macrium reflect recovery cd (no cd/dvd drive)

hi i have some questions regarding macrium reflect

i have no cd/dvd drive but with macrium would need to create a recovery cd.??

is there a way around this?

also could also do with some tips/advice/instruction on how to use the software effectivly/competently.

and better understand some of the terms and methods required thanks for any help/info given

This is a good start, read it carefully then ask questions.
Its not hard, Billy, and it will truly be worth the effort. It saved me while downloading Updates, I froze and could no longer boot. I used my Image and I was back up and running in 15 minutes.
Imaging with free Macrium - Windows 7 Forums

ok so do i create a usb bootable thumb from the macrium recovery .iso

in the same way as i created a windows bootable usb?

also would you reccomend the linux version or the windows (waik) version?

thanks

Im glad that you started a new thread, so that we can start from square one.
We will do it exactly the way that I did it.
I have Windows Seven (for our purposes its the same as Vista)
I used the Windows version.
But, I am going to do even better for you buddy. I will get the author of the Tutorial, here. He is the Macrium Expert and between the two of us you will get the best treatment possible
We have solved many problems together, but with WHS on our team, it will even be easier.

i thought that would be for the best.

ok but that will take a long time because of waik file is that right?
are there benefits disadvantages to one over the other?
also would the windows one be larger i.e require a larger flash drive for creation?

oh right brilliant 2 heads better than one as they say. thanks i need all the help i can get on this one..

thankyou

I cant answer the question about the advantages. I just know I used the Windows version and am 100% satisifed.

The Waik version is the only way to go. The Linux version has too many restrictions. The Waik version you can also use to make the images (not only recovery). Then you need not even install Macrium on your system.

I have a WinPE .iso uploaded on my Skydrive. You can download that in about 8 minutes thus avoiding the 2 hour download of the Waik.

ok then so best to go with waik version.

also having some problems at the moment with pc slow downs display driver issues and slow boot up. would it be best to get pc all set up 1st or would it be worth doing a run over this now anyway just to get the hang of it so when all set up ill know what to do?

thanks again guys for all the help

Make the images first. Then we can be a little more bold trying to solve you problem. If things go bad we can replace with the image.

ok but do i make the recovery usb 1st or images 1st?

and what size usb will be needed? (for recovery usb)

Even a small stick will suffice. The WinPE.iso is 170MB.

I would ready the stick first - just in case something happens. Else you will not be able to recover - unless you have a second PC with which you could make the recovery stick any time.

If you are using Vista, you could use this to create your pe. It will include macrium and is your Vista repair media.

Just looking for the link where I already posted it up - 2 mins.

First post on this page

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc-36.html

The advantage of that is you will get macrium included ( assuming you already have macrium v5 installed ) and a lot of other tools.

@ whs - if you want to give it a go to see what it does - it can only be run from within vista - That is the 32 bit version as I recall.

Even a small stick will suffice. The WinPE.iso is 170MB.

I would ready the stick first - just in case something happens. Else you will not be able to recover - unless you have a second PC with which you could make the recovery stick any time.

Click to expand...

ok will do recovery b 1st any idea how to create and how long will take to create?

thanks again

As a quick aside, I'm curious... can Win PE be used as a single purpose operating system? For instance, I wish to use someone's computer but not disturb anything on it. I have a USB drive with Win PE installed, plus Internet Explorer. Can I boot up Win PE and simply run IE for reading purposes only? I read up on the specifications and aside from Win PE being 32 bit and having significantly reduced functionality, it can't run for more than 72 consecutive hours. That seems pretty viable for basic single purpose application use.

Cyntherian ,

Yes you can do that.

How do you mean you have IE installed.

Installed where?

If you have it installed in winpe - then fine.

Otherwise, if you want to boot winpe - then browse to the files of an internet browser to run it - you will need an internet browser that can run portably.

FF, OPERA, a few others can.

Unless you have added wireless support to your pe - you will have to use a wired connection.

Thanks, SIW2. Yes, I do realize it would have to be a portable browser, but said IE just as an example. I'd likely use Opera, which is super efficient and leaves little footprint. Is it possible to incorporate wireless network support in PE by default (available at boot up time)? Or are you just referring to the registration of a valid wireless network after booting up, not retained with each reboot?

It is possible to install wireless network capability in pe - but it is quite a job . Experienced pe builders only for that one.

There are entire forums devoted to that kind of thing.

^ OK, thanks. I'm a little surprised, given how some people may do a software install with only a wireless internet connection and that WinPE would need to deal with that if downloaded files are required to fully complete it.

Disregarding putting wireless connectivity built into WinPE by default, is it feasible to run some kind of install after booting up to enable it?

No, it is really complicated.

You need a lot of files and registry entries - some way to manage the connections - authentication, etc.

It took me 3 years of pe building - thousands of hours to get it to work.

Forget it.

some people may do a software install with only a wireless internet connection and that WinPE would need to deal with that if downloaded files are required to fully complete it.

Click to expand...

I can't understand what you are saying there.