Macrium Reflect 0, EaseUS backup 1.

Bree · Oct 1, 2023

thecaretaker said:
At one time I seem to remember, if you replaced too many components in quick succession, Windows would deactivate and you had to ring Microsoft to explain what you were doing to activate it again.

Is this no longer the case?

Before Windows 10 yes, that was the case. Windows itself checked the hardware and, if it had changed substantially, could deactivate itself.

thecaretaker said:
I would have thought making a clone on a similar PC and installing the disk into another PC, no matter how similar is a recipe for disaster. At best, surely many of the drivers would be incorrect. Or have I totally misunderstood what you posted?

Activation changed completely with Windows 10. Now activation is by a digital licence, stored on Microsoft's activation servers and linked to the unique hardware ID of the PC (this hardware ID does NOT include the hard drive, so you are free to change that without losing activation). Windows is now only responsible for checking if/when the hardware has changed substantially. If it may have changed, then the hardware ID of the PC is sent to the activation servers, and they reply saying whether or not this PC has a digital licence for the edition being run (Home or Pro). Note that the digital licence did not change with Windows 11, so a PC with a digital licence for 10 will activate the same edition of 11.

If you make a clone on one PC and install the disk into another PC, then as long as that other PC already has its own digital licence for the edition of Windows on the disk, then it will activate.

cereberus · Oct 2, 2023

jeffbeish said:
Maybe I can find it searching "Ghost Backup"?

Don't bother. Ghost is old, inflexible, unsupported, and a pile of crap by modern standards.

thecaretaker · Oct 2, 2023

Bree said:
Before Windows 10 yes, that was the case. Windows itself checked the hardware and, if it had changed substantially, could deactivate itself.

Activation changed completely with Windows 10. Now activation is by a digital licence, stored on Microsoft's activation servers and linked to the unique hardware ID of the PC (this hardware ID does NOT include the hard drive, so you are free to change that without losing activation). Windows is now only responsible for checking if/when the hardware has changed substantially. If it may have changed, then the hardware ID of the PC is sent to the activation servers, and they reply saying whether or not this PC has a digital licence for the edition being run (Home or Pro). Note that the digital licence did not change with Windows 11, so a PC with a digital licence for 10 will activate the same edition of 11.

If you make a clone on one PC and install the disk into another PC, then as long as that other PC already has its own digital licence for the edition of Windows on the disk, then it will activate.

Thanks Bree, interesting. Looks like I am showing my age these days

jeffbeish · Oct 2, 2023

cereberus said:
Don't bother. Ghost is old, inflexible, unsupported, and a pile of crap by modern standards.

I will stick with Macrium since it works for me. I used to make clone drives, but these newer laptops do not have old fashioned removable hard drives so I'm not sure a clone backup would benefit me. I have a bunch of hard drives in external cases with backups and I only save stuff in documents and some program installs. Computing has changed too much.

Lamberto Vitali · Dec 16, 2023

jeffbeish said:
I will stick with Macrium since it works for me. I used to make clone drives, but these newer laptops do not have old fashioned removable hard drives so I'm not sure a clone backup would benefit me. I have a bunch of hard drives in external cases with backups and I only save stuff in documents and some program installs. Computing has changed too much.

What do you mean "old fashioned removable"? Are you saying you can't replace your laptop's hard disk?!

pietcorus2 · Dec 16, 2023

Used Macrium boot-CDs in the past , went to Ventoy-stick , much faster booting and can choose between all kind of ISOs ( Macrium, AoMEI, etc, etc )
OS-backup in about 5 minutes...........

Lamberto Vitali · Dec 16, 2023

I prefer to make a precise copy, so I can boot off the copy, instead of hoping I have the relevant software to reimage in a hurry.

garioch7 · Dec 16, 2023

I use both Easeus Todo Backup Home (ETBH) (lifetime licenses) and Macrium Reflect Home Version 8 (MR) on both of my computers, alternating my weekly system images between them.

In my personal experience, MR is much faster, especially when verifying images: MR 12 minutes vs. ETBH 35 minutes for its "Check Image." As such, I prefer MR.

For my less-experienced clients, where the objective is to encourage them to implement a sound and regular backup strategy, I often recommend ETBH because the GUI is less intimidating.

I have never had either program fail me in the years I have been using them.

In the end, people should choose what works best for them. Implementing a robust strategy is the most important computer security consideration, so often ignored or overlooked by far too many computer users, sadly.

Just my two cents. Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

cereberus · Dec 16, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
I prefer to make a precise copy, so I can boot off the copy, instead of hoping I have the relevant software to reimage in a hurry.

Cloning has it's place - main limitation is one clone per backup drive (at least not without some effort).

You can have multiple image backups at different stages on one backup drive,

Most modern image backup tools will install the reimaging software on a hard drive and create a boot entry so you do not even need a usb boot drive in most cases. Of course, you still need a usb boot drive in case hard disk with the recovery software has failed or got corrupted.

Lamberto Vitali · Dec 16, 2023

garioch7 said:
I use both Easeus Todo Backup Home (ETBH) (lifetime licenses) and Macrium Reflect Home Version 8 (MR) on both of my computers, alternating my weekly system images between them.

In my personal experience, MR is much faster, especially when verifying images: MR 12 minutes vs. ETBH 35 minutes for its "Check Image." As such, I prefer MR.

For my less-experienced clients, where the objective is to encourage them to implement a sound and regular backup strategy, I often recommend ETBH because the GUI is less intimidating.

I have never had either program fail me in the years I have been using them.

Neither had I until I came to clone a Dell server. I guess there was something unusual about the hardware Macrium didn't like. But it's caused me to stop trusting the program.

cereberus said:
Cloning has it's place - main limitation is one clone per backup drive (at least not without some effort).

I don't consider that a limitation. A seperate drive for each backup is safer anyway incase one fails. And I just choose a drive big enough for the purpose.

cereberus said:
You can have multiple image backups at different stages on one backup drive,

Most modern image backup tools will install the reimaging software on a hard drive and create a boot entry so you do not even need a usb boot drive in most cases. Of course, you still need a usb boot drive in case hard disk with the recovery software has failed or got corrupted.

I don't want extra complications. Having a drive which is already ready is much safer. It also means you don't have to stick to the same software or remember what to do, you're just creating an identical copy.