Trouble Making Image Backup with Acronia True Image 2016 -- apparent misread of space

OK, thanks.

I don’t know names of this stuff. I see you in the code mentioning “recovery image” and “install wim.” Is the install.wim the whole thing of what I’ve been calling “that file?” I’m thinking in terms of two “files,” the Recovery folder, which I don’t need, there is a working one on part 5, and this other file. I’m just making sure we are taking all of that file, or just extracting something.

What is a directory that we’re making on the external drive? Is that some kind of holding container? And we’re naming “this other file” GatewayWin8? OK.

Will moving it to the external drive make it visible, and then when moving it back it remains visible, or will it be invisible when moved back. It should be invisible. I hope putting it “in” that directory keeps it invisible.

Jest to be clear, where you have us going back into the DiskPart, you emphasize to get the number on Part 6 correct. I think you simply are emphasizing, not suggesting numbers might change and I should double check what is assigned to it. (I will look, but the external drive always gets letter E.)

Hmm, final cmd, to delete it from the external media. Will it be invisible there?  If I can see it, will I be able to delete it manually? If so, I would prefer to leave it, just in case, can delete it later. But if it will be invisible, I would need code to get rid of it, and this is a good time to do that. Oh, you mentioned if an issue, we would have to remove it via advanced startup. This is something about the directory. OK.

I think I see what’s what with this. Sorry for all the comments and the questions — it just is the kind of thing you don’t wish later you have asked a dumb question.

I might get to this tonight, but if not will tomorrow.

Thanks a lot. you’re a wonder.

You want just the Install.wim file -- nothing else that is on Partition 6? Here it is...

DiskPart                           <<< Enter DiskPart

Select  Disk  0

Select  Part  6

Assign  Letter=X             <<< Put letter X onto Partition 6

Exit                                  <<< Exit DiskPart

>>> Plug in your external media, & note its letter. Use that instead of "L" below...

MD  L:\GatewayWin8                                                         <<< Make a directory on L:

XCOPY  X:\RecoveryImage\Install.wim  L:\GatewayWin8   <<< Copy Install.wim to the directory

DIR  L:\GatewayWin8  /a                                                    <<< Show Install.wim is in the new folder

DiskPart                                    <<< Enter DiskPart

Select  Disk  0

List  Part                                   <<< Show the partitions

Select  Part  6                           <<< Be sure you get that number right

Remove  Letter=X                   <<< Optional, due to a guess you once had

Delete  Partition  Override       <<< Delete partition 6

Create  Partition  Primary         <<< Creates a new partition 6

List  Part                                    <<< Show partition 6 is back

Format  Quick  FS=NTFS  Label="Push Button"               <<< Format & label it

Set  ID="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"     <<< Make it a Recovery partition

GPT  Attributes=0x8000000000000001                            <<< Give it those attributes

Assign  Letter=X                                                               <<< Give it letter X

List  Vol                                    <<< Show the new letters

List  Part                                   <<< Show partition 6 is a Recovery partition

Exit                                           <<< Exit DiskPart

MD  X:\RecoveryImage                                                       <<< Put the directory back onto Partition 6

XCOPY  L:\GatewayWin8\Install.wim  X:\RecoveryImage   <<< Copy Install.wim back to Partition 6

DIR  X:\  /a  /s                                                                      <<< Show it is on Partition 6

>>> Did you see Install.wim on Partition 6? If so, then...

RD  L:\GatewayWin8  /S                                                      <<< Delete it from the external media

(a) Do a reboot to ensure the system is informed of the changes.

(b) That does just Install.wim. If you want more, we'll have to adjust the XCOPY commands.

(c) If there is a "permissions"  error on the last command (RD - remove directory),

     we'll have to do it in Advanced Startup -- just the RD. All else will have been done.

1. Well, like I said, I couldn’t understand that code. But it seemed to be about adding additional custom functions into the file on part 6, and then some steps to make them work, which I thought was saying steps to deal with the file on part 6 to accept them. I was not taking that to be talking about the Recovery folder on part 3. But I don’t know, I couldn’t follow it.   

We don’t have to do all that. But let’s leave it as a Recovery folder, and with the file in it. Just move the file off so we can delete and recreate the partition, then move it back on. Done. If it links itself, fine; if not, OK. I gather it is already linked, did we do something to accomplish that? I gather we didn’t do that, or we could just run the same code again. I have no need of a special storage partition to hold that file, I can put it on the external backup drive if I want.

(1) "but it isn’t quite what we’re  talking about"

I thought you didn't want to lose the "connections" to Partition 6? That's what the article is talking about. Do you or don't you want push button capability? If you want it, I refuse to be involved.

If not -- we should remove the recovery status of that partition. Make it a data partition (not a Recovery partition) by changing its ID...

DiskPart

Select  Disk  0

Select  Part  6

Detail  Part                                                                         <<< Show its current ID

Set  ID=ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7         <<< Make it a data partition

Detail  Part                                                                          <<< Show the new ID

Assign  Letter=X                                                                 <<< Put a letter on it

Exit

Reboot just to be sure the system is fully aware of the change.

(a) If the SET ID command fails, add "Override" to it, thus...

Set  ID=ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7  Override

(b) I put a letter on it because I believe its contents will become visible in File Explorer now that it is a data partition. Also, with a letter on it, Windows system image backup will offer it as an optional to be included in the image.

(c) After that, Windows can never decide to put WinRE.wim into it again.

(2) Do you use Gateway Fast Lane now, & are you happy with it? Well, it's in your Win 10 system images now, & that is all you will ever need of it. just be sure you always have a known good image to restore in an emergency. That is why I make one after every new OS Build comes in & works, & I keep the last three. Also, after each new Windows version, I also make a DiscWizard image.

(3) "If the mounted wim file can’t even run"

To run an Install.wim, you have to install it. And that one is Win 8 plus a slew of Gateway add-ons. That's what your push button wants to do.

If, instead, you just mount it, you will be able to see what is on it in File Explorer, I would be wary of double-clicking anything on it that is an executable. Feel free to inspect .txt files. You may copy stuff off it -- but I don't know what would be useful. Certainly don't overwrite system files with the stuff of Win 8. Careful what you copy.

1. It looked to me like it was talking about adding something into the file we are talking about and making it work with the rest of the file and apparently appear in the boot menu. I don’t know if what it is doing there is of any use to us or not, but it isn’t quite what we’re  talking about.
2. I don’t know just what to even look for at Gateway, I don’t know the name of whatever the stuff is. Do you know what it would be called? I do know one name, its Gateway Fast-Lane. I looked for that, and I could not find it at Gateway orAcer,. I found it at a third party, but getting it there is asking for malware.

If the mounted wim file can’t even run, than it isn’t worth bothering with.  But I thought I saw info that it will appear in the boot menu, that suggests you can boot from it. Still, I’m not sure that is any advantage, not so sure that would provide for me to install the Gateway stuff anyway. Again, I can’t really follow what its doing at that link. Gee, I can’t even follow its numbering, seems to be missing a 3.