Macrium Reflect question

RedLad · 02 Jan 2023

Hi,

I am about to install some software and wanted to do a backup image beforehand, just in case anything messes up. I had a few questions:

1. I have four drives. Two are SSD's on the motherboard and two are older 3.5 hard drives.
Should I just include the C: drive that Windows is installed on in the options in Macrium? (The second SSD is empty and just for storage and the two 3.5 inch drives are storage/projects files.)

2. Then if I did just do the C: drive, is it straightforward enough to restore this using Macrium? I think I have done something similar a few years back, but just can't remember if I checked one box (C: drive) when doing the Macrium backup image.

Hopefully I explained this clearly, thanks.

Thanks a lot

dalchina · 02 Jan 2023

Hi, assuming you are installing the program with an installation path starting in C:\ then you can

a. Create a System Restore point
(this is the preferred option should you need to reverse changes as it makes no changes to e.g. personal data on that partition).

and

b. Assuming you have a regular routine for disk imaging and have created a backup job you use, then you might simply create a differential image using that backup definition file.

As to which partitions you need to image, there is insufficient information in your post to reliably determine that.

a. Normally, when creating a definition file to image the O/S, you image ALL partitions comprising the O/S - that's typically 4 for a UEFI installation. These are normally all on the same disk.

For most users, by default, when programs are installed they are entirely installed on C:

However:

b. Some users choose to relocate
- the Users folder
- one or more of the default library folders (Documents etc)

Therefore these could potentially be on another disk or partition.

As to restoring C: - you may need to boot your PC from MR's bootable disk.

You can find good videos explaining how to use MR on Youtube.
It also has a huge help file.

it's forum is searchable, but only licensed users can post there.

RedLad · 03 Jan 2023

Hi, thanks for the reply.

System Restore is something I'd probably want to avoid as I believe it isn't too reliable. But I could be wrong there, as I have never used it before, I am just going on what some have said to me.

I do not have a regular routine for disk imaging no, this is something I just wanted to do that is quick, reliable and safe. Basically a hassle/risk free method :)

When you mention partitions - do you mean the four parts of the C: drive that show in the Macrium window? For example:
1. NTFS Primary
2. FAT32 (LBA) Primary
3. Unformatted Primary
4. NTFS Primary

Is that what you mean by "ALL partitions comprising the O/S - that's typically 4 for a UEFI installation. These are normally all on the same disk?"

As for different locations for user folders, I have yet to move/change them. So they are pretty much default.

I don't want Macrium to bother doing a backup of the files on the two older 4TB hard drives (or the empty SSD) that I have connected, all I want is a way to capture the OS state as is it, before I attempt to install a piece of software. Then if it messed up - simply revert to the current setup with the Macrium Reflect to get the state back. What I don't want to happen is to do this, then have to revert to the image I make, then it messes up on me for whatever reason.

Ghot · 03 Jan 2023

@RedLad

Note step #1 in this pic... that's what you need to choose: to get just the partitions required to boot Windows...

The option... "Create an image of the partitions required to backup and restore Windows", will do just that.

Namely, it will backup these... "parts of C:" as you called them.
They are actually... "parts of Windows", but let's not quibble.

1. NTFS Primary
2. FAT32 (LBA) Primary
3. Unformatted Primary
4. NTFS Primary

Namely, these four...

Macrium Reflect question-00000-default-disk-partitions.png

dalchina · 03 Jan 2023

The highlighted button will attempt to automatically select the appropriate partitions for you.
There's a clue in its name....

You will note there are 4 to the right for my UEFI O/S.
If MBR, will be fewer.

When System Restore completes successfully, I've never known it fail that I can recall.
Sometimes things go wrong and it's not possible to create a restore point.

But the huge advantage is that it does not affect your personal files.

I have one created daily on a schedule.
It's also faster than restoring an image usually, as you need to think about setting up image restoration quite carefully.

all I want is a way to capture the OS state as is it,

Personally, if you consider there's a significant risk, I'd create BOTH a restore point AND a disk image.

Then, even if your PC becomes unbootable you have a way back.
And if it remains bootable, and you want to revert changes, use the restore point.

Ghot · 03 Jan 2023

Restore point? We don't need no steenking restore point.

dalchina · 03 Jan 2023

That 'we' can exclude me thank you - they are very handy on occasion.

Ghot · 03 Jan 2023

dalchina said:

That 'we' can exlcude me thank you - they are very handy on occasion.

It's a plagiarized quote from the comedy: Blazing Saddles.

RedLad · 04 Jan 2023

@Ghot @dalchine thanks for the replies, everyone is very helpful here, it is great to see.

When you mention the option in Macrium Reflect "Create an image of the partitions required to backup and restore Windows" - does this take into consideration any files I'd have that aren't Windows related like downloads, documents etc?

Also dalchine, you lost me at this bit, I am not too familiar with this type of stuff at all really.
"You will note there are 4 to the right for my UEFI O/S.
If MBR, will be fewer."

dalchina · 04 Jan 2023

You will note there are 4 to the right for my UEFI O/S.

3 blue, 1 red - 3 + 1 =4 partitions. Mine's a UEFI installation.

If yours is legacy BIOS/MBR you will have fewer partitions making up your O/S.

When you mention the option in Macrium Reflect "Create an image of the partitions required to backup and restore Windows" - does this take into consideration any files I'd have that aren't Windows related like downloads, documents etc?

A basic full disk image file contains compressed copies of the used space on the selected partitions.

That means EVERYTHING on those partitions is imaged. The whole partition for each and every partition- whatever is in it.

Conversely - let's say you wished to restore C: from your disk image.
Let's say that disk image was created two weeks ago.

But you've been working very hard on something important during those two weeks, and the files for that are on C:

If you simply restore the image of C: from 2 weeks ago - all that work will be lost.

There are ways to deal with that- but you have to plan ahead. And that's why using a System Restore point- where that's appropriate and possible- is so much more convenient.

How do you plan for that?
a. Don't keep personal data on C:
b. Create separate more frequent data backups of key data - more frequently than you create disk images.

(I use a program for that- I set it up- then when I want to update my data backup I just plug in the backup disk- and the backup is complete in a couple of minutes, in my case)