Windows 7 Macrium Reflect - PE Restore Disc loads but will not recognize USB 2.0 External HDD

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monotune

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Sep 28, 2012
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I am trialing Macrium Reflect because of its good reputation. I have a simple requirement. Backup to external hard drive (WD Passport), it is USB 2.0. Then use the Windows PE rescue CD to boot up and restore from external HDD. I have been researching this. I know about the lack of USB 3.0 support. But my drive is USB 2.0.

Could some experienced users please chime in? Shouldn't I be seeing this external hard drive when I load the Windows PE rescue disk.

Unfortunately I am reluctant to purchase the program without this basic ability being demonstrated in the free version ... so I have no access to Macrium support for this.

Please somebody? Any ideas?

Thanks so much!
 
Solution
J
With Acronis that size takes about half an hour at most to a USB 2 drive. If this is a desktop try using a port on the back sometimes on old machines the ports on front are USB 1.
Joe
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It maybe a driver issue. Is your Windows fully updated? Does Macrium have a separate updated ISO for the boot CD? Acronis periodically updates that separate from the actual program.
Joe
 
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Joe S said:
It maybe a driver issue. Is your Windows fully updated? Does Macrium have a separate updated ISO for the boot CD? Acronis periodically updates that separate from the actual program.
Joe
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Thanks for your reply Joe. Windows is fully updated and fully supports the WD Passport drive. It is an older machine so I know the passport is operating in USB 2.0 mode at least and as I said I am pretty sure it is not a USB 3.0 passport. I bought it 8 months ago at least. When I ran the rescue CD wizard in Macrium Reflect it updated files itself, I saw it do that. Also Macrium Reflect itself is updated to the latest version.

This could be a driver issue though, it just seems like these are very very basic drivers that would be included. I should try loading the rescue media with a simple flash drive. I will do that.

In the meantime I downloaded and tried Paragon Backup and Recovery 2012 FREE and made a restore disc which is Linux/DOS based. This time the external hard drive appeared okay. So it is doing something different, it has the drivers I guess. I last left it claiming 20+hrs for the backup of 63GB which seems high, is it? How long does it take to backup a system I am wondering now. I remember Macrium seemed quicker.

My questions now then are:

If you need to inject drivers for a WD Passport External HDD what are the drivers needed? Where do you get them?

How long should the backup take? 60+GB being an example.

Thanks to all who may help!
monotune
 
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With Acronis that size takes about half an hour at most to a USB 2 drive. If this is a desktop try using a port on the back sometimes on old machines the ports on front are USB 1.
Joe
 
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Solution
I would strongly recommend you try Acronis TI. I have relied on it for years and consider it the bet in its field. It is not expensive and you can download a fully working trial copy.
 
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Joe S said:
With Acronis that size takes about half an hour at most to a USB 2 drive. If this is a desktop try using a port on the back sometimes on old machines the ports on front are USB 1.
Joe
Click to expand...

I am using the ports on the front. I will move them to the back. I was not able to wait for Paragon Backup and Recovery 2012 FREE to finish so I don't know for sure what the backup time was. I will experiment with it. WHS sent me a Macrium ISO of his own which I am going to try also. I will trial Acronis as well.

I am very happy to be part of this community, thank you for your advice!
Marc
 
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patcooke said:
I would strongly recommend you try Acronis TI. I have relied on it for years and consider it the bet in its field. It is not expensive and you can download a fully working trial copy.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation Pat. Would you recommend the latest version of TI, or is there a particular version. I recall they have several packages. I see TrueImage 2013 is 40% off this weekend which is a good deal if it works ($29.95). I will try that.

Best Regards,
Marc
 
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As in most packages I'd just go for the latest to get the best support. Acronis do have quite good pricing deals. I also found when I bought mine online that when I tried to go back from the final step of purchasing I got a popup asking me if I as really sure about not finalising the transaction and offering me another 10% off if I proceeded! Don't know if it still does that
 
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I'm still using Acronis TI 2010 I boot from CD and make image or restore that way. I have my HD partitioned with system on one and data on the other.
Joe
 
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Joe S said:
I'm still using Acronis TI 2010 I boot from CD and make image or restore that way. I have my HD partitioned with system on one and data on the other.
Joe
Click to expand...

Cool. Thanks for the reply. I think this is the setup I would do for personal stuff. The system I am figuring this all out on is a client system and non techie people have a tough time maintaining more than a single partition system it seems to me. They just put it all on c: and it does not confuse them this way. Once I have tried all suggestions I will post an update. Thanks to all for the helpful comments!

Marc
 
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