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

 

[Soyabeaner]

Macrium works, just not the latest version for me. All the previous versions have worked until now. I rebuilt the WinPE using the same the bootable USB drive with 5.3.7220 and it's back to normal.

 

[whs]

If there is more trouble, you can always try AOMEI Backupper which is a fine imaging program too. They have excellent documentation.

 

[ped]

Guess free Macrium no longer exists?

I have been snooping around this thread looking for some information. So thanks to whs for all the details here, and continued support!

Meanwhile I'm noticing that granted this thread started in 2010, and there are even more recent posts, but unless I'm missing something - Macrium "free" no longer exists. Even looking at other sites that supposedly house v5.x, have the latest build which either doesn't work based on comments here and elsewhere, or they already implemented the 30 day time bomb as they have with v6.

So I guess this is a case where their business model changed, and once again if you want a consistent backup solution, either you pay and risk it doesn't die on the vine, or continually hunt for the next free one. I bought a version of NovaStor 2 years ago and greatly regretted it, and have a bunch of unreadable images that are now useless. So having told myself I would never use the latest fad backup software again, I seem to feel that Windows 7 backup is at least something that is a standard (with VHD support) that other free new ones will support out of trying to be relevant.

Hopefully I'm incorrect in these assumptions. Appreciate opinions and guidance, or if I stick with Win7 solution leading to win10.

 

[Kari]

... but unless I'm missing something - Macrium "free" no longer exists.

MAcrium Reflect Free is of course still available: Macrium Reflect Free. At the moment the site tells the free edition is quite fresh, from last month:

 

[kado897]

... but unless I'm missing something - Macrium "free" no longer exists.

MAcrium Reflect Free is of course still available: Macrium Reflect Free. At the moment the site tells the free edition is quite fresh, from last month:

View attachment 358647

You will notice that the free version is still v5. We are promised v6 in the future.

 

[ped]

Aha, so it is. It looked like a banner ad, so I completely ignored it. So the free version works well, and is not a trial version?

Thanks to you both.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yeah, it's fine for most purposes--lacks the Macrium support of the paid version and a few bits of functionality you probably don't need.

It's not a trial.

If you later upgrade to free version 6, you'll have to make a new rescue disk. Version 5 rescue media cannot restore images created with version 6.

 

[SIW2]

If you later upgrade to free version 6, you'll have to make a new rescue disk. Version 5 rescue media cannot restore images created with version 6.

Really? Bit inconvenient.

There are several good free imaging programs. Aomei is very popular, has a lot of extra functions in the free version, including restore to different hardware: AOMEI Windows Backup, Cloning, and Recovery Software

Paragon also do a free one. That has the option to exclude selected files/folders from your images:
Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Download & User Manual

They all do the basic job, depends which interface or extra features you want.

 

[kado897]

If you later upgrade to free version 6, you'll have to make a new rescue disk. Version 5 rescue media cannot restore images created with version 6.

Really? Bit inconvenient.

Yes Si. I think it is to do with V6's new delta restore which is very fast.The v6 rescue disk is OK on v5 images however.

 

[whs]

Simon is right - there are other options. Although I am a Macrium fan, I will use those other options if the Macrium people will make my life difficult. AOMEI is on top of my list of alternatives. I only wish they would change their UI so that it is readable for someone with a poor eyesight. Paragon is another excellent program but it is more difficult to use than Macrium or AOMEI.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Simon is right - there are other options. Although I am a Macrium fan, I will use those other options if the Macrium people will make my life difficult. AOMEI is on top of my list of alternatives. I only wish they would change their UI so that it is readable for someone with a poor eyesight. Paragon is another excellent program but it is more difficult to use than Macrium or AOMEI.

Yep.

Problem with Paragon is that you apparently (?) are forced to CNET to download it. And the download is too large to upload to TotalVirus to see how contaminated it is, thanks to CNET's recent tendencies.

 

[tobymeister]

Hi Wolfgang... Thanks for sharing your Macrium Rescue 5.3.7299.iso. I downloaded and burned it to a CD, but I haven't had a chance to use it, yet.

Will this Rescue CD work on a Windows Vista (x64) system, or is it exclusively for Windows 7?

Thanks.

 

[whs]

The rescue CD is completely independent of the installed OS. It would even work on a PC that has Windows 98 or Linux installed.

 

[tobymeister]

Hi Wolfgang...

Sorry to bother you, but the Rescue CD is not working as I expected. When I boot to it at start-up, I get an unexpected pop-up message in a command prompt window.
The message is (between the dashed lines below):

--------------------
A winpeshl.ini file is present, but no commands were successfully launched. This could be caused by incorrect formatting or an invalid executable name. Please consult the documentation for more information.

X:\windows\system32>
--------------------

I downloaded the ISO with Firefox; the file size is 140,480 KB (137.1875 MB).
I burned the ISO to CD using ImgBurn 2.5 on my Vista x64 system.

Did I do something wrong? Any suggestions?

 

[whs]

Hmm, I don't know what to tell you. Many people have downloaded and used this WinPE successfully. Maybe your download was corrupted.

 

[tobymeister]

Wolfgang.... FYI - I did not unzip the iso before I burned it; I believe ImgBurn does that automatically when it burns the iso image to the CD. In fact, I'm sure it does because I can see folders and files on the CD. Would unzipping the iso, first, make a difference?

I did not add any files to the CD. It should run on its own, shouldn't it?

Also, FYI, Macrium Reflect Free is not installed on the PC that burned the CD. Would that make a difference?

I'll try a download via Internet Explorer and burn the CD on a Windows 7 PC to see if that helps.

Your advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[whs]

Macrium need not be installed. But unzipping the iso is probably a good idea. There are no files that need to be added.

 

[Ho72]

tobymeister, did you ever resolve your winpeshl.ini issue? I've got the same problem here.

 

[tobymeister]

Ho72.... I downloaded the iso several times (using different PCs, Vista and Win7, Firefox and IE) and burned them to CDs with ImgBurn, but none of them booted correctly for me.

My solution was to install Macrium Reflect Free and create my own Rescue CD and Rescue USB stick. The rescue media that I created works fine on all of my PCs. Problem solved.

You may need to do the same. Good luck.

 

[Ho72]

Weird. I made a WinPE CD from the ISO provided here, circa 2013, and it worked just fine. I thought I would update... just because, but it's not working out so far.

Thanks anyway.