Assuming an image has been successfully created with this program is the only way to proceed. Remember, the image is file that was created when the computer or drive was backed up and has the mrimg extension.
In order to restore an image, you first need to create rescue media. When you open Macrium Reflect is opened, you will likely see a window appear asking if you want to create rescue media.
You will need either a blank CD (or DVD) or an empty flash drive. Note though, that you only need to create bootable rescue media if you are trying to restore an image containing an operating system. If you are only restoring an image that contains documents and files, it isn't really necessary to create bootable media and you can skip to here.
When you are creating your bootable rescue media, you will first be presented with this screen:
The bootable media creates an small, lightweight operating system on your disk. You can't very well restore an operating system while using it, so these two options allow you to choose which type of small operating system you want put on your disk. The Windows PE (Pre-installation Environment) option allows Macrium Reflect to run it's normal program, since it was built for Windows in the first place. The Linux version is much more simplistic and only offers the restoring function in a "Wizard" fashion. If you cannot find a blank disc and have a flash drive, Windows PE is probably the option you should choose. The Linux option will not work for a flash drive (in my experience, anyway; if you know how to use the Linux option with a flash drive, please let me know).
First, I will walk through the Windows PE option. Note that this option will require a download of about 400 MB, so if you're on a metered connection, you might want to skip this section to where I walk through the Linux Option. Okay, let's get on with this. Select the Windows PE option and click next. You can change the Windows PE version if you want by clicking advanced. The newest version should already be selected though, so you might as well use that.
On this page, you need to choose which PE Architecture matches your system, 32 Bit or 64 Bit. To see what kind of system you have, you can press the Flag Button and X, select System and you will be brought to a window that shows all of your computer's properties. Under the section header System, look at what your system type is.
If you're still unsure of your system type, it's always safe to go with 32 Bit. Click next.
This is where it will tell you that an additional download is required. Click Download. When the download finishes, you will be presented with the following window:
More than likely, you won't have to worry about this, so just click continue. If the next steps do not work correctly, this may be the issue.
I'm going to use a flash drive to install the rescue media on. If you are also using a flash drive, know that this will need to format* your drive, which means deleting everything on it. However, you should not dismiss the use of a flash drive for this reason. The total size that this will take up on a flash drive is less than 256 MB (a quarter of 1 GB). If you are using a flash drive that has stuff you need on it or one that you use regularly, you should copy all of those files to a safe place first. Once the rescue media has been installed on the flash drive, you can put everything back on the flash drive (so long as there is enough space). Make sure you select the right device to install the rescue media to. Once you are ready, click Finish.
When it finishes, you can put your files back on the flash drive, but you will notice that there are many files and folders in the root directory, so it might be better to make a new folder for your data. You can also hide those files by either turning them into hidden files or system files so that you will not need to see them every time you use the flash drive and they won't get in your way. I will go through that process in my next post. Now the rescue media is ready to go. Make sure you have everything you want saved backed up before restoring an old image, including browser tabs, iTunes playlists, photo libraries, and documents and files in general. When everything is you want to keep is safe, put the rescue media in your computer and shut it down.
Depending on how your system is set up, it may automatically boot to the rescue media, especially if it's on a CD or DVD. If it doesn't automatically boot from your rescue media, you'll need to override the default boot order. This way to do this varies from system to system. You can usually do it from the BIOS. If you know how to get to the BIOS already, then use that method. If you don't know how to get to the BIOS, you can usually get to it by repeatedly tapping one of the function keys on the top of the keyboard as soon as you turn your computer on. The most likely keys to bring you to the BIOS are usually, F1, F2, F11, F12, Delete, or Escape. Some systems will also display a screen that usually only lasts a second or two that says which key to press to do what. Just keep restarting your computer and trying a different key every time until you get to the BIOS. If you don't know what the BIOS is, you'll know it when you see it. It will take up the whole screen and usually has a blue or grey background. You can do a quick image search for BIOS to see what you're looking for. If you happen to get to a window that asks you to select the boot device, that's not the BIOS, but that will do the job. If you're using a CD or DVD rescue media, it will be easier to select your boot device because the option will usually have CD/DVD in its title. If you're booting from a flash drive, you might look for an option that includes the company name of the flash drive manufacturer or it may be labeled as "GENERIC." If you don't get it right the first time, just restart your computer again and choose a different option. In the BIOS the boot override will usually be in the Exit page. The BIOS will also usually have a page that lets you change the boot order completely, so you don't have to do this again. If the first option of the boot order is missing, such as having a CD/DVD drive in the first option and there is no disk in the drive, then the computer will go the next one in the list. If you are still having trouble trying to change the boot order or getting into the BIOS, you should try a Google search using a format like "How to enter the BIOS on a Dell XPS."
Once you get your rescue media to boot up, you will be brought into the light-weight Windows PE operating system. Macrium Reflect will automatically open, if it closes, the computer will shut down, so don't close it until you're finished. Macrium Reflect looks the same as it normally does in a normal Windows operating system, except the resolution may be a little skewed depending on your screen. For the sake of easy screenshots, I will just use screenshots from the Macrium Reflect inside Windows 8, not the PE. Macrium Reflect should already be open to the restore tab, if not click on the restore tab at the top left of the window.
Under "Restore Tasks" in the left side panel, click "Browse for an image or backup file to restore." Locate your image and click open. Once it is open, click Restore Image on the right side.
When the restore window appears, click on the destination drive to restore the image to. To make sure you click the right drive is selected, a blue line will appear under the drive you have chosen. In the following picture, the C: drive was chosen and will be completely overwritten by the image.
Once you have chosen the right disk to restore the image to, click next, and then click finish. When Macrium Reflect is done restoring the image, you can close it and that will restart your computer.
You are now finished.
If you choose to go the Linux route, here's how to do it. Note though that using the Linux rescue media will not allow you to restore an image on the same physical drive, even if it is a different partition. In the Rescue Media Wizard, select the Linux option and click next.
Select the drive that has your blank disk in it and click finish. After your disk is finished be burned, put it back in the computer if it pops out. Make sure you are ready to restore the image by backing up everything you may need. When you're ready, restart the computer and change the boot order to your CD/DVD drive.
I'm using a disk I made a few years ago, so a newer version may look different. When you get to the Restore Wizard, click next.
Find the image file you want to restore and click next.
If your image contains multiple partitions, select the one you want to restore and click next.
Choose the destination disk that you want to restore your image to. Make note of the type of drive it is. In the image below, the drive is "Active." Also notice that there will be a drive that doesn't have a check box next to it. That is because that is the drive that has the image on it. You cannot restore an image to a partition that is holding the image.
Choose the type of partition you are restoring, if you don't remember the type, go back and check. Choose that same type so as to not mess anything up. Click Next.
If you want to verify the image before restoring, you can, but it's usually not necessary and takes longer. Click next.
If you are restoring a partition that holds an operating system, you should usually choose to "Replace with the Master Boot Record from the backup (Recommended)." Click Next.
If you want to verify the system integrity, you can, but this will be after the image is already restored, and verifying the system integrity won't really be able to do anything if something went wrong, so it's basically a waste of time. Click Next.
If everything is okay on the final page, click finish.
When the image is done restoring, you can restart your computer and everything is done.
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