Poll on Backup software

Wynona · Feb 15, 2022

Hazel123 said:
That's the first time I've heard anyone mention ashampoo. Google tells me it's a German product (with a weird name!). How did you find it?

Ashampoo has been around forever and three days. I don't have any experience with it, but I'm pretty sure it's OK. They have a bunch of products.

Link: Ashampoo® - We Make Software!

ShamrockRig · Feb 15, 2022

Wynona said:
Methinks thou dost protest too much.

Nae Bawhair big chieftess

BrianInEngland · Feb 15, 2022

Wynona said:
Bzzzzzzzzzzt! Wrong answer!

The reason Macrium is so popular is that when someone has a problem, whether self-inflicted or a Macrium caused problem, the DEVs jump onto it and solve it almost within hours rather than days or weeks. I've seen it happen over on TenForums time after time. Not only do they solve problems, I've seen posts where they've reached out personally to a TF denizen and worked with him/her until the situation is resolved.

And what's really satisfying is that once a problem has been resolved, the TF denizen will post the results for the rest of us. No secrets, even when the fault lies with Macrium. And they don't mind letting us know it was their fault.

Further, although I've partially repaid Macrium by purchasing a 4-pack for my computers, those who can only afford the free version don't get constant nag screens asking them to upgrade! I would hazard a guess that a large percentage of paid Macrium users have bought the product simply because of the excellent support whether they own a paid or free version.

Safe Computing can go a long way, but that isn't the only way your computer can be compromised. I won't bother to tell you the many ways it can happen, but I will tell you that Macrium has saved my bacon three or four times!

I use the paid version so I can do incremental backups, file backups and because the images are protected from ransomware - the image files can only be written to with Macrium itself, attempting to write or delete the file creates an access error. Worth the price just for that peace of mind.

Deleted member 952 · Feb 15, 2022

Hazel123 said:
That's the first time I've heard anyone mention ashampoo. Google tells me it's a German product (with a weird name!). How did you find it?

Was using it for ages it was in a magazine in the early 2000s.

humbird · Feb 15, 2022

Hazel123 said:
That's the first time I've heard anyone mention ashampoo. Google tells me it's a German product (with a weird name!). How did you find it?

I used ashampoo ages ago. I had no idea ashampoo was still around.

Edwin · Feb 15, 2022

humbird said:
I had no idea ashampoo was still around.

They're huge! I still fool around with their Capture software...

dbartenstein · Feb 16, 2022

dbartenstein said:
Was a Win 7 Backup user for years, then Acronis for several years, and have been on AEOMI for a year or so now.... Based on the poll numbers I am getting sorely tempted to try Macrium though.

I really, really liked the Win 7 product and had used it for imaging until I got to AEOMI. Disappointed that Microsoft is deprecating it, because it worked very, very well, had a relatively simple interface, and seems to have been much speedier than AEOMI.

Well, change my vote to from AOEMI to Macrium. I downloaded their product and performed the same type of backups I was doing with AOMEI and they execute in a fraction of the time and much cleaner. I'm sold!

Bree · Feb 16, 2022

dbartenstein said:
Well, change my vote to from AOEMI to Macrium.

You can vote for (and use) both, you know. It's always good to have alternatives :wink:

dbartenstein · Feb 16, 2022

Bree said:
You can vote for (and use) both, you know. It's always good to have alternatives

Can't change my vote in the poll that started this; doesn't seem to be allowed. I'll keep AOEMI in my back pocket though if need arises. It IS a lifetime license after all.

Haydon · Mar 17, 2022

ddelo said:
Besides Macrium Reflect v8, for regular system images, I have created a Robocopy script, for fast backup of my data files.
Depending on the work done, sometimes I run it more than 2-3 times a day. It's fast and accurate and works great alongside with the respective Robocopy restore script!

Care to share your Robocopy restore script? TIA

Try3 · Mar 17, 2022

Haydon said:
Care to share your Robocopy restore script? TIA

It will be the RoboCopy backup script with Source & Destination reversed & probably [although not necessarily, it's a decision to be made at the time] with the /Mir switch removed.

Denis

jerrypc1 · Mar 17, 2022

humbird said:
I used ashampoo ages ago. I had no idea ashampoo was still around.

@humbird I remember Ashampoo also like you I had forgotten it .I remember back then it seemed pretty good:)

ddelo · Mar 17, 2022

Hi @Haydon

First of all I would agree with Denis. It's a reversed <Source> <Destination> set of commands, with one addition. The /XX switch, which will not permit deletion of any existing files in the Destination folder.

I run my Robocopy scripts via PowerShell (I'm better there.... :wink:

)

So to give an idea this is my RESTORE script. I mostly use it after a clean install, but also on partial restore after an accident or Macrium Reflect Image Restore (when the Reflect image is older than the Robocopy backup - usually is.)
The /XD and /XF switches have been added to exclude copying (i.e. overwriting in the Destination) files or folders that are created by Windows and/or Office and/or Third Party apps (e.g. Macrium Reflect).

The first part of the script is added to make it more interactive, and can be skipped if someone chooses to hard-code the Backup Drive letter in the script.

Powershell:

Write-Host
$Drive = Read-Host "Enter the drive to restore the backup from (D: E: F: G: etc.)"
$BackupDrive = Get-Partition -DriveLetter $Drive.TrimEnd(":") -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if (($BackupDrive | Get-Disk).BusType -eq "USB") {
    $RestoreStartTime = Get-Date
    if (-not (Test-Path C:\BackupScripts)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "C:\BackupScripts" }
    Out-File "C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" -Encoding unicode
    Write-Output "File Restore started: $(Get-Date $RestoreStartTime -Format 'dd/MM/yyyy HH:mm:ss')`n" | Out-File "C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" -Encoding unicode -Append
    }
else {
    Write-Host "`nSelected Backup drive is not attached to USB port.`n" -ForegroundColor Red
    Break
}

RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\BackupScripts" "C:\BackupScripts" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Dell" "C:\Dell" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Portable Programs" "C:\Portable Programs" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES

RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Documents" "$env:USERPROFILE\Documents" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES /XF "$Drive\Backup\Documents\desktop.ini" /XD "$Drive\Backup\Documents\My Shapes" "$Drive\Backup\Documents\Reflect"
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Common" "$env:USERPROFILE\Common" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Desktop" "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES /XF "$Drive\Backup\Desktop\desktop.ini"
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Downloads" "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES /XF "$Drive\Backup\Downloads\desktop.ini"
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Favorites" "$env:USERPROFILE\Favorites" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES /XF "$Drive\Backup\Favorites\desktop.ini" "$Drive\Backup\Favorites\Bing.url" /XD "$Drive\Backup\Favorites\Links"
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\HomePage" "$env:USERPROFILE\HomePage" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\iPhone" "$env:USERPROFILE\iPhone" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Music" "$env:USERPROFILE\Music" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES /XF "$Drive\Backup\Music\desktop.ini"
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Pictures" "$env:USERPROFILE\Pictures" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES /XF "$Drive\Backup\Pictures\desktop.ini" /XD "$Drive\Backup\Pictures\Camera Roll" "$Drive\Backup\Pictures\Saved Pictures"
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Scans" "$env:USERPROFILE\Scans" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Software" "$env:USERPROFILE\Software" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\Videos" "$env:USERPROFILE\Videos" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES /XF "$Drive\Backup\Videos\desktop.ini" /XD "$Drive\Backup\Videos\Captures"
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\FavoritesMSEdge" "$env:USERPROFILE\FavoritesMSEdge" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES
RoboCopy "$Drive\Backup\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync" "$env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync" /MIR /XX /DCOPY:DAT /MT:16 /R:0 /W:0 /UNILOG+:"C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" /TEE /NP /FP /NDL /BYTES

$RestoreEndTime = Get-Date
$TimeSpan = $RestoreEndTime - $RestoreStartTime
Write-Output "`r`nRestore completed in: $('{0:hh}:{0:mm}:{0:ss}.{0:fff}' -f $TimeSpan)`n" | Out-File "C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log" -Encoding unicode -Append
Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 250

notepad "C:\BackupScripts\Restore.log"

Try3 · Mar 17, 2022

ddelo said:
The first part of the script is added to make it more interactive, and can be skipped if someone chooses to hard-code the Backup Drive letter in the script.

