Create Image of external drive help

pmhs52 · 13 Jan 2022

I am trying to create an Image file of an external HHD. Was able to do both my laptop and PC with not problems, using Macrium Reflect trial. My problem comes with a Seagate BlackArmour (2TB) drive. MR does not recognize this drive.

The Seagate is actually plugged into my router (Linksys WRT3200) and it acts as a mini NAS and that works great for me. I believe the problem is totally with the router, but I am unable to get support from Linksys as their forum has been disabled. The forum for Macrium is only available to licensed users, I do not have access there either.

If anyone has any ideas, I would be greatly appreciative. I could connect the Seagate BlackArmour to the PC and use it that way, but I current use that drive for my website files and those links would all have to be updated. I will add, that I normally leave the PC running 24/7 so that really isn't an issue for me.

Thanks again,
Phil
BTW, OS is Windows 10 Home

dalchina · 13 Jan 2022

Hi, just for clarification - are you running Macrium Reflect installed on your PC, or from its bootable PE disk?

Please post a screenshot of what you see when trying to select the disk. Thanks.

Samuria · 13 Jan 2022

Most segates are exfat not ntfs is your exfat ?

dalchina · 13 Jan 2022

Good point: Macrium 8 can handle those formats after a fashion:

In Macrium Reflect v7 and earlier, both ReFS and ExFAT file systems would appear as unformatted volumes. Creating images of unformatted volumes causes every sector in the volume to be copied. Although such images are perfectly good, they take a long time to complete and the image file sizes are much larger than necessary. In v8, we've introduce Intelligent sector copy for both file systems

.

Hence my request for a screenshot- is that what you're seeing - an apparently unformatted volume?

ReFS and ExFAT Support - Knowledgebase 8.0 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

Bree · 13 Jan 2022

pmhs52 said:

I am trying to create an Image file of an external HHD....

Welcome to Ten Forums.

The Seagate is actually plugged into my router (Linksys WRT3200) and it acts as a mini NAS....

That is your problem. You can only make an image of a disk that is physically connected to the PC, either an internal drive or externally through a USB port. You cannot make an image of a network drive because Macrium cannot read the physical sector layout over the network.

The only way to image this drive is to temporarily unplug it from the router and plug it into the PC instead.

pmhs52 · 14 Jan 2022

Thanks to all for the quick responses. I was afraid that the Linksys was the weak link - no pun intended.

Does anyone know if there is another backup product that would allow me leave the drive attached to the Linksys? I am still on the trial version of Reflect.
Is there a security risk to connecting via USB on the PC?

THanks again,
Phil

Bree · 14 Jan 2022

pmhs52 said:

I am still on the trial version of Reflect....

When the trial ends Reflect will revert to the Free version and continue to work. You'll just loose a few of the Premium features, such as Incremental backups and File & Folder backup. Many find that Reflect Free does everything they need.

Is there a security risk to connecting via USB on the PC?

None that I can think of, not unless the PC is heavily infected with malware.