Macrium Reflect

I hope it's not against the rules - I'd like to share with you guys the great opportunity to get 1 of 10 Macrium Reflect Workstation license that are being given away here on tweakbytes forum. I reckon the rules that must be obeyed are not unapproachable so if you want to save some money - feel free to join

 

I have just tried to update my boot stick only to find that I have lost the pe5 file so have had to d/l it again. To prevent a repeat could someone let me know please where this file is kept so that I can save it. I have had a search through the disk but cannot find it at all.

Thanks

 

In the Reflect UI, under "Edit Defaults/Advanced/Macrium Reflect PE File" is the directive as to where to put them when downloaded.

If C:\ is selected, they will be in C:\ProgramData\Macrium\Reflect (this is only viewable if HIDDEN FILES are enabled)

If other volume is selected, they will be in "OtherVolume:\boot\Macrium" (should be visible)

 

Thanks Froggie

I thought that they might be there but there are a lot of files and was expecting to find the original zip file.

Presumably if I zip the Reflect folder then that should cover in the event I lose it again?

 

Sure... but you might wanna find out why they dissappeared (a restoration to before the download maybe?)

I don't put the PE Downloads or the Backup Definition files (XMLs) on my System drive 'cause I'm always bouncing around the neighborhood and don't wanna lose changes in those areas when I stop bouncing.

 

Basically ignorance - think before you leap

I now have that folder stored elsewhere.

 

You did not specify which windows you are running and I am assuming from WinPE files you mean WAIK files. In windows 7, they should be downloaded into C:\ProgramData\Macrium\Reflect Folder.

The actual WinPE boot wim file is in the C:\boot\macrium folder.

 

Is creating a Linux Boot Disk no longer an option in version 6?

 

Tom, none exists currently, but at the moment they're trying to determine if there's an extensive need for it. If you're licensed, join their Forum and add insight to their Wish List.

 

I am a licensed user. I'm not sure I have a real "need" for it, but it's always been a nice fallback option if the WinPE disk should ever fail.

 

How 'bout (2) WinPE disks

 

YEP -- already have that!!

 

What would be a good way to set up Macrium for removable backups? Obviously the user will inevitably forget to connect a drive once in a while, or in the case of backup rotation connect the wrong drive. Then there's the issue of a USB drive being mounted as the wrong drive letter.

Any tips on handling this with Macrium? I thought about setting up a desktop shortcut, one for Incremental and another for full, but I worry that the user will get something confused.

Cheers.

 

I recently installed the Reflect 6 trial and I setup a synthetic incr. backup schedule. When the first backup ran on schedule I happen to be using MS Outlook so I'm here to ask a very basic question - how does Reflect deal with open files when running a backup?

 

VSS

 

As Oliverjia mentioned, Macrium uses the Windows VOLUME SHADOW SERVICE to lock the current FileSystem prior to taking its images. This process will warn any VSS-aware application that the lock will be occurring shortly. Aware applications will make their data targets "consistent" and let Windows know of such. When Windows here's back from everyone who said they were VSS aware (or times out), it then issues the lock and allows Macrium to take an unambiguous backup (no changing at the image level going on).

BUT, as last I remembered (Outlook 2007), Outlook WAS NOT VSS-aware. That means that Outlook's PST file may not be consistent when the lock is issued. What the results could be... haven't a clue, can't stand Outlook

 

And if VSS happens to not be functional, Macrium uses it's own proprietary driver (pssnap) that accomplishes essentially the same thing.

 

So from what I'm being told, it seems that I better make sure not to be using Outlook when Reflect starts a backup. That will take some getting used to because (for years) I have Outlook open almost all of the time that my PC is running!

Would I have the very same issue with other disk imagers that don't rely on VSS?

 

Sure... the result would be inconsistent. But I think OUTLOOK being open isn't a big problem, it's OUTLOOK being active that might present a problem (actively downloading email, etc.). If it was active, only that image would have the inconsistency, the next one most likely would be fine.

There are an awful lot of folks using OUTLOOK and I've heard almost nothing about their OUTLOOK backups being questionable... with any imaging software.

 

Thanks

Thanks Froggie. Btw, you say you can't stand Outlook, so do you just use webmail or do you use some other email client?

 

At the moment I'm using Mozilla Thunderbird (and Lightning as my calendar hooked to my Google calendar) with GMAIL being my IMAP server. Most of the time I'm accessing my GMAIL from the web (I run around a lot )

 

Run? I didn't know frogs could run. Hop or leap yes,,,,run?,,,,well thats something to ponder on.

 

I don't know why we are talking about email clients in a Reflect thread, but I just have to ask this?
What webmail email accounts does Thunderbird support? I looked on the their site, but couldn't find it anywhere.