Windows 7 Backup

[Cheemag]

My Acronis True Image 2009 failed today. I found out later that it is not designed for Windows 7.

I took a complete backup (an image of drive C: presumably) using Windows 7's inbuilt backup system.

Whilst it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the Acronis system, is the built-in system as reliable as comparable paid-for products? I really do not want to buy the latest Acronis system at the moment.

 

[richc46]

Many members use this
Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

I find it to be excellent, but the built in image is very good too.

Other members, particularly highly respected WHS, prefer this one
http://www.macrium.com/

 

[pparks1]

If you don't want to buy Acronis (and I don't blame you for wanting to save the cash), I've used Macrium Reflect free as well as EaseUsToDo at work on test and demo machines and both products have always worked well for me.

 

[Cheemag]

Many members use this
Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

I find it to be excellent, but the built in image is very good too.

Other members, particularly highly respected WHS, prefer this one
Macrium Reflect Backup and Hard Disk Imaging for Windows 7, Vista, XP and Server 2003/2008

Thank you both. I'll have a look at Macrium.

Make that thank you all!

 

[richc46]

You are very welcome.

 

[Cheemag]

If you don't want to buy Acronis (and I don't blame you for wanting to save the cash), I've used Macrium Reflect free as well as EaseUsToDo at work on test and demo machines and both products have always worked well for me.

Macrium's support is poor - no EMail or telephone support even after you've purchased the programme.

Pre-purchase support is non-existent: you can't even post in the forum! Your questions remain unanswered until, too late, you've bought the application.

Reading the forum, restoring a hard disc from an image is far from a straightforward process and fraught with difficulties, particularly in Windows-7.

I'll have a look at Easeus.

 

[pparks1]

I've never had a need or a desire to contact Macrium...so support is a non-issue for me.

I've restored machines dozens of times with Macrium without a problem. It's a few steps, you have to restore the partitions one at a time and put the MBR back in place....but it works on Windows 7 without issue....or at least it has worked that way for me.

EaseUs is pretty much the same way. The primary reason that I use EaseUs is because it works with Server 2008 as well...and that is something that I use for testing at work.

 

[mjf]

and put the MBR back in place

I thought you just restored the partitions. Can you explain what you mean by the above?

 

[Cheemag]

I've never had a need or a desire to contact Macrium...so support is a non-issue for me.

I've restored machines dozens of times with Macrium without a problem. It's a few steps, you have to restore the partitions one at a time and put the MBR back in place....but it works on Windows 7 without issue....or at least it has worked that way for me.

EaseUs is pretty much the same way. The primary reason that I use EaseUs is because it works with Server 2008 as well...and that is something that I use for testing at work.

Now that I've decided against Macrium, can anyone suggest how I can recover the 100M or so of disc space that it's reserved on the second HD for "System Reserved"?

 

[karlsnooks]

As a user and devoted believer in the Win 7 Backup and Restore, I 100% recommend Win 7 Backup and Restore.

If you have any questions re the use thereof please ask. I'll be more than happy to answer them.

Win 7 Backup and Restore has saved me more than once.

 

[Cheemag]

As a user and devoted believer in the Win 7 Backup and Restore, I 100% recommend Win 7 Backup and Restore.

If you have any questions re the use thereof please ask. I'll be more than happy to answer them.

Win 7 Backup and Restore has saved me more than once.

I will, thanks. Technical support is certainly better than Macrium's.

A propos: I notice the backup file itself is 'Access denied'. I presume it is necessary to keep the 'Access denied' file mediaid.bin on the backup drive?

Unfortunate though, that Win-7's backup doesn't let you choose the folder and filename for your backup.

 

[Cheemag]

Now that I've decided against Macrium, can anyone suggest how I can recover the 100M or so of disc space that it's reserved on the second HD for "System Reserved"?

False alarm - that partitition belongs to Windows-7, but why on earth is it empty?

 

[karlsnooks]

A propos: I notice the backup file itself is 'Access denied'. I presume it is necessary to keep the 'Access denied' file mediaid.bin on the backup drive?

Unfortunate though, that Win-7's backup doesn't let you choose the folder and filename for your backup.

True that the Access Denied is big brother MS trying to protect us from ourselves. Now I will tell you how to get around that.

One way around is to run the UAC slider all of the way down. Only do this when not connected to the Internet and run it back up to one down from maximum when your finished.

2nd way around is to copy the file and then paste into another folder on another drive, for example, to the \Documents folder.


Now to that folder naming problem: I agree. I would like to change the name before the I make the image backup. What you can do, and what I do to prevent Win7 from overwriting the system image when I make another scheduled backup is to rename the folder which actually contains the VHD file.
It's about 0500 hours here and I can't remember the name and am too lazy to reconnect my usb right now. Tomorrow, after I've slept some I'll get back with the precise folder name.

 

[karlsnooks]

Can anyone suggest how I can recover the 100M or so of disc space that it's reserved on the second HD for "System Reserved"?

False alarm - that partitition belongs to Windows-7, but why on earth is it empty?

Use the Snipping Tool or MS Paint make a snapshot of the maximized output of Disk Management (DISKMGMT.MSC) and attach to your next post.



http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html

 

[karlsnooks]

Unfortunate though, that Win-7's backup doesn't let you choose the folder and filename for your backup.

As promised, here's a snapshot of renaming After the Fact.



You will notice that the older (by about 1 day) of the two system images has been renamed. Thus, I have my original system image backup and the current backup on the same drive.

Inside the WindowImageBackup, be it old or new, is the system image made at that time. The system image file is a VHD file.

Here's a snapshot showing location of latest VHD.



If you would like to examine the VHD, then you can use Disk Management.

In Disk Management you "ATTACH" the VHD and the Virtual Hard Disk will be "attached" (also called "mounted") on a drive which you can open/explore/etc.

 

[Cheemag]

Can anyone suggest how I can recover the 100M or so of disc space that it's reserved on the second HD for "System Reserved"?

False alarm - that partitition belongs to Windows-7, but why on earth is it empty?

Use the Snipping Tool or MS Paint make a snapshot of the maximized output of Disk Management (DISKMGMT.MSC) and attach to your next post.

There you go, there's nothing below the two DVD drives:

 

[Cheemag]

A propos: I notice the backup file itself is 'Access denied'. I presume it is necessary to keep the 'Access denied' file mediaid.bin on the backup drive?

Unfortunate though, that Win-7's backup doesn't let you choose the folder and filename for your backup.

True that the Access Denied is big brother MS trying to protect us from ourselves. Now I will tell you how to get around that.

One way around is to run the UAC slider all of the way down. Only do this when not connected to the Internet and run it back up to one down from maximum when your finished.

2nd way around is to copy the file and then paste into another folder on another drive, for example, to the \Documents folder.

Don't know if there is much point. Is there anything in there of any use other than the file itself when re-installing?

Now to that folder naming problem: I agree. I would like to change the name before the I make the image backup. What you can do, and what I do to prevent Win7 from overwriting the system image when I make another scheduled backup is to rename the folder which actually contains the VHD file.
It's about 0500 hours here and I can't remember the name and am too lazy to reconnect my usb right now. Tomorrow, after I've slept some I'll get back with the precise folder name.

It's m:\windowsimagebackup in my case. I'd prefer to take a full backup each time, so I don't suppose there would be a problem with the file being overwritten.

 

[karlsnooks]

That 100 MB partition is used for recovery purposes. You will notice that, from the Disk Management snapshot, that the partition is not empty.

You can live without it or with it. I've deleted it on the laptop I'm using to send this post. I've not deleted from my netbook--just laziness on my part--after all it's only 100 MB. It's only gone from this laptop because I wanted to see if I could delete it.

Google System Reserved Partition for more info.

 

[Cheemag]

Unfortunate though, that Win-7's backup doesn't let you choose the folder and filename for your backup.

As promised, here's a snapshot of renaming After the Fact.

View attachment 91026

You will notice that the older (by about 1 day) of the two system images has been renamed. Thus, I have my original system image backup and the current backup on the same drive.

Inside the WindowImageBackup, be it old or new, is the system image made at that time. The system image file is a VHD file.

Here's a snapshot showing location of latest VHD.

View attachment 91027

If you would like to examine the VHD, then you can use Disk Management.

In Disk Management you "ATTACH" the VHD and the Virtual Hard Disk will be "attached" (also called "mounted") on a drive which you can open/explore/etc.

Not sure I'm following all of that, but it might explain where the provenance of a ghost drive G: which appeared on the system yesterday, but is gone today.

I don't know how it got there, but I didn't mount it deliberately.

Useful if you can explore the backup and select individual files to replace. The Macrium backup allows this. In fact it seems the ghost drive is created when you explore the Macrium backup file.

 

[Cheemag]

That 100 MB partition is used for recovery purposes. You will notice that, from the Disk Management snapshot, that the partition is not empty.

Yes, some 30M used.

You can live without it or with it. I've deleted it on the laptop I'm using to send this post. I've not deleted from my netbook--just laziness on my part--after all it's only 100 MB. It's only gone from this laptop because I wanted to see if I could delete it.

Google System Reserved Partition for more info.

Thanks.