Solved macrium images win activation

[billybellfoot]

hi

i am thinking of using macrium to image my system os drive when if i need to restore this image will this affect my windows activation?

any help info would be much appreciated many thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Billy,

It shouldn't, but if it does, then all you would need to do is activate it again at usual.

 

[townsbg]

Provided that you are using an image of your system drive and you restore it from that you shouldn't have to reactivate.

 

[NoelDP]

You may find that you get a non-genuine message on restoring the image to a new HD - if so, then post an MGADiag report before doing anything else, as it probably means that you need to update your Intel Sorage drivers.

 

[billybellfoot]

hi thanks for all your replies.

i have not made the image as yet is it best to make the image with windows activated or unactivated. as i have just re-installed windows and have not yet activated so have the opertunity for either.
(image with actvated or image without win activated?)

thanks again

 

[NoelDP]

Update and activate first, then create the image - you then don't need to do it again.

 

[billybellfoot]

thanks noel..much appreciated.

on a related matter would image or clone be best?

my intention is to have a copy of my system drive just windows in case of problems. so in the event of a problem i dont have to perform complete re-installl updates etc

in this case wich would be best option?

also i have a hidden eisa partition. would i need to copy that also or is that non essential to windows os?

thanks

 

[richc46]

I have used Macrium several times and never had a problem with activation, it was not affected.

 

[billybellfoot]

hi richc46

thanks for the re-assurance

as for the eisa partition must i copy/image that also or just the windows partition? see inc screen..

thanks

 

[billybellfoot]

also my windows partition is 134gb but windows only occupies 34gb can i shrink image to that size to save space on destination drive? (external HDD) or do i need to copy the whole 134gb including unused space?

thanks

 

[richc46]

You would not need the EISA partition if you use Macrium. EISA partition is a method to get back to the way the computer was the day you took it home. Why get involved with Factory settings and do all the updates, installs, etc again, if you have an up to date Macrium.
What I would do if I were you, be sure that you understand Macrium and test it before deleting anything.

 

[billybellfoot]

hi thanks rich so not necessary if i understand macrium. should in that case do a practice run before imaging windows partition? say create a little partition and image that and try to restore it?

thanks

 

[richc46]

Yes, I think that would be wise. You dont want to have a problem with Macrium as your only solution and then find that it does not work.

 

[billybellfoot]

so create a little partition with say some pictures in it image it to external hdd then delete pictures from system partition (or delete partition) then try to restore? is that correct?

 

[richc46]

Just delete the pics. Then see if you can restore it with Macrium. This will test your knowlege, make sure that the CD works, and that you made the Macrium images correctly

 

[billybellfoot]

ok just the pics not the whole partition. ok.

sorry make sure which cd works?

thanks

 

[richc46]

The CD that you made (and will be needed) to make the images. I cannot read all your posts, now, but I think that you may be using a finger drive?
No not the whole partition. If you have a problem when using the computer and you cannot boot, you have to reinstall and the partition will still be there.

 

[billybellfoot]

do you mean the macrium winpe recovery usb tool ? if yes...then yes i have that and have tested and it boots ok

No not the whole partition. If you have a problem when using the computer and you cannot boot, you have to reinstall and the partition will still be there.

sorry if i have a problem and cannot boot.. the image will still be where ? on my external hdd partition or will still be on my system drive partition.

sorryto ask so many questions but am a little confused.?

thanks

 

[richc46]

What I mean is that if you cannot boot, the partition on the internal hard drive will still be there. The point being that you do not have to delete the old partition to use the image.

 

[billybellfoot]

sorry i misunderstood. the allocated space (partition) where windows was stored origionally will still be there.

so in the case of the test partition we were discussing i would create the partition make an image. delete the contents of that partition then restore image if the picture were returned to the system drive the restoer has been sucessfull. then go ahead with imaging the os partition.

is that about right?

thanks again rich