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

 

[Britton30]

I think Kari's way of making an initial image is a good approach to endless updates and installing software.
http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...ling-setting-up-windows-pc-7.html#post2294096

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Wolfgang I tried to make the rescue disk this afternoon but whatever blank disk I put in it rejected. Now I know I can make a rescue USB stick but it seems that that is only using s very small part of the stick and I am thinking it in turn is not able to be used for anything else.

So what am I doing wrong?? The pic shows the message I get.

 

[kado897]

What type of DVD are you using John?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

What type of DVD are you using John?

I have tried a blank CD and a DVD-R so I ma guessing ti has to be a DVD?

 

[kado897]

A blank DVD-R might work (not sure) but it may have to be a DVD-RW.


BTW there is a link to a pre-built PE rescue disk at the beginning of the tutorial. You just need to burn it to DVD with Imgburn.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

A blank DVD-R might work (not sure) but it may have to be a DVD-RW.

Ok mate I'll try the DVD-RW

 

[Golden]

Now I know I can make a rescue USB stick but it seems that that is only using s very small part of the stick and I am thinking it in turn is not able to be used for anything else.

John, you can indeed copy other information to the USB - thats no problem. I have several like that here, and they work flawlessly.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Now I know I can make a rescue USB stick but it seems that that is only using s very small part of the stick and I am thinking it in turn is not able to be used for anything else.

John, you can indeed copy other information to the USB - thats no problem. I have several like that here, and they work flawlessly.

Ok mate cos I have now tried five brand new disks DVD and CD and it just rejects them

Well i suppose if I make that the first file on the stick I should be ok or does it work form anywhere within that stick? Seems odd though it keeps rejecting these disks

 

[kado897]

You can create a multiboot usb if you follow Colin's tutorial.http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/218920-macrium-reflect-create-bootable-rescue-usb-drive.html

 

[ICIT2LOL]

You can create a multiboot usb if you follow Colin's tutorial.http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/218920-macrium-reflect-create-bootable-rescue-usb-drive.html

Yep got it fixed now mate just cannot work out why the DVD's won't work but......

 

[whs]

Hi John, no idea what the cause of your problem is - maybe your optical drive. Suggest you download the Macrium WonPE .iso from my Skydrive and try to burn that to CD using a program like ImgBurn. If that gives you the same problem I would suspect your hardware or the driver.

 

[Anak]

I have ver4.2 installed, does anyone know if I have to uninstall it before I install ver5, or will it upgrade over top ver4.2?

I notice the questions about DVD -R or +R disks. I've always had good experiences with +R disks, should I get -R's, -/+RW's?

 

[kado897]

I'm pretty sure you can install OTT.

 

[Golden]

Agree install OTT

 

[Anak]

Okay on OTT.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hi John, no idea what the cause of your problem is - maybe your optical drive. Suggest you download the Macrium WonPE .iso from my Skydrive and try to burn that to CD using a program like ImgBurn. If that gives you the same problem I would suspect your hardware or the driver.

Sorry late reply mate I will try that

 

[whs]

Let us know what happened.

 

[Scoop]

Hi all,

I just completed my first try at using Macrium Free.

First,

to member WHS for linking the ISO download at this forum. I downloaded the WinPE ISO and burnt it to a CD so I didn't need to download the tool to my HDD.

Here's my info before posting my impressions as a first-time Macrium user:

- Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium
- Imaged full-disc mode from a SATA III 1 tb HDD to a USB 2.0 500g HDD.
- The 1 tb HDD is my everyday "C" HDD with the OS and all my data on the HDD, 2 partitions, Sys Reserved and the "main" partition, no customization of partitions, etc.
- Total size imaged from the 1 tb Source HDD: 376 gb
- Total size of the completed image folder/file on the Destination USB 500 gb HDD: 351 gb
- Macrium compression mode: "Medium"
- Total elapsed imaging time: 4 hrs
- Did not tick the "verify" option before starting the process. I wanted to shorten the full disc imaging elapsed time for the first-time use. I understand the recommendation to verify but this is all "learning-curve" activity as I don't need this image for recovery from any emergency situation.

I will test the Recovery step soon to verify that it's a complete bootable replacement HDD (same as a clone) once I recover to a spare HDD.

I'll compare to Acronis 2011 which I use regularly to clone my "C" HDD. I've run one full-disc image with Acronis but it's been a while since I used the Image tool with Acronis.

I liked Macruim's GUI vs Acronis with the Imaging portion of the 2 tools. The Cloning menus are similar and I like Acronis's cloning screen but I use it regularly so am familiar with it.

