1. Introduction

The free version of Macrium should be used to backup your clean Windows Installation or Old Windows Installation before the likes of a Windows Upgrade.

The free version of Macrium Reflect carries out a similar function to Acronis but is not locked to HDD vendor and has a more up to date and user friendly interface. Previously I had wrote a similar guide using the free versions of Acronis i.e. SeaGate DiscWizard (version 16) and Acronis WD Edition (version 18) locked to SeaGate and WD drives respectively. On the other hand the user-interface of Acronis was only updated within Windows and not when used with Bootable Media for recovery… Acronis SeaGate DiscWizard has not been updated for a while.

2. Installation

On the Macrium website:

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Select Download to Download the Download Manager:

Once downloaded select open folder:

Launch the Download Manager:

Select yes at the user account control prompt:

Select Download to Download the latest Macrium installer:

Select yes:

Wait for the Download.

Select next to extract the installation files:

The Windows installer will begin.

Select next:

Accept the license agreement and select next:

Select next:

Select no and then next or register (optional):

Select next:

Select install:

Wait for the installation to finish.

When its done select Finish:

3. Making an Image of your Windows Boot Drive

Go to Start → All Apps:

Select the Macrium folder and then launch the Reflect application:

Select Yes at the User Account Control Prompt:

Wait for the application to open:

You will be prompted to register again. Select Do not remind me or register (optional):

The application will open. Select no:

You will now see all the drives attached to your system are checked. Uncheck all Drives apart from your Windows Boot Drive.

In my case my Windows Boot Drive is my Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 128 GB (shown at the top). All partitions on your Windows Boot Drive should remain checked.

Note: One should never carry out a backup on the same drive. The backup of the Windows Boot Drive must be made on an External Hard Drive or separate Internal Hard Drive. Any internal data hard drives or external hard drives that you do not wish to backup should be unchecked.

In my case my 2 TB WD My Book will be the External Hard Drive that I back my Windows Boot Image onto.

Note: If your Windows install is a UEFI install [UEFI] will be mentioned in the title. If you have a legacy install there will be no mention of UEFI. 

Select Backup → Image Selected Disks:

Now select … to Browse for the Location of the Backup:

Select your External Hard Drive:

Select your Desired Folder for your Backup (or make a New Folder and name it) then select ok:

Check the Folder is the correct location and then select next:

Then select Finish:

Select ok:

Wait for Macrium to make the system image of your Windows Boot Drive.

You will be informed when the Image is created. Select ok:

Then select close:

4. Making a Bootable USB

The next step is to make a Bootable USB. This will allow you to restore from your backup onto a new SSD or when Windows cannot boot.

The first thing to do is make sure your USB flash drive is formatted as FAT32. To do this insert your 4 GB or superior USB flash drive and note the drive letter in this case D:.

In Windows Explorer right click it:

Select Format:

Ensure the file system is FAT32 (otherwise it will not boot in a UEFI BIOS). Input a volume label and select Start:

Select ok:

Select ok again:

Select close:

Now select the button to make Rescue Media:

Select Next:

Select Next:

Select Next:

Macrium Reflect will now prepare the Windows PE Image:

Now it will prompt you to select the media type. Select USB Device and ensure you have the correct USB flash drive selected in this case Drive D: then select Finish:

It will now create the media:

When done it will tell you it has created the media. Press ok:

Booting from the Bootable USB and Restoring

Remove all USB Devices except your mouse, keyboard and Macrium Bootable USB.

Power Down your Dell and press [F12] at the Dell (UEFI) BIOS screen when powering up:

Press [↓] and select your Macrium Reflect USB Flash Drive and press [Enter].

I am booting in a UEFI BIOS with UEFI On and SecureBoot On as shown.

The Windows logo will now display:

Macrium Reflect will now load:

You may quit here if you are only checking if your Bootable USB can Boot. Note the Macrium Reflect will say [UEFI] at the top if you have installed using an enabled UEFI BIOS.

If you want to Restore connect your External Hard Drive with the Windows Boot Drive Disk Image and wait a couple of minutes.

Select "Browse for an Image or Backup File to Restore":

Select "This PC":

Select your External Hard Drive:

Select your Backup folder in my case Macrium Reflect:

Then Lat7350:

Then select your Windows Boot Drive .mrimg disk image:

Now select Restore Image:

Select Next:

Then select Finish:

You will get a warning. Select continue:

You Windows Boot Disk Image will now be restored onto your SSD/HDD:

You will be informed when its complete. Select ok:

Then select close:

You may now Exit Macrium Reflect:

Your computer will restart and your Windows Disk Image will be restored.