Macrium Reflect Free

ChuckRJr · November 01, 2017, 04:45:16 PM

I installed Version 7.1.2642. I then created a Boot Flash Drive. The instructions say to test the boot capabilities. I inserted the flash drive and booted the system.
Question: How do you verify it started from Macrium_PE? I checked the boot sequence and my SSD is the second choice.

Question: What is the difference between Clone and Backup? Which is better on a Home computer?

It is to bad the free version does not allow you into the Forum.

MikeW · November 02, 2017, 09:11:38 AM

Here's a link to the user guide which should answer all your questions

http://updates.macrium.com/reflect/v7/user_guide/macrium_reflect_v7_user_guide.pdf?src=sidebar

ChuckRJr · November 02, 2017, 05:16:44 PM

The pdf covers many things I have yet to read. It shows the creation of the USB, which I checked and is MBR, but does not indicate verification of which device booted.

techie · November 02, 2017, 07:42:57 PM

I would guess your system doesn't have boot from USB set, in the bios before the hard drive as the initial boot device.

If the hard drive is set as the first or second boot device, DVD is more commonly set as the 1st boot device. USB is rarely set as the the 1st or 2nd boot device before the hard drive, in most older bios settings.

Most computers give you a option to chose which device to boot from, by hitting F10 or F12 while at the initial splash screen and will allow you to chose which device to boot to. Just because it is set with a MBR doesn't mean it is the first device selected to boot.

techie · November 02, 2017, 07:58:29 PM

P.S. If the first device is set as a USB drive in the bios it still may not boot to it.

ChuckRJr · November 04, 2017, 05:50:10 PM

What the H good is it if you can only find out if this works until the system SSD crashes.
The SSD is the 2nd item in the boot sequence. The DVD is the 3rd. I run an ASUS P6X58D-E with Intel 930.

MikeW · November 04, 2017, 07:32:44 PM

The USB/flashdrive must be set as the first boot drive. IF the PC boots then you are ok. Remember to reset your boot sequence after the test.

techie · November 04, 2017, 11:42:54 PM

Quote from: MikeW on November 04, 2017, 07:32:44 PM
The USB/flash drive must be set as the first boot drive. IF the PC boots then you are ok. Remember to reset your boot sequence after the test.

That's exactly it, the bios will boot to the first drive that has a boot partition set. If the Hard drive is before the USB then it will boot from the hard drive. If the USB is set as the first boot device, then it will boot from it, if available before the hard drive. The bios searches for the first available drive with a boot partition. It only searches in the order it is set until it finds a device with a master boot record. Boot from USB sometimes has to be set in the bios as well. What is the first device listed? Is it the old boot from floppy? It needs to be the USB drive.

As I stated earlier, at the bios boot screen hit F10, F12 and sometimes esc. It varies for different systems. You should then be presented with the option of which device to boot from, i.e. Hard drive, DVD, USB. Some systems use F10 or F12 for there recovery partition.

ChuckRJr · November 05, 2017, 02:26:00 PM

In the Boot Sequence #1 is Removable Device, #2 is SATA and #3 is CDROM.

plodr · November 05, 2017, 06:32:01 PM

QuoteHow do you verify it started from Macrium_PE?

It should indicate what it is when it boots.

I've never used macrium but when I boot my USB stick with Acronis, I get a menu and one of the options is Acronis. Then it says starting Acronis and I see the program where I can choose to backup (image) part of a device or the entire device (all the partitions) or restore a partition or the entire hard drive.

techie · November 06, 2017, 02:50:42 PM

Quote from: ChuckRJr on November 05, 2017, 02:26:00 PM
In the Boot Sequence #1 is Removable Device, #2 is SATA and #3 is CDROM.

Removable devices doesn't necessarily mean USB is set as a boot device. Though floppy drives are obsolete, for some reason there still set in many bios configurations. In advanced it varies between different bios and systems, not the boot sequence, there should be a removable drive setting. Is it disabled? Is there an option for boot from USB device? Some just don't have the USB option. Some only have floppy disk listed. If it doesn't have a boot from USB option, then you have to look at the keying on the bios splash screen before system boot up to select the boot device, as stated above. I have four other boot options besides the hard drives or CD drive once selected.

Have you ever used any other USB device to boot before this, i.e. Windows?

ChuckRJr · November 07, 2017, 04:32:19 AM

I have never used another method to bootup. As I mentioned the boot sequence lists cdrom 3rd. I will do some digging to see if I can find details regarding REMOVABLE DEVICES.