Users Of Macrium Reflect V7 Free Version - Need Help

Hello - I am using Windows 10 and have been backing up my laptop for over a year with the free version of Macrium Reflect. Is there any way to open the backup file and just take a few folders out of it and copy them to my hard drive?? Please advise. Thanks.

 

With Macrium you can perform system images, drive or partition images, or file backups of selected folders. Which have you been performing?

 

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I go to "Create a backup" and then "Image this disk". The file format on my external hard drive says "Disk Partition Image". Years ago I used other backup software that allowed opening up the backup folder and retrieving files. Not sure it Macrium has that feature. Any idea? Thanks

 

Do you have the option to mount the image?

 

Open Reflect and under Restore click on Explore Image. Put a tick against the drive you want to restore files from. That will assign a drive letter to the drive and you can then open Explorer and copy and paste whatever it is you want. Expect difficulties if you include any system files in your c&p and do ensure you are exploring the image you want files from, presumably the latest.

 

Cannot find an option to "mount" in Macrium Reflect. I remember that in another backup program though.

 

Okay, I opened Explore Image but for file type not sure whether to chose "Image Files" or "File and folder backup files". ??? I am trying to find a photo folder with all my JPGs. Also I'm confused by the location choices... do I pick the C: drive?? Obviously that's the largest file. What are the others??? See clip below...

 

Ver 7 requires VM, Ver 8 will have it’s own VM so will be able to mount the image. You should still be able to view the contents though via browser image.

 

Add a tick to C drive & click ok, it will allow you to view the contents as you would using the pc.

 

Sorry, I don't know what VM means. Is Ver 8 also free? Can I run an update to get it?

 

VM = Virtual Machine. This is included with Windows 10 Pro, however Macrium ver 8 will have its own VM. Ver 8 should approximately be out in August. The paid version is out.

 

Okay, thanks.

 

You’re welcome.

 

Sillycat41, From your screenshot, select (tick) your C drive, then where it says N/A a drive letter will be assigned to what will be the mounted image. Also put a tick in 'Enable access to restricted folders'.

Once the C drive image is mounted, you can browse it in Explorer and copy things to your C drive, or any other drive.

 

Pleas do not get distracted by other versions, the version you are using will do what you need - you just need a little help clarifying the details. For file type select image files and put the tick against C. Then do as _nullptr says. I'm watching the Wimbledon final so not able to help atm but will come back later if necessary.

 

I'm back. Never did find my jpg folder. Now I have a major problem and need help. Windows 10 crashed and I had to do repair install... lost all my programs but most can be reinstalled. My major problem is getting my Thunderbird email back (Firefox bookmarks would be nice too). I tried to follow the instructions above, but couldn't find my Mozilla profile. My last image backup was done with Macrium Reflect 7 and when i reinstalled it today free version 8 was what downloaded. Okay, here's what I did:
1. clicked on Restore
2. browsed for backup on external drive "E"
3. it opened to 4 choices so I choice "C" drive
4. checked Enable access
5. list of files opened... stuff like Boot, Program Files, Program File x86, Users, Windows, etc.
I could not find any of my personal folders or my Mozilla profile. What am I doing wrong? Wasn't it backup up?? What good is Macruim if it doesn't backup personal files?!?! Please help!! I am so stressed out from this episode.

 

You have entirely missed the point of using Macrium. After the crash all you had to do was restore the image you had created on your external drive. That would have restored your system exactly as it was when the image was created, including all your software and everything else that was on your C drive at the time. It is not too late to do that now and it may be your best way forward, but by definition the image will not include any files that have been created or modified subsequently.

EDIT - you can retrieve your email by logging into your email account in a web browser.

 

I guess I should have given more details. When I said Windows 10 crashed it was in a loop only the Blue Screen of Death kept coming up no matter what repair options I tried. I could never get back to the desktop. I was having a problem with Windows before the crash... kept getting "not responding" with several programs. A previous backup program I had years ago allowed me to mount it and copy any files I needed. Guess Macrium doesn't have that feature. :-(

 

In #5 I told you how to mount your Macrium image in Explorer and recover whatever you need.

 

I did follow your instructions in #5 on how to Mount the image in Explorer, however I cannot find the folder I need which is my Mozilla profile with T-bird and Firefox bookmarks. I have looked in the User folder with my name and even default users... not there. Very frustrated as the only thing I want is to get my saved email back. Either the Macrium backup Image is corrupt or those files are hidden as I absolutely cannot find them to copy. Might end up restoring the last Image backup even thought Windows is corrupt just so I can save my Mozilla profiles using a different method. Any more suggestion?

 

Your Mozilla profile is hidden. Read THIS on how to access it.

 

I realize that... I know how to find my Mozilla profiles on my laptop but I have searched and searched the Macrium full backup file on my external hard drive and cannot find the profile folder. I checked the "Enable access to restricted folders" and did a search for the profile but still can't find it! I don't see any other options on how to read hidden files.

 

OK, I've been taking a closer look at how the Moxilla bookmarks backup system actually works and the bottom line is that it can only work in a live system. There is no way at all it can recover bookmark backups from an image file. If you really have to recover your old bookmarks then you would have to -

. Create a new system image
. Restore your earlier image
. Backup your bookmarks to a file on an external disk - instructions HERE
. Restore your current image
. Restore your bookmarks from the backup file

This should work but to my mind entails a ridiculous amount of effort just to recover some bookmarks.

