Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > alt.comp.os.windows-8 > #31087

Re: Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk.

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

Show all headers | View raw

On 1/6/2022 10:46 AM, Frank Slootweg wrote:
>    This is probably a 'dumb' question, but seeing on micky's troubles of
> late, I'd rather be safe than sorry.
> 
>    Does Macrium Reflect (Free) backup and restore the non-partition bits
> of a disk, when you make partition-based backup of a disk?
> 
>    N.B. I have of course studied the Macrium documentation, but did not
> see a clear answer to this question, hence this post.
> 
>    With the non-partition bits, I mean the GPT, the MBR (if any) and any
> other parts which are not part of the partitions on the disk.
> 
>    I make partition-based backup with Macrium. One Backup Definition File
> backs up all partitions except C (done only once). And another Backup
> Definition File backs up the C partition (Full and Differential backups).
> 
>    N.B. Macrium has a 'Image this disk' - "disk", not "partition(s)" -
> function, but as far as I can tell, that is just a partition-based
> backup where all the partitions on the disk are selected/ticked, but can
> be unselected/unticked. So I don't think there's a functional difference
> between the 'Image this disk' function and my two partition-based Backup
> Definition Files.
> 
>    Are these backups sufficient to restore (by means of the Rescue Media)
> the disk, i.e. the partitions *and* the non-partition bits, in case of a
> (unfixable) boot failure, disk-replacement, etc.?
> 
>    In other words, does the 'all partitions except C' image file, contain
> not only the contents of these partitions, but also the GPT, etc.?
> 
>    My partitions are:
> 
> 1 - WINRE    (None) NTFS        Primary, 276.3  MB of 650.0  MB
> 2 - NO NAME  (None) FAT32 (LBA) Primary, 104.5  MB of 260.0  MB
> 3 -          (None) Unformatted Primary, 128.0  MB of 128.0  MB
> 4 - Windows  (C:)   NTFS        Primary, 224.23 GB of 911.06 GB
> 4 - RECOVERY (D:)   NTFS        Primary,  17.28 GB of 19.43  GB
> 
>    N.B. The system is Windows 8.1.
> 
>    Thanks in advance for your response.

Do an operation in 6.3.1865, generate an MRIMG, use the builtin
"img2vhd.exe" function, mount the VHD in VirtualBox as a data disk,
use HxD hex editor and take a spin through the sectors with that,
to observe what is inside the VHD.

That's how you'd prove to yourself what is in there.

The VHD will have all the vestiges of a disk drive, and the
info for that came out of the MRIMG, it's not a free lunch part
of VHD construct. The VHD is just a "block recorder".

Yes, Macrium does include "superfluous" information in backups.

A subtle hint, is try an untick the MBR box on the interface,
click "Next", then "Back". Did the MBR box tick itself back
on again ? Then that is a subtle way of saying "we're going to be
capturing more than you think". You can't force the tool to be
totally negligent :-) It tries its best.

I rate it a "99%" utility, because it's pretty good but it's
not perfect perfect. The Boot Repair doesn't always work.
But then, they're using some Microsoft stuff for that too.

    Paul

Back to alt.comp.os.windows-8 | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk. Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2022-01-06 15:46 +0000
  Re: Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk. Ed Cryer <ed@somewhere.in.the.uk> - 2022-01-06 19:14 +0000
    Re: Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk. Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2022-01-07 10:31 +0000
  Re: Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk. Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2022-01-06 14:47 -0500
    Re: Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk. Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2022-01-07 10:48 +0000
      Re: Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk. Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2022-01-07 08:38 -0500
        Re: Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk. Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2022-01-07 14:24 +0000
        Re: Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk. Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> - 2022-01-07 10:36 -0800
  Re: Macrium backup/restore of non-partition bits of a disk. Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> - 2022-01-06 11:55 -0800

csiph-web