MRAuto.exe is a utility that simplifies Image backup and restore by directly running from the command line and automatically generating backup and restore definition xml files:
- No xml definition required to start an Image backup or restore
- Runs completely in the background with no user interface
- Handles the most common backup and restore scenarios with simple command line arguments
- MRAuto.exe system restore tasks will automatically boot into the Macrium Rescue media to complete the restore process
MRAuto.exe can be found in the Macrium Reflect installation folder. Typically, 'C:\Program Files\Macrium\Reflect'
Usage
MRAuto.exe requires administrative privilege to run. To see the help information, please open a command prompt as Administrator and run mrauto.exe. The options are case-insensitive and can be used in short for '-' or long form '–'.
The exit status code can be obtained from %ERRORLEVEL% in the command prompt. A return value 0 means success, and all other values indicate a failure.
Example: Typing 'echo %ERRORLEVEL%' once MrAuto.exe completed displays the exit status code.
For Restore tasks requiring booting into Rescue media, the status code can be queried via 'mrauto --status' command once the restore is complete and booted back into Windows.
For detailed error information, please check the corresponding HTML log file stored in C:\ProgramData\Macrium\Reflect, or in the Macrium Reflect Log View.
C:\Users\User\Downloads>mrauto.exe
Macrium Reflect Auto - Backup/Restore Automation utility.
mrauto.exe -[b][r][s][l] <storage location> [backup name] <drive letters/disk numbers> [-t][-u][-p][-i][-e] [--stealth][--quiet]
-b | --backup Creates a backup.
-r | --restore Restores a backup.
-s | --status Displays status of the last auto restore.
-l | --list Lists backups in the storage location by time.
Lists disks/partitions in the image or system.
-f | --filter Filter backup list by wildcard match. Used in --list option.
-t | --type Backup type - Full/Diff/Inc.
-u | --user Network user name - Domain\User or User
-p | --password Network password.
-i | --imagepwd Image password for Backup/Restore/List.
-e | --encryption AES encryption level for Backups. 0 - none, 1 - 128 bit, 2 - 192 bit, 3 - 256 bit
-n | --nowarning Suppress overwrite confirmation during Restore.
-v | --verify Verify image file after Backup or before Restore.
-w | --wait Wait for in progress Backup/Restore job to finish.
--retention Apply Reflect Default Retention Rules.
--stealth Suppress backup notifications.
--quiet Suppress the Reflect console output.
-h | --help Show options.
Backup
Backup and Restore supports source Partition selections by using Drive Letters, or Disk and Partition number combinations separated with the : (colon) character
Note: Disk and Partition numbers use the 1 based index as shown in Macrium Reflect rather than 0 based index shown in Disk Management console.
Mixing Drive Letters and Disk numbers in a single operation is not allowed, however, mixing of Disk number and Disk and Partition number combination is allowed.
Example: mrauto.exe -b <backup location> 1,2:1,2:3
The above example will backup all partitions contained in Disk 1 and Partition 1 and 3 from Disk.
To see available disks and partitions in the system please run 'mrauto.exe -l ' .
The Image file name in the Backup command is optional as Macrium Reflect will auto-generate one when not supplied.
The --stealth option will suppress all Backup notifications. Customers wanting to suppress progress output may specify --quiet option. With the --quiet option, no output from Reflect will be shown and customers may only be able to find exit status via %ERRORLEVEL%
When backup location is a network share, please make sure the share is added in the Network Share Settings page of Reflect Defaults and Settings options or specify user name & password via options -u and -p.
C:\Users\User\Downloads>mrauto.exe -b
usage: mrauto.exe -b <backup location> [image name] <{vol1,vol2}|{disk1,disk2}|{disk1:par1,disk2:par2}>
[-t full/diff/inc] [-u user] [-p pass] [-i imagepass] [-e 0/1/2/3]
[--verify][--wait] [--retention][--stealth][--quiet]
example: mrauto.exe -b D:\Backups C: -u User -p Pass --stealth
mrauto.exe -b D:\Backups Test C,D,E -t inc --wait
mrauto.exe -b D:\Backups Test D --verify --retention --quiet
mrauto.exe -b \\Share\Backups Test 1:1,2:2 -i ImagePass -e 1
mrauto.exe -b D:\Backups Test 1,2
For more information type 'mrauto.exe -h'
The following example is an incremental backup of all the partitions within Disk 7 and Disk 8
The target folder 'E:\Backups' is searched for an existing backup set that contains all partitions for Disks 7 and 8. If found, then an Incremental Image is run, otherwise a Full Image is run.
Validating XML
--------------
XML File Name - C:\ProgramData\Macrium\Reflect\mrauto_backup.xml
Please wait. Initializing partition information...
Validation status - Ok
Imaging Summary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Backup Definition File: C:\ProgramData\Macrium\Reflect\mrauto_backup.xml
Auto Verify: N
Verify File System: Y
Maximum File Size: Automatic
Compression: Medium
Password: N
Intelligent Copy: Y
Power Saving: N
Email On Success: N
Email On Warning: N
Email On Failure: N
Total Selected: 6.23 GB
Current Time: 27/04/2022 15:04:13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retention Rules
Rules will be applied to all matching backup sets in the destination folder
Incremental: Retain 10 incremental backups
Create a Synthetic Full backup if possible.
Incremental Backups: 0 found
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Image ID - E02EA1FC9A1CD6C8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Destination
Backup Type: Incremental
File Name: Append to recent backup in directory 'E:\backups\'
E:\backups\E02EA1FC9A1CD6C8-01-01.mrimg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation 1 of 5
Hard Disk: 7
Drive Letter: N/A
File System: Unformatted
Label:
Size: 16.0 MB
Free: 0 B
Used: 16.0 MB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation 2 of 5
Hard Disk: 7
Drive Letter: F
Volume: \??\Volume{43484bb0-7c58-4c4c-9244-d3a28cba8d73}
File System: NTFS
CBT: Y
Label: New Volume
Size: 61.39 GB
Free: 58.23 GB
Used: 3.16 GB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation 3 of 5
Hard Disk: 7
Drive Letter: G
Volume: \??\Volume{1bfe6d7e-9ac5-4c17-acf6-cc587d6aa4ff}
File System: NTFS
CBT: Y
Label: New Volume
Size: 58.59 GB
Free: 55.59 GB
Used: 3.00 GB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation 4 of 5
Hard Disk: 8
Drive Letter: N/A
File System: Unformatted
Label:
Size: 16.0 MB
Free: 0 B
Used: 16.0 MB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation 5 of 5
Hard Disk: 8
Drive Letter: H
Volume: \??\Volume{8353e3d1-6974-455b-9355-afd27af623f2}
File System: NTFS
CBT: Y
Label: New Volume
Size: 9.98 GB
Free: 9.95 GB
Used: 37.8 MB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starting Image - Wednesday, 27 April 2022 15:04
Initializing
Write Method: Using Direct Disk I/O
Destination Drive: vms (E:) - Free Space 649.22 GB
Image Guardian: Protected
Creating Volume Snapshot - Please Wait
Volume Snapshots Created
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Verifying
F:\ \??\Volume{43484bb0-7c58-4c4c-9244-d3a28cba8d73}
G:\ \??\Volume{1bfe6d7e-9ac5-4c17-acf6-cc587d6aa4ff}
H:\ \??\Volume{8353e3d1-6974-455b-9355-afd27af623f2}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saving Partition - <NO NAME>
Reading File System Bitmap
Saving Partition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saving Partition - New Volume (F:)
Reading File System Bitmap
CBT Init Success
Searching for NTFS meta data
Looking for changes
Saving Partition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saving Partition - New Volume (G:)
Reading File System Bitmap
CBT Init Success
Searching for NTFS meta data
Looking for changes
Saving Partition
Overall Progress: 65%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saving Partition - <NO NAME>
Reading File System Bitmap
Saving Partition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saving Partition - New Volume (H:)
Reading File System Bitmap
CBT Init Success
Searching for NTFS meta data
Looking for changes
Saving Partition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saving Index
New File: 711 KB E02EA1FC9A1CD6C8-01-01.mrimg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Image Completed Successfully in 00:00:32
I/O Performance: Read 3.2 Gb/s - Write 25.0 Gb/s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trial Edition
This Trial License will expire in 809 days
Premium features will not function after 14 July 2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Image Completed Successfully in 00:00:32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Restore
Notes: Restored Partitions are placed at the same sector offset and length on the target Disk. There are no options available to move or resize partitions.
