Macrium Reflect Replacement

I am about to replace my 14 year old tower running W10 with a new W11 Home edition system. I have been running MR for backups and system images. I tried MS File History, but it doesn't seem to work well and I read it's being "sunsetted". I also just received notice that MR free is also on the way out. Is there any Free to use replacement for backing up a W11 system? Don't want to use the cloud and would rather utilize my internal and external HDDs for backups. As soon as I get a new system, I'll fill in the system specs. section.

Welcome to the forum. Just because Macrium free will no longer be offered or supported, the free version you have should still work for some time to come. That being said, many of those here who are long time Macrium users believe in supporting Macrium and have bought their product. Of course there are other free backup applications out there. But purchasing backup software that you know works is a small price to pay to feel secure. Macrium usually offers deep discounts toward the end of the year around Black Friday and the holidays
Other free ones that come to mind are Backupper, Paragon, and ToDo but there are more. I can't personally recommend one because I haven't used them.

Jamis said:

I am about to replace my 14 year old tower running W10 with a new W11 Home edition system. I have been running MR for backups and system images. I tried MS File History, but it doesn't seem to work well and I read it's being "sunsetted". I also just received notice that MR free is also on the way out. Is there any Free to use replacement for backing up a W11 system? Don't want to use the cloud and would rather utilize my internal and external HDDs for backups. As soon as I get a new system, I'll fill in the system specs. section.

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AOMEI Backupper guides...

For system images, I use this file on a USB flash drive that has first been formatted with Ventoy and that contains the official Windows 11 Installation ISO file from Microsoft and a copy of my WinRE.wim file (you can grab it after running reagentc /disable in a command prompt, then reagentc /enable and, optionally, delete your Recovery partition after that), along with the Wimboot Plugin for Ventoy.
Personally, I, don't do scheduled automatic/unattended imaging jobs, but I know that it's possible to do with some extras, also via remote (LAN/WAN) if you really need/want to.

Choosing to create an image file of your Windows partition on this same Windows partition works, as does choosing to specify what files/folders you want to be excluded from image. While image creation is still in progress, I highly recommend to check the Verify image checkbox that appears at the bottom of the window.

For copying files/folders to external HDD (or internal HDD hooked up to my laptop via USB3), I use only FastCopy. Copying eliminates the dependency on backup software and backup file formats, and, the ability to store MD5 hash codes for later (re)use is a nice bonus, but I also love the fact that it can log errors on a per file basis, and can do so with full Unicode support. Last but not least, when copying very large amounts of data, TeraCopy and Robocopy both tend to flurb where FastCopy just puts that ultra-wide, can't be wiped off grin on your face.

This is a bit of a long post, but worth reading (imo) as choosing an alternative can be more complicated than you think.

I have been on a mission to find the "best" alternative for me for Macrium Reflect. I stress it is for me as everbody's needs differ.

See Restore Comparisons using Macrium Easeus, Aoemei & Hasleo for more details.

In context, this is my disk setup, with five partitions:

1 - EFI, 2 - MSR, 3 - C Drive (OS + progs), 4 - Recovery Partition, 5 - D Drive (data)

When I make an image backup, I only backup partitions 1 to 4. The data drive is backed up separately by other methods. The reason for this is to keep the image backup lean and mean, and very fast to do.

With Macrium Reflect, you just tick partitions you want to backup, and you tick partitions you want to restore.
Not only that, you can change order, resize etc very easily using drag and drop.

Same for other tools?

First none have the drag and drop capabilities (admittededly that is advanced usage).

So in my case, I can select to do system backup as I do not want to back up drive D (several 100's of GBS). C Drive is around 40 GB.

Sound simple?

Macrium Reflect
Backup - Select partitions 1 to 4, and you backup to image file. You can select Backup Windows in menu and it ticks partitions 1 - 4 for you if you wish.
Restore - Select which partitions you want to restore, and restore them.
Perfect!

What about the others?

This is where it get complicated.

Most of the others have 2 or 3 modes:

System Mode - backs up files needed to restore Windows
Drive Mode - backs up all partitions
Partition Mode - backs up selected partitions (some times Drive and Partition mode are just 1 mode and you can select which partitions to initially backup)


System Mode
The key problem with them is most have a different idea what consists a system backup.

Nearly all (AOMEI, Easeus, Veeam) ignore the MSR partition. Not a big deal, but on restores, it often gets deleted causing partitions to be "renumbered" which can upset any batch files you have made.