Macruim's Imaging setup steps, tick buttons, layout, are easier for me to prepare the Image than Acronis 2011. I found the setup process to be more straightforward and easier, for me, to understand the setup choices in preparing the image parameters.

The main thing that I was surprised at once the full-disc image completed, was the size of the image file, 351 gb.

I guess I had expected, with the "Medium" compression method selected, the image file to be approx. 50% of the size of the data on my 1 tb C HDD which is 376 gb.

Since I did image from a larger size HDD to a smaller HDD, I'm wondering if that's the reason the image file is about 93% size of the data on the 1 tb HDD.

Before I imaged with Macrium, I looked at some knowledge base info over at the Acronis Forum to refresh my memory about what they have published about imaging in general.

The parts that caught my eye over there were references to corrupt imaging issues, ie, the need to test all images to be sure that they're working spare recovery items for HDD-replacement scenarios.

The other thing I read was regarding incremental and differential imaging, referring to the same possibility of potentially corrupted files.

They mentioned that the "verify" step when Imaging wasn't sufficient to confirm a working recovery to one's HDD. In other words, they were saying that if one incremental image was corrupt in a chain, that would render that particular backup set (the full-disc initial image in conjunction with subsequent incremental or differential images in that backup set) unusable as a recovery to a HDD.

I was wondering how Macrium images rate with members here regarding testing reliability over time. ie, recovering and verifying a workable HDD from image set.

Since I don't have the paid version, I can't use the incremental or differential methods.

My primary goal though, is fulfilled with the free version as I'm wanting to keep 1 or 2 full-disc images for emergency use if I encounter any issues with my regular cloning using Acronis.

I've been cloning monthly with Acronis for about 2 years and haven't encountered any issues but I read over at the Acronis forum that the experienced members don't recommend cloning. They refer to other members encountering problems with the Source HDD when cloning but I've not seen any problems when I clone.

I don't understand that, since, unless I'm wrong about this, the Source HDD is only being read during the cloning process. I don't see how one can encounter an issue with the Source HDD, assuming no power or user interruptions, or other user errors when setting up the cloning process.

Has anyone cloned with Macruim? If so, what's been your experience with the cloning tool with Macruim?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I make at least two clones a week with Macrium Reflect. It's easy to do and I've never had a problem with it except when I made the mistake of also having Speccy running while making the clone (I was using it temporarily to monitor HDD temps while cloning); for some odd reason, they didn't play well together. The fix was easy; don't run Speccy while cloning. Two downsides of cloning are they take longer than imaging and take up the same amount of space as the original. The main advantage is the clone is bootable if it has an OS on it and data can be read directly from the disk.

I also use automatic verification when making images. I'm reasonably certain I can depend on that since I'm not making differential/incremental images. I do run test recoveries to a test drive when making a new recovery disk/USB stick to make sure they work but I don't need to that very often. Running verify after creating an image doubles the time required but, since it is automatic, I just start the image, then walk away until the computer

 

[Scoop]

I make at least two clones a week with Macrium Reflect. It's easy to do and I've never had a problem with it except when I made the mistake of also having Speccy running while making the clone (I was using it temporarily to monitor HDD temps while cloning); for some odd reason, they didn't play well together. The fix was easy; don't run Speccy while cloning. Two downsides of cloning are they take longer than imaging and take up the same amount of space as the original. The main advantage is the clone is bootable if it has an OS on it and data can be read directly from the disk.

I also use automatic verification when making images. I'm reasonably certain I can depend on that since I'm not making differential/incremental images. I do run test recoveries to a test drive when making a new recovery disk/USB stick to make sure they work but I don't need to that very often. Running verify after creating an image doubles the time required but, since it is automatic, I just start the image, then walk away until the computer

Thanks for the reply.

I have a couple of questions.

- You mentioned the 2 advantages with cloning vs imaging, one being that the clone is bootable. Since I ran my image selecting both partitions (Sys Reserved/MBR) and the main partition, my image will also be bootable after I run the Recovery pocess.

Do I have the right understanding of the above?

- The other thing that I wonder about is the total-time comparisons. When I clone with Acronis, it takes me about 35-40 minutes to clone my 1 tb HDD to my spare (1 tb) HDD.

The total time for my full-disc image with Macrium was 4 hrs.

So for me, assuming that the Macrium cloning process total time is approximately the same as Acronis cloning times, it would be faster for me to clone vs (full-disc) image.

There may be one caveat when comparing my cloning time. I always clone outside of Windows with my Acronis CD. Perhaps that's why my total time is faster than my image time.

btw, I have Speccy too. It's a great utility tool to have on one's PC.