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]

If you mean the size on the DVD Mike it is less than 200MB.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

You worry too much. setting Secure Boot and Legacy mode is a 2 minute affair. There is really nothing that can happen and setting it back is another 2 minutes. I have done that already several times on my UEFI systems.

But if you are happy with your old laptop, that's OK too and you do not have to power off your main system.

Now that you are a Pro, try this one.

I'll take a look at that Wolfgang the machine I have it running on is an oldish desktop I use for testing software on and has the older legacy BIOS. I was just thinking on the cautious side re the EUFI to Legacy and back as I saw some comments regarding that it could be a catastrophic problem etc but if you have done it then it makes me feel a bit more at ease doing it myself. But I do have a problem with that machine (Ivy Bridge) as it is and I don't want to compound it with a BIOS issue.
The Sandy Bridge running 8.1 I cannot get the legacy BIOS to start - have no idea why being a Gigabyte board it says at the POST BIOS = DEL but holding it down and powering on or tapping it while powering on doesn't get it to go or I would use that machine.

Now the "tester" as I call it has like I said a Q9650 CPU 4GB DDR2 RAM (custom build I was given) and an SSD running 7 it is slow to boot into the Linux but once in it flies but I think most of the slowness is due to the machie only having 2.0 USB
But I can see why you prefer it to the Ubuntu boot I used before because of the storage capability of the stick and even a SSD which I think I might use - there are some really good deals on them at the moment out here ie a 256GB SanDisk Ultra Plus for $119!!

I have to thank you (and the others) for putting up with my persistent griping and apologise for being such a pain too - my only excuse being that I have been really tired and run down just lately - and it hasn't been easy especially with the forum posting problem causing so much grief.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

If you mean the size on the DVD Mike it is less than 200MB.

Yep I usually just make mine on a CD it it is the system repair disk feature from the Control Panel.

As Kado says the data is really not that much and when I make that after a clean install I always back up the registry as well - as I have dropped the ball on a few occasions back in the past through not doing that.

 

[kado897]

If you mean the size on the DVD Mike it is less than 200MB.

Yep I usually just make mine on a CD it it is the system repair disk feature from the Control Panel.

As Kado says the data is really not that much and when I make that after a clean install I always back up the registry as well - as I have dropped the ball on a few occasions back in the past through not doing that.

it is not the same as the Windows repair disk John. It is a Macrium recovery disk.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

If you mean the size on the DVD Mike it is less than 200MB.

Yep I usually just make mine on a CD it it is the system repair disk feature from the Control Panel.

As Kado says the data is really not that much and when I make that after a clean install I always back up the registry as well - as I have dropped the ball on a few occasions back in the past through not doing that.

it is not the same as the Windows repair disk John. It is a Macrium recovery disk.

Sorry mate my mistake

 

[ThrashZone]

Thanks you for confirming Keith and John which yep Macrium
Windows keeps giving me a "Insert a blank disk" Yuck :/
Had no idea on what size the recovery disk for a system image would be using the above or with windows,
Cheers.

 

[kado897]

Don't forget Mike. The recovery disk is just the program. The image is located elsewhere.

 

[whs]

The last WinPE .iso that I uploaded to my OneDrive is exactly 173MBs

 

[whs]

You worry too much. setting Secure Boot and Legacy mode is a 2 minute affair. There is really nothing that can happen and setting it back is another 2 minutes. I have done that already several times on my UEFI systems.

But if you are happy with your old laptop, that's OK too and you do not have to power off your main system.

Now that you are a Pro, try this one.

I'll take a look at that Wolfgang the machine I have it running on is an oldish desktop I use for testing software on and has the older legacy BIOS. I was just thinking on the cautious side re the EUFI to Legacy and back as I saw some comments regarding that it could be a catastrophic problem etc but if you have done it then it makes me feel a bit more at ease doing it myself. But I do have a problem with that machine (Ivy Bridge) as it is and I don't want to compound it with a BIOS issue.
The Sandy Bridge running 8.1 I cannot get the legacy BIOS to start - have no idea why being a Gigabyte board it says at the POST BIOS = DEL but holding it down and powering on or tapping it while powering on doesn't get it to go or I would use that machine.

Now the "tester" as I call it has like I said a Q9650 CPU 4GB DDR2 RAM (custom build I was given) and an SSD running 7 it is slow to boot into the Linux but once in it flies but I think most of the slowness is due to the machie only having 2.0 USB
But I can see why you prefer it to the Ubuntu boot I used before because of the storage capability of the stick and even a SSD which I think I might use - there are some really good deals on them at the moment out here ie a 256GB SanDisk Ultra Plus for $119!!

I have to thank you (and the others) for putting up with my persistent griping and apologise for being such a pain too - my only excuse being that I have been really tired and run down just lately - and it hasn't been easy especially with the forum posting problem causing so much grief.

