive, but not the larger drive. It's equal to having a 500 gig drive and a 100 gig drive, if you take the 100 gig drive and restore it onto the 500 gig, it will remove whatever partitions were on the 500 gig drive and restore what was on the 100 gig drive. Either way it is gone, for good, there was some odds and ends, stuff I saved for about a year, stuff I never really did anything with for a while, so maybe it was for the better

Bad News Part B: I restored a partition image onto another drive, including the MBR and regardless what I've done, Windows won't boot into the drive.

I find the explanation of your issue still confusing. Maybe rephrase it.
For example I can only guess what
"I overwritten an entire image onto another drive, including the partitions."
means.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I overwritten an entire image onto another drive, including the partitions. I have a backup of one drive, but not the larger drive. It's equal to having a 500 gig drive and a 100 gig drive, if you take the 100 gig drive and restore it onto the 500 gig, it will remove whatever partitions were on the 500 gig drive and restore what was on the 100 gig drive. Either way it is gone, for good, there was some odds and ends, stuff I saved for about a year, stuff I never really did anything with for a while, so maybe it was for the better

Bad News Part B: I restored a partition image onto another drive, including the MBR and regardless what I've done, Windows won't boot into the drive.

I find the explanation of your issue still confusing. Maybe rephrase it.
For example I can only guess what
"I overwritten an entire image onto another drive, including the partitions."
means.

I have two drives, one smaller, one larger. I had only done a entire HDD backup on the smaller drive, not the larger one. When I restored the image, I restored the smaller HDD image onto the larger HDD image, including all partitions that were on the smaller HDD, completely overwriting any data and partitions that were on the larger HDD. As someone said it should shift the partitions, and still keep the data, that is untrue if you do a image restore.

 

[kado897]

I overwritten an entire image onto another drive, including the partitions. I have a backup of one drive, but not the larger drive. It's equal to having a 500 gig drive and a 100 gig drive, if you take the 100 gig drive and restore it onto the 500 gig, it will remove whatever partitions were on the 500 gig drive and restore what was on the 100 gig drive. Either way it is gone, for good, there was some odds and ends, stuff I saved for about a year, stuff I never really did anything with for a while, so maybe it was for the better

Bad News Part B: I restored a partition image onto another drive, including the MBR and regardless what I've done, Windows won't boot into the drive.

I find the explanation of your issue still confusing. Maybe rephrase it.
For example I can only guess what
"I overwritten an entire image onto another drive, including the partitions."
means.

I have two drives, one smaller, one larger. I had only done a entire HDD backup on the smaller drive, not the larger one. When I restored the image, I restored the smaller HDD image onto the larger HDD image, including all partitions that were on the smaller HDD, completely overwriting any data and partitions that were on the larger HDD. As someone said it should shift the partitions, and still keep the data, that is untrue if you do a image restore.

You need to shrink the partitions youself before starting the restore so that you have sufficient unallocated space to restore into. Macrium will not do it for you.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I find the explanation of your issue still confusing. Maybe rephrase it.
For example I can only guess what
"I overwritten an entire image onto another drive, including the partitions."
means.

I have two drives, one smaller, one larger. I had only done a entire HDD backup on the smaller drive, not the larger one. When I restored the image, I restored the smaller HDD image onto the larger HDD image, including all partitions that were on the smaller HDD, completely overwriting any data and partitions that were on the larger HDD. As someone said it should shift the partitions, and still keep the data, that is untrue if you do a image restore.

You need to shrink the partitions youself before starting the restore so that you have sufficient unallocated space to restore into. Macrium will not do it for you.

That doesn't work.

 

[kado897]

In what way doesn't it work?

 

[JerometheGiraff]

In what way doesn't it work?

I've tried everything, restoring a image, cloning a partition. In all cases the new drive that I want to have windows boot from, doesn't boot, I get an error "a device driver is inaccessible" with a type of cx00ecd error. I have two other installs of Windows which are on two different drives, two different partitions. They both work, I don't want either of those to be the Windows boot partition. I want the new drive which is giving me an error to be the Windows boot partition. When I boot into Windows PE 3.1 and I select the option to fix "windows boot errors" the new drive I want to boot too, is not listed, only a USB drive and one of the drives with a windows boot partition.

The data that I lost is gone, because I over-written it with a backup of another drive therefore the partitions were not shifted, they were just over written. I'm over that, so that is not a concern anymore. The concern is getting the new drive to boot into windows, then I can get things in order. I have contacted Macrium, and twenty four went by with no reply, I don't know why this is causing this much problems, something is not registering with the MBR and I have no way of fixing this. I have the option to ReDeploy but that doesn't work either, I tried that option hoping the "a device driver is inaccessible" error would be resolved if some drivers were feed into the drive that I want the windows partition to boot from, unfortunately it didn't work.