Solved Macruim recovery procedure

[wilfj]

When you come to use your recovery disks do you format the hardrive first or go directly to the the start up disk ? I should add this is a image procedure. Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

None that I have seen require formatting. If the apps need it they will do it themselves.

 

[wilfj]

thanks .. this is an image process, the instructions are silent, it maybe a mute point but I hate to format the drive and find out I can't load the image back on.

 

[gregrocker]

I use WIndows 7 Backup imaging. Works great so far. I make a primary partition on each computer to save the image, then copy it to external. If I need to reimage, boot from the Windows 7 installer>Recover Using An Image, it finds the images in either drive, or I can even browse over the network if I want. Two-three clicks and HD or a replacement is reimaged in 15-20.

After making the image, it is good to cue each one up to test if it is good to go.

How does Macrium compare, you know? I've heard really good things about it but don't have any reason to change yet.

 

[wilfj]

thanks for the suggestion and I will test the disks. Macrium appears easy to use but instructions are all covered but confusing when you come to use it. IE when you come to prepare recovery disk it gives you 2 options. I can't think of them right now, but XP, win 7 are not shown. Which one do you use for XP?? i can't find it in the instructions. it maybe in the buy issue........ if any one knows please let me now.

 

[gregrocker]

Which one do you use for XP??

Acronis. Win 7 will let you uncheck the other OS on a dual boot to save or reimage.

 

[wilfj]

the two options for the recovery disk are: Linux and BartPE.

I have no idea what BARTPE is ? it did mention Xp in the bartPE option . I'll have to do some reading as I used the Linux option, so I have no idea if the image disks will work.

I'm the problem not Macrium in not knowing what BARTPE is all about. it's always something, nothing is easy any more. What happened to Plug and Play?

 

[gregrocker]

It's a bootable Recov tools disk.

That's another reason I like the Win7 Backup Imaging: it uses the Win7 DVD Repair console, a Repair disk it offers to make when you make your first image, or if you have the 100mb boot/repair partition installed with Win7 you can access Repair console by tapping F8 at bootup.

 

[wilfj]

Yes i just looked up BARTPE. The fellow said he sent 2 days making the tool disk. I'll pass on that and check out the Win 7 recovery. I'm still in 7100 so I'm not sure if Recovery feature is available. I'll ckeck it out.

the recovery disk i made with Macrium using the option Linux, did open and asked for the vital data, so it may work. I don't want to go any further or i could lose my HD data. the individual disks report a macrium image in the proper file order....so is Macrium the answer, i don't think so !

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Linux would be the typical choice for the recovery disk in Macrium.

So why do you think it isn't the answer?

The image file should have an mrimg extension and is likely several GB in size.

 

[wilfj]

Perhaps i did jump to a conclusion with out waiting to see if my disks will in fact work. if they do Macrium is a fine program.
As mentioned I used Linux, simple because I didn't know what Bart was all about.It does say, under BART use this for XP! Is that confusing, I would think so..... if Linux is the " typical choice" to use.

Question: do you feel my image will work for XP? That's the test for the correct conclusion and/or get myself a Bart Disc or just move on.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You will never know if you don't try to restore it.

Regardless of which imaging program you may use, you would be foolish to rely on it. Usually they work, sometimes they don't.

You should always be prepared for them to completely fail and to have to reinstall from the ground up.

 

[wilfj]

How true ! I only have one image that works and that came with an older hp. i guess that's why I'm a little leery when they say" easy to use" .
It's for my laptop and when I'm travelling to reload the system an't all that easy, I'll just pack a win 7 disk which is easy to handle and fast to load. Thanks for your help

 

[gregrocker]

SIW2 says that if you can't afford to lose the installation, backup an image using two different programs so you don't have to worry about one failing.

And remember to save a copy to external in case of HDD failure.

 

[wilfj]

i have an external good idea !. On another post my win 7 image will definitely work with the linux option but they were not sure about the XP image. One win and a maybe, not bad considering Tiger's 3 boggies this week.