🔁 Restore Xubuntu SSD Backup using Macrium Reflect (Windows)

This guide explains how to restore a full disk backup of your Xubuntu SSD that was created using Macrium Reflect Free. This is ideal for recovering or migrating your Linux installation (e.g. from backup to a new drive).

🧰 Requirements

  • ✅ A previously created .mrimg backup image (e.g. stored on D: drive)
  • ✅ The drive you want to restore (target SSD)
  • ✅ Macrium Reflect Free installed
  • ✅ Optional: USB drive (to create recovery media if restoring OS disk)

🧪 Step-by-Step Restoration

1. Launch Macrium Reflect as Administrator

Start Menu → Search “Macrium Reflect” → Right-click → Run as Administrator

If you’re restoring a bootable Xubuntu drive (e.g. replacing your current SSD):

  • Go to Other Tasks → Create Rescue Media
  • Choose your USB stick
  • Click Next through the wizard to build the bootable tool
  • This lets you restore disks without running Windows

3. Connect your target SSD

  • Ensure the SSD you want to restore to is connected (e.g. Disk 2)
  • Double-check that this is the correct disk (it will be overwritten!)

4. Go to Restore tab

  • Click Browse for an image file…
  • Navigate to your backup image (.mrimg) on your backup drive (e.g., D:\xubuntu_backup.mrimg)
  • Select it — the disk layout will appear in Macrium

5. Restore to Target Disk

  • Click “Restore Image”
  • Select your target disk (e.g., your 223 GB SSD)
  • Ensure correct source and target are selected
  • Click “Next” → “Finish” → “Continue”

🛑 ⚠️ This will erase the entire target disk

6. (Optional) Reboot into Linux

  • If this was your bootable Linux installation, reboot your system
  • Use BIOS boot menu (e.g. F12, F2, Del, etc.) to select restored SSD
  • Linux should boot normally

🔁 To Restore from USB Later

If you can’t boot into Windows:

  1. Insert your Macrium Rescue USB
  2. Boot from USB (select from BIOS)
  3. Load Macrium from the stick
  4. Plug in your backup drive
  5. Repeat Steps 4–6 above

🧠 Notes

  • This works even if the Linux disk uses ext4 (Macrium does sector-level backup)
  • You can use it to migrate a working Xubuntu install to another SSD
  • Restored disks may need UUID or GRUB fix if boot fails (rare, but fixable via Live USB)

✅ Backup Reminder

To create backups:

# From Windows
Use Macrium Reflect → Select Xubuntu SSD → Create Image → Save to D: