How do I specify the backup target folder?

For disk images this is specified in the first page of the backup wizard:

Similarly, for File and Folder backups, this is also on the first page of the backup wizard.

---

What is a backup set?

Backups are grouped into 'sets'. A backup set contains first a Full backup and subsequent linked incremental and differential backups. You can see the links by looking at the default file name which is a unique backup set identifier, followed by a number pair:

The above folder contents shows (marked in red) a single backup set {4F6F6CACA58B077D} which contains a full image and 4 increments. The end of the image file contains a number pair 'xx-yy.mrimg'

'xx' is the increment number.
00 - Full image
01 - first incremental/differential
02 - Second incremental/differential

'yy' is the file number and is always sequential. 00, 01, 02, 03... . This will be different to the increment number only if files have been split This can happen if files larger than 4GB are saved to a FAT32 file system or you are saving an image to multiple DVDs.

So the first file for a full image always ends with '00-00.mrimg'.

Note: The Image ID, file and increment numbers are also stored as data inside the files. Renaming a file does not affect the integrity of the set, Macrium Reflects ability to append to the set, or restoration of the files.

How is a set chosen when an Incremental or Differential backup is run?

Each back set is grouped by similar backup types. This means that a single set will only consist of images of exactly the same partitions or a File and Folder backups of exactly the same selection criteria.

e.g, If you run an Incremental image of only drive 'C' and the target folder contains 4 image files:

6698CD700DF88DF4-00-00.mrimg Drives: C, D, E Created 1st Jan 2013
430D57E2CEEA8552-00-00.mrimg Drive: F Created 2st Dec 2012
1EB1112ABA7C3898-00-00.mrimg Drive: C: Created 1st Nov 2012
D407A9E1BF98D822-00-00.mrimg Drive: C: Created 1st Oct 2012

Then the newly created image file will be 1EB1112ABA7C3898-01-01.mrimg. This is because file 1EB1112ABA7C3898-00-00.mrimg is the most recent full image in the target folder that contains exactly the same partitions as the current Incremental image. The next Incremental (or Differential) image would be 1EB1112ABA7C3898-02-02.mrimg and so on...

Note: If there was no existing backup set that contained only drive 'C:' then a new backup set (full) would be created.

Doesn't this get confusing if multiple backup types are saved to the same folder?

Not if you use the 'Restore' tab in Macrium Reflect to view your images to mount and/or restore. The Restore Tab can be restricted to show only images that contain a particular drive and also be sorted by date. So, if you want to restore drive 'C' as it was last week than you can easily find it. In fact Backup Sets are an abstraction that you don't need to worry about when restoring data, they are only relevant to optimizing backup speed and storage space.

Note: If you want to organize your backup sets so they are easier to find in Windows Explorer then we recommend that you save different backup types to different folders. e.g.

D:\Backups\Images of C
D:\Backups\Images of D
D:\Backups\Images of Disk 1

Additional Information

This article explains how to use the 'Fix Boot Problems' option to resolve common boot problems when restoring an image.

When restoring an image or cloning a HD there can be situations where Windows is unable to boot due to incorrect boot configuration. This article explains how Reflect enables you to resolve these situations.

Depending on whether the disk you have restored uses GPT or MBR partitioning schemes, the action you need to take may vary. This article covers both cases.

Fix boot problems on MBR/BIOS systems

Fix Windows boot problems is available in the Windows PE Rescue media environment. To fix Windows boot problems, start your computer with your rescue media inserted. Then, after a restore or clone, to use fix boot problems:

1. Select the restore menu, then select fix boot problems. Alternatively, choose the restore tab then under restore tasks select Fix Windows Boot Problems.

2. The Fix boot problems wizard will then open.

3. You will be presented with a list of Windows Installs, which the wizard detects. Verify these are correct. If the wizard has not automatically detected your Windows install, add it using the buttons on the right. You can also correct any details using the edit functionality.

4. Select the active partition. The wizard automatically selects the boot disk for the relevant Windows install, but you can change this if you are using an alternative setup:

5. Choose the boot options to be fixed. We recommend leaving all options checked, however, power users may wish to alter the behaviour of the wizard.

6. Click finish. The wizard will then offer you the choice to reboot. If you need to perform additional tasks in the PE environment such as ReDeploy, select no. Otherwise, select yes.

7. Your system will now boot.

---

Fix Boot problems for GPT/UEFI Boot Systems

Fix boot problems is available in the same location as for MBR systems. Boot your UEFI capable rescue media. Then:

1. Select the restore menu, then select fix boot problems. Alternatively, choose the restore tab then under restore tasks select Fix Windows Boot Problems.

2. The Fix boot problems wizard will then open.

3. You will be presented with a list of Windows Installs, which the wizard detects. Verify these are correct. If the wizard has not automatically detected your Windows install, add it using the buttons on the left. You can also correct any details using the edit functionality.

4. (Optional Step) if you have multiple disks, you may be asked to select which you should boot from. Choose the disk you wish to boot from, then press next.

5. The wizard will then display a summary screen. Press Next.

6. You will then see a report showing you a choice of actions and allowing you to restart your PC. Select Yes if you wish to restart now and select No if you wish to perform additional tasks in the PE environment.

This article details how to ensure that disk space management functions are enforced for duplicate directories

Problem

Solution

The Macrium Reflect Windows PE rescue media is not machine specific, however, there are two issues that could possibly arise:

1. Hardware differences between Machine A and B.
   While the rescue media creation process will take into account drivers required for hardware on Machine A, the addition, or loading, of drivers for hardware on Machine B would have to be a manual process if required.
   
   If drivers are needed on Machine B to access local fixed disks (e.g.: RAID configuration), USB3 hardware or Ethernet based resources (e.g.: NAS or other file server) then these drivers will need to be loaded manually once the rescue media has booted into the WinPE environment.
2. Booting differences between Machine A and B.
   If Machine A is a UEFI booting system then in all likelihood the rescue media will have been created as UEFI and will not boot if Machine B is an MBR booting system and vice versa.

Search Terms
Boot Rescue Media
Boot Rescue Media On Different Machine

Applies to:

Macrium Reflect version 5.1 all editions and windows versions.

About the Macrium installation process

The macrium installer is msi based with an executable wrapper to ensure it is launched in the correct mode

Command line installation

In most cases, just invoking the installer interactively will be the most effective way to install Reflect. However, in some cases, particularly if the installation is to be automated across many PCs, it may be more desirable to enable the installation to complete without user intervention. To do this, first download the installer using ReflectDL. Then invoke using the following options.

reflect_setup_x64.exe /passive /l log.txt LICKEY=16-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXX

Or, if you have ordered multiple licenses, you can install them on multiple computers with the same command. If you run out of licenses, the install will fail.

reflect_setup_x64.exe /passive /l log.txt ORDERREF=NNNNNNNN ORDEREMAIL=sample_email@macrium.com

If the installation fails, consult the log file, specified by the /l parameter to discover why.

The above examples will display a progress bar. If you wish the install to be completely invisible, replace /passive with /qn.

Notes

1) The installer name will vary dependent on edition and platform.

2) This will only work with full (not upgrade) licenses.

3) An internet connection is required.

Search Terms
How do I install silently
Can I use msi command line parameters

How to download and install a trial of Macrium Reflect

It is possible to download and install a trial of all editions of Macrium Reflect including Standard, Professional and Server. The trial is valid for 30 days and is fully functional. The only exception to this is the Redeploy which is not available in the Pro and Server trial editions. The decision to remove this functionality was done on commercial grounds as a result of usage patterns. We are happy for any potential users including corporate or business users to download and install the trial as a mechanism for validating if Reflect if viable.

Installing

How do I see what my actual user account name is?

The actual account name can be different to the 'Friendly' name used at the Windows login screen. If you are having difficulty finding your user account name then follow the steps below:

1. Open a command prompt. Click 'Start' then type cmd and press 'Enter'.
2. For Windows Vista/7/8 type 'whoami' and press Enter:

The screen shot above shows that the user account currently logged on is office3
ick

Similarly, for Windows XP, type echo %username%

Note: The computer name 'office3' is not shown but will be defaulted if not entered in the schedule dialog.

I don't use a password but the scheduler is prompting for one?

If you don't use a password when logging into Windows then your system may have been set to automatically log you in with a saved password. To reset your password please follow the steps below:

1. Click 'Start', type 'netplwiz' and press Enter.
2. In the dialog that opens select 'Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer' and click 'Apply'

3. To manage/change your user account password press Ctrl+Alt+Del

This article details the issues with Norton Internet Security (NIS) 2013 when creating the Macrium Windows PE rescue media on Windows XP

Problem

Solution

verify.exe "full path to image file or folder" -p[--password] "password" -r[--recurse] -l[--logfile] "logfile name"

file name or path with wild card can be entered.
e,g; "d:\backups\*" or "d:\backups\1FF33614674A6438-00-00.mrimg"

-p OR --password The optional password that was used to protect and/or encrypt the backup

-r OR --recurse Scan all sub-folders if a folder is specified. The default is not to recurse.

-l OR --logfile Full path to output log file. This file will be created for each run and contains the file name and verification status 'success' or 'fail'.

-s OR --set Verify all files in the set. Use if verifying individual files to ensure they can be restored. When verifying all files in a folder this isn't necessary. The default is not to verify the entire set.