For this initial implementation, the target disk cannot be smaller than the source disk.
Like the Backup command, mixing drive letters and disk numbers in a single operation is not allowed. To see the drive letters or disk numbers contained within an image, please run 'mrauto.exe -l <full image path>'
By default, without specifying target disk, the Restore operation will try to locate the source disk in the system by matching disk signature. The operation will fail when the source disk is not found, as will be the case when the image of a disk from different computer is used to Restore to another computer. The optional 'target disk' parameter can be used here to specify any Disk on the target PC large enough to accommodate the restored partitions.
When the image file location is of a network share, credential information to access the file needs to be supplied via --user and --password options. Similarly, --imagepwd is required for encrypted images.
C:\Users\User\Downloads>mrauto.exe -r
usage: mrauto.exe -r <{[location] [image file]} | {full image path}>[?{vol1,vol2}|{disk1,disk2}|{disk1:par1,disk2:par2}]
[target disk] [-u user] [-p pass] [-i imagepass] [--verify][--wait][--nowarning][--quiet]
example: mrauto.exe -r D:\Backups Test-00-00.mrimg
mrauto.exe -r \\Share\Backups\Test-00-00.mrimg -u User -p Pass -i ImagePass --quiet
mrauto.exe -r D:\Backups\Test-00-00.mrimg?C,D,E
mrauto.exe -r D:\Backups\Test-00-00.mrimg?1:1,1:2
mrauto.exe -r D:\Backups\Test-00-00.mrimg 1 --wait
mrauto.exe -r D:\Backups\Test-00-00.mrimg --verify
mrauto.exe -r D:\Backups\Test-00-00.mrimg?1:2 1
NOTE: Restoring multiple disks within an image are not supported.
Only multiple partitions in the same disk are supported.
For more information type 'mrauto.exe -h'
The ? (Question mark) character following the file name indicates the Disk, or Disk and partition combination list to be restored. If omitted, then all partitions in the image are restored.
If there is more than one disk in the Image then ? must be specified.
The next parameter is the 'target disk' Disk number to be restored to, and if omitted then the original disk is used as the restore target,
The following command shows Restoring of all the partitions within disk 7 from the image produced by earlier incremental backup.
Please note the backup image contains Partitions from 2 disks. Without specifying source disk qualifier via ? will result in error.
A backup Image may contain partitions from more than one Disk. In this case, as the Restore option only supports restoring of partitions from a single Disk, it's required to specify the Disk number when restoring.
This can be achieved by specifying drive letters or Disk and Partition number after the question mark symbol in the image file name.
Example:
mrauto.exe -r D:\Backups\Test-00-00.mrimg?C,D,E
mrauto.exe -r D:\Backups\Test-00-00.mrimg?1
mrauto.exe -r D:\Backups\Test-00-00.mrimg?1:2
Restore Status
'MrAuto.exe --status' command displays completion status of last Restore job which was completed by booting into Rescue media.
C:\Users\User\Downloads>mrauto.exe -s
Loading log files... Found 53 file(s)
Looking for Auto Restore logs... Found.
Loading status from - C:\ProgramData\Macrium\Reflect\0D5D4C4B78A5D325_Restore27-01-2022 3.58 PM.html
File ID: 0D5D4C4B78A5D325
Date: 01/27/22 03:58:11 PM
Status: 0
Completion: Restore completed in 00:09:41
List
List command 'mrauto.exe -l .' lists all the disks and partitions in the system.
List command 'mrauto.exe -l <image file path>' lists all the disks and partitions within the image.
List command 'mrauto.exe -l <image files folder>' lists all the files inside the folder. Optional wildcard filter can be used to narrow the search.
usage: mrauto.exe -l <[backup file folder] | [full image path] | [.]>
[-u user] [-p pass] [-i imagepass] [-f filter]
example: mrauto.exe -l D:\Backups -f *.mrimg
mrauto.exe -l D:\Backups\Test.mrimg
mrauto.exe -l \\Share\Backups\Test.mrimg -u User -p Pass
mrauto.exe -l D:\Backups\Test.mrimg -i ImagePass
mrauto.exe -l .
For more information type 'mrauto.exe -h'
To display all the Disks and Partitions in the system.
C:\Users\User\Download>mrauto.exe -l
List of available Disks and Partitions.
Disk# and Partition# are 1 based index as shown in Macrium Reflect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disk# 3 GPT GIGABYTE GP-GSM2NE8128GNTD E8TM14.2 119.24 GB
Partition# 1 Recovery NTFS Primary 529.0 MB
Partition# 2 NO NAME FAT32 (LBA) Primary 96.0 MB
Partition# 3 Unformatted Primary 16.0 MB
Partition# 4 (C:) NTFS Primary 118.61 GB
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disk# 5 GPT Msft Storage Space 0.1 2.04 TB
Partition# 1 Unformatted Primary 16.0 MB
Partition# 2 (D:) source NTFS Primary 2.04 TB
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disk# 6 GPT Msft Storage Space 0.1 2.04 TB
Partition# 1 Unformatted Primary 16.0 MB
Partition# 2 (E:) vms NTFS Primary 2.04 TB
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disk# 7 GPT Msft Virtual Disk 1.0 120.00 GB
Partition# 1 Unformatted Primary 16.0 MB
Partition# 2 (F:) New Volume NTFS Primary 61.39 GB
Partition# 3 (G:) New Volume NTFS Primary 58.59 GB
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disk# 8 GPT Msft Virtual Disk 1.0 10.00 GB
Partition# 1 Unformatted Primary 16.0 MB
Partition# 2 (H:) New Volume NTFS Primary 9.98 GB
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To display all the Disk and Partitions within an image.
C:\Users\User\Download>mrauto.exe -l e:\backups\E02EA1FC9A1CD6C8-01-01.mrimg
List of available Disks and Partitions.
Disk# and Partition# are 1 based index as shown in Macrium Reflect.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disk# 7 GPT Msft Virtual Disk 1.0 120.00 GB
Partition# 1 Unformatted Microsoft reserved partition 16.0 MB
Partition# 2 (F:) New Volume NTFS Basic data partition 61.39 GB
Partition# 3 (G:) New Volume NTFS Basic data partition 58.59 GB
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disk# 8 GPT Msft Virtual Disk 1.0 10.00 GB
Partition# 1 Unformatted Microsoft reserved partition 16.0 MB
Partition# 2 (H:) New Volume NTFS Basic data partition 9.98 GB
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To list all the Image files in a folder
Please note: The file timestamp displayed will be file creation time which will closely match with the timestamp displayed in Reflect Image View.
