Problem selecting Macrium image files

[Bumpkin]

I've been using the imaging built into W7 and it looks like it will restore an image. I have gone as far in the restore process as the last screen before it starts the restore, but I have not actually restored the image.

After seeing the recommendations for Macrium Reflect I started using it also. You can't be too safe! When I boot with the Macrium disk, and I click on my external USB drive, the folder with the W7 files does not show up. The folder is named "Reflect-HP".

I was having a similar problem with my images on XP machines, but I could see the folders containing the Macrium images. When I click on the folder, I get the message "Please select a location containing a valid backup image". But I could put the image I wanted in the root of the external drive and the restore looks like it is ready to work. But that method is not working with W7.

I have updated Macrium free to the latest version and made another boot disk. I saved the .iso file and burned the new boot disk with Imgburn at 4X speed. Still no joy!

Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

 

[mjf]

You should have no problems manually browsing to the Macrium image.

Try finding and mounting the images with Windows 7 running. Simply browse to the macrium image and double click on it. You can use explorer to look around the contents of the image. Unmount when finished.

If you cannot mount the image from Windows, start Macrium Reflect and use the image verify tool.

 

[Bumpkin]

Thanks for the reply mjf. There is no problem mounting the image with Windows 7 running, I can select from a list of images in the folder.
But if I replace my hard drive, I can't even find the image files using the boot disk. I have 4 Macrium Linux boot disks, the last one I went to Advanced / Compatibility Mode and still can't find the image. Bummer.

 

[kado897]

Strange. I have had problems myself with the Linux boot CD but those were actually locating the backup drive. Once the backup drive was recognized I had no problems. One thing to remember the drive letters will be different in the Linux environment. Are you sure you are looking in the correct drive?

 

[Bumpkin]

Yeah, it's strange, I always see the drive, but sometimes it shows up as E: and other times E:Fords Book. The name of the drive is Fords Book. There are 4 folders on the drive with Macrium images, the boot disk will not let me select or open any of them. Do you think they should be named like a DOS folder, 8 characters and no spaces for Linux to work?

 

[kado897]

Yeah, it's strange, I always see the drive, but sometimes it shows up as E: and other times E:Fords Book. The name of the drive is Fords Book. There are 4 folders on the drive with Macrium images, the boot disk will not let me select or open any of them. Do you think they should be named like a DOS folder, 8 characters and no spaces for Linux to work?

I'm not sure what the Linux naming limitations are but I have had problems with spaces in names. It may be worth a try.

 

[Bumpkin]

Hey kado!

I'll give it a try and see what happens.

 

[Bumpkin]

This is beginning to get me down!

I renamed the folder with Macrium images for Windows 7 to 8 characters, that did not work. I copied a image file to a new folder, same result.

It seems Macrium boot disk does not even see the folders created in Windows 7, and it won't open the folders made on three other XP machines.

I think I will look for another free imaging program to use with Windows 7.

 

[kado897]

I'm out of ideas. I'll see if anyone else has any.

 

[whs]

Did you click on the + sign in front of the Disk and then on the + sign in front of the folder as shown in the picture.

Note1: this is a picture of a test I made - yours may look slightly different
Note2: The lettering for the disks during recovery does not always match the original lettering in Win7. E.g. your "F" disk may end up as "D".

 

[kado897]

Did you click on the + sign in front of the Disk and then on the + sign in front of the folder as shown in the picture.

Note1: this is a picture of a test I made - yours may look slightly different
Note2: The lettering for the disks during recovery does not always match the original lettering in Win7. E.g. your "F" disk may end up as "D".

Thank's for jumping in Wolfgang. It's a while since I used the Linux disk.

 

[whs]

No problem Keith - I just saw the thread a little while ago.

 

[Bumpkin]

Thanks for jumping in whs. I understand how Macrium is supposed to work.
I can find the external drive, but no folders created in Windows 7 show up. There are 3 folders created by Macrium on XP machines, but when clicking on the + icon or double clicking they don't open. The XP machines can't open the folders either. I had to put the image file in the root of the drive to restore with XP, but that does not work with Windows 7.

I took a look at the security permissions on the folders but didn't really know what I was looking for. Would they carry over to a Linux disk?

 

[whs]

Puzzling - so the images are there and you can mount them by double clicking - right. But how did this folder in which they are get created. Did you make this folder?

If not, create a folder on the external disk yourself and copy one of the images into it. Then see what happens.

 

[Bumpkin]

Puzzling - so the images are there and you can mount them by double clicking - right.
No. The folders made with Windows 7 don't appear in the tree on the boot disk. Folders made with XP are visible, but will not open.

But how did this folder in which they are get created. Did you make this folder?
I made the folder before starting the backup image.

If not, create a folder on the external disk yourself and copy one of the images into it. Then see what happens.
I already tried making a new folder and moved a image file into it.

When I get a chance, I will create a new folder with Macrium and make a new image in that folder.

 

[whs]

so the images are there and you can mount them by double clicking - right.
No. The folders made with Windows 7 don't appear in the tree on the boot disk. Folders made with XP are visible, but will not open.

My question was a bit different. When you open the folder from withing Win7, the images are there or not. And if you double click on one of the images, does it mount (is the a VHD in My Computer).

 

[mjf]

Based on my earlier question it was my understanding that you could browse to your images from within Windows 7 but not the linux boot disk. Is this correct?

If so then we can test potential linux boot disk issues by accessing the images through Hirens Boot CD. Download and burn a DVD which will boot
Download Hiren
Then start up the inbuilt Macrium like shown here


You should be able to browse to and mount the images just like in windows.
More importantly you should be able to restore them.

Edit: The Macrium Relect included should be viewed as a fully functioning utility not simply some diagnostic program. It's far more capable than the simple linux boot disk.

 

[Bumpkin]

whs, sorry I misunderstood what you wanted. If I click on the image file while in Windows 7, it opens and I can explore the contents.

mjf, I'll try downloading Hiren tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks guys for the help, I'm about done for today!