Macrium Reflect free - creating an image(s) of HDD partitions Windows 7 to Windows 10

[films&games]

Hi,

I have being looking at the user guide for Macrium Reflect to create a backup image. Before I start the process of creating the images(s), I would like some advice in relation choosing the correct options before running the backup itself.

My backup destination will be my 3TB USB 3.0 external HDD, which I will create a new folder on to store the image(s) in.

The user guide article: http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50074.aspx states that there are two main options: "Image all local drives on this computer" and "Create an image of the partition(s) to backup and restore Windows"

Since I am upgrading my old PCS build from Windows 7 Professional to Windows 10 Professional, should I select the "Image all local drives on this computer" because I won't be backing up the HDD partitions to restore Windows 7?

I have two partitions: C (Windows boot partition) and D (data).

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[ubuysa]

Yes, I would image all drives because it gives you a way back to where you are now should there be problems with the upgrade.

 

[films&games]

Yes, I would image all drives because it gives you a way back to where you are now should there be problems with the upgrade.

Hi,

Should I also create a PE rescue disc in Macrium Reflect to restore the system if necessary, even though its a disk image of Windows 7 system?

Just for calcification: I have System reserved, C and D partitions. When I image the disk, all these will be contained within a single image file?

In the image settings, should Auto Verify: be toggled to 'Yes' or 'No'. Or would it be better to do this manually after the image has been created?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[ubuysa]

Should I also create a PE rescue disc in Macrium Reflect to restore the system if necessary, even though its a disk image of Windows 7 system?

Most definitely. It really should be the first thing you do. A rescue disk allows you to boot into Macrium Reflect when the OS on your PC is dead or unbootable, then you can restore the last good image. It's your lifeboat.

Just for calcification: I have System reserved, C and D partitions. When I image the disk, all these will be contained within a single image file?

Yes. However, you can mount image files in Reflect and they appear as virtual drives, you can the access any file or folder in the image as though it were on real drives.

In the image settings, should Auto Verify: be toggled to 'Yes' or 'No'. Or would it be better to do this manually after the image has been created?

Always have auto verify turned on. That way every image you take is verified as readable and complete at the time you take it. That's important.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Reflect image files can be large, tens of GB in size. If you write these out to the same drive or partition that you use for regular file backups (which are small files) the drive/partition will become very fragmented very quickly and this will result in the Reflect backups taking progressively longer and longer. It is far better to partition your external 3TB drive into two partitions; one just for Reflect image files and the other for regular file backups. That way the Reflect backup times will remain consistent. I learned that the hard way.

If you use Reflect for backup imaging regularly (I cut an image every night) it's worth keeping several generations of image files so that you have choices when you are restoring. I keep 7 daily images so I have a week's worth of images to go back to should I ever need to.

 

[films&games]

Hi,

I have created the Windows 10 media using the 'Creation tool'. I didn't use the 'Recommened settings' I set the language to English United Kingdom, 64bit Architecture.

Would I be able to just use the DVD that I created with Windows 10 to erase the drive and create new partitions if needed?

When it's time to install/activate Windows 10 should I click "I don't have a product key" or enter my Windows 7 one to activate the Windows 10 digital license?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[ubuysa]

I have created the Windows 10 media using the 'Creation tool'. I didn't use the 'Recommened settings' I set the language to English United Kingdom, 64bit Architecture.

Would I be able to just use the DVD that I created with Windows 10 to erase the drive and create new partitions if needed?

Yes. Once you start the install, select a Custom Install and delete all existing Windows partitons (and the data partition if you want to). Highlight the 'unallocated space' that results and click the Next button. The installer will create the appropriate partitions and install Windows.

When it's time to install/activate Windows 10 should I click "I don't have a product key" or enter my Windows 7 one to activate the Windows 10 digital license?

Although the free upgrade to Windows 10 ended in 2016 it does appear that by entering your Windows 7 product key Microsoft will still allow an upgrade to Windows 10. Do that before the 14th Jan when support for Windows 7 ends however!

 

[films&games]

Hi,

I have created the Macrium Reflect Rescue Media using the default options. Hopefully this will be okay.

I created a new partition on my 3TB USB 3.0 external HDD - the drive is split into two partitions. I have imaged the whole HDD and 100% verified the image using Macrium Reflect.

How do I backup Origin game data including local saves? In terms of the full game installation files, I have the physical media, i.e. game discs where applicable.


Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.


Thank you.

 

[ubuysa]

I have created the Macrium Reflect Rescue Media using the default options. Hopefully this will be okay.

Test it by booting that media and verify that Macrium Reflect starts and can see your backup drive and images. Then you'll know it's going to work when you need it.

I created a new partition on my 3TB USB 3.0 external HDD - the drive is split into two partitions. I have imaged the whole HDD and 100% verified the image using Macrium Reflect.

Ok, that's good.

How do I backup Origin game data including local saves? In terms of the full game installation files, I have the physical media, i.e. game discs where applicable.

If that data was on either of the two partitions you imaged then it's already backed up on there.

 

[films&games]

Hi,

I booted the Windows 10 image that I created using the 'creation tool' using F8 to boot from the DVD. My Windows 7 Professional product key was accepted.The setup began. (Custom install) I deleted (NOT FORMATTED) the System reserved and C (Windows) partitions and left the D (Data) partition alone and clicked Next with the unallocated space highlighted. But when it came to the 'preparing the installation files' it reached 92% at this stage and after while an error message appeared saying that the files were corrupt or missing that and the installation couldn't continue.

I burned the Windows 10 ISO using cdburnerxp, not directly with Windows 7.

I am trying to restore the image of the HDD I created yesterday with Macrium Reflect free using the Macrium Reflect Rescue Media.

Update - I have now restored both the System reserved and C partitions, so Windows 7 is back up and running on my HDD.

Should I create another Windows 10 ISO using the 'creation tool' with "Recommended settings for this PC" - Language: English United States? Although it's English United Kingdom. Should creating another image on DVD be okay?

Or should I use a USB stick with the 'creation tool' when I create a fresh Windows 10 image?

I don't have a USB stick, so will have to buy one. What brand should I get?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[ubuysa]

I would only use the Microsoft Windows 10 'media creation tool' that you can download form here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10. Run that tool with an 8GB minimum size USB stick plugged in. Choose the 'create installation media' option (NOT 'upgrade this computer') and the tool will download the latest Windows 10 install files to the USB stick and make it bootable. You then just boot that stick.

Happy that Macrium Reflect worked for you. It's never ever let me down.

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

Just additional, usb stick needs to be 8gb minimum but can be larger. I use a 128gb one fine, it just creates a partition on it.

 

[films&games]

Hi,

Should I boot the USB stick with Windows 10 on using the F8 key before Windows 7 starts?

Or should I boot the USB stick from within Windows and select custom install?

Should I instead FORMAT the System reserved and C Windows partitions or DELETE them and install Windows 10 to the unallocated space, during setup like I tried to do before?

I will be using a SanDisk 32GB USB stick. Do I have to format the brand new USB stick before using it?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[films&games]

Hi,

I have purchased a brand new SanDisk 32GB USB flash drive. Unfortunately, when I tried to use the Windows 10 'media creation tool' I started the tool and clicked USB and inserted the USB stick straight from the packaging. when the media was being created after the download was verified. my Windows 7 PC crashed with a BAD_POOL_HEADER BSOD error.

When the bought it, the USb stick had the SanDisk SecureAccess installer on it. Should I format the stick and try again or burn another DVD iso image to a new blank DVD+R?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[ubuysa]

Hi,

I have purchased a brand new SanDisk 32GB USB flash drive. Unfortunately, when I tried to use the Windows 10 'media creation tool' I started the tool and clicked USB and inserted the USB stick straight from the packaging. when the media was being created after the download was verified. my Windows 7 PC crashed with a BAD_POOL_HEADER BSOD error.

When the bought it, the USb stick had the SanDisk SecureAccess installer on it. Should I format the stick and try again or burn another DVD iso image to a new blank DVD+R?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

The new 32GB USB stick will do fine. It doesn't matter what it already has on it, the media creation tool will format it. For that reason you don't need to format the stick yourself. However, you must have the USB stick plugged in before you start the media creation tool (ie. before you start the download).

Insert the USB stick and run the media creation tool again. Be sure to point the tool at the right USB stick.

Hi,

Should I boot the USB stick with Windows 10 on using the F8 key before Windows 7 starts?

Or should I boot the USB stick from within Windows and select custom install?

If F8 on your PC allows you to select the boot device then yes, do that. You don't want to be booting Windows 7 at all, only the USB stick with the Windows 10 install files on. On some systems you have to modify the boot order in the BIOS setup to make the USB stick first in the boot order.

Should I instead FORMAT the System reserved and C Windows partitions or DELETE them and install Windows 10 to the unallocated space, during setup like I tried to do before?

Delete those two partitions, select the unallocated space and click the Next button. The installer will do the rest.

I will be using a SanDisk 32GB USB stick. Do I have to format the brand new USB stick before using it?

See above, but no the installer will format it

 

[films&games]

Hi,

I am now up and running Windows 10 Professional

Unfortunately,, my old PCS build kept crashing everytime I tried to use the USB stick with the BSOD error BAD_POOL_HEADER. This crash occurred after the Windows 10 download was verified and the media image was being created on USB stick, which reached about 50% and then crashed with the BSOD error mentioned above.

I created another Windows 10 iso and burned it to DVD and verified the image using the Windows 10 'media creation tool'. I then booted the DVD using F8, deleted the System reserved and C partitions and then went through and completed the Windows 10 setup.

Thank you for your help guys. 😀👍

 

[ubuysa]

Hi,

I am now up and running Windows 10 Professional

Unfortunately,, my old PCS build kept crashing everytime I tried to use the USB stick with the BSOD error BAD_POOL_HEADER. This crash occurred after the Windows 10 download was verified and the media image was being created on USB stick, which reached about 50% and then crashed with the BSOD error mentioned above.

I created another Windows 10 iso and burned it to DVD and verified the image using the Windows 10 'media creation tool'. I then booted the DVD using F8, deleted the System reserved and C partitions and then went through and completed the Windows 10 setup.

Thank you for your help guys. 😀👍

The BAD_POOL_HEADER BSOD is (like so many BSODs) most usually caused by a bad driver, it is possible however that it's indicative of a RAM problem. That it happens when downloading Windows 10, which is a big download, might suggest that there is a problem in an area of RAM that is rarely used.

In you position I would download Memtest86 (free) and burn it to a USB stick or CD/DVD (make sure you download the appropriate image) and then boot that media. Once it's started to boot don't touch the mouse or keyboard and Memtest will start running automatically. Leave it running overnight, the free version only does 4 iterations of the various tests but it still takes hours to run. If no errors are found then you can be confident that the BAD_POOL_HEADER BSOD was a driver problem (now gone since Windows 10 is installed) and you can forget about it.

If Memtest finds even a single error you should re-run Memtest on each RAM stick at a time to find the faulty one and you should replace that stick.