Hasleo does backup the MSR but bizarrely does not backup the Recovery Partition!

None of tools I tested simply choose the 4 standard partitions that are the official Windows layout.

Drive Mode
The key problem here is everything gets backed up which is very inflexible and in my case totally unwanted.

Partition Mode
This is more flexible and allows you to select Partitions 1 - 4 to backup. Great more like I wanted!
However ALL of the are a total PITA, as on Restore, you can only select one partition at a time to restore.


Another minor issue is that some Hasleo, Veeam require a service to be automatically running all the time even from start up to work - you cannot disable service, or even put it on manual.

Summary
1) None of the well known Macrium Reflect alternatives allow you to backup the 1st 4 partitions in one go, and restore them all in one go.

2) They either exclude partitions, or only allow you to restore one partition at a time.

3) Worse, on system restore, some may change your partition layout!

If these alternatives allowed you to restore more than one partition at a time in Partition mode, that would be much better. Of course, none of the alternatives have Reflect's drag and drop flexibility and easy resizing, especially when cloning/restoring to different sized drives.

My advice of tool to use
I cannot advise a specific tool - everybody's needs are different.
You have to evaluate each alternative to check it does what you need.

Do not just select one because somebody says so, or it looks nice.

You have to test restores to make sure it restores exactly how you want it.

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For happy Reflect Free users, you have 3 choices:

1) continue to use it after EOL - many still use V6 or V7 even. Frankly, it will probably work for many years to come if it works now. A crucial point to remember is V8.0 has been out for 2 years and is very well debugged. It will continue to work with minimal risk until MS do something to Windows that breaks it.

2) go to an alternative but follow my adice above about testing whichever you choose thoroughly.

3) Splash the cash and pay for Reflect Home - no need to rush - wait till Black Friday in hope of major 50% discount. They also offer 20% off periodically.

Thanks folks. I don't feel buying a MR License is out of the question. Given what we are going to spend on this new machine and what it holds, the license fee is pretty small potatoes. I like what MR can do and it did a good job restoring the old system when things got corrupted. To be honest, I owe them. More later when the new hardware arrives.

Jamis said:

Thanks folks. I don't feel buying a MR License is out of the question. Given what we are going to spend on this new machine and what it holds, the license fee is pretty small potatoes. I like what MR can do and it did a good job restoring the old system when things got corrupted. To be honest, I owe them. More later when the new hardware arrives.

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Macrium usually offers 50% licenses from time to time. Maybe use the version you have now until they run their next promo. I bought mine back in Sept of 2021, and did the 4 pack for $69.

pparks1 said:

Macrium usually offers 50% licenses from time to time. Maybe use the version you have now until they run their next promo. I bought mine back in Sept of 2021, and did the 4 pack for $69.

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They certainly offer 20% deals periodically. The 50% deal is normally only Black Friday but was offered on some special day (something like a special company anniversary). Let's hope they offer the traditional 50% off on Black Friday.

Jamis said:

Thanks folks. I don't feel buying a MR License is out of the question. Given what we are going to spend on this new machine and what it holds, the license fee is pretty small potatoes. I like what MR can do and it did a good job restoring the old system when things got corrupted. To be honest, I owe them. More later when the new hardware arrives.

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Great attitude - as my dear old Gran use to say:

1) You get what you pay for
2) Buy cheap, pay dear.

Most of my key software is paid for - a whole culture has unfortunately built up expecting free software.

Equally, many unrealistically expect free updates and free upgrades in perpetuity for a one off fee. For decent software, a company would go bust eventually.

Macrium Reflect offer free updates to a purchased licence UNTIL the next version comes out, but give a 50% discount if you upgrade.

However, there is a liitle trick you can play - I do not bother with a 50% upgrade - I just wait till Black Friday and buy 4 new licences at 50% off. I have 4 V7 and 4 V8 licences. The V7 licences remain valid as I did not upgrade them to V8 but bought 4 new V8 for same price.

Of course, there is no guarantee of 50% of on Black Friday - if not, I would just pay to upgrade (assuming 50% off is offered for upgrades - there would be a lot of unhappy bunnies if this changed for the worse).

Naturally, the V7 licences are no longer supported but I still sometimes use them inside virtual machines for the convenience of Rapid Delta Restore. I am less concerned about V& not working, as I back up vhds from host using V8 anyway.