I understand that you are just careful. And there is no need to disturb your Ivt Bridge system if you can test it on the Q9650 system. After all this is not a system with which you would operate all day but rather use it in emergencies for recovering files.

And you do not need to apologize for your interactions. That's what the forum is designed to be and I for my part I have no problem to interacting with you. Bring up any problem and ask any question - if I can answer it, I am happy to do so.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yep image will be allot bigger than that
Thanks guys I hate buying just cd's when I have plenty of good dvd -r's already :/
Cheers.

 

[whs]

CDs are cheaper than DVDs.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

You worry too much. setting Secure Boot and Legacy mode is a 2 minute affair. There is really nothing that can happen and setting it back is another 2 minutes. I have done that already several times on my UEFI systems.

But if you are happy with your old laptop, that's OK too and you do not have to power off your main system.

Now that you are a Pro, try this one.

I'll take a look at that Wolfgang the machine I have it running on is an oldish desktop I use for testing software on and has the older legacy BIOS. I was just thinking on the cautious side re the EUFI to Legacy and back as I saw some comments regarding that it could be a catastrophic problem etc but if you have done it then it makes me feel a bit more at ease doing it myself. But I do have a problem with that machine (Ivy Bridge) as it is and I don't want to compound it with a BIOS issue.
The Sandy Bridge running 8.1 I cannot get the legacy BIOS to start - have no idea why being a Gigabyte board it says at the POST BIOS = DEL but holding it down and powering on or tapping it while powering on doesn't get it to go or I would use that machine.

Now the "tester" as I call it has like I said a Q9650 CPU 4GB DDR2 RAM (custom build I was given) and an SSD running 7 it is slow to boot into the Linux but once in it flies but I think most of the slowness is due to the machie only having 2.0 USB
But I can see why you prefer it to the Ubuntu boot I used before because of the storage capability of the stick and even a SSD which I think I might use - there are some really good deals on them at the moment out here ie a 256GB SanDisk Ultra Plus for $119!!

I have to thank you (and the others) for putting up with my persistent griping and apologise for being such a pain too - my only excuse being that I have been really tired and run down just lately - and it hasn't been easy especially with the forum posting problem causing so much grief.

I understand that you are just careful. And there is no need to disturb your Ivt Bridge system if you can test it on the Q9650 system. After all this is not a system with which you would operate all day but rather use it in emergencies for recovering files.

And you do not need to apologize for your interactions. That's what the forum is designed to be and I for my part I have no problem to interacting with you. Bring up any problem and ask any question - if I can answer it, I am happy to do so.

Yes I will do that Wolfgang as the Ivy is having a few issues anyway. I just think it gives a clearer way of file recovery and something to experiment with as well

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Wolfgang just harping back to the Mint MATE boot - would installing a SSD with the Mint MATE on it instead of a stick plugged in to a SATA port on the board make it any faster to boot than using a stick in a USB 2.0 port?
All I think I would need to do would be to set that drive as first boot in the BIOS before booting?? Plus it would save having to have the stick hanging out of the machine (or losing the thing) and always be on tap so to speak.

 

[whs]

Sure, the SSD is always faster. If you set it first boot, then it will boot from the SSD when that is attached and boot from your internal disk when the SSD is not attached.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sure, the SSD is always faster. If you set it first boot, then it will boot from the SSD when that is attached and boot from your internal disk when the SSD is not attached.

Thanks Wolfgang I was rather hoping that would be the case as I am not really up on speeds as such.
I don't know how much faster as the SATA is 3Gbs (as opposed to 2.0 USB) and like I said I really am not as cluey as you blokes on speeds I just know the very basics. Suppose I should get genned up on such stuff as it is pretty basic and logical stuff to need to know in computing eh?
The drive I am going to make it an internal one as I have two extra SATA ports available so I shall just have to make sure the right drive is set for first boot when I want to use the Linux

 

[whs]

Internal would be optimal. Then you get the best speed. But on an internal drive, you can also make a real Linux installation (native and not like an external). Just make sure all other disks are disconnected when you do that. Note that the initial Mate installation is only a bootstrap. You will find a CD icon on the desktop of Mint that you have to open in order to make the final installation.

Once Mate is installed, you reconnect the other drives and then you can switch between the installation with the temporary BIOS boot order.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks again Wolfgang I thought that would be the case and I shall just install the MATE in that case and alter the BIOS order as you say

PS I have often wondered what is your avatar a pic of??

 

[whs]

My avatar is an iceberg. Here are a few pics from the same series.

 

[kado897]

I've looked at that avatar for 4 years now and never realised what it was. They really are good photos.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Besides being beautiful, what's fascinating is 1/7th of each one is underwater. Those puppies can be HUGE!