C:\Users\User\Download>mrauto.exe -l e:\backups\ -f *.mrimg
Files in e:\backups\
Date Time Size Name
04/27/22 01:04:49 PM 1.59 GB E02EA1FC9A1CD6C8-01-01.mrimg
04/27/22 01:03:25 PM 1.59 GB E02EA1FC9A1CD6C8-00-00.mrimg
04/27/22 12:58:04 PM 1.59 GB 4FCBB35A521D555B-00-00.mrimg
04/26/22 01:49:58 PM 1.59 GB 419D32F43C8A6298-00-00.mrimg
04/26/22 01:41:34 PM 1.59 GB 73C293B952CE7D34-00-00.mrimg
04/26/22 11:52:40 AM 1.59 GB 07FD4877C90882A5-01-01.mrimg
04/26/22 10:37:18 AM 1.59 GB 07FD4877C90882A5-00-00.mrimg
04/26/22 10:36:04 AM 1.59 GB E9409BE794895ADA-00-00.mrimg
04/26/22 10:24:13 AM 1.59 GB 8CF0C6124033EDFC-00-00.mrimg
04/26/22 10:09:21 AM 1.59 GB 763A365DA69E70DC-00-00.mrimg
02/07/22 01:38:37 PM 1.59 GB AA2F8B962177BDC3-00-00.mrimg
02/07/22 01:36:26 PM 1.59 GB 4F53CA5C9CA9A598-00-00.mrimg
02/07/22 01:12:32 PM 1.59 GB 558DAD3FFE927DB9-00-00.mrimg
02/07/22 11:49:49 AM 1.59 GB 1124B60125507DE3-00-00.mrimg
02/07/22 09:46:50 AM 1.59 GB 4C778FC2604DE0BE-00-00.mrimg
02/07/22 09:45:32 AM 1.59 GB F1BD730CD26E7825-00-00.mrimg
02/07/22 09:41:41 AM 1.59 GB DFAB222D71EA26EB-00-00.mrimg
02/07/22 08:42:29 AM 1.59 GB 8ED28DC0E3AF7125-00-00.mrimg
12/23/21 02:25:31 PM 1.59 GB B6C9027CE9437759-00-00.mrimg
12/23/21 02:22:05 PM 1.59 GB 1AA0B3EC53CBB5F2-00-00.mrimg
12/23/21 02:21:27 PM 1.59 GB 8645F7F2632987F2-00-00.mrimg
12/23/21 02:18:57 PM 1.59 GB 41635A975C322178-00-00.mrimg
09/21/21 06:58:54 AM 1.59 GB FB100B49F0500FBF-00-00.mrimg
03/30/21 04:43:10 PM 1.59 GB EE2540934C564797-00-00.mrimg
03/11/21 10:40:00 PM 1.59 GB 3419F9772B775950-00-00.mrimg
03/10/21 11:41:13 AM 1.59 GB 1F447DE7946F5057-00-00.mrimg
03/01/21 09:23:37 AM 1.59 GB 9C6CB6F17254AD9C-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 01:43:58 PM 1.59 GB D229B88F827AC3AD-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 01:42:38 PM 1.59 GB EAADD7754877037B-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 01:35:47 PM 1.59 GB D6E24E254D10032E-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 01:34:05 PM 1.59 GB 98383A860C39CCAC-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 12:23:02 PM 1.59 GB 7D7EEC0422B8756A-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 12:19:31 PM 1.59 GB 532D15FB120E516E-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 12:16:43 PM 1.59 GB 951DBB1F129078BD-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 12:15:30 PM 1.59 GB 90412B2CA36517DE-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 12:10:53 PM 1.59 GB 933F63F80389C9C5-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 11:58:29 AM 1.59 GB 82A90008F7838E24-00-00.mrimg
02/23/21 11:55:45 AM 1.59 GB 5FCD2575DC64F73B-00-00.mrimg
10/27/20 04:43:47 PM 1.59 GB B5A9A1506FBA3E92-00-00.mrimg
10/19/20 12:49:41 PM 1.59 GB 85551032D0C05DE1-02-02.mrimg
10/19/20 12:46:46 PM 1.59 GB 85551032D0C05DE1-01-01.mrimg
10/19/20 12:42:41 PM 1.59 GB 85551032D0C05DE1-00-00.mrimg
42 File(s) 66.93 GB Total size