-h OR --help This help output

examples:

verify.exe "d:\backups\1FF33614674A6438-00-00.mrimg"

verify.exe "d:\backups\1FF33614674A6438-00-00.mrimg" --set --password "mypassword" -l "c:\verifylog.txt"

verify.exe "d:\backups\*" --password "mypassword" -r -l "c:\verifylog.txt"

To start DiskRestore

1. Click the Dos command prompt button on the Windows PE task bar.

2. In the command Windows that opens type: "x:\program files\macrium\diskrestore.exe" and press Enter.

3. DiskRestore will start and the restore dialog will be shown:

4. Click the '...' button to choose your image file, select the partitions to restore, select the target disk and click 'Restore'

In this article we will show some of the new shell extension features that integrate with Macrium Reflect

Try a different image and try verifying the images

If images are sufficiently corrupted they may not mount correctly. In this case, please try:

1. Verifying the image you wish to mount. If this fails, this could be the cause.
2. Exploring a different image.

Use the installer repair feature

Open up the control panel by selecting it in the start menu. Then
on Windows Vista and later select "Programs and Features". On Windows XP, select "Add/Remove Programs". Scroll down until you find "Macrium Reflect {Edition}", then select this entry and click the repair option. On Windows XP, you may need to right click and select Repair.

Follow the installer through whilst it repairs Macrium Reflect, then please then try mounting an image again.

Validate the mounting driver exists and is started

If this does not work, we need to check the driver file is present. To do this, you will need an elevated command prompt. If you search for cmd.exe in the start menu, then right click on this and select "run as administrator", you will open a command window with "Administrator:" in the title.

Alternatively, on Windows 8 systems, hold the Windows Key and press X then select "Command Prompt (admin)" from the menu.

Once there, type the following:

dir c:\windows\system32\drivers\psmounter*

If you see the following:

 Volume in drive C is Windows Volume Serial Number is FA88-9060 Directory of c:\windows\system32\drivers07/03/2013  15:39            63,096 psmounterex.sys               1 File(s)         63,096 bytes               0 Dir(s)  123,416,559,616 bytes free

Then you have the necessary driver file psmounterex.sys.

Once this command completes, type:

sc start PSMounterEx

If you receive any error other than this one:

[SC] StartService FAILED 1056:An instance of the service is already running.

then the driver is not running and you will need to follow the final step below.

Re-install with logging

Download the installer if you have not already done so. You can do this by using our download utility ReflectDL and inputting your license key to retrieve the correct installer for your license. ReflectDL is available from http://www.macrium.com/pages/downloads.aspx.

When the installer launches, in the bottom left there is an option to enable logging. Please check this option and complete the installer.

Please then try mounting again. If this does not work, there will be a log file created at C:\reflect_install.log. Send this log to us a support ticket via the following web page: http://www.macrium.com/ticket.aspx.

Downloading Macrium Reflect Installer and PE Components

1. Download theMacrium Reflect Download Agentand run it

2. In the dialog that opens Click 'Trial Software' to download the trial installer and select the Macrium Reflect Edition from the drop down list to the right.
If you have purchased Macrium Reflect then Click 'Full Software' and enter a valid license key to automatically download your purchased product.

3.Enter the folder where the downloads will be saved to or Click '...' to select a folder.

4.Click 'Run installer directly after downloading' to run the installation package as soon as the download completes successfully.
Note: If you intend to install on another computer then leave this item unchecked.

5.Click Options to select different download options (see Modifying the default selections):

6.Click Download to start downloading your installation files.

Modifying the default selections

By default, the most appropriate installation for your PC will be selected for download. This is based on operating system, architecture and existing rescue media components.

You can, however, change the combination of downloaded files for your requirements. For example, you can choose to download the Windows PE 4 rescue media even if your OS is Windows XP, you can also choose to download just the Reflect installer or Windows PE files:

On the main download agent window, Click Options.



Click 32 bit or 64 bit to select the architecture then Select your download choice using the drop-down list.

Search Terms
Download Trial
Macrium Reflect Download Agent
Download Rescue Media Components

This article explains how to convert a physical machine to a virtual machine on a VMware ESXi Host

Migrating old physical hardware to virtual machine is an increasingly common business requirement as companies consolidate old hardware onto newer, more powerful, virtual systems to reduce asset management overhead.

This article deals explicitly with conversion from a physical host to an ESXi-based virtual machine. However many of these steps are relevant to other VMware products. In addition, moving VMware virtual machines from one VMware product to another is well supported.

Preparation

There are two initial preparation steps to this process:

1. Create a rescue media ISO. To do this, please see the KB article on rescue media. On the last page of this wizard, change the CD/DVD burner to "create ISO Image":

Then click finish. Select a location for the ISO file and click save.

