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

 

[kado897]

I agree with Wolfgang.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Make a folder on the external and target the image to that folder. No reason it should not work unless there is something screwy with the drive.

Thanks Wolfgang I think you might have a point there as the drive did not get recognized when I hooked it up the first time and took some fiddling to be seen plus the software was unusually slow in installing for it.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello again I am not sure now what is going on with this drive as it is showing in Disk management and the Partition Wizard but Macrium on requesting an image is giving me the message in the pic.

Have trieed makig a folder but as you can it is in Disk Management and Macrium but not in This PC machine upgraded Regretfully to 8,

 

[looked]

In what way does the image not work 100%?

Nothing for now, what I mean is I must test the image and make it sure everything works 100% because reinstalling the whole system is just time consuming.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Nothing for now, what I mean is I must test the image and make it sure everything works 100% because reinstalling the whole system is just time consuming.

Some people in fact restore every image they make (to a test partition), to prove to themselves that it will restore if it's ever necessary to restore to C.


I don't go that far. I just hope it does work, but acknowledge that the worst that can happen is that I have to do a clean install and reconfigure a bunch of applications.

Others make alternating images with different applications: even months with Macrium, odd months with Aomei, or something like that.

 

[mjf]

The safest and most comforting test IMO is to use a free spare or new HDD, disconnect all other HDDs and do a full system image restore. Your PC should boot without a problem. This is not a 100% guarantee for all images but it gives you a lot of confidence.

 

[looked]

Sorry if I might missed this information but there is a driver folder and txt file instruction in the WinPE boot disc so do I need to add any drivers or is this option only for difficult and not standard devices?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Either the disc boots you to the Macrium interface or it doesn't.

Does it?

 

[RollinLow]

I appreciate you taking your time to make this tutorial , whs..it was a BIG help. Thanks again Kind Sir

 

[kado897]

Hello again I am not sure now what is going on with this drive as it is showing in Disk management and the Partition Wizard but Macrium on requesting an image is giving me the message in the pic.

Have trieed makig a folder but as you can it is in Disk Management and Macrium but not in This PC machine upgraded Regretfully to 8,

I'm no expert John but it might be worth trying to assign a new drive letter. It's in the right click menu in Drive Manager.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello again I am not sure now what is going on with this drive as it is showing in Disk management and the Partition Wizard but Macrium on requesting an image is giving me the message in the pic.

Have trieed makig a folder but as you can it is in Disk Management and Macrium but not in This PC machine upgraded Regretfully to 8,

I'm no expert John but it might be worth trying to assign a new drive letter. It's in the right click menu in Drive Manager.

Thanks Kado I will try that mate as I have been waiting for an answer to what is quite a mystery.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks Kado running now not a hitch

 

[kado897]

Yay.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yay.

Yay indeed mate the image finished in 7 minutes!!

 

[kado897]

Yay.

Yay indeed mate the image finished in 7 minutes!!

Just make sure the restore disk can find it.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

It does and thanks again Kado
John

 

[looked]

Either the disc boots you to the Macrium interface or it doesn't.

Does it?

Thanks for taking your time.
Yes I was able to boot in then I stopped at two choices, clone disk or image disk, what is the difference, this sounds confusing to me.

 

[whs]

Clone - creates a bootable duplicate
Image - is a snapshot of the system at that time which can be restored

I recommend to work with images.

 

[looked]

Clone - creates a bootable duplicate
Image - is a snapshot of the system at that time which can be restored

I recommend to work with images.

Sorry I can't see the difference.
Both options create a snapshot in that right moment that I can use later.
Is the image option a non bootable snapshot that needs WinPE to be restored?
I think that the tutorial is missing this information for noob people like me.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Think of images as a photo negative you use to later make a usable print. Unlike cloning, you can make images of individual partitions. Images are the best way to backup a drive or partition with an OS.

A clone is more like a Polaroid instant photo print. It's a duplicate of the source drive. One can only clone entire drives. Cloning is the fastest way to make a usable copy of a drive since it's one step and doesn't need a separate drive to store the image on.