Performing 1st Image Backup

[ignatzatsonic]

On reflection, I think my post 39 is somewhat in error.

Actually, with an MBR disk, I don't think you see more than 2.2 TB of a disk, REGARDLESS of how many partitions you are trying to use.

That is: If you have a 3 TB data disk, formatted as MBR, you can't see more than about 2.2 of it, even if you are willing to use 2 or more partitions.

You'd just see about 2.2 TB, and the remaining .8 TB would simply be unavailable--just as if you'd purchased a 2.2 TB disk.

The workaround is to use GPT or in some cases motherboard manufacturers provide a download that will trick Windows into thinking the .8 TB portion is another disk entirely. I don't know how well these downloads work, so I'd just go with GPT.

 

[Layback Bear]

A lot of good information in this thread.

For those that want to go even deep into the MBR/GPT thing, I found this in one of Brinks post.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn640535%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

Lots of questions and answers.
To me it's one of few Microsoft information sites that explains things so my 3 brain cells don't get to confabulated.

 

[thelma]

Hello , I am glad this thread is also interesting for other members.

Part of the last posts might as well be in Chinese :shock: as far as I can understand it, but that need not matter, that is all future stuff to learn.

For now, I would like to take everything of that Toshiba and have no partitions. Start clean as it were to do this Macri um image of my laptop.

I can put all my photographs back later and up to date. It was my friend who set that up for me for some reason, but he is not here to help me to make these changes.

First things first, I like to try to boot from this USB stick first, but you say I have to change my boot settings.
So I have been Studying this for Dell Inspiron laptops and found a thread

They only mention CD and no USB stick so I am gonna see if F12 works for me.

 

[thelma]

Ok, I have been into F12, it opens OK.
It's a blue square and it gives me the following options;

Please select boot device;

Hard Drive ( in black )
CD/DVD/CD-RW Device
Network
Diagnostics
Enter Setup

And I have tried the up and down arrows and that works, but no USB Stick

 

[thelma]

Think I have found it ?

Should I follow those instructions ?

Thanks very much for any help on this

 

[ThrashZone]

Personally I would use option 2 here
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html#option2

 

[whs]

Right - Rufus is easy. No need to muck around with complicated procedures.

 

[ThrashZone]

Thanks, Copiman,

What I don't understand is why I need a CD or DVD ?

You can not restore the C drive while inside windows that's why you need the recovery cd or usb recovery and boot to it and repair C and any system reserved partitions.

 

[thelma]

Ok, I understand that now, and thanks, all members here on this thread for the time and help

I was prompted ( just now while looking at my e-mails from Windows 7 forum) by the little flag with a red cross in the bottom right side when I hover over it, it says; Solve PC issues; 1 important message. It was to back up withCd/DVD, probably because I tried that last night.
So I followed instructions and this is what happened;


Sorry, one problem on top of the other. I never ever use the player, but would like to in future. I must have somewhere messed it up

 

[whs]

If you never used the player, the configuration was probably never set. I would do nothing.

 

[ThrashZone]

Might be odd if WMP was never used :/
Start a new thread on it

 

[thelma]

Ok and thanks again ,

I will use Rufus, ( looks indeed much more user-friendly)will report back

 

[thelma]

A lot of good information in this thread.

For those that want to go even deep into the MBR/GPT thing, I found this in one of Brinks post.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn640535%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

Lots of questions and answers.
To me it's one of few Microsoft information sites that explains things so my 3 brain cells don't get to confabulated.

Very good clear info, I have bookmarked that for studying a bit later, thanks LBB

 

[thelma]

Ok, I have followed every step in the Rufus tutorial and there is something preventing me from continuing, see screen shot

I did that and then was asked to fill in a name. ( windows7 home premium sp 1 64 bit I have typed ) So I done that but it returns to the same question, can someone check please what I do wrong there

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Option 2 of the tutorial shows 9 steps in creating a bootable USB with Rufus.

What was the last step you successfully completed?

 

[thelma]

Thanks Ignat for your help

The last step is nr 6; click/tap OK.

Then the green line starts to fill in and stops asking this question (see screenshot in post 54).
I un-tick the create a bootable disk and Rufus continues till this screenshot stating ready but not DONE. when I press start again it does the same steps again.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I haven't used Rufus but one time, about 6 months ago. It succeeded in my case.

So, I'm not sure I can help, but:

In post 54, the message asks you to do one of two things:

1: click on the disk button to select a bootable image.

or

2: uncheck the "create a bootable disk" checkbox.

You chose 2.

I'm wondering why you didn't choose 1.

I don't see any mention in the tutorial about unchecking that box.

 

[thelma]

Ignat, I should have mentioned that I tried " click on the disk button to select a bootable image " first.

The same happened. You know what ?
I am gonna start all over again, but I will write down exactly what I filled in and so on, want to get moving on this to do the Macrium image afterwards

 

[thelma]

Did it again and here is where I get stuck. Nothing that I type wants to stay in the empty box.

This must all be so incredibly strange for you all, that I have problems with very simple instructions.

It's mostly, because I have no clue what I am doing, and my dyslexia gets in the way and than I panic .

 

[copiman]

Don't you worry none. When I started out, I was clueless as well. But with the help of those on this forum, I was able to learn a lot. Hang in there and it won't be long until you have that image of your computer. I have never made a bootable disk before. I guess I need to do that as well.Got to run. Going to help a friend with their PC.