Solved Bootable backup on usb

[my2cents]

.......
Probabaly best to do an image type thing, it should only take minutes to restore and get you back up and running.
...

SIW2
Thanks.
I'll need some time to digest all that.
The only 'disadvantage' of the restore an image might be hardware compatibility with a new machine which could be avoided by having a temporarily working setup on a usb.
Looks like image has to be the way ?

If you are looking to have a portbale solution, that you can move from machine to machine, then the Windows To Go option is you best solution. Bear in mind that an image restoral to a different machine will literally kill all their specific programs and data and replace them with yours! So, how would you go about restoring "their machine" to its original state and would you have any concerns with regard to "leaving your personal data" on their machine after you moved on? In summary, if you are looking for a solution to move from machine to machine, and this is going to be a necessary function, I would strongly advise you to consider upgrading to Enterprise because I can see where you might be headed for big trouble if you do not. Again, this advice is considering your intent to move about and continue working on someone else's machine.

 

[David Bailey]

Windows to go would suit you better than my ideas.
my2cents is right.
He has a better grasp of the situation than I do.

 

[pka4916]

Thanks guys/ladies
So, out of your answers is my conclusion that there is no option of creating a bootable usb drive, full stop? It would've been to good having a usb 3 with ssd and a OS ready for failure. Documents are easy to backup and restore.
My OS is the pro version so WindowsTo Go is also not an option. The WTG is not an OS with installed programs, it is the basic OS, isn't it?

I don't understand what all you are saying here but with Macrium (paid version) I created a bootable usb that contains an image of all my local drives.
What makes it bootable is Macrium creates an .xml file to accompany the system image.

I used a 32 GB usb.
I made the image & .xml file.
I inserted the usb into the computer & restarted.

The usb proceeded to reinstall EVERYTHING.
I had made a new desktop folder after making the image.
When things were restored, it was not.

I make new images as time goes by to keep the usb updated with new additions & removals.

Can you do this with the paid Standard version, or do you need to Pro version?

 

[Clintlgm]

Thanks guys/ladies
So, out of your answers is my conclusion that there is no option of creating a bootable usb drive, full stop? It would've been to good having a usb 3 with ssd and a OS ready for failure. Documents are easy to backup and restore.
My OS is the pro version so WindowsTo Go is also not an option. The WTG is not an OS with installed programs, it is the basic OS, isn't it?

I don't understand what all you are saying here but with Macrium (paid version) I created a bootable usb that contains an image of all my local drives.
What makes it bootable is Macrium creates an .xml file to accompany the system image.

I used a 32 GB usb.
I made the image & .xml file.
I inserted the usb into the computer & restarted.

The usb proceeded to reinstall EVERYTHING.
I had made a new desktop folder after making the image.
When things were restored, it was not.

I make new images as time goes by to keep the usb updated with new additions & removals.

Can you do this with the paid Standard version, or do you need to Pro version?

In my case I use Macrium Reflect Pro, and my Images are stored on a 2TB external USB 3.0 hard drive. I have created a USB Boot media that contains the Reflect program to install any of my images to any drive same one or dissimilar hardware. I'm sure you can do this also perhaps only with a DVD Boot Disk? Look at it this way what good would the program be if you couldn't create Restore media? For the $12 difference I bought the pro version. If you look around you'll find 20% off discount or sometimes 30% off just goggle for a discount coupon. I got mine at 30% off.

 

[pka4916]

Guess what I was trying to find out, if those 2 files are enough (image + xml)
since you mention now also a boot media that has the reflect program on it.
so you need 3 items then?

 

[Clintlgm]

Guess what I was trying to find out, if those 2 files are enough (image + xml)
since you mention now also a boot media that has the reflect program on it.
so you need 3 items then?

As I understand Reflect, the XML file is used for updating your image. What is needed to restore a disk Image is and Image and a bootable media to boot you computer into Reflect PE so that you can restore a Disk Image.

I copied this from the Help files on restoring a disk/SSD

"In the event of a total loss of the Windows operating system, a PC can be started using the Macrium Reflect recovery media on CD, DVD, or USB stick."