2. Upload the ISO to the ESXi file store. To do this, in the vSphere client, select configuration, right click on the datastore and select browse datastore:

Create a sensibly-named location. Then press the upload button, browse for your ISO and press Ok. The following screenshot shows the upload button, the location created and the in-progress transfer:

3. Image your physical system. To do this, please refer to the knowledgebase article How to Create a Disk Image.

3. Upload your created VMDK to the ESXi data store. This is similar to the preparation step "uploading a rescue ISO".

• Download the installer and Microsoft components to enable building of the PE based rescue environment
• Validation of your license during installation.
• Notification and download of updates

Notes:

This article refers to the machine you wish to install Reflect on as the"target PC" and the machine connected to the internet as the"online PC".
You will need access to a computer that is connected to the Internet and a device to copy files to the target PC.

1. Download the installer and PE components.

Download the Macrium Reflect Download Agent on your online PC and run it.

Select Trial and choose the editionor select Full and enter your key.

The download agent is automatically configured for the computer it is running on. You will need to reconfigure it to reflect your target PC instead. Do this by clicking the Options button.

Choose the download architecture for your offline PC. See the "How to identify the architecture of your target machine" at the end of this article.

Choose the installer and PE component. E.g, "Reflect installer and PE 4 components" if your target machine is running windows 8, otherwise "Reflect installer and PE 3 components"

Click OK, then un-check "Run installer directly after downloading", and Click download.

Once the download is complete, you will find two new files in the folder saved to...



The file names will vary dependent on your particular selections. There will be an installer .exe file and a PE components zip file.

Copy these two files to your target PC and run the installer ensuring that the zip file is in the same folder. You will then be able to install your software and generate PE rescue CDs.

---

2. Offline installation of your purchased license.

Note: This step is not necessary for the Free or Trial Editions of Macrium Reflect.

When you run the installer on your target PC, instead of the automatic activation, you will be given an activation code. F95B-K9XV-8SZ in the example below.



Navigate to the registration server on your online PC and enter your license key and activation code.



Click 'Submit' and you will receive an offline key as shown below.


Enter the Offline key in the install dialog to complete installation.

3. Ensuring your software is up to date.

Note: For online installations, update notifications and patching is automatic.

Check the change log web page periodically for updates. If you see an update that is relevant to your system, follow the steps in 1. above, but choose the 'Reflect Installer' option in the download agent.

---

How to identify the architecture of your target machine.

Run msinfo32 (type Windows Key + R and then type msinfo32) and note thesystem type.

x86-based PC indicates that the target machine is 32 bitand x64-based PC indicates a 64bit system.

You may encounter an issue with file and folder backups where an included folder is located on a network share. This article explains the possible cause and provides a workaround. It may be possible to navigate to the network share in Windows Explorer, but when the backup is run, an error similar to the following is displayed:

Solution

Usually, the first time an application attempts to connect to the Internet you will be prompted to allow access by your AV software or sometimes Internet access may be just denied.

When running the Installer download agent (ReflectDL.exe) you may see "Could not connect to the Macrium Servers":

When taking the 'Other Tasks' > 'Check for updates' option in Macrium Reflect you may see "Unable to download update information":

When creating a rescue CD you may see "No Internet Connection":

Source Sector Size	Target Sector Size	Compatible
512 or 512e	512 or 512e
512 or 512e	4096	No
4096	512 or 512e
4096	4096

A sector is the smallest addressable block on a disk and until recently all disks had a sector size of 512 bytes. With the advent of larger, multi Terabyte, disks the physical sector size has increased on some disks to 4096 bytes. These are sometimes referred to as 4K sector disks. To overcome Windows compatibility issues the majority of disks use a technology called Advanced Format 512e. This enables 4K disks to emulate 512 byte sector size disks by providing an emulated sector size of 512 bytes.

The NTFS file system contains a data structure called the Master File Table (MFT). The MFT is critical to the file system and defines all the files and directories. The MFT contains 'records' and each record is 1024 bytes (1K) long if the disk sector size is 512 bytes. For a 512 byte per sector disk this equates to 2 sectors. If the entire file system is restored or cloned to a disk with a sector size of 4096 Bytes then each MFT record (at 1K) would be a quarter of a sector. Since a sector is the smallest amount data that can be read or written to a disk this means that NTFS cannot directly read it's own data! 4K Disks that support Advanced Format 512e do not have this problem as these disks permit directly accessing 512 bytes of data.

• The disk is only used as a backup target
• The disk takes a significant amount of time to analyze.

1. Click 'Start'type 'regedit.exe' and press enter

2. In the Window that opens navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Macrium\Reflect\Disks'

3. Right click in the right hand Window and select 'New' > 'DWORD (32 bit) value':

4. Type 'Diskn' where 'n' is the number of the disk in Macrium Reflect that you want to skip:

Note: Leave the value at the defaulted '0'

5. Close RegEdit.

The next time that Macrium Reflect starts the entered disk will be excluded from analysis.