Acronis True Image or Macrium Reflect

PerpetualCycle · Aug 23, 2021

Zardoc said:
Hi Wynona, does the 8 version paid have an onboard GUI to restore directly from Windows?

I might just try it.

Yes it does. You choose the image to restore in Windows, Macrium then reboots to Macrium boot, restores the image, then reboots to the restored Windows image.

Past experience with True Image is it sucks, Maybe it is better now, but I doubt it holds a candle to Macrium Reflect.

Zardoc · Aug 23, 2021

geneo said:
Yes it does. You choose the image to restore in Windows, Macrium then reboots to Macrium boot, restores the image, then reboots to the restored Windows image.

Past experience with True Image is it sucks, Maybe it is better now, but I doubt it holds a candle to Macrium Reflect.

Oh no, It works very well with 2017 and up. Older versions made me sick to my stomach but this one works very well. I am even saving encrypted drive to NAS every night and it works very well and I ride from 10 to 11 on a regular basis instead of multi booting.

snerd · Aug 23, 2021

I’ve used Macrium Reflect for years now. On paid ver 8 now and wouldn’t be without it!

Slavic · Aug 24, 2021

As a user of Macrium Reflect I can recommend it as very good backup software. I use a paid version on my main OS installation and free versions on all other PCs; in fact, I use the paid options like documents backup much less often than full system backup which is available in free. Besides transferring system from one drive to another one (like from one SSD to another one), which many people mentioned above, its good option is ability to back up an offline drive. Also need to note that Macrium is being actively developed, patches with fixes are released on regular basis, which is very good even if you have never met the bugs mentioned in the patch notes like me.

But I should honestly say about one disadvantage: Reflect uses the service (Macrium Service) which has to be started automatically by design, even if you need it once a week or even less often. I personally dislike the unneeded services and try to reconfigure them from Automatic to Manual, when the service starts by demand. Unfortunately, in the case of Macrium this is not possible because it checks the startup mode every time when you run it and forcefully switches to Automatic (why developers are so stubborn in this, is beyond my understanding). As a result, I wrote the CMD file macrium.cmd placed in its directory which starts Macrium Reflect and restores the service to Manual after exit:

Code:

@echo off
setlocal enableextensions
cd /d "%~dp0"
sc start MacriumService
Reflect.exe
sc config MacriumService start=demand
sc stop MacriumService

cereberus · Aug 24, 2021

Slavic said:
As a user of Macrium Reflect I can recommend it as very good backup software. I use a paid version on my main OS installation and free versions on all other PCs; in fact, I use the paid options like documents backup much less often than full system backup which is available in free. Besides transferring system from one drive to another one (like from one SSD to another one), which many people mentioned above, its good option is ability to back up an offline drive. Also need to note that Macrium is being actively developed, patches with fixes are released on regular basis, which is very good even if you have never met the bugs mentioned in the patch notes like me.

But I should honestly say about one disadvantage: Reflect uses the service (Macrium Service) which has to be started automatically by design, even if you need it once a week or even less often. I personally dislike the unneeded services and try to reconfigure them from Automatic to Manual, when the service starts by demand. Unfortunately, in the case of Macrium this is not possible because it checks the startup mode every time when you run it and forcefully switches to Automatic (why developers are so stubborn in this, is beyond my understanding). As a result, I wrote the CMD file macrium.cmd placed in its directory which starts Macrium Reflect and restores the service to Manual after exit:

Code:

@echo off setlocal enableextensions cd /d "%~dp0" sc start MacriumService Reflect.exe sc config MacriumService start=demand sc stop MacriumService

You only need the service running if you are using automatic updates. You could stop and start it from Task Scheduler but tbh its overhead on services is virtually indetectable. Given its omportance, I just leave it alone.

cereberus · Aug 24, 2021

In all these discussions, the crucial pount is that the Free version of Reflect meets most users basic needs. TI is only free when bundled with a drive.

More importantly, TI is now on an annual subscription basis. Ig tou pay for Reflect Home it is a one-off payment and you have a perpetual licence for that version.

About every three years they normally bring out a new version, and you have to optionally pay 50% to upgrade but not essential.

So for beginners, install the excellent free version, use it, test it to get confidence, and then decide later if you want to upgrade to get advanced features. I have V8 on my main device. For all others, I keep to my old V7 paid licences.

Incidentally with paid version, you can merge incrementals with last full version, or have them separate. Personally, I do not like merging them, as I test the base full version using viboot but do not want to have to keep testing it after every incremental change. I know the separate incrementals is robust, so why bother merge them because if anything goes wrong, the backup will fail (maybe a very low risk but not zero).

Bree · Aug 24, 2021

Zardoc said:
Hi Wynona, does the 8 version paid have an onboard GUI to restore directly from Windows?

I'm not Wynona either, but yes, paid or free, it does - up to a point. That point comes when you ask it to restore the C: partition to the drive you are currently running Windows from. Macrium will then restart the PC, boot from WinPE and continue the restore.

Zardoc · Aug 24, 2021

Thanks Bree.

I couldn't see in your image but if you can see TI offers just to restore needed partition rather than restoring recovery and EFI boot. Is it the same options in Macrium?

Bree · Aug 24, 2021

Zardoc said:
TI offers just to restore needed partition rather than restoring recovery and EFI boot. Is it the same options in Macrium?