1. Insert or attach the rescue media (CD, DVD, or USB stick).
2. Power on the computer.
   
   By default, most computers check the media for a boot partition before they attempt to boot from their own hard drive. If this is not the case, then Windows PE will not start and you must edit the boot order in the BIOS. Normally, the shortcut key for editing the BIOS is displayed as the computer starts. Refer to the computer or motherboard manufacturer's instructions for more information.
   
   In some corporate environments, booting from external media is strictly controlled. If this is the case and you cannot find a way to boot from the media, ask your system administrator for help.
   
   The Windows PE startup screen appears.
   
   

 

[pka4916]

Hmm.. that's not how David explains it

 

[Clintlgm]

Hmm.. that's not how David explains it

Here is a link to their KB

 

[David Bailey]

Hmm.. that's not how David explains it

Here is a link to their KB

I think he is right.
I had done research on Macrium & found a statement saying the xml made the image bootable.
On further study that applies to making a vbs or batch file start the recovery.

I am sorry for the mistake.

I added this to my boot menu:



I made a boot dvd too in case I needed it.

All that is on the recovery usb is the image & xml file:



The test restore went well.
I inserted the usb & restarted & followed the prompts & it was done.

 

[Clintlgm]

Hmm.. that's not how David explains it

Here is a link to their KB

I think he is right.
I had done research on Macrium & found a statement saying the xml made the image bootable.
On further study that applies to making a vbs or batch file start the recovery.

I am sorry for the mistake.

I added this to my boot menu:

View attachment 31488

I made a boot dvd too in case I needed it.

All that is on the recovery usb is the image & xml file:

View attachment 31489

The test restore went well.
I inserted the usb & restarted & followed the prompts & it was done.

Yes I think we are all just learning Reflect, it seems that it is the only back up program that can reliable restore or Clone a UEFI GPT disk.
I did go have a look at my SSD 256 GB, Image and its is only 28 GB I guess they really must have some good compression.
I'm just switching over from Acronis just for this NB presently, but I do like what I'm seeing with Reflect and there tech support is outstanding I've always gotten intelligent answers to my questions to them.

My Boot recovery USB has boot files however my images are on a separate external drive.

 

[adamf]

So what I understand from this thread is that without Windows to Go (and therefore Enterprise) what the OP wants to do is not possible? That is RUN the OS from USB.

.... If you only want to do basic stuff. like keep in contact via forums. emails etc, you could use a fancy custom pe......

Does this mean that with some effort I could make a PE environment with (for example) MS Office and some other programs? I do have an Enterprise Windows to go but presumably as it is preview it will stop working in January.

 

[SIW2]

It is possible to make a surprisingly good pe, or at least it was until 8.1 Most of the great pe builders are frustrated by 8.1 and have got stuck. I think I may have got further than most with that. (Although I don't know how I did it )

Leaving that aside for the moment, with win7 and win8.0 , one can construct very good pe media. ( Tho with win 8.0 you need to borrow the code Tihiy made to get around the savaging inflicted by the metro stuff). If you run it from usb, you can redirect bloated stuff like office and net framework on the usb stick, instead of directly in ram.

 

[adamf]

Thanks - I'll give it a try and stop hijacking this thread

 

[SIW2]

I have been playing around with pe building for a few years. I do quite complicated builds, including explorer, MMC, audio, video, wireless, etc.

A straightforward one similar to the macrium effort is fairly easy.Not much more than just chucking it in. You might as well use winre.wim already on your Hard drive. No need to d/l gobs of stuff from WAIK/WADK.

Mount winre.wim (there is only one image in there) . Create a folder in the mounted program files called Macrium, copy in the following files:
AESDll.dll
LE5.dll
PrimoBurner64.dll
Reflect.exe
psmounterex.sys (from system32 drivers)
PSVolAcc.sys (from system32 drivers)
Oledlg.dll ( from your system32 directory)
If you have diskrestore and peexplorer.exe , pop them in as well. I f you don't have peexplorer.exe, grab a copy of the correct bit version explorer++ ( it is free). Pop that into the Macrium folder also and rename it peexplorer.exe. Then just point at it by adding a text file called winpeshl.ini into the mounted system 32.
winpeshl.ini:

[LaunchApp]
AppPath="x:\program files\macrium\reflect.exe"

Unmount with commit.