Dimitri,

If you're interested, I know how to retrieve drive letters from drive labels in batch scripting i.e. I detect the particular drive letter that BertieTheBackup has been assigned on this particular occasion and use that in my script. I have not yet needed a PS-equivalent but I bet it's infuriatingly simpler.
- It's wmic-based
- The drive label to search for is passed by the shortcut to the script or by the script that calls it but in some circumstances can usefully be written into the script instead.

- I generally call this from other scripts as a common subroutine so if I ever decide to change it then the change only needs to be done once.
- This script is a stripped down version of an original script that worked both ways - get drive letter from label & get drive label from letter. The latter was not used in any real cases.
- The output, %ThisDrive%, is the drive letter, without colon or backslash.
- If the label is not found then %ThisDrive% is empty {and I've left in a specific test in my posted version but I normally delete it}

Updated a few hours later {20:35} to remove a redundant line [Both the posted text & the attached batch file have been updated].

FindDriveLetterFromLabel - ElevenForum.bat

:: Examine the passed argument
Set "ThisLabel=%~1"
If "FF%ThisLabel%FF"=="FFFF" GoTo EndDriveChecks
:: GetDriveLetter
for /f "tokens=*" %%D in ('wmic volume get DriveLetter^, Label ') do Call :CheckExactMatch "%%D"
GoTo EndDriveChecks
:CheckExactMatch
Set "ThisLine=%~1"
If "FF%ThisLine%FF"=="FFFF" GoTo :EOF
If Not "%ThisLine:~1,1%"==":" GoTo :EOF
Set "LabelSegment=%~1"
:StripTrailingSpaces
If "%LabelSegment:~-1%"==" " (Set "LabelSegment=%LabelSegment:~0,-1%") Else (GoTo StrippingDone)
GoTo StripTrailingSpaces
:StrippingDone
Set "LabelSegment=%LabelSegment:~13%"
If /I "%ThisLabel%"=="%LabelSegment%" Set "ThisDrive=%ThisLine:~0,1%"
GoTo :EOF
:EndDriveChecks
echo "%ThisDrive%"
:: I found the next line useful during testing but not during routine use
:: If Defined ThisDrive (Echo Yes, I found it) Else (Echo Stop messing about)
Pause at EndDriveChecks during testing

All the best,
Denis

hdmi · Mar 17, 2022

I don't use an imaging program for backups. Rather, I use an imaging program for (system) images. These images are treated the same as my personal data (files), and, my file/folder backups are simple 1:1 copies. The copying of this data to/from external USB 3.0 HDDs usually is done with FastCopy via a small custom script (that I wrote myself) because FastCopy is reliable and also it is the fastest copy tool available on Windows, it has vastly superior error logging capability when compared to Robocopy, and, last but not least, it uses (and stores) hash codes for file verification.

That said, for images of my system partition, I use the Bootable Media ISO of Acronis True Image 2021. I do not keep the program installed on my system. To boot straight into this ISO from a USB flash drive, I use Ventoy. This enables me to store a copy of the image of my system partition on the same USB flash drive, which can help me to save time whenever I need to restore the image because it's a 256GB USB 3.0 flash drive offering ~400MB/s sustained read speed, which is a lot faster than my fastest 7200rpm 3.5 inch external USB 3.0 HDD.

A flash drive like this doesn't use a separate power supply, which makes it similar to an M.2 SSD in an external enclosure, only much more pocket friendly (and laptop bag friendly). I use two of these flash drives (identical ones). Their contents are 1:1 copies of each other, using FastCopy to do the copying, so backups don't have to be restored if one flash drive fails. Ventoy also allows me to store other personal data on the same flash drives in such a way that the files can simply remain on them, as Ventoy completely eliminates the need to keep reformatting the flash drives, very unlike using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool or Rufus for making it bootable.

Finally, I do not create an image file directly on the USB flash drive with the Bootable Media ISO of Acronis. Rather, the file is copied from the internal SSD onto the USB flash drive at a later stage, i.e. by using FastCopy after booting into Windows. So, until this copy task finishes (with verification) in FastCopy, there's no actual backup copy yet. That's why I voted 'Other', not 'Acronis'. The image verification occurs in a separate step unrelated to this copy task. I.e., it is performed automatically, after the image has been created by the Acronis task that runs from the Bootable Media ISO, but before the copy task starts in FastCopy.

A backup copy isn't reliable until the whole procedure has finished and the storage medium has been physically removed (unplugged), both from the wall and