 

I know how to find the Mozilla profiles to save them and restore them. It's not the bookmarks that I really want... it's all my saved emails in Thunderbird. I just don't understand how Macrium Reflect can restore my computer image with Thunderbird intact with all the email, but it cannot be found in the image backup. It's got to be in there somewhere??? Thanks for trying to help. I think I'll just bite the bullet and restore my last image backup and accept that I lost stuff. Of course I'll also be restoring the corrupt Windows 10. Any ideas what causes frequent "not responding" errors in several different programs? Bad memory? Processor failing? Having trouble researching that problem too. Have a nice day!

 

Whether your emails were actually stored on your computer or not depends on which type of email account you had/have. If it was a POP3 account then they definitely would have been, but if it was an IMAP account then probably not, they would have been, and may still be on your mail provider's server. Which type did/do you have?

 

They are... it's a POP3 account. When I replaced the hard drive with Macrium, I cloned the drive and everything was there. Unfortunately the Image backup must be different. I'm in the process of saving all documents and photos since the last backup and will restore the old one. Tired to trying to find the T-bird profiles on the Image backup. I give up! Thanks for your input.

 

Once you have restored your image, and assuming it was a simple whole disk image, your hard disk will be exactly as it was when the image was created and your emails will be there. I suggest creating a new image now rather than saving your files. Too much risk of losing stuff. Good luck anyway.

 

Yes, I decided to create an image of this repaired version of Win 10 even though my email isn't on it. Then I'll restore the previous backup with my email and export it and save my bookmarks too. Next I'll restore the new image backup and import my email, etc. It's going to take hours but there is no shortcut. I learned a valuable lesson though... backup more often and backup the email separately. I assume that you use Macrium Reflect, right? Do you have the paid version? I think that's the only was to do incremental backups, right? I appreciate your help. Thanks!

 

Sounds good, hope it goes without a hitch.

Yes, I use the free version 7. I use it to do a full system image once a month (basically that means my C drive) but I do not use it for my personal data files, long since moved to their own partition. IMO there are better ways to keep your personal data safe.

 

When you have some time could you explain how you do a backup of just your personal data files. It takes so long to do a full image backup of my laptop because I have so many photos, etc. That's what got my in trouble this past week... I didn't have a recent backup and didn't want to lose so much data. I put off doing a full backup because it takes about 3 hrs. I don't see the point in backing up Windows each week (or month) either... except maybe after a Windows update. I get they you put your personal data files on their own partition... I'd have to download some partition software. Would all my programs, browser, email. etc. be on their own desktop? I'm a bit confused on this subject... never used partitions before. Thanks in advance. Hope it's not to hard to explain.

 

File & Folder backup is not possible unless you’re using the paid version.
I find doing a full image on the 1st of the month (which takes 4-5 hours incl verifying) & then a differential image every Monday, then Tues - Fri I di incremental images (Incremental is only available via the paid version) (this takes minutes).
A full backup isn’t needed every time you run a backup, A full once a month or before a major update, then differential 3 times a week is enough for the average user. Combine this with the Windows ow File History then a user is covered for all eventualities.
An image is a snapshot of your computer’s drive at that particular time. I envision it as taking a photograph of where all the files, folders & programs are as well as where the Windows files/folders are & keeping that photo safe. When recovering the Macrium image it will take this ‘Photo’ & place everything back to where it originally was at the time the photo was taken.
The images are usually created on an external hard drive as .img files.
Images can help you recover from a drive failure or Windows corruption. A few hours to recover or several hours/days reinstalling Windows, updating drivers, installing all programs & replacing files back to their original location.
In my case & full clean install can take days - mainly due to all the games I have installed. Windows itself, all drivers, programs etc only takes 4-5 hours to install.

 

If it took hours to image my computer I don't think I would bother. Also, with personal data on the same partition as Windows it would all get overwritten if you had to do a system restore, requiring you to maintain a second backup set to restore your personal stuff. By moving all your personal stuff off of the system drive you greatly reduce the volume of stuff to be backed up and it remains unaffected if you need to do a system restore. My system backups with Macrium take just minutes even on a 7 year old laptop, and a restore only a little longer. I use Minitool Partition Wizard to set up my partitions but there are many capable free disk management programs available.

That's system backup, which I do monthly, but data backup requires a different approach. It's simple in File Explorer to move the folders that comprise your personal profile - Documents, Music etc, but when it comes to backing them up there is a huge choice of methods and software. Personally I use WinRAR daily for stuff that is being constantly updated and SyncBack Free weekly for the rest. WinRAR gives me access to all previous backups while SyncBack ensures all remaining personal folders have a current backup. I also leave Windows File History running all the time.

Backup is a big subject and requires careful thought if you are to be sure you won't ever lose stuff. The standard Windows configuration of keeping everything on the same partition is definitely not the way to do it.

 

In my case personal files are quick to restore so saving these to another drive wouldn’t save me time.
I have a 2TB SSD, of which over 1TB used.
Incremental images take minutes.