Solved Macrium Reflect Free installation problem

[David Bailey]

But I think it could be a good idea to have something that also lets me restore to another machine...

This might be of interest for installing an image from one computer to another.

Reflect_v5

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If this is of no help, I apologize for wasting your time.

 

[whs]

But I think it could be a good idea to have something that also lets me restore to another machine...

This might be of interest for installing an image from one computer to another.

Reflect_v5

A picture---


If this is of no help, I apologize for wasting your time.

I believe that this is a function of the Pro version. But it may be worth it.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

 

[SaggyMaggyPoo]

Thanks to both topgundcp and whs for your help.

Now you have explained the XML files I recall seeing this when I did my (only) successful image backup on my first laptop. I'm happy not to use this.

But my recovery CD was created some months ago so it is not from the latest version of Macrium. Does this matter?

And is there any actual need to have the Macrium program installed on either laptop if I can run it from the CD?

Regarding Emsisoft - I didn't turn it off, but followed guidance on the Macrium site to add settings to Emsisoft to allow Macrium to work. I will recheck these as I did them from memory the second time.

 

[David Bailey]

Yes, it is worth the money, IMO.


I have the Standard version & am happy with it. ​

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The restore to dissimilar hardware is in the Pro version.

 

[SaggyMaggyPoo]

This might be of interest for installing an image from one computer to another.

Reflect_v5


If this is of no help, I apologize for wasting your time.

Not wasting my time at all, David, it's all adding to my knowledge. If I do go for a paid version it will definitely be one that allows redeploying. Just got to get the thing working first!

 

[David Bailey]

I only have 1 computer.
That's why I got the Standard instead of the Pro version.

If I did have 2 computers I would buy 2 Pro Macriums.
One for each computer.

That would cost but taking a computer to a repair shop could cost $100/hour.

Cost picture---



Not cheap but worth considering.

 

[SIW2]

It uses its own snapshot driver. Acronis does not give you the choice, snapman only. Some programs use vss by default, but you can select the internal driver as an alternative, e.g.

One way around the VSS problem is to run the Macrium imaging from the recovery CD. VSS is only needed to 'freeze' the initial image so that you can continue working on the PC whilst the image is being recorded. But if you run from the CD, that case does not exist.

I wonder how Acronis does that because if you want to continue using the PC whilst the image is written, they must use some scheme to lock down the image.

 

[topgundcp]

And is there any actual need to have the Macrium program installed on either laptop if I can run it from the CD?

Simple answer is no, you don't need to install it as long as you have the CD/USB to boot from and do a basic backup/restore. However, installing Macrium will allow you to:

1. Backup online while Windows is running
2. Allow you to explore the backup image file and selectively restore file(s) in case you accidentally delete any file(s). Just double click on the image and mount it as a virtual HD.

 

[whs]

But my recovery CD was created some months ago so it is not from the latest version of Macrium. Does this matter?

You can get one of the latest Macrium recovery .isos from my One Drive. Just download that and burn it to CD.

 

[SaggyMaggyPoo]

I appreciate all the answers, but am getting a little confused, especially as the post has also generated a discussion about different backup software. This is great as it gives me things to think about, but I don't want to lose sight of my original issues.

So below is my summary of what I (think I) understand, essentially related to the use of Macrium. I'd appreciate comments where I may have misunderstood:

1. I can use the Macrium free software direct from a recovery CD without having to install it on any machines. So I can boot the recovery CD then perform a backup onto an external HDD. I can download a recent version of the recovery CD from whs if I choose this option (thank you!). Do I have to log in with my Microsoft account to access this?

2. However, if I don't install Macrium onto a machine I can't:

• Save XML files (no problem)
• Backup online while WIndows is still working (no problem, I always leave the machine alone until a backup is completed)
• Explore the backup I have made on the HDD and selectively restore files from it. I can only use the backup if/when I need it to deal with a problem on the machine it was created from.

3. If I want to have a situation where I want a backup that could be restored onto a different machine if necessary (if i get so frustrated with things that I throw the laptop out of the window for a 'refreshing' experience, for example ) I wuld need to buy the Pro edition of the product, with a licence for each machine. I am assuming this would give me the flexibility to restore an image to a HDD or to another machine, which need not be similar to my current one as long as it is big enough for the restore. So it means I could use my Windows 8 software beyond the life of my current laptop if I chose to or needed to.

4. If I use the Pro edition of Macrium, do the things above apply:

• I could use it from a recovery CD instead of installing it on the machine BUT I would be unable to explore the image or selectively restore from it.

5. In which case I would want to install the Pro version onto the laptop. But if I can't get the latest version of the Macrium free edition to open on the laptop, what chance the Pro would work? (somewhat rhetorical question ).

 

[topgundcp]

1. True and you don't have to login with MS Account. In addition, instead of using a CD as your boot media, it is faster if you have a USB stick to use.
2. True and you can also explore the backup image when booting from CD/USB using free version.
3. You don't have to buy the pro version, the free version will do. However, if you restore an image from another PC, you might have problems with activation, drivers, and same SID (unique ID that tights to the User Name in each PC) as the other PC
4. As said above, the free version will do.
5. You should not buy for the standard/pro version at this time until you get the free version to install.

 

[whs]

1. I can use the Macrium free software direct from a recovery CD without having to install it on any machines. So I can boot the recovery CD then perform a backup onto an external HDD. I can download a recent version of the recovery CD from whs if I choose this option (thank you!). Do I have to log in with my Microsoft account to access this?

This is all correct and you need no login of any sort.

as 2) that is all correct

ad 3) yes you need a Pro edition for that. I am not sure though whether that key of the Pro is for one system only. It may work to activate on seperate systems.

The new disk has to be big enough to contain the data - the size of the original partition is irrelevant. I am not sure though how the activation of Windows 8 will work because the Windows 8 product key is in the BIOS.

ad 4) correct

ad 5) no idea. We already don't know why the free Macrium does not work on your system. The same gremlins may effect the Pro version.

 

[SaggyMaggyPoo]

Thanks to topgundcp and whs for clarifying things.

There seems to be a difference of opinion between you as to whether I can explore an image created using a recovery CD or not, with topgundcp saying 'Yes' and whs saying 'No'.

I will have a go at using the recovery CD method to at least create an image using Macrium, but my thinking is moving towards having a method that would enable me to restore to different hardware if needed. So looks like I need to check out alternatives to Macrium if it continues to refuse to work for me.

I do already have my Windows 8 product key information stored safely in case I need it.

 

[topgundcp]

There seems to be a difference of opinion between you as to whether I can explore an image created using a recovery CD or not, with topgundcp saying 'Yes' and whs saying 'No'.

See screenshot booting from CD/USB. Image mounted and explore:

 

[whs]

I can explore an image created using a recovery CD or not, with topgundcp saying 'Yes' and whs saying 'No'.

Cofusion rules. If you mean by 'explore' that you want to mount the image and look at it in Computer, then this is not possible with the CD. If you mean something else, please explain.

 

[SaggyMaggyPoo]

What I meant by 'explore' was to mount the HDD image and then be able to browse the files, which whs says is not possible if using the CD.

But when I do this with my Windows System images I see the same thing as in topgundcp's screenshot (which he has described as 'Image mounted and explore'.

So confusion definitely reigns for me!

 

[whs]

When you double click on the image file, you should see the window below.

PS: Sorry, that's supposed to read "checkmark"

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

IMO I'd recommend a full commercial backup for anything other than the simplest of functions -- Acronis 2014 for example is around 40 - 50 USD - and the amount of time it saves (plus your data) it's a no-brainer.

The commercial products can easily create bootable USB's, schedule automatic backup jobs, do "Incremental backups" - these are backups that only backup CHANGED data since the last backup, and mount backup files as "Hdd's" so you can explore them and manipulate individual files just like Windows explorer. Things like UEFI systems and GPT partitions are also handled.

Your choice of course -- but IMO BACKUP should be FIRST NATURE to anybody using a computer and paying a relatively small amount of money for a ROBUST product IMO is definitely MORE than worth while.

I DO love free and open source software but when it comes to backup my DATA is more valuable than all my computing equipment combined -- just imagine having to re-rip 2,000 - 3,000 CD's again - even if I still had them !!!! -- so a proper ROBUST backup program seems to me really a "No Brainer".

However even the SIMPLEST backup program is better than none -- all too often on these forums we see posts from people asking for help on trying to mend broken systems or recover lost data when a simple backup would have solved the problem quickly - in most cases under 30 mins !! and easily.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[whs]

No need to spend 50 bucks. Free Macrium can do all of that - except incrementals which one should never use anyway.

 

[SaggyMaggyPoo]

Hi there

IMO I'd recommend a full commercial backup for anything other than the simplest of functions -- Acronis 2014 for example is around 40 - 50 USD - and the amount of time it saves (plus your data) it's a no-brainer.

I think I'm going to try the free trial of Acronis anyway, Jimbo as I still have problems opening the Macrium product on one laptop, and, as I think I said before, I am leaning towards a product that will enable me to restore to different hardware, just in case.

And I'm going to makr the thread as 'Solved' because, although I do still have the original problem, I think the possible solutions, and helpful alternatives, have been explored for me.

So thank you everyone who offered advice and suggestions.