Rescue a system with the Windows PE environment

Overview

In the event of a total loss of the Windows operating system, a PC can be started using the Macrium Reflect recovery media on CD, DVD, or USB stick.

The recovery media starts a compact operating system with a familiar mouse and graphical interface called Windows PE.  You can then recover partitions, entire disk images or individual files with just a few clicks of the mouse.

To rescue a system

1. Insert or attach the rescue media (CD, DVD, or USB stick).

2. Power on the computer.
   
   By default, most computers check the media for a boot partition before they attempt to boot from their own hard drive. If this is not the case, then Windows PE will not start and you must edit the boot order in the BIOS. Normally, the shortcut key for editing the BIOS is displayed as the computer starts. Refer to the computer or motherboard manufacturer's instructions for more information.
   
   In some corporate environments, booting from external media is strictly controlled. If this is the case and you cannot find a way to boot from the media, ask your system administrator for help.
   
   The Windows PE startup screen appears.
   
   

3. Select the Macrium Reflect System Recovery option and hit enter. Windows PE will now load up.
   
    

4. In the Macrium Reflect main window, select the Restore tab at the top left.
   
   The Image Restore tab appears.

5. Click on the backup image you wish to restore. You will note that a number of links appear
   

6. Click Restore Image.
   If the the image contains more than one hard disk image, a drop-down list appears. Select the disk containing system image from the list. Macrium Reflect indicates system partitions by displaying the operating system logo, for example the Windows flag , in the top left corner of the partition on the partition diagram.
   
   The Restore wizard appears.
   

7. If you have more than one disk, click the Select disk to restore to link and select the disk.

8. With Copy selected partitions when I click 'Next' selected, click Next.
   
   The restore summary page appears.

9. Check all the details and then click Finish to restore the disk.
   The restore summary screen displays progress.

10. When the restore completes, click the shutdown button
    The Confirm Close dialog box appears and asks whether you want to close the current environment and reboot.

11. To reboot into the restored disk, eject or remove your rescue media and click Yes.