Backing Up With Macrium Reflect

Backing up about 200GB of files from a 250GB external hard drive onto a 2TB external hard drive, then when done, it says that the 2TB is now 250GB in size? Any ideas what's going on please?

 

What exact Operating System are you using? You must always quote your OS for any help query here.
With the external drive plugged in and going to 'This PC' or 'my computer' it should show the size and free space as in this image:

 

Thanks - Win 7 Pro 64 bit, but when looking in the 'my computer' it still shows the wrong capacity.

 

Post a screen shot of that window only (use the 'alt+PrtScr' combo to get a focussed screenshot). Close or minimise all other windows and programs before taking the screen shot (DON'T use 'ctrl+PrcScr' combo)

NB: Additionally, you could also OPEN the external drive in file explorer, see what is saved and see what the SIZE of each folder is by right-clicking > properties

 

What does the 2TB external look like in Disk Management? Type diskmgmt.msc in Start > Search

 

I think Macrium cloned the 250 GB drive as a partition and there will be a ton of unallocated space on that 2 TB drive that shows up in Disk Management. The partition can be expanded to occupy the entire drive.

 

That was exactly my suspicion too, though the OP does talk about backing up files. Disk Management will confirm one way or the other.

 

Maybe the OP needs to become more knowledgable on how to use Macrium
http://updates.macrium.com/reflect/v6/user_guide/macrium_reflect_v6_user_guide.pdf

 

This is totally correct:
"I think Macrium cloned the 250 GB drive as a partition and there will be a ton of unallocated space on that 2 TB drive that shows up in Disk Management. The partition can be expanded to occupy the entire drive."
How do you expand it?

 

I did r/click on the partition to extend volume, but got the message (on the attached) that it wasn't possible. I've been working on computers almost every day since 2001, but have not come across this problem before.

 

You may be able to expand the partition in Disk Management by right clicking it and using Extend Volume. If Windows can't extend it to use the entire disk then install Partition Wizard and do it with that.

If you are new to imaging with Macrium then I'd advise studying the manual Max linked you to so you understand the difference between file backups, disk images, and disk cloning.

EDIT - sorry, I see you have tried that already so use Partition Wizard. But you may need first to convert the partition from Logical to Primary, which PW can also do.

 

Thanks, I'll give PW a try later.

 

You may not need to convert the drive to Primary (if you're not running an OS on it).

Choose Resize Partition, drag the right "handle" all the way to the right and apply the changes.

 

Thanks for the idea, but no option for that - please see image here. It's a similar issue for disk 3 in the image, it's a 1tb drive but only recognised as having 232gb. There's no OS on either disk 1 or disk 3.

Can you someone point me to a free, non-trial Partition Wizard please? Thanks.

 

I gave you the link in #11

 

If you're having problems (for some reason) with the installed version of MiniTool, you can create a bootable CD with MiniTool on it right from within the program. Then boot to the CD and do your resizing.

 

Thanks - PW solved it and thanks for the link - I must have missed it before - lifes like that sometimes.

 

Pleased it's sorted. Word of advice - don't use Macrium, or any imaging program, for backing up files. Just use it for backing up your OS from time to time. I did expect you to be weeping over having lost stuff on the two externals due to the cloning so as you aren't I guess/hope all is OK.

 

After working with computers for over 16 years, I would never be in a state of weeping like that. The data was never at risk, it just got backed up to a drive that had a temporary identity problem over it's capacity!

I've never had a problem with backing up via Macrium and it always seems really quick as well. As a matter of interest, what do you others use to backup large amounts (on some of my hard drives, it can get up to 1tb) of data nowadays?

 

I use a sync program, SyncBack Free, that just copies over any files that are new or have been changed. Backups can be scheduled and the files remain in their native format rather than being in a proprietary format requiring the creating program to recover them.

The free version of Macrium cannot perform file backups so is unsuitable for your purpose.

 

This is free and pretty good:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/aomei_backupper_standard.html

I use Acronis True Image but it's not free:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/acronis_true_image_home_2013.html

 

I just use my free version of Macrium (Reflect) to backup the whole of a drive to another - that backs it all up for me.

 

Partition Wizard Free version no longer includes the ability to create a bootable CD.
Kindly Reminder:
https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/partition-magic-boot-cd.html#howto-obtain

You can download an .iso here:
http://downloads.tomsguide.com/MiniTool-Partition-Wizard-Bootable-CD,0301-51034.html
The title says it's version 9.1, but it may be 9.0.
If the moderators do not like this link, I can provide another.

 

'About' says it's 9.0. Thanks for the link.