Yes. When you have selected a source image to restore there is a tick-box beneath each partition. Only the partition(s) you tick will be restored. If that partition is not currently in use (such as a data-only partition, or in this example the Recovery partition) then the restore can complete within the GUI without needing to boot to WinPE.

Zardoc · Aug 24, 2021

Very well explained Bree! Thanks a bunch. I think on a next build I will try it out.

Josey Wales · Aug 24, 2021

There is a new release of Clonezilla for those that use it.

Wynona · Aug 24, 2021

Zardoc said:
Hi Wynona, does the 8 version paid have an onboard GUI to restore directly from Windows?

I might just try it.

You know more about that stuff than I do, Zardoc.

I had a bad experience with acronis, and for me, Macrium is easy to use.

If it's not out yet, Macrium Reflect 8 free should be released soon. Why not try that first to see if you like it. It's not as full featured, but is adequate for most of the Windows population.

To restore, you insert your Rescue USB Stick/DVD, and follow the yellow brick road.

And I must add a great big "THANK YOU" to those who "are not Wynona" but took the time to explain things to Zardoc. I learned some stuff too!

Thank you very much; I was busy learning Speech to Text/Dictation so I could teach my students how to use their voice instead of their very slow fingers to type.

cereberus · Aug 24, 2021

Wynona said:
You know more about that stuff than I do, Zardoc.

I had a bad experience with acronis, and for me, Macrium is easy to use.

If it's not out yet, Macrium Reflect 8 free should be released soon. Why not try that first to see if you like it. It's not as full featured, but is adequate for most of the Windows population.

To restore, you insert your Rescue USB Stick/DVD, and follow the yellow brick road.

And I must add a great big "THANK YOU" to those who "are not Wynona" but took the time to explain things to Zardoc. I learned some stuff too!

Thank you very much; I was busy learning Speech to Text/Dictation so I could teach my students how to use their voice instead of their very slow fingers to type.

Trouble with speech to text is it cannot handle homonyms very well (words spelt differently but sound the same). As John Mc. used to say

"Ewe Khan Knot Bee Sirius"

Wynona · Aug 24, 2021

cereberus said:
Trouble with speech to text is it cannot handle homonyms very well (words spelt differently but sound the same). As John Mc. used to say

"Ewe Khan Knot Bee Sirius"

I know, but it's something they're getting excited about, and we're all smart enough to handle a few strange wordings.

bobkn · Aug 24, 2021

Wynona said:
I know, but it's something they're getting excited about, and we're all smart enough to handle a few strange wordings.

That seems optimistic. (Ignoring the emoticon.)

their there they're
to too two
its it's
here hear

I dunno about text-to-speech. Smart phone spell checkers give me a lot of grief, but I rarely use one to visit the forums.

cereberus · Aug 24, 2021

Wynona said:
I know, but it's something they're getting excited about, and we're all smart enough to handle a few strange wordings.

Try using it in Scotland. You can go 30 miles and not understand the locals.

Many speak a dialect called Doric whis is basically more like ancient scottish/norwegian hybrid (dates back to viking days).

A common one in Aberdeen:

"Far's yer quine gang"

equals

Where's your girl(friend) gone.

A computer has no chance LOL.

Bree · Aug 24, 2021

bobkn said:
That seems optimistic. (Ignoring the emoticon.)

their there they're
to too two
its it's
here hear

Well, colour me 'impressed'. What I though I said was 'they're', but I'll accept 'they are'

They're looking for their answers there.png

(you can actually see it changing the text as it works out the grammar)

bobkn · Aug 24, 2021

cereberus said:
Try using it in Scotland. You can go 30 miles and not understand the locals.

Many speak a dialect called Doric whis is basically more like ancient scottish/norwegian hybrid (dates back to viking days).

A common one in Aberdeen:

"Far's yer quine gang"

equals

Where's your girl(friend) gone.

A computer has no chance LOL.

Bless auld Robbie Burns. :)

Zardoc · Aug 24, 2021

Well,

Look at what Acronis just sent me:
Hello,

We’re writing so you’re the first to know about an exciting change –
we’re renaming Acronis True Image to Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office!

Why the change? When Acronis True Image launched in 2003, it was the first personal disk imaging software.
We named it so people knew they would get a true image of their data.

But as the challenges of protecting data evolved, Acronis True Image evolved too.
With its unique integration of backup and anti-malware technology, it does so much
more now than simply back up your data that it’s time its name reflects that fact.

That’s why, with the next month’s launch of the new version, we’re renaming it
Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office.

You don’t need to take any action: It’s the same high-performing solution you know and trust.
You simply need to get used to a new name that lets you know you’ve got more than just backup software.

As always. Тhanks for choosing Acronis.

That was the nail in the coffin. Macrium, here I come, please take good care of us :lmao:

Stigg · Aug 24, 2021

Zardoc said:
But as the challenges of protecting data evolved, Acronis True Image evolved too.
With its unique integration of backup and anti-malware technology, it does so much
more now than simply back up your data that it’s time its name reflects that fact.

That’s why, with the next month’s launch of the new version, we’re renaming it
Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office.

I haven't used any Acronis products in years, but in my opinion, that's a terrible decision.
I am trying to think of who that decision would appeal to. :think: