bootable media

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by ams963, Oct 6, 2013.

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  1. ams963

    ams963 Registered Member

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    Hi,

    Here's the scenario.

    I use Windows 8. Drive Snapshot is my imaging software. I have the Win8 installation cd. My internet connection is too slow to download about 2GB and build a WinPE bootable cd.

    What I want.

    I want to have a bootable media similar to the Win 8 installation cd but with only an interface through which I could use Drive Snapshot to restore an image.

    Preference.

    It'd be great if I can use my usb flash drive as the bootable media. But given I can also use it to store data as usual. CD or DVD as the bootable media would also be fine.

    Any help is heartily welcome. :)
     
  2. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Dearest Amit,

    I was about to answer your PM, and you beat me with this thread.

    Gone are the days of WinPE and now we are in WinRE. So you don't need to download a massive (WAIK) Windows 7 or (WADK) Windows 8, which you are right is 2GB.

    Download AOMEI Backupper FREE or Macrium Reflect FREE, both excellent free imaging software. Build WinRE ISO from the software, and then you can do both:

    1. Burn the ISO on a USB.
    2. Use the ISO and with the help of EasyBCD create a bootmenu.

    In that burned ISO or in the bootmenu files, then insert a directory with your Drive Snapshot files.

    If you need any more help, please let me know.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  3. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    PIInfinity,

    You can use the Win8 DVD (or put Win8 on a UFD) as a WinPE and run Drive Snapshot.
     
  4. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Dear Amit,

    Here is the link for AOMEI Backupper:

    http://www.backup-utility.com/free-backup-software.html

    And, a link for Macrium Reflect FREE:

    http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

    I am sure that AOMEI Backupper allows you to build WinRE, but not sure that Macrium Reflect FREE does. I know that Macrium Reflect FREE used to allow to build WinPE. I was testing Macrium Reflect FREE to see that if it allows you to build WinRE and for this reason I didn't answer your PM earlier.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  5. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Hi Amit,

    Also, you need more than one imaging program to properly secure yourself. Relying on only one can lead to problems sometime. Now, you have three:

    1. Drive Snapshot.
    2. AOMEI Backupper
    3. And, Macrium Reflect FREE.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  6. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Dear Amit,

    Please see this thread:

    https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=354155

    According to what Brian has posted in the above thread, the best FREE imaging program is Macruim Reflect FREE.

    I just tested the WinRE for Macruim Reflect FREE, it requires you to download 374 mb to build the WinRE.

    As far as AOMEI Backupper, it doesn't require any further download to build WinRE.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  7. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Boot from a Win 8 DVD or UFD
    Next
    On the Install now window, click Repair your computer
    Troubleshoot
    Advanced options
    System Image Recovery
    Windows 8
    Cancel on Re-image your Computer
    Next
    Advanced
    Install a Driver
    click OK on Add Drivers (but drag the Add Drivers window to the very top left corner of your monitor before clicking OK)
    plug in a USB flash drive containing snapshot.exe (or snapshot64.exe). You can also use snapshot.exe on a HD partition.
    double click Computer
    (drive letters may be different from booted Win 8 )
    Navigate to snapshot.exe on the flash drive or HD partition. Right click snapshot (the Application, file extensions aren't shown) and choose Open.
    click Cancel on the "Open" window
    click Cancel on the "Add Drivers" window
    Drag the "Re-image your Computer" window to the bottom of your monitor so the Drive Snapshot window is in full view

    Drive Snapshot is ready to use.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2013
  8. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Instead of System Image Recovery you can click Command Prompt
    diskpart
    list vol
    (make a note of the drive letter you will need to use)
    exit
    (now the prompt is X:\Sources> )
    (change to the drive letter of the UFD or HD partition containing snapshot.exe. For example...)
    G:
    (now the prompt is G:\> )
    (you need to know if snapshot.exe is in the root or in a folder. If it was in G:\abc\def you would type...)
    CD \abc\def
    (now you can run snapshot)
    start snapshot.exe

    Drive Snapshot is ready to use.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2013
  9. ams963

    ams963 Registered Member

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    Well I thought many people may find this discussion useful. I thought why not start a thread instead of confining it to private messages.:)

    That's okay. I knew you were busy as you would never pass an opportunity to help.:)
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2013
  10. jnthn

    jnthn Registered Member

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    Can these two programs backup a windows linux multi boot system? Pagaron is a bit lacking in that area from my experience.
     
  11. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Hi jnthn,

    I am not sure as I don't use Linux. But if you backup everything, meaning backup both partitions (Windows and Linux) and MBR, I believe you can achieve what you are trying to do. And, on failure restore everything, I believe you would be alright.

    You can do the backup either from Recovery Media (COLD) or within Windows (HOT) imaging.

    Brain is one the expert on imaging on this forum, and he is in this thread, maybe he can chime in on this.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  12. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Hi Amit,

    You are right that others can benefit from this, and am glad that you have opened this thread.

    I have been using Macrium Reflect PAID for ages, from Windows 7 onwards and it is the best. The FREE version has some limitation as it doesn't do incremental/differential. The FREE version will automatically download about 370 mb to build the WinRE (Recovery Media), which is surprising as the files are already there in Windows. I am not sure if this a too much of a download on your slow connection. Macrium Reflect is the BEST.

    AOMEI Backupper will build the WinRE (Recovery Media) without any further download.

    On both programs once you build your WinRE (Recovery Media) either on a USB, or bootmenu or both, then you copy the sub-directory of Snapshot (Drive Snapshot) from Program Files (x86) to your USB and bootmenu directory.

    Now you are ready to use Drive Snapshot along with your WinRE (Recovery Media).

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  13. jnthn

    jnthn Registered Member

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    A quick search shows that Macrium Reflect Free can backup and restore Linux ext2/3/4 partitions along with Windows. Although my interpretation is that the image should be done while under Windows (hot backup).

    Aomei Backupper can only do a sector by sector backup of ext2/3 partitions and no support for ext4.
    http://www.backup-utility.com/help/supported-file-systems.html
     
  14. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Dear jnthn,

    Thank you for posting the above information. In my opinion Macrium Reflect is the best as it meets the following criteria:

    1. It is very powerful.
    2. It is very stable.
    3. It doesn't run any services in the background.
    4. And, most importantly it is the easiest to use.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  15. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Mohamed,

    Does Macrium Reflect Free have a Validate function? I couldn't find one.
     
  16. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Hi Brian,

    I think that all Macrium Reflect products have validation function. I don't use the FREE version as I have the PRO version.

    Here is the comparison between the products:

    http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

    As you can see none of them show a validation. However, before imaging Macrium Reflect checks for hardware failure, including even if it requires chkdsk first. If it finds an error, it informs you the error and refuses to backup, unless the error is corrected.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  17. jnthn

    jnthn Registered Member

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    There is a verification setting in Macrium Reflect Free. Idk why it's off by default though.

    @Mohamed
    Macrium Reflect Free installs a service (Macrium Reflect Image Mounting Service). Would it be safe to set it to manual or even disable it?
     

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    Last edited: Oct 7, 2013
  18. ams963

    ams963 Registered Member

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    @Brian K and @Mohamed

    Thank you so much. I'm just busy to go through all these stuff. I'll try out Brian's way of using Win 8 CD as WinPE bootable CD and see if it's convenient enough.

    I'll come back with confusions and questions. In the meantime if you guys missed any information feel free to keep them coming.:)
     
  19. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Hi jnthn,

    I believe that the service is only on when you start the program. And, it stays on until you reboot. After that it is not on. I might be wrong.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  20. ams963

    ams963 Registered Member

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    Yeah I've seen the limitations here http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
    And I'm okay with the features in free version.


    But here http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx in the feature list it says 'Windows PE Rescue Media (RAID support)'. If it builds WinRE why does it say WinPE. Or is it from the old version not corrected yet? But the page updated the date of the latest release. Why not the feature list?

    I'll manage. It'll take some time. But hey it's much better than downloading 2GB.;)


    You mean I just download the 19.9MB installer for Win 8 and that's it? No more download and Backupper build the WinRE? There's also a separate installer here http://www.backup-utility.com/download.html that says, 'AOMEI Backupper Linux Bootable Disc 1.6 All Windows Operating System 41MB'. What is that?

    Of course you have to show me the steps of building the bootmenu with EasyBCD. Do you think a bootmenu would be of any added convenience to a bootable usb WinRE?

    I can either use Macrium or Backupper to build the WinRE recovery media and then just copy snapshot.exe to the directory of the bootmenu or usb. Can I copy Macrium sub-directory to the usb recovery media with WinRE created by Backupper or vice-verse? I mean would very much want to build a WinRE recovery media with any one of the two and use all the three software with the media.:D
     
  21. ams963

    ams963 Registered Member

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    Here https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=2289064#post2289064 a member is also saying WinPE. Why is there no WinRE?

    Also he says to build the bootable Recovery media, there was a download of 183.6MB. Is the download difference due to paid version? 370 mb because free version?:doubt:
     
  22. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Hi Amit,

    Install the FREE version and see what size it asks you to download. Each computer might be different.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  23. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Only 19.9MB for Windows 8 x64, and it doesn't contain Windows x86 files.



    Once you build WinRE ISO for both Macrium Reflect FREE and AOMEI Backupper, I will show you how to build bootmenu with EasyBCD.


    I never build USB WinRE. I only needed it once, and then I built it from my other computer. If you don't have a second computer, then you should build USB WinRE in case of hard disk failure.


    Not just snapshot.exe but I will copy the complete directory of Drive Snapshot.


    No, you can't do that.

    Best regards,

    Mohamed
     
  24. ams963

    ams963 Registered Member

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    Oh okay.:)
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2013
  25. ams963

    ams963 Registered Member

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    But there's no mention of it anywhere here http://www.backup-utility.com/download.html# They say 19.9 MB for Win7, Win8 and Win Server 2008, 2012; 60.1 MB supports Win 7, WIn8, Win Vista, Win XP and Win Server 2003, 2008, 2012.:blink:

    So I need to download the full 60.1 MB version right? Why would they not mention something critical like that?:mad:


    Okay.:D:thumb:


    Okay. But would building a bootmenu add any extra convenience when I would already have the USB WinRE?


    I use the portable version of Drive Snapshot. That's only snapshot.exe


    That means I build a WInRE bootable usb with Macrium and can only place Drive Snapshot in it. Then use only Macrium and Drive Snapshot but not AOMEI Backupper? How would I use the three?
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2013
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