Solved Macrium, Imaging the C-Drive

Porthos · Feb 19, 2024

jro11 said:
I was under the impression that there was a different procedure involved if one wanted to install Win11 using a Local ACCOUNT--a procedure that bypasses elements particular to MS365 and OneDrive--and that procedure was explained in this forum's technical articles.
1) Am I mistaken? If so, is there a difference between installing Win11 through a local account vs through a non-local (Microsoft) account?

This overthinking, over-paranoia, and worry about a local account or MS account is your BIGGEST problem.
You let other user's preferences and biases with MS accounts or local accounts, and device encryption drive you insane.
you do not have to have Office 365 if you do not want it. You can unlink the MS account from one drive and uninstall it. You can turn off device encryption as well.

All the many voices on here throwing advice and numerous tutorials at you are the biggest problem.

jro11 · Feb 19, 2024

Fishmill said:
No need to "reformat" anything. When you do a clean install to a drive that already has something on it, you will be shown ALL partitions on the drive. DELETE THEM ALL at that point, leaving nothing but "unallocated space". Windows will do the necessary formatting during the install and make new partitions as it sees fit.

Fishmill said:
NTFS: New Technology File System. Use it.

TraderGary said:
You can open the Macrium image file with file explorer. Then you can

Browsing Macrium Reflect images and backups in Windows Explorer - Knowledgebase 8.0 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

knowledgebase.macrium.com

Fishmill said:
If you have a spare hard drive laying around, you might connect it instead of your current C drive and see if you can restore the image you just made to that spare and then confirm it will boot. You'd prefer to NOT be in the position of being in a real-life jam without ever having experience with Macrium restore.

I've got just the PERFECT LaCie drive

... (but later)

jro11 · Feb 19, 2024

Porthos said:
This overthinking, over-paranoia, and worry about a local account or MS account is your BIGGEST problem.

You're probably right. (and how can I disagree with a face like that!)
But I've been so kicked around by OneDrive, much less so by members from across the aisle; am naturally paranoid and pessimistic; and would rather just play it safe if it's possible; because what I'm doing to this drive I have to do to 3 or 4 others...

What I am appreciating that is new are responses willing to 'explain why' rather than just 'insist that'...

I know you

hsehestedt said:
install new copies of Windows almost daily,

but, since there seem to be so many workarounds, I want to

Ghot said:
Step #19, here...

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

or

Bree said:
Yes, in fact I've just clean installed 23H2 today without connecting to the internet or using a Microsoft account.

At the initial setup screen after installing W11, press Shift+F10. This opens a command prompt. Type the command (note: there are no spaces in this command) OOBE\BypassNRO

The PC will restart and this time you'll see the option to skip connecting to the internet. You'll then be able to set it up with a local account.

or

trumpy81 said:
Or you can simply install Windows 11 and when asked for your Microsoft account credentials, enter a bogus email address and password.

E.G. fred@bear.com Password=bear

Hazel123 said:
capital O Dur! Of course it’s letter O

or

cereberus said:
Just enter fake@fake.com as MS email address, and any entry as password.
It will go "oops ......", and then you can enter local account.

...just because...

almost forgot...last step...copy my Outlook.pst file (though I suppose I can fish it out of the Macrium image--hmmm, I wonder if I can...

Porthos · Feb 19, 2024

jro11 said:
You're probably right.

I fix, set up, and transfer data to new computers for a living. They are all done with an MS account. Then if the user does not have an Office 365 subscription I rip that out and unlink one drive, uninstall it, and block it from coming back in the registry.

jro11 · Feb 19, 2024

Porthos said:
Then if the user does not have an Office 365 subscription I rip that out and unlink one drive, uninstall it, and block it from coming back in the registry.

I was hoping this wouldn't be an issue. Every one of our computers has an unique Office365 install (one of the five one is allotted). Is this going to be an issue for me? (I'm not going to do the install till tomorrow.)

Porthos · Feb 20, 2024

jro11 said:
Every one of our computers has an unique Office365 install (one of the five one is allotted). Is this going to be an issue for me?

Not to confuse you more, Hopefully, you did not use the same email to install on all of the computers, You should be able to reinstall from the account for the computer you are working on.

jro11 · Feb 20, 2024

I did initially (use the same email address), but soon found, while talking to Microsoft, that it would be better to not do so. So I assigned a unique email address for each one.
. I'm not, at least for the beginning, interested in reinstalling Office365--will try and go for Office 2010 rather than anything 365.
. Though I thought Microsoft's Office 2010 was good--primarily because it is the standard, not because it is the best (Word has always been troublesome to use for real work like government proposals; and PowerPoint is a terrible graphics program--even for Charts and (simple) Diagrams which it's always being asked to do) I've always been quite happy with Outlook and Excel.
. Outlook with its (Notes Field) ability to accept rtf, is the best email program I've used! I was also satisfied, on my DAW workstation, using the free email I called OutlookMini--I don't know what it's called now and whether it's integrated with Outlook365 into a single Outlook.
. But I suspect I'll have to eventually switch to Thunderbird despite its inability to handle anything but text.

Bree · Feb 20, 2024

jro11 said:
....though I suppose I can fish it out of the Macrium image--hmmm, I wonder if I can...

Yes, you can retrieve any individual file from a Reflect image. Just double-click on your .mrimg file, tick the box for the drive you want (it's a good idea to tick 'Enable access to restricted folders' too), then click OK. Your image will be mounted as a virtual drive that you can see and explore with File Explorer.

cereberus · Feb 20, 2024

Porthos said:
This overthinking, over-paranoia, and worry about a local account or MS account is your BIGGEST problem.
You let other user's preferences and biases with MS accounts or local accounts, and device encryption drive you insane.
you do not have to have Office 365 if you do not want it. You can unlink the MS account from one drive and uninstall it. You can turn off device encryption as well.

All the many voices on here throwing advice and numerous tutorials at you are the biggest problem.

jro11 · Feb 23, 2024

A lot of people have been cautioning--I say "cautioning" because they truly seem to be concerned with my over-cautious approach to FINALLY reinstalling Windows 11.
Thank you Cereberus and Porthos!

cereberus said:
for example

Porthos said:
This overthinking, over-paranoia, and worry about a local account or MS account is your BIGGEST problem.

View attachment 88114
1) I am using this tutorial to prepare my "Creating Windows 11 Media" disk. It has gone on for over 3 hours, cycled through 90% the last time I looked and is continuing...
View attachment 88115
2) I am also looking at the thread "

New laptop has bitlocker - where is recovery key

which seems to describe a situation similar to what is happening with this computer
"
What the devil is going on?????

In short, I am following the directions I have been suggested to use and am encountering a situation where I am unable to create a "bootable Windows 11 installation USB that supports UEFI mode." using a computer with bitlocker problems, to wit:

and it looks like my

(into over 3 hours of formatting) will never end.

And to make matters worse--talk about horrible coincidence, today I was billed $99 by Microsoft to renew a Microsoft 365 Office account I no longer want to have at all!

Because I am unable to create a "bootable Windows 11 installation USB that supports UEFI mode" I fear I cannot create a local account and therefore cannot reformat this computer. This is sheer hell!

jro11 · Feb 23, 2024

To add some local intrigue to this whole situation...I just talked to local friend...a local realtor...who has no idea why she got involved in OneDrive, except that Microsoft told her she was involved--both vis-a-vis her phone and her computer--and has been billed by Microsoft because the material OneDrive has decided to "synchronize" onto the cloud, costs more than the amount of space Microsoft/(OneCloud) was willing to synchronize for free.

I know that, despite the fact I have been involved with (high level) computer technology since 1959, computationally, most of you are more expert with Microsoft than I am, or will probably ever be. I made the decision to represent the ordinary person since the 2000s, and this is an example of how an ordinary person is affected by Microsoft and by OneDrive. I'm very gratified to be involved with you all in what is happening with computers these days--I know most of you know a great deal more than me. I just hope to be able to responsibly represent the "common person (e.g., common man)" in a time where major companies are trying to take advantage as many "common people" as they are able to.

antspants · Feb 23, 2024

jro11 said:
To add some local intrigue to this whole situation...I just talked to local friend...a local realtor...who has no idea why she got involved in OneDrive, except that Microsoft told her she was involved--both vis-a-vis her phone and her computer--and has been billed by Microsoft because the material OneDrive has decided to "synchronize" onto the cloud, costs more than the amount of space Microsoft/(OneCloud) was willing to synchronize for free.

I know that, despite the fact I have been involved with (high level) computer technology since 1959, computationally, most of you are more expert with Microsoft than I am, or will probably ever be. I made the decision to represent the ordinary person since the 2000s, and this is an example of how an ordinary person is affected by Microsoft and by OneDrive. I'm very gratified to be involved with you all in what is happening with computers these days--I know most of you know a great deal more than me. I just hope to be able to responsibly represent the "common person (e.g., common man)" in a time where major companies are trying to take advantage as many "common people" as they are able to.

There is nothing “Common” about the complications you create for yourself. Made a decision to represent the ordinary person? WTH does that mean?

@Edwin said it.; Why you’re bothering to image a drive that is so utterly ballsed up, just so you can reinstall Windows and start fresh, which is possibly one of the most basic operations you could go through (in my opinion) is beyond me.

High level computer technology since 1969?
There’s nothing intriguing about being billed by Microsoft, you’re billed because you’re opted in, it couldn’t be any simpler. Call them, get a refund.

antspants · Feb 23, 2024

Initially, I thought the problem was to rescue all your treasured files. Once that was done, to make a USB with Windows using Media Creation Tool, install Windows. 1. 2. 3…. Job done.
For the love of God, Jro, Keep it simple

Make an image of the new install. Makes a lot more sense than making an image of the current system state.

jro11 · Feb 23, 2024

antspants said:
@Edwin said it.; Why you’re bothering to image a drive that is so utterly ballsed up, just so you can reinstall Windows and start fresh, which is possibly one of the most basic operations you could go through (in my opinion) is beyond me.

Everyone who has been in on this thread knows the response to Edwin's question. That is to be able to reinstall the totally f***ed up state of this computer in case there are problems installing Win11. I'm not going to look you up specifically, but I believe you were one of the people who encouraged me to IMMEDIATELY image my drive for this reason.

antspants said:
High level computer technology since 1969?
There’s nothing intriguing about being billed by Microsoft, you’re billed because you’re opted in, it couldn’t be any simpler. Call them, get a refund.

I was not billed by Microsoft. My friend was billed. The reason she was billed (as was my programmer friend) was because Microsoft had imposed upon both of them, vis-a-vis OneDrive a cloud/synchronization that required more space to put that information into the cloud than Microsoft was willing to do. They had placed data into their (Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc, etc, etc, etc, ...) directories... This was their right to do. Then Microsoft came along and decided to OneDrive those locations. Because their allowed, AND SENSIBLE, use of those directories was more than Microsoft was willing to put onto the cloud they were penalized with a rental (otherwise referred to as "leased" fees, after the fact and since then they were charged for OneDrive despite the fact they never asked for OneDrive in the first place.

antspants · Feb 23, 2024

jro11 said:
I believe you were one of the people who encouraged me to IMMEDIATELY image my drive for this reason.

That’s right. Until it was obvious that the state of this current install was so bad, it seemed futile to even bother. But as you persisted, so did my encouragement to help you achieve what by then seemed pointless. I have compassion, but it comes with brutal honesty.

jro11 said:
I was not billed by Microsoft. My friend was billed. The reason she was billed (as was my programmer friend) was because Microsoft had imposed upon both of them, vis-a-vis OneDrive a cloud/synchronization that required more space to put that information into the cloud than Microsoft was willing to do. They had placed data into their (Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc, etc, etc, etc, ...) directories... This was their right to do. Then Microsoft came along and decided to OneDrive those locations. Because their allowed, AND SENSIBLE, use of those directories was more than Microsoft was willing to put onto the cloud they were penalized with a rental (otherwise referred to as "leased" fees, after the fact and since then they were charged for OneDrive despite the fact they never asked for OneDrive in the first place.

All I read from this is “My friends have no idea what they’re doing” Blaming Microsoft is easy.

antspants · Feb 23, 2024

People care more than you might think. I know this because I have had private conversations with various members about your predicaments.

jro11 · Feb 23, 2024

I just explained why other ordinary people I know have been scr**ed by Microsoft.

My current situation, which, after all these weeks I'm very interested in getting past, is "creating a "bootable Windows 11 installation USB that supports UEFI mode."

Following directions on the tutorial

Installation and Upgrade Clean Install Windows 11

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

my 31.9 GB thumb drive has not been able to complete the creation of a "bootable Windows 11 installation USB that supports UEFI mode" after 3 hours of chugging along...

Any suggestions anyone??

jro11 · Feb 23, 2024

antspants said:
All I read from this is “My friends have no idea what they’re doing” Blaming Microsoft is easy.

Yes it is easy (to blame Microsoft). And for exactly that reason it is right (to blame Microsoft).
Faced with files and folders and the ability to put them wherever one wants (by Microsoft, incidentally), Microsoft should not be allowed to charge any user for having done so--especially when, as I can very intelligently and sensibly explain, doing so is a very sensible and logical thing to do.

antspants · Feb 23, 2024

jro11 said:
Yes it is easy (to blame Microsoft). And for exactly that reason it is right (to blame Microsoft).
Faced with files and folders and the ability to put them wherever one wants (by Microsoft, incidentally), Microsoft should not be allowed to charge any user for having done so--especially when, as I can very intelligently and sensibly explain, doing so is a very sensible and logical thing to do.

Not sure what you're talking about. You literally have to subscribe to pay for them to bill you. If you use your free allotment, they don’t just automatically sign you up for 1TB, you have to opt in. That would be illegal, why would Microsoft do that? At the worst, they would nag the hell out of you. You’re friends don’t know what they’re doing, they’ve opted in for 1TB. At least that’s my opinion.

jro11 · Feb 23, 2024

antspants said:
There’s nothing intriguing about being billed by Microsoft, you’re billed because you’re opted in, it couldn’t be any simpler. Call them, get a refund.

NO! Not at all. Everyone who opts for Microsoft365 Office or a Win11 install gets OneDrive, whether they want it or not.

I'm not even going to respond to "Call them, get a refund." MY FRIEND.

antspants said:
Make an image of the new install. Makes a lot more sense than making an image of the current system state.

I have made an image. It was successful.
The next step is "creating a "bootable Windows 11 installation USB that supports UEFI mode." which has gone on for over 3 hours and has restarted 2 times.

And by the way, why am I getting the following two odd, forum related (??), errors?