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

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

To expand on what whse said, anything you haven't backed up, be it data or system files, usually cannot be recovered once lost. How often you back up your data depends on often you add or change data and how valuable it is to you. The interval could be as often as several times a day or as infrequent as weeks apart.

 

[Britton30]

I have the V4.0 x86 and X64 WinPE iso's created and uploaded. I am going to test each one first.
Odd each one required a d/l from MS although I have WAIK installed. I'll add links here after tested.
New reflect version release, 5.2.6249.

 

[kado897]

The D/L would be for the WinPE 4 components

 

[Britton30]

Well, tests failed, file not found. Version 4.0 won't boot.

 

[mjf]

Gary I didn't even know about V4! Is it required for Windows 8?
If you are still with W7 as per your spec why why not stick with V3.0/3.1.?
By the way I have the v3 supplement but don't know if I ever installed it or how to determine if I did.

Edit: The pe version is clearly shown in the ISO but I couldn't see it in the winpe.wim. I'm still on v3.0! and the latest macrium restore pe works fine even with USB 3 drivers. Based on your experience I won't bother with v4.

 

[Britton30]

I was testing for someone else. I am sticking with V3.1 on w7. I don't/won't have Win 8.

 

[kronckew]

i have the 'standard' (paid) version of macrium. i've tested the winpe v4 thru the recovery boot menu option as well as on a dvd, worked fine for me. i even zapped it onto an existing 64gb usb stick along with a full backup and successfully booted off of it after rearranging the boot order in my bios. when rebuilding the images for pe 3.1 & 4, i did not need to change any drivers, some others may. i also found that the linux recovery disk required using normal boot instead of uefi for the cd drive otherwise i got errors loading the dvd, tho is still worked after ignoring them.

 

[jolafson]

Reflect Free Crashes Windows Vista

Download and installed latest version of Reflect. When I tried to create a recovery disk it caused Windows to crash. I tried it three times with the same results. I will obviously be looking for a better solution for creating a system image.

 

[Britton30]

Download and installed latest version of Reflect. When I tried to create a recovery disk it caused Windows to crash. I tried it three times with the same results. I will obviously be looking for a better solution for creating a system image.

I can assure you it's not the fault of Reflect. Try the link here to for the precompiled iso, you'll avoid the hassle of installing WAIK.

What is "crash"? A BSOD, screen freeze, black screen, we can help if you post in the appropriate forum section.

 

[jolafson]

Crash Specifics

By crash I mean the BSOD and the computer has to be rebooted. Sorry to disagree, but this IS a Reflect issue I will download and run SF Diagnostic Tool and try to upload log file.

 

[Britton30]

By crash I mean the BSOD and the computer has to be rebooted. Sorry to disagree, but this IS a Reflect issue I will download and run SF Diagnostic Tool and try to upload log file.

My PC doesn't crash. I reckon you saw this, if not.
http://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-hel...ath-bsod-posting-instructions.html#post836073

 

[jolafson]

New Thread

I'll start a new thread in BSOD Help and Support. Thanks.

 

[whs]

By crash I mean the BSOD and the computer has to be rebooted. Sorry to disagree, but this IS a Reflect issue I will download and run SF Diagnostic Tool and try to upload log file.

No way, Macrium Reflect works properly. There must be a problem in your system.

 

[jolafson]

BSOD Explained

Thanks for update. Please see my post and answer on:
http://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-hel...ing-create-recovery-disk-maxrium-reflect.html

Seems problem is related to Norton.

Jerry

 

[SIW2]

Interesting.

There should be a reflect log file.

If it is fltmgr.sys , try turning off your a/v before creating reflect pe.It can cause bsod during mount wim process if you are using WAIK.

I don't use WAIK d/l for my pe creation.

Not clear to me why macrium still insists on WAIK d/l for 7/8 users.

I would recommend Aomei Backupper, fantastic free imaging program. It doesn't have scheduling, though. However, it does have a lot of other features not found in any other free imaging programs.It makes pe without needing WAIK d/l.

Paragon do a free one too. Excellent, and the fastest in the industry. I expect a lot don't use it simply because it doesn't include pe making in the free version.

Very simple to make your own pe.

I'll start a new thread in BSOD Help and Support. Thanks.

LOL Looks like we posted at the same time.

 

[mjf]

I've never had a problem creating a Macrium Reflect pe with WAIK. My guess would be WHS's suggestion of a system issue or SIW2's suggestion. I run NIS and may but it in silent mode when making a pe - what A/V are you using?

 

[jolafson]

Please see my earlier post - and look at my post and answer on:
BSOD When Trying to Create Recovery Disk in Maxrium Reflect

The problem was related to Norton. Just had to disable NSS while I created Rescue disk. Worked fine.

Jerry

 

[mjf]

Well I have created a number of versions of the Macrium pe Rescue disk with WAIK on 3 totally different PCs. Some I've incorporated USB3 drivers using DISM with Norton running and never had a single problem. Clearly you did have a problem and it would be interesting for the general member knowledge base to know why some (at least you) can have problems.

 

[jolafson]

It is a Mystery

mjf,

Obviously I don't know why there is a conflict on my PC, maybe becuse I'm still running Vista. All I know for sure is that when I disable NSS, I had no problem creating PE disk. As I noted in my post in the other thread, Maxrium is aware of the problem and has posted the solution in their Knowledgebase. I also reported the problem on the Norton Community forum. BTW, what is DISM?

Jerry

 

[kado897]

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) (Windows)