Imaging with free Macrium


  1. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
    Thread Starter
       #1320

    @ Laurie

    Yes because the MBR relates to the physical drive not the specific logical drive
    Correct

    The MBR holds the information on how the logical partitions, containing file systems, are organized on that medium. Besides that, the MBR also contains executable code to function as a loader for the installed operating system—usually by passing control over to the loader's second stage, or in conjunction with each partition's volume boot record (VBR). This MBR code is usually referred to as a boot loader.
    Source
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  2. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #1321

    LaurieD227 said:
    That's the piece I was missing - I just didn't see that tiny link at the bottom of the Window.
    This tallies up nicely with my earlier post . :)
    lehnerus2000 said:
    This is one of the reasons why I preferred the Reflect v4 GUI.
    The Restore Wizard exposed these various options, instead of relying on the user to discover the settings hidden behind tiny links.
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  3. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
       #1322

    I once took Macrium to task for confusing MBR and VBR in their documentation. I wonder if they have corrected it yet.
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  4. Posts : 133
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit SP 1
       #1323

    whs said:
    @ Laurie

    Yes because the MBR relates to the physical drive not the specific logical drive
    Correct

    The MBR holds the information on how the logical partitions, containing file systems, are organized on that medium. Besides that, the MBR also contains executable code to function as a loader for the installed operating system—usually by passing control over to the loader's second stage, or in conjunction with each partition's volume boot record (VBR). This MBR code is usually referred to as a boot loader.
    Source

    To steal from Professor Higgins, "I think [I've] got it!"


    And if that reference isn't familiar, let me know


    Thanks again :)
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  5. Posts : 16,132
    7 X64
       #1324

    The option is there in case you have changed it. You may a custom mbr, which is now different , so you may not want to overwrite from a backup.
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  6. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #1325

    SIW2 said:
    The option is there in case you have changed it. You may a custom mbr, which is now different , so you may not want to overwrite from a backup.
    A specific example of this would be if you made some partition changes since the system image was made. The new MBR will contain the new partition table and you don't want to restore an MBR with an old partition table.
    Last edited by mjf; 31 Mar 2015 at 01:26. Reason: typo
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  7. Posts : 16,132
    7 X64
       #1326

    It shouldn't affect the partition table.
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  8. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #1327

    SIW2 said:
    It shouldn't affect the partition table.
    Yes it will. The partition table is towards the end of the 512 byte MBR. If you change the partition structure after your last Macrium image then you can do a Macrium image restore but don't not change the MBR using the old one. If you do change the MBR then you will not be able to access any new or altered partition size and location. The MBR contains 2 main key components:
    - Boot code
    - Partition table information including size, location, active status etc.

    Windows system imaging will definitely not allow you to do this but Macrium should. Mind you - I have not actually tried it.
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  9. Posts : 133
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit SP 1
       #1328

    mjf said:
    SIW2 said:
    It shouldn't affect the partition table.
    Yes it will. The partition table is towards the end of the 512 byte MBR. If you change the partition structure after your last Macrium image then you can do a Macrium image restore but don't not change the MBR using the old one. If you do change the MBR then you will not be able to access any new or altered partition size and location. The MBR contains 2 main key components:
    - Boot code
    - Partition table information including size, location, active status etc.

    Windows system imaging will definitely not allow you to do this but Macrium should. Mind you - I have not actually tried it.
    If I think I might need to rebuild a damaged partition table on an external HD where a "resize partition" operation somehow got interrupted, am I right in assuming that Partition Wizard rather than Macrium is the right tool to consider?

    (The HDD partition is not part of any image, and my assumption is that the only thing I could do with Macrium would be restore an MBR that has been saved as part of an image. I'm still trying to learn all these tools)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
       #1329

    Partition Wizard can recover lost and damaged partitions.
      My Computer


 

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