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

 

[joebots]

@whs: I wonder if you can help me out? I recently did a fresh install of Windows 7 x64 Ultimate edition onto a new SSD. After I got all my drivers and frequently used applications installed, I installed the latest version of Macrium Reflect. I got stuck at the point of making a rescue CD. The process seemed successful each time, but when I attempt to boot from the rescue CD, it just hangs after "Hit any key to boot from CD".

I tried making the iso at least 5 times using different options from within Macrium, but have the same issue each time. I came across the iso you made in the first post, burned that, and lo and behold it worked!

I can see my drives, with the exception of my external backup drive (Seagate 2TB Backup Plus USB 3.0), which is on one of my two USB 3.0 ports. I'm assuming the driver wasn't on the iso. In Device Manager it's listed as NEC Electronics USB 3.0 Host Controller Driver 1.0.17.0.

At this point, I can see the drive in Macrium if I unplug it from the USB 3.0 port, and then plug it into one of the regular USB 2.0 ports. I would like to be able to run it on the USB 3.0 port, however. It there a way I could add the driver to the iso I downloaded in the first post?

I'm anxious to make a complete image of my C:/ drive while the install is still fresh.

Thanks for reading this.

 

[SIW2]

You can try using this to create your iso, including usb3 support:

for 32 bit os:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rzaxya9kuip47xk/RE86v7i.zip

for 64 bit os:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dd2jecmia3s0x00/RE64v7i.zip

 

[whs]

Did you try what SIW2 suggested and did it work.

 

[joebots]

Hi guys, and thanks for answering. I downloaded the zip file and unpacked it. I then ran RE64v7i-runmeasadmin.cmd with administrator rights. It copied a bunch of files into the folder I ran it from and made the following new directories: "ISO, and mount".

I haven't created an ISO since years ago when I made a slipstream service pack CD for Windows XP, so I'm really rather rusty at it. That should read "50+ year old forgetfulness" is setting in. I do have Nero on my system if that helps. I'm in need of assistance in creating the new iso.

 

[Britton30]

Your new iso should be in the iso folder.

 

[joebots]

I'm not sure why, but I don't see any iso image image that I can burn in there. I found further instructions elsewhere on this site, and I followed them, which is why I thought I had to build an iso from the files that RE64v7i created. Could it be because I deactivated Windows 7 built in DVD burning software? I think I'll try to re-enable that functionality and try once more.

 

[kado897]

You can use the free imgburn to burn it to DVD.

 

[SIW2]

Just d/led it to have a look . Something wrong with the file. Have deleted it now.

Will have to re up it.

May as well update it also.

Might take a little while.

 

[SIW2]

This is turning out to be a big update.

Will have to test it.

 

[Britton30]

This is turning out to be a big update.

Will have to test it.

Did you forget to dot your "i"?

 

[SIW2]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pbuihqk4blgacdf/REv8.zip

 

[joebots]

First I want to say thanks, SIW2. While I still haven't gotten my issue resolved, I very truly appreciate your efforts in providing this package.

I downloaded the new REv8 and extracted it. I ran it as admin and followed the recommended steps in the tutorial. It crashes on me when I opt to download the Paragon free partition manager. I restarted it and opted out this time. It proceeded to allow me to add my USB 3.0 drivers. This part went OK. I let it do it's thing, and it created the iso. I burned the iso successfully, rebooted from the CD. It loaded the WinPE environment, and I had several options I could launch with the mouse. Macrium was not one of them, however. It was missing the icon like the others had. I have the latest version of Macrium (free version) installed, so I'm not sure why it wasn't picked up. On a good note, though, my USB 3.0 external HD was detected, and I could see it in the Explorer, so the drivers installed! My drive letters were all mixed up, and I noticed a drive "X:" on the list, that I'm not exactly sure what it was. A virtual drive? Anyway, that's what happened. I want to say thanks again for your efforts. I have a working rescue disk that will let me run Macrium, but without USB 3.0 support. I can live with that until I figure out what went wrong.

 

[kado897]

The drive letters are usually mixed up in a WinPE or WinRE disk because they are a part of your installed Windows and the PE environment has no way of picking this up. The X drive letter is actually the WinPE/RE system disk.

 

[Britton30]

I haven't figured out where to point it to grab drivers, any ideas? I checked a folder called Driver store...

 

[SIW2]

If you are using win7 winre, it should automatically install the included usb3 drivers when you answer
Y to install drivers.

Then it asks if you want to add any more. Not likely you do, unless you have something a bit unusual, like raid drivers. If so, point it at the extracted raid drivers. Usually best to d/l them, extractt and have folder with them already in.


Sounds like it needs looking at still.

 

[SIW2]

@ joeboots,

It is a typo.

In the BIN folder you will find afile called progsx64.cmd.

Replace it with this one: View attachment PROGSx64.zip

 

[Britton30]

OK, thanks Si.

 

[joebots]

I appreciate all you tried to do to help, SIW2. I'd done with Macrium Reflect free version for now. I tried to actually use the first rescue CD boot CD I created (the one without USB 3.0 support), and it keeps crashing just as it begins writing to my backup drive. I uninstalled everything in frustration.

Maybe the paid version doesn't suffer from this, but I'm not willing to pay, just to evaluate whether or not it actually works. None of this pertains to you, of course. You really spent a lot of time trying, and I thank you. I'm sure many others will benefit from your hard work.

 

[mjf]

I may have missed something along the way. But why not simply download the free Macrium and the pe ISO that WHS provides.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

 

[whs]

I may have missed something along the way. But why not simply download the free Macrium and the pe ISO that WHS provides.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

Yeah right, get the WinPE iso from my Skydrive. That has always worked. Burn that to CD with ImgBurn.