I need help with handling of macrium xml file

I'm trying, but am really confused about Macrium.

I have the "Add recovery boot option" enabled. I was reading tonight and find out I need to have the macrium_restore.xml store somewhere other than on the C drive of my computer.

I am using Seagate USB external drive to store image, so I went through process shown in link https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Automatic System Restore to change location of xml file to that same external drive.

But then it says to open Explorer, find the macrum_restore.xml file, click on properties and change it to "Read Only." When I did a search for this file in Explorer it took me to the file I just placed in that external drive. So I right clicked/Properties and changed to "Read Only."

But then I also found a file called "My Backup(3).xml" in C/User/Documents/Reflect. I assume this was created when I first installed Macrium. I right clicked on that and changed it to read only also. Should both of these files be "Read Only" in order for that "Add Recovery Boot Menu Option" to work?

 

A distinction needs to be made between the locations for some very different types of files. The files that need to be stored elsewhere (i.e., other than on the drive that is being backed up) are the backup destination files with filename extensions *.mrimg (image backups) and *.mrbak (file & folder backups). Files like "My Backup(3).xml" that are stored in the C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Reflect folder by default are backup task definition files.

There is no need for those backup task definition files to be moved from their default location. They are not required for restoring any backup nor for any other purpose except for telling Reflect how to run the backup operation itself as defined therein. Nor is there any reason for making them read only as doing so could, in fact, interfere with editing any task definition details that may need to be modified. As for why you're up to task definition #3, I can only guess that others were created before that one, intentionally or otherwise, and that they were saved without changing the default "My Backup" filename. In that case, an incremental number will be appended automatically.

The 'macrium_restore.xml' file referred to in the KB article that you mention has an entirely different purpose from either of the two above-mentioned file types. It is used together with Reflect's 'Add Recovery Boot Menu' option in a situation where you want to initiate restore operations to run automatically in the "rescue" recovery environment. That file can be located in the root any drive partition (except "C:") that is accessible from that environment and it can be made read only if you expect to repeat the same recovery more than once.

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P.S.: Please take careful note of the automated behaviour that results from creating that 'macrium_restore.xml' file. It means that "C:" will be restored to the state of the backup image automatically whenever the recovery boot menu option is used to boot the system. Are you sure that's what you want?

 

Thank you, Arvy. I kept researching this last night and had come to the tentative conclusion that the "My Backup" file I referred to was for the scheduling tasks and had nothing to do with the macrium_restore.xml. Your response really clarifies that point for me now and I thank you.

As to your P.S., it is my understanding that if something goes wrong where I need to restore my system from the Macrium backups that are made ... by having the "Add Recovery Boot Menu Option" selected, and the macrium_restore.xml file handled correctly, I can do a restore operation without having to insert a CD and without having to go into my Boot Menu and change anything. I would only use the recovery boot menu option if it became necessary to restore my system.

If I am misunderstanding this please straighten me out.

 

Your understanding is partially correct inasmuch as the "Add Recovery Boot Menu Option" does let you get to Reflect's WinPE "rescue" recovery environment by selecting that option from the regular system boot menu. However, the other option to create that 'macrium_restore.xml' file to run one particular ("C:" only) restore operation automatically every time you boot to that environment is a consideration that is entirely separate and secondary to the boot menu inclusion.

Having booted your system to Reflect's WinPE "rescue" environment, either by using that boot menu option or by using rescue media, you can then choose to run any restore operation yourself (or any backup operation for that matter) just as you would in the regular Windows working environment. Most importantly, assuming that you have a complete backup of the entire drive (i.e., all of its partitions including those with no assigned drive letter) you can choose to restore all of it. Restoring just its "C:" partition alone, automatically or otherwise, will not necessarily produce a bootable result if you need to recover from a catastrophic drive failure. For the same reason, it's not wise to rely entirely on that "Add Recovery Boot Menu Option" alone. You should also create and keep available some kind of rescue media (CD or UFD) to deal with situations where a drive failure could make that boot menu option unavailable.

 

I already did make that rescue CD when I first installed Macrium, and then I made another one after an update. Do I have to make a new CD with each update, or will Macrium inform me if that is necessary.

I don't think I would have any need or desire to do what you pointed out when you said "the other option to create that 'macrium_restore.xml' file to run one particular ("C:" only) restore operation automatically every time you boot to that environment is a consideration that is entirely separate and secondary to the boot menu inclusion."

I'm not very well versed in this backing up business. All I'm trying to do is make a backup of my entire computer so that if something goes drastically wrong so that I can't use it, I can restore it from the backups.

So, anyway, I do have that CD, but when I read about this option to "Add Recovery Boot Menu Option" that sounded to me like a much easier way to restore if that became necessary. To the best of my knowledge, my backups are of the entire drive, everything. See screenshot.

 

Yes, your backup of the entire drive is fine and having created a "rescue" CD gives you the assurance of being able use that full backup to recover from catastrophic total drive failure. So long as the boot menu option is not made unavailable by any such total failure, full recovery can also be done that way if its more convenient. The cautionary concern was only in case you might be looking at the 'macrium_restore.xml' automation option in the KB article that you mentioned as a way to accomplish those same purposes. It won't as it quite definitely specifies "select 'Image this partition only...'" for the "C:" partition alone and so that's all that it could possibly restore under any circumstances.

As for updating the rescue media, Macrium's release notes will usually mention "bug fixes" or other changes (e.g., v7.1.2614) that affect rescue media creation. Personally, however, past experience doesn't give me total confidence in relying on that. I therefore use USB Flash Drives as my rescue media that can easily be updated each time the main Reflect application is updated. Whether to adopt that same kind of "belt and suspenders" approach to the issue would be up to your own best judgement.

 

You are really helping me a lot in understanding how things work. One more question: Is that macrium_restore.xml file I created yesterday and stored on my external usb hard drive now the only one I need, or do I need to create this file anew each time a new set of backup files is created?

 

The macrium_restore.xml file is not needed at all if you just want to boot with Reflect's Recovery Boot Menu Option and then be able to restore the complete drive backup image (i.e, all partitions). In that case, just remove that XML file completely.

However, if you do leave that file in place, only the drive's "C:" partition will be restored to the state of the backup as specified and triggered automatically by that XML file whenever you boot to the recovery environment. The XML file will then be deleted unless you make it read only. So, if for some reason you want your drive's "C:" partition to be restored automatically to the same prior backup state more than once without re-creating the macrium_restore.xml file for each automatic restoration, just make that XML file read only.

 

I'm sure glad I asked that last question. I will definitely remove that xml file because according to your explanation of it's purpose, I don't want it. If I have to restore my computer it will be because of something drastic happening and I would want the entire thing restored. Thank you!

 

You're welcome. I kinda wondered about your goal and intention for an automated action that the KB article states will be "completed without any user interaction" and that begins by instructing select 'Image this partition only...' for the "C:" partition alone.

I think you'll find it much better being able to choose for yourself exactly what you want to do upon booting into Reflect's recovery environment. Be assured that you can choose any option for selective restoration there that is available in the regular Windows working environment. Your choice can include anything from restoring just a single user document from a mounted backup image to restoring the entire backup image for all of the drive's partitions. If you only want to restore the "C :" partition, you can choose to do that too.

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P.S.: Perhaps most important if you're running a scheduled multi-backup plan, you can choose exactly which backup image you want to restore from, unlike the automated action that locks you into whatever backup image is specified in that macrium_restore.xml file.

 

If I understand correctly, even if I remove that xml file, is that automated option only meant to restore the C drive and not the entire system? So in other words, I would have to use my system restore CD?

You said, "I therefore use USB Flash Drives as my rescue media that can easily be updated each time the main Reflect application is updated."

Would you explain in further detail? If the USB flash drive could be updated, rather than having to burn a whole new dvd/cd, that would sure be better. But how do you accomplish the updating process then when the main Reflect application is updated? Also, what do I need to look for in a flash drive for this purpose?

 

Under any circumstances, it is only by finding and parsing the macrium_restore.xml file that Reflect is instructed to execute any automatic restore operation at all. As for what it restores, that is a direct consequence of the KB article's instructions and they told you to select 'Image this partition only...' for the "C:" partition alone. So, assuming you followed those instructions, the automated action could and would restore exactly that and only that which was included in the "C:" partition image thus created.

Without the macrium_restore.xml file, using either the recovery boot menu option or the rescue media will do nothing more than just boot the system to exactly the same Reflect "rescue" environment. That's all. After that, it's entirely up to you to choose what you want to do and a very wide range of choices is available to you as I mentioned above.

You'll find very complete and detailed information about creating rescue media in this KB article, including options for using either optical media, or an ISO file, or a USB device. Whenever you update the main Reflect application just run the same Reflect rescue media "wizard" again. It will tell you that new files are available for updating the rescue media and will pop up an option to let you rebuild using those new files. From that point, it's essentially the same process as the original. As for the USB flash drive itself, nothing special is required so long as it can be prepared as instructed in this KB article.

 

I am sorry but now I'm totally confused. In the above you state I don't need that xml file, that if I leave it in place only the C partition will be restored. But your most recent answer seems to indicate that it is needed. I'm sorry but I thought I was beginning to understand and now I don't think I do.

I'm sorry to bug you but I want so badly to understand so that if something happens I will actually have a backup to bring myself back from disaster. I had a disaster like this once when I was using Acronis, which I paid for. When disaster struck I had nothing to bring myself back because I was not understanding some things and didn't have things set correctly.

 

You said above: "I already did make that rescue CD when I first installed Macrium." And you also said: "To the best of my knowledge, my backups are of the entire drive, everything." If that is so, then you have everything you need "to bring [yourself] back from disaster." You do NOT need that macrium_restore.xml file at all for that or any other purpose. Period. Full stop.

I'm sorry, but I don't know how to say it any more simply or plainly. In the circumstance, I would strongly recommend that you just get rid of that macrium_restore.xml file and try to forget that you ever saw that so-called "Automatic System Restore" KB article. Just read the Reflect User Guide instead and familiarize yourself thoroughly with the information it provides on using Macrium Reflect's basic capabilities in both the working environment and the rescue environment. Until you have a thorough grasp of using those capabilities to do what you say you want to do yourself, the last thing you need is any kind of attempt to automate any of its processes beyond your current understanding.

 

I'm sorry for being a pest, and I know I kinda' am. You have helped me so much, seriously. And I appreciate it.
I get easily confused because I'm afraid I'm going to do it wrong, but now I think I did understand it after all.

I have read the Macrium user guide, and I have studied the reading material on restoring and all that. I just didn't really understand everything I read and guess I just feel a little shaky about my understanding. I thought I understood things when I had that Acronis, but found out that apparently I did not.

Peter2150: You say to make the USB Key and add it into the menu. Are you talking about going into the Boot Menu?

 

Not a problem. Happy to help, but thought it best to stop at this point rather than risk adding more to your confusion. I think that "Automatic System Restore" KB article is best forgotten entirely, at least for now. It appeared to be a big part of your problem, or jumping into it "out of sequence" was. It seemed to lead you into quite a muddle where you were seeing illogical linkages between boot options and automation options that are actually quite distinct from one another. Just concentrate on the more straightforward Reflect backup and recovery functions for the time being and you should be fine.