Solved Win 7 backup strategy

[kado897]

Keith, that YUMI look interesting. I have to try it out. Much easier to lug a 16GB stick than a bunch of CDs. Thanks for posting it.

Yes Wolfgang. I currently have Hirens, Puppy Linux, Macrium5 PE ISO, A windows repair ISO (Loaded first as a Windows Install ISO because it works best that way) and a few other utilities on a 4GB stick and still room for more. It is very simple to load them, for some utilities it even has download links. You may have problems if you need more than one windows install ISO however because of the way it creates them.

 

[mjf]

WHS/ Wolfgang,
The Pendrive/YumiMultiboot ISO USBs are very good to have. I use the Grub4dos framework which is built for you and basically you just need to add an ISO file for the app you're interested in. I have just about everything I might need on it including drivers. The Hirens ISO is very useful in itself but the mini XP environment allows you to run most Windows standalone exe apps.

Setting up the menu.lst probably takes the most effort. Mail me if you want a copy of mine.

 

[kado897]

WHS/ Wolfgang,
The Pendrive/Yumi USBs are very good to have. The Grub4dos framework is built for you basically just need to add an ISO file for the app you're interested in. I have just about everything I might need on it including drivers. The Hirens ISO is very useful in itself but the mini XP environment allows you to run most Windows standalone exe apps.

Setting up the menu.lst probably takes the most effort. Mail me if you want a copy of mine.

Yumi actually uses isolinux for most of its utilities. It reverts to grub4dos for "unsupported" ISOs though.

 

[mjf]

Yumi actually uses isolinux for most of its utilities. It reverts to grub4dos for "unsupported" ISOs though.

You are correct on this occasion.
I don't use Yumi. I still use the grub4dos bootloader.
The apps I include are still:
- Windows system repair
- Hirens
- Macrium linux, Macrium pe recovery environment
- Macrium diskrestore and roborestore
- Recuva
- SIW
- Filelocator lite
- HxDen Hex editor
- MBR Backup
- Partition Wizard (inc 4.2.2 for dynamic disk conversion)
- Puppy linux
.......

Anyway it works for me.

 

[kado897]

Yumi actually uses isolinux for most of its utilities. It reverts to grub4dos for "unsupported" ISOs though.

You are correct on this occasion.
I don't use Yumi. I still use the grub4dos bootloader.
The apps I include are still:
- Windows system repair
- Hirens
- Macrium linux, Macrium pe recovery environment
- Macrium diskrestore and roborestore
- Recuva
- SIW
- Filelocator lite
- HxDen Hex editor
- MBR Backup
- Partition Wizard (inc 4.2.2 for dynamic disk conversion)
- Puppy linux
.......

Anyway it works for me.

Nice selection. I always found that if you use a windows repair disk with grub4dos it always wants to repair the mbr when you fire it up.

 

[mjf]

I always found that if you use a windows repair disk with grub4dos it always wants to repair the mbr when you fire it up.

I haven't found this. I do need to include the Windows bootmgr and [Boot] to be located in the root of the USB.

I'll need to look into the pros and cons of the bootloader options.

 

[kado897]

I always found that if you use a windows repair disk with grub4dos it always wants to repair the mbr when you fire it up.

I haven't found this. I do need to include the Windows bootmgr and [Boot] to be located in the root of the USB.

I'll need to look into the pros and cons of the bootloader options.

Yes that's what my workaround adding the repair disk as a windows install does in Yumi.

 

[whs]

WHS/ Wolfgang,
The Pendrive/YumiMultiboot ISO USBs are very good to have. I use the Grub4dos framework which is built for you and basically you just need to add an ISO file for the app you're interested in. I have just about everything I might need on it including drivers. The Hirens ISO is very useful in itself but the mini XP environment allows you to run most Windows standalone exe apps.

Setting up the menu.lst probably takes the most effort. Mail me if you want a copy of mine.

Thank you for the offer - very kind. I will first try with Yumi and see whether I can manage.

 

[gregrocker]

YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux

Nice find, Kado. Will be trying this.

Can I keep all my tools and utilties on the same bootable USB while booting 7, Vista too? If so I may be replacing the 8gb Data Traveler I've been carrying in a ziploc in my cargo pocket for 5-6 years.

 

[kado897]

Not sure about 7 and Vista. You'll just have to try it. I suspect there will be some problems having both due to the way these installers are incorporated.

 

[mjf]

YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux

Nice find, Kado. Will be trying this.

Can I keep all my tools and utilties on the same bootable USB while booting 7, Vista too? If so I may be replacing the 8gb Data Traveler I've been carrying in a ziploc in my cargo pocket for 5-6 years.

:huh:
It's the evolution of Pendrivelinux multiboot usb capability and referred to many times in this forum.
I'm still trying to figure out if the new isolinux bootloader is better than their earlier grub4dos loader which I still use. They say of the new loader to quote:

"Known Issues:
Windows Vista/7 Installer, Hiren's Boot CD, Trinity Rescue Kit, OpenSUSE, Backtrack, and Avira Antivir files are stored outside of the multiboot folder. Other distribution files remain contained within the multiboot folder. I am open to a simple working solution!
* When installing Windows 7 or Vista from USB, you must unplug the USB device before the first restart, otherwise you will receive an error stating:
"windows setup could not configure windows to run on this computer's hardware"

********************************************************************
Sorry Keithr (the OP) - the thread has deviated a little from your original question!

 

[kado897]

YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux

Nice find, Kado. Will be trying this.

Can I keep all my tools and utilties on the same bootable USB while booting 7, Vista too? If so I may be replacing the 8gb Data Traveler I've been carrying in a ziploc in my cargo pocket for 5-6 years.

:huh:
It's the evolution of Pendrivelinux multiboot usb capability and referred to many times in this forum.
I'm still trying to figure out if the new isolinux bootloader is better than their earlier grub4dos loader which I still use. They say to quote:

"Known Issues:
Windows Vista/7 Installer, Hiren's Boot CD, Trinity Rescue Kit, OpenSUSE, Backtrack, and Avira Antivir files are stored outside of the multiboot folder. Other distribution files remain contained within the multiboot folder. I am open to a simple working solution!
* When installing Windows 7 or Vista from USB, you must unplug the USB device before the first restart, otherwise you will receive an error stating:
"windows setup could not configure windows to run on this computer's hardware"

I think that like Pendrivelinux it is primarily aimed at Linux based utilities and distros and the shoehorning in of WinPE based systems leaves a lot to be desired but the fact is some of them do work. I think the problem with Hirens is different. I think there they have just taken a shortcut to integrating its own "multiboot" capabilities in rather than trying to fully integrate it especially as it changes with each new release.

 

[gregrocker]

This advertises as a Linux pen drive creator but works perfectly with writing Win7 or Vista from it's dropdown menu to stick, exactly as UltraISO does as far as I can tell but without needing to install a program so either bit version is no problem: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 | USB Pen Drive Linux

I've been linking to it hundreds of times for over a year now and never had a complaint. Would like to know what others think who are clearly more expert in this.

 

[kado897]

This advertises as a Linux pen drive creator but works perfectly with writing Win7 or Vista from it's dropdown menu to stick, exactly as UltraISO does as far as I can tell but without needing to install a program so either bit version is no problem: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 | USB Pen Drive Linux

I've been linking to it hundreds of times for over a year now and never had a complaint. Would like to know what others think who are clearly more expert in this.

It seems to have the same caveat about 7 / Vista Installers as Yumi.

 

[keithr]

ok now got my new system up and running, and thinking about using Macrium to do my backup.

Basically my 1TB hard disk is partitioned 100G C: drive for Windows/programs plus 900G D: drive for data. I want to back these up individually.

My understanding is that for the windows partition a disk image is required (so it can be restored to a new blank HDD), but what about the D: data partition - does Macrium treat this in the same way?

On my previous XP machine, I used DriveImage XML to image the C: drive, and Microsft Backup to "backup" the D: drive, so I see a distinction in the way its done.

I intend to backup the D: partition on a regular basis. I have a lot of photos stored here so a differential backup would be useful. but the C: windows partition only after major program updates etc.

Hope this ramble makes sense, but I have not used Macrium before and not too sure the best way to go about it.

 

[whs]

With free Macrium you can image C and D together but have to restore them one by one. I would, however, recommend to image C and D individually as they are probably being changed at a different cycle. You also need not restore D in case the OS on C goes on the blink.

If you want to use imaging to move the system and data to a new physical drive, do not forget the 100MB active partition (which you may or may not have - check in Disk Management). This partition needs to be imaged only once as it does not change - unless you decide to install a second OS in double boot.

 

[kado897]

With free Macrium you can image C and D together but have to restore them one by one. I would, however, recommend to image C and D individually as they are probably being changed at a different cycle. You also need not restore D in case the OS on C goes on the blink.

If you want to use imaging to move the system and data to a new physical drive, do not forget the 100MB active partition (which you may or may not have - check in Disk Management). This partition needs to be imaged only once as it does not change - unless you decide to install a second OS in double boot.

I personally image the 100MB system partition along with the Windows partition. It only adds seconds and a few MB to the backup and at least you are then certain that the two are in line and you don't have to go hunting for it. The paid Macrium 5 can restore both together.

 

[keithr]

Thanks whs and kado897 for speedy replies. When I installed my OS I partitioned the disk first so as to avoid the extra system partition. So afaik all I am concerned with is C: and D: (Disk management confirms this)

Yes, they will be done on a different cycle. So whether its C: or D: am I right in thinking the process is the same - that is make an image?

Presumeably when doing the D: partition I will have the opportinity to choose a differential backup (to save time).

 

[kado897]

Thanks whs and kado897 for speedy replies. When I installed my OS I partitioned the disk first so as to avoid the extra system partition. So afaik all I am concerned with is C: and D: (Disk management confirms this)

Yes, they will be done on a different cycle. So whether its C: or D: am I right in thinking the process is the same - that is make an image?

Presumeably when doing the D: partition I will have the opportinity to choose a differential backup (to save time).

No differentials with the free version. With the pro version you have the option of incremental or differentials. There is also a File and Folder backup which you can use to be more selective on your data backups which also supports incremental and differentials.

 

[whs]

Yes, they will be done on a different cycle. So whether its C: or D: am I right in thinking the process is the same - that is make an image?

All you need to do us to define seperate XML files and launch those as needed.