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

 

[kronckew]

As they are just downloading standard winpe.wim from MS , it is not clear to me why they aren't using pe5.

...

was noitified of the latest update 6463 last night, it was from the day before, and includes the option to d/l & update my pe4 to pe5. i rebuilt the win7 boot menu option & winpe dvd.

it starts signifiantly faster than the old winpe4 & linux. apparently does not support winxp tho.

 

[TheArtfulDodger]

Version 6465

Hello, kronckew:

Following your message, I started Macrium Reflect Free and it updated, but not to version 6463 but to version 6465!

Secondly, is WinPE 5.0 based on Windows 8.1 or Windows 9 (which doesn't exist?)?

All the best and thanks for the heads up!

Sparky

 

[SIW2]

Just to clarify.

There are a couple of sources from which to make winpe recovery/boot media.

1) You already have winre.wim on your hard drive. No download required.
The huge advantage is that includes windows own recovery options, startup repair, system restore, etc, ( win 8 users also have Refresh option in there).

2) Download winpe components from WAIK/WADK. That is a pretty big download and does not include windows recovery options. If you are going to do that, you may as well use the most recent one.

 

[Anak]

For reference on PE 5.0: What's New in Windows PE

 

[whs]

Thanks Steve. Good chart.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I looked at that chart and my eyes glazed over, my mind went numb, drool started dripping from the corner of my mouth...you get the not so pretty picture.

What I really need to know is, since I've kept up with the updates for Macrium Reflect (Pro), do I need to make new rescue media (USB sticks) or will the ones I have now still work just fine?

 

[whs]

Depends how old the one you have is. Just make a new one. It's a 5 minute job.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Depends how old the one you have is. Just make a new one. It's a 5 minute job.

It took a "bit" more than five minutes since I had to download Win PE 5.0 first. I have the stick I keep in my desk drawer and the one I keep in my purse done. I also updated recover from boot menu. I haven't bothered to try them out yet. I also need to do my notebook and its stick but that will keep for a while since it's put away and I'm too lazy to dig it out right now.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

Will Macrium Reflect work on a Win 8.1 'puter and also as a backup system ?
Posted on Eight Forums and did not get an answer.
Lenovo backup

Can anyone help the lost and confused ?

 

[Golden]

Yes. Works perfectly.

 

[whs]

Works, but you need Version 5.xx

 

[COMPUTIAC]

Works, but you need Version 5.xx

Which one will work better, the free or the paid version ?

 

[mjf]

Will Macrium Reflect work on a Win 8.1 'puter and also as a backup system ?
Posted on Eight Forums and did not get an answer.
Lenovo backup

Can anyone help the lost and confused ?

The chart Anak refers to
What's New in Windows PE
suggests pe 5.0 is required for W8.1.
Macrium say pe 5 is now supported.
Macrium Reflect Patch Details

I went from 5.2 build 6444 to 6462 and the Rescue pe v 5 option now appears. It must be pretty recent.

 

[whs]

I use Macrium on an 8.1 system and have already tested the recovery stick. Works well - no problems. I only use the free versions. There are some features in the paid version that people might want - but I never missed those functions and I use Macrium since 4 years - now on 6 PCs and 1 tablet.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

If I use this as a backup system, will it backup everything on the machine at the same time ?

 

[mjf]

Out of curiosity Wolfgang what OS is your tablet using?
I'm close to buying a Samsung Galaxy Note10.1 (2014) running Android. Android is a whole new ball game for me. Does Macrium back it up. I believe EaseUS does.

 

[mjf]

If I use this as a backup system, will it backup everything on the machine at the same time ?

Every partition you tick will get imaged. I find the free version fine but the paid does a few other things like incrementals which may be useful if you image large relatively static data partitions.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

If I use this as a backup system, will it backup everything on the machine at the same time ?

It can, and do so very well, but I don't recommend it unless your machine has only one drive with one partition. If your OS and data are on separate partitions, it is better to back them up separately. If you have very much data in its own partition, you would be better off using MR to image the OS partitions and use a folder/file syncing program, such as SyncToy or FreeFileSync (I prefer the latter). A folder/file syncing program is much faster for backing up data.

 

[whs]

Out of curiosity Wolfgang what OS is your tablet using?
I'm close to buying a Samsung Galaxy Note10.1 (2014) running Android. Android is a whole new ball game for me. Does Macrium back it up. I believe EaseUS does.

32bit Windows 8.1. To my knowledge, there is no Macrium for Android. For Android I use Titanium - but you have to be rooted.

Titanium Backup for Android ? Official Site

Android is a whole now world. You better subscribe to this forum - you will need their help. This Android forum is a very helpful crowd. I would have never gotten off the ground without their help.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

This is what is on the HDD, only one.
You have to bare with me, with this 8.1 stuff.