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Main Forum => General Computer Support => Topic started by: jraju on July 12, 2017, 11:52:35 pm

Title: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 12, 2017, 11:52:35 pm
Hi, On the other day, my son in his enthusiasm to gestures, has hard touched the harddisc cabin. After that, reboot system error occurs one or two time and he tried to bang keyboards in his effort to boot up. But totally failed . I just guessed that the connection would have gone wrong and just plug out and plug in the power and data cable connecting the hard disc. Luckily, i got the system to boot up.
                          Frequent power cuts and inadvertant mitake of hitting the cabin thus gave me an idea to look for alternative to t, ake a back up of os and all files, that i have in the pc and laptop.
                           I bought a ext.hdd disk and installed the macrium reflect. What is the diff between cloning and imaging. which is best . What i require is a full back up of os including alll the apps and program and all the files and data to image form and then when hdd is corrupted to restore.
which is best form cloning or imaging. I do not want incremental update of image or any other thing. i want a back up of all os and data on the backup  time and keep it in a separate place to restore back in case of eventuality of hdd fail or corruption.
                              please give the exact link if any available. I am confused with those concept of cloning and imaging. which is best pl
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Boggin on July 13, 2017, 12:59:29 am
I have no experience of Macrium Reflect and use Windows System Image onto alternative ext. HDDs.

I create those once a month after Windows Updates, Adobe updates that usually come around at that time and any other program updates such as for CCleaner.

Adobe currently have released updates this month for Flash Player, Air and Reader.

However, to recover from a system image stored on an ext. HDD you need at least a system repair disk as in the case for Win 7 and an install disk for Win 10 with which to boot up with to navigate to the option for restore with an image.

It is for this reason that I have all of my laptops boot order permanently set to check the DVD and USB drives before the HDD so that I can insert either before I switch on.

You can insert a DVD before you switch on by waggling a suitably sized darning needle or straightened paperclip into the small hole that is in the disk drawer which will pop it open.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 13, 2017, 05:21:25 am
In this case J, you will want to create a full image (forget about cloning for now...)

Imaging tutorial http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50074.aspx

You will then need to create a rescue media (USB as he has no functioning CD/ DVD drive) and test it to check it works,

http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50210.aspx

PS for rescue media to work on XP and Windows 7, which is what you want? Use Win PE 3.1 when creating the rescue USB.

http://reflect.macrium.com/help/v5/how_to/rescue/create_a_standard_windows_pe_rescue_environment.htm
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 13, 2017, 05:58:42 am
Hi, Thanks Samson,
                         Please clear this doubt
                             I have seen some tutorial and pl clarify,

Is the full backup means that the entire selected drives including the default selected c and reserved drives? on a particular time?
What is 12 backups shown in the diagram in full backup . Should i change to 1 there?
Should i need to check verify in advanced option? Will it not take time ? pl explain
Can i prepare restore disk after the back up , as separately in usb? Does the USB has to be made bootable before using macrium reflect free?(as in windows by listdisk command)
Can i expect answers from you on these. I have not used this before, and so I ask.
If i select all the drives, will it copy the application and other data files as in the pc at the time of take of back up. please
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 13, 2017, 06:04:50 am
Hi, please see this image,
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 13, 2017, 06:16:52 am
12 refers to the number of backups to keep... forget it, don't create a schedule, do it manually...say once a month.

Entire drive is evrything on that drive, ie all partitions shown and hidden,

Veryfy will take longer but will check the integrity of the backup, I have it checked, but it will take longer depends on how much you have on the drive.

The uSB that you create should be bootable without further interaction from you, you can create it before or after the backup, then test it and if it does n't boot we can return to it later. Be aware that the WAIK filews required to create the WinPE rescue media are about 150MB but the wizard will guide you through it.

You do NOT select ALL drives, just the one that you wish to image, it will copy the OS , all programs and data at the time it is taken.

NB before a backup I like to do a little housekeeping first, scan with AV, run Cclenaer and Defrag the drive that i am going to image...maybe unnecessary but it is up to you.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Boggin on July 13, 2017, 06:22:10 am
That's what I do as well before I create my system images.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 13, 2017, 06:34:19 am
Hi, Thanks. Can i select all drives, which could be copied to the external hdd? If i do have to select the folders in each drive , it may take time to select folders and files i want.Normally,some programs copy to the internal drive some files.Please. say something about waik files.What are the requirements to get those waik files. Will those files will be selected automatically or do i have to manually do? Samson, this is the first time i hear waik files.\         
                          Normally for OS failure , i would just prepare the usb bootable, and then copy the entire files to it and it worked for me to copy OS to a new hdd or formatted drive. There i had not come across this waik files.
                             How you could make pendrive as first boot choice, if it does not show in bios? Formerly , i use a program, which i forgot now. when i use this program, it will run via cd drive and i get the menu ,usb and by entering , i get, the pendrive to be recognized, some name blot or something.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 13, 2017, 09:15:03 am
Select as per my screen shot. It will image the whole drive. You do not have to select files or folders.

The WAIK (Windows automatic Installion Kit) is used to build the PE (Windows Pre Installion environment) in which the revovery/ rescue media runs. think of it as a portable mini Windows OS.

When you create the rescue medis, the wizard will guide through each step.

If your PC will not boot from USB then just burn the rescue media to a CD/ DVD  :wink:

Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 14, 2017, 04:41:44 am
Hi, Samson, It seems that you have only c: drive in your system. But , i have c: and D: Now please tell me , that i should select c: which is default selection by the macrium program and also the d: drive
                              I am using recommended version of xp, from filehippo pl.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 14, 2017, 04:47:10 am
Is D a partition on the same drive as C or is it a separate physical drive?

Actually I do have a second Physical HDD on this PC, I use it simply for DATA storage (Music)...If your situation is the same then you can simply copy these files/ folders to your external HDD without using Macrium
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 14, 2017, 04:52:13 am
separate physical drive having different storage. While installing , the partition was made to c: and d drive. in my pc, for which i have to start from beginning.
                          The laptop which i intend to take image also, contains, c: d: e: f: 
                           Can i select all the drives and retrieve or restore by using the rescue disk, which i am yet to create?
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 14, 2017, 04:55:48 am
I don't understand, post a screenshot


Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 14, 2017, 05:00:35 am
You mean the screen shot of drives.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 14, 2017, 05:03:49 am
OK so the same as my set up....OS and programs on C and data etc on D

Use macrium to image C and just copy files and folders from D to your external HDD, no need to use Macrium for that.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 14, 2017, 05:14:03 am
That is a very good tip samson. Will try with the laptop first.
                  Please , say, you have now rescue disk in pdrive  and backup copy of c: and reserved partition in ext hdd with some other contents in separate folders, including the files that came with the ext. hdd.
                 I presume, that if something went wrong, then you connect the hdd to your computer in a port, and allow to boot from pd. Now the Pd opens rescue disk and environment and ask for the file to be selected . Just you select the image file  and you get the contents of c: including all programs in it.including files in my documents folder etc etc.
                        Then once it is copied , the pc works as before the system went wrong and you have all the programs in it including external programs that are in the c: drive
                        Is my presumption is correct?
                         Sorry for asking questions. I want to start the exercise with your able guidance.
                        sometimes, some program copies to both the drive, if you have one other than c:am i correct?
                       
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 14, 2017, 05:24:38 am
The short answer is  "Yes"  :wink:
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 14, 2017, 05:26:25 am
Hi, Thanks samson
                   your view on the last sentence on my last post,
sometimes, some program copies to both the drive, if you have one other than c:am i correct?
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 14, 2017, 05:46:35 am
No, programs should be installed on the same drive or partition as your OS.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 14, 2017, 05:50:43 am
Hi, Let me put it differently,
                        Some programs, say , microsoft office installs in both the drive , main files in c: and some other files in d: is my presumption correct?
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 14, 2017, 05:53:07 am
No, unlees you have chosen to save documents or data files on D
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 14, 2017, 05:58:28 am
Yes, i will try imaging and then write. Can i use the same version for windows 7 also? the filehippo version
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 14, 2017, 06:08:51 am
Windows 7 has its own backup, so do you need macrium there? Your choice.

The version I use is 5.3 build 7299 works on Win 7 and XP, newer versions available but I stick with this one as it works well for me.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: KR on July 15, 2017, 05:18:42 am
I make a system image every week or two with Macrium Reflect (free)  - works very well and goes fast. The images have saved me many times from my own booboos. I have Windows backup / restore point completely turned off.

Cheers
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 15, 2017, 06:07:11 am
Hi, How could you check whether the system will boot from rescue disk only on the failure of hdd or any alternative in running windows, but should be able to stop the process, as it is only for check.
                Samson point is well taken to ask me to verify in advanced options to check the correct copy of system files to the ext.hdd.
                         Can i test and just exit by running rescue disk without actually killing my present working windows
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 15, 2017, 06:15:59 am
Test it out, you can just close it without actually making any changes to your system...you should be able to see the image (if you have made one) on your external HDD.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 15, 2017, 06:20:56 am
As a user of program,
                     what would be first screen , when your pendrive starts rescue disk? Will it guide automatically to select or not to select so that i could go for the process or exit out of it.
 Normally contr q would quit any thing running on screen.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 15, 2017, 06:31:14 am
It will boot up into a windows environment, a cut down version of macrium reflect, with normal windows controls. Just do it, and with your external HDD attached open the restore tab and you should see the image that you have made. Then just close the program, it will be obvious how.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 15, 2017, 06:40:40 am
Hi, thanks for valuable suggestions samson
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 15, 2017, 08:45:20 am
A few more tips for you  :wink:

I keep backup images for different machines in their own named folders (ie the name of the machine as the folder name eg on my external HDD I have a folder named "DELL Laptop", "DELL PC" and another named "HP PC") the images for each machine go into their own named folder. It helps to be organised.

Also, when taking an image you can add a comment, to act as a memory jogger eg after the recent XP updates in June I added a comment "Post XP updates". I don't know about you but I have a memory like a sieve and need reminding of things later down the road  :wink:
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 15, 2017, 08:33:47 pm
Thanks for the extra tips
pl say the fix for  exclamation in xp machine
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 15, 2017, 09:09:54 pm
HI, please say, can i use p.e 3-1 for windows 7 also. samson please also tell where i could write comments as in your fig. i am using the sameversion . I just ignored the updates, when alerted with your able guidance, i have taken the c: drive backup withrescue disk and also checked in the laptop. i just exited once i saw the backup file and restore option menu.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 16, 2017, 03:20:10 am
Yes PE 3.1 is fine for Win7 and XP. If your Win 7 machine does not have the option to boot from USB, then create the rescue media on CD.

You can add comments during the backup process you will see "advanced Options" in the bottom left hand corner of the window as you go through the back up process.

You do not have the same version as me, mine is 5.3 build 7299

Don't worry about the exclamation. It simply means that the rescue media does not have the driver for your wireless NIC, you don't need it for the backup/ restore process, so ignore it. it is fine.

Remember to back up the data in other partions on the drive or do a backup selecting the whole drive/ all partitions.

i just exited once i saw the backup file and restore option menu.

You are the first person that I have known to get "excited" by backing up, that is a good thing  :smiley:

Edit: My bad, I misread "exited" for "excited"  :rolleyes:
I did n't think anyone would get excited by backing up  :wink:
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 19, 2017, 01:20:37 am
Is there any provision to treat the pendrive as hard disk in older machines?
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 19, 2017, 03:12:17 am
Not sure what you mean?

If there is no option in the BIOS to boot from USB, then create the rescue media on CD/ DVD. It takes a bit longer to load up but works just fine.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 20, 2017, 07:01:09 am
Hi, I asked this query, as my pc's dvd drive is not functioning.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 20, 2017, 08:45:01 am
Is this relating to creating the rescue media?...And am I correct in now thinking that your PC has no option to boot from USB and a dead DVD drive?  :undecided:

You have a few choices here...

With USB thumb drive plugged in, try searching the boot options, it might show up then.

Check again in the BIOS for settings to enable booting from USB, may involve a BIOS update.

Replace the dead DVD drive.


Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 20, 2017, 11:09:24 pm
Hi, Samson, your last resolution, to replace dead dvd is the only option, i think so. In laptop, i was given the chance to boot from usb and so it was easy to check . But in pc, older hardware, bios updated, there is no provision to boot from usb, nor  usbdoes it show in any other menu, even though there is entry usb 3.0 supported in one of the menu.
Thanks, but is there any alternative to recognize the usb drive in bios?
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 21, 2017, 01:19:25 am
Hi, Samson, Is it enough if i create a single rescue disk for both my pc and laptop? I ask this becasue my OS is different in different devices. Desktop has windows 7 and laptop windows xp sp3. Moreover, if i click yes in the create rescue disk in windows 7, it first list out the list of drivers in windows 7 machine, and when i click yes in laptop, it listed those present in the laptop. Is the rescue disk is machine specific?
                     If so, could i just use the same pendrive having rescue disk to recover for both the devices.
                       Will it ask for windows key on recovery, pl give your solutions
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 21, 2017, 03:57:42 am
In most cases a single rescue disk will work on multiple machines. I am not sure what you want from me here, but the simplest solution in your case will be to.....

Use the USB pendrive that you have created for your son's laptop on that machine. You have tested it and it worked right?

Replace the CD/DVD drive on yours and create the rescue media on CD/ DVD and use that on yours.

You will not have to enter any Windows key, as you are restoring an activated image, not reinstalling the OS.

I have no idea what options are available in your BIOS, is this the Intel D915GAV board? 
Latest BIOS is EV91510A.86A.0482.2006.0222.2350 February 23, 2006 I suggest you ask here https://communities.intel.com/community/tech/desktop

You may want to think about changing your signature  :wink:
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 21, 2017, 07:02:45 pm
Hi, Samson, please see the error message  and motherboard. I told you about hdd failure and replacement in my previous posts.The verification completed and every process is successful in laptop os and other backups using macrium reflect.
Please give solution to the error. I will try to repair or replace the dvd drive
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 21, 2017, 09:04:06 pm
Hi, i enclosed the second try error. Now it is in 7%, hash value is incorrect?, the other error writngs are same
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 21, 2017, 09:49:02 pm
Verification failure is caused by the fact that the data that is written to your backup drive cannot be read back reliably.

See this Knowledge base article http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW7/Understanding+Image+Verification+Failures
"Errors of this type are symptomatic of a computer system with a marginal hardware problem. The most likely suspect is your backup media - but memory and motherboard faults can also cause this issue."

First thing I'd try is plug the external drive into a different USB socket, try a socket at the rear of the PC.

I have never had a verification error so can offer little help.

Remember that any image that you do manage to create will be useless unless you have the ability to boot from resccue media.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 21, 2017, 09:54:40 pm
Hi, Samson, I will try another usb port.
                   I know the value of verification from your post, but what is hash is incorrect. It is the same program , mac ref that is writing the image from the one from computer in its own form. In laptop, i did not have this problem. So, i will try verify and then only try to check with rescue disk.
                           Glad that you never experienced this error.
                               The image creation is 100 percent success, but the process of verify is having problem.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 21, 2017, 10:06:41 pm
Hi, Samson, I will try another usb port.
  Be sure to try one at the rear, that connects directly to the motherboard.

but what is hash is incorrect. It is the same program , mac ref that is writing the image from the one from computer in its own form.

The article I linked to explains this.

Maybe best to ask here https://forum.macrium.com/Forum3.aspx
Title: Re:(sol) cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 29, 2017, 05:51:59 am
Hi, Samson, i took backup all the drives of laptop. I even took backup of d: drive of pc, with robocopy to maintain the original date as it was created. But i am getting errors or progress stops at 5% whenever i click for backup of OS drive. i get some files stored in the ext.hdd , one temp files and another backup file, and xml file in a separate macrium folder.
                              First i had the problem of recognizing of ext. hdd in explorer, but not in list disk or disk management. So , i got crc error. I have used chkdsk /r both in pc as well as in ext.hdd. The ext.hdd chkdsk took almost 8 hours to check as it is 1.3tb.After that, when i tried the backup, it shows progress bar upto 5 and then stops there, no not responding but running in task manager. What would have been the issue. I tried to delete the previous backup file and temp file and xml file in the concerned folders, but still i could not take a backup.
                           I need to take the backup, as a few days back, there was error in booting with an alert to insert the dvd and choose repair. i could not log on safety mode, nor could be able to do anything. i even had to search for my OS dvd. Once i found it , i could not start the boot process with pen drive, as it was not recognized.
              i repaired the dvd disc and used plop.iso (linux based) and could get the boot priority menu on top of my screen and then selected the pendrive and opted for repair. Oh, almighty saved me from total loss of data.
                        After this incident, i now know the importance of backup and would ask you , how to further proceed in the matter.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 29, 2017, 09:18:14 am
Way too much information J, I am confused, I have no idea which machine we are talking about here, Laptop, PC both?

 Let's deal with each machine separately. Start with which machine and which software Macrium or Robocopy? I can't help with Robocopy. I don't use it.

If all else fails you could just use Windows 7 built in back up if this is your desktop PC giving problems?

I don't know why you are messing about with using a Linux bootable CD in order to boot from the USB flash drive, just create the Macrium recovery CD  :rolleyes:

First i had the problem of recognizing of ext. hdd in explorer, but not in list disk or disk management. So , i got crc error. I have used chkdsk /r both in pc as well as in ext.hdd. The ext.hdd chkdsk took almost 8 hours to check as it is 1.3tb.After that, when i tried the backup, it shows progress bar upto 5 and then stops there, no not responding but running in task manager. What would have been the issue.

CRC errors may mean the external HDD is failing/ faulty. Seagate? Test with SeaTools http://www.seagate.com/gb/en/support/downloads/seatools/

Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 29, 2017, 10:59:40 pm
Hi, To make it clear Samson,
                   I took OS backup of laptop using mac.ref of your version and then copied all other drives. I tested the recovery usb, by booting laptop to check whether it is booting. No problem with laptop as i have usb boot option there.
                   Then , i tried to take the back of pc, with mac.ref. Since download contain much files. I just moved the files from mydoucments and download folders from c: drive to D drive to reduce the size of c: drive. Then i tried, when the error came.
I already ran chkdsk on pc and ext hdd on my pc, which took hours for ext.hdd and about 2 hours in the pc hard disk. no problem was deducted and if at all, it would have been fixed with me opting chkdsk /r.
                      Now, my problem is , can i reformat the ext.hdd drive by moving the files stored in it to my pc in a folder in D drive. It was preloaded with some files. I am afraid that if i delete those, i may loose the easy connection.
                         Can i just copy the mmring backup file of laptop to the D drive and then format it?
                         I did diannosis with DST driveshort test which passed. I then opted for fast fix all test, in the hope that it would fix, but it failed at 77 percent on two counts.
                          Regarding robocopy, i just copied using it to copy files from d.drive on pc to my ext.hdd. drive, with success rate of 100 percent , fastly.
                           I could use the recovery usb (macrium rescue) on pc, only after taking the backup.
                           when i had the crc problem, my pc went out of order and i could not boot. I used plop.boot a linux program, to boot from pendrive, usb. The option is not there in my pc, which is having older hardwares. i used plop boot iso to retrieve my computer by going to the repair my computer in install window options. I just clicked repair instead of install option in the starting windows install screen. Now, i could boot my computer and view all the files.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 30, 2017, 04:01:09 am
Yes, you can copy a macrium image file to another drive. I do not know about any program files from the manufacturer on the external drive though.

DST failed fix suggests the drive is faulty/ failing. Reformatting may not fix this.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on July 30, 2017, 05:41:17 am
Hi, Samson, It is new hard disk i bought from amazon and I also registered the information in seagate site for warranty purpose.
You mean reformatting for quick format? pl. Anyhow i am going to do that. If the back up could not be read or the disk has any issue, as you say, the process of taking up of backup is useless. So, i have copied the image file to the d drive of pc and also necessary files.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on July 30, 2017, 09:03:40 am
Get the drive replaced or a refund under warranty, maybe print out the SeaTools log to support your case.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on August 08, 2017, 04:18:41 am
Hi, Samson,
i had fixed the error. It was a VSS error which i never heard of. I just went to the macrium help pages and found out a registry tweak. By creating a dword key in hkcu/software/macrium/reflect/vss with 0 value. This would enable the macrium use the vss of service of its own ,instead of VSS of windows services. Then there was no error in getting the c drive of my pc also.
This instruction should have been incorporated in main menu as the most probable cause of hanging while image creation is the VSS service. If the vss services of windows get corrupted, then it will hang in 4 percent for even an hour, without exiting the program.
                           Two questions :
                            If i take a back up of other drives, using macro reflect, the file size gets shrinked/ Is it correct? When i backup c: plus reserved partition, which is about 54 gb, the resultant image is only 17 gb.
                            How to know, that my vss service is working properly. I just copied the reg download to fix the vss problem. But how to know that it is working properly or having errors ? Will it affect system restore also? my vss writer thro cmd is microsoft
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on August 08, 2017, 05:04:26 am
By default Macrium reflect uses medium compression, and intelligent sector copy. Meaning it ignores pagefile and hibernation file. The resultant image will be smaller as it is compressed.

You can check for VSS errors in the logs. see screenshot.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on August 08, 2017, 05:14:45 am
Hi, Thanks . Will try . Is there any thing to know, if my windows vss service is working properly?, is there any tool in shanes all in one repair program?
If i copy the other drives to ext.hdd, then would the hidden system files also will be copied? I am asking because,  it stops at system volume information folder , if i resort to robocopy with time stamps without exiting ,getting in to the loop, waiting for 30 seconds and then trying ..never ending
If i make my folder options , view menu  and check do not show hidden files, would that get copied to the ext. hdd.?
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on August 08, 2017, 05:22:44 am
If you select ALL partitions on a HDD, then the image will include EVERYTHING, whether hidden or not.

If there are no errors shown in the backup log and the VSS log and the backup completes successfully, then it is pretty safe to assume that evrything is working fine.
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on August 08, 2017, 05:46:07 am
Hi, Thanks. if suppose, i create a new folder and copy the other local drive contents, i find the folder in ext.hdd shown as hidden attribute folder. It does not show normally , and if you enable show hidden files and system files in folder options, you could view the folder and contents. Why this happens?
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: Samson on August 08, 2017, 05:58:41 am
I don't know the answer to that J.

This thread is getting longer and longer, and veering off track. If you are now regularly making backups with Macrium Reflect, have created rescue media and are now happy, then perhaps it is time to close it?

Other questions may get more responses in a new thread?  :wink:
Title: Re: cloning or imaging which is best for restore in the even of hdd failure
Post by: jraju on August 09, 2017, 05:28:52 am
Hi, Thanks samson. Pl this thread can be closed. I have problem in copying to the new ext.hdd, which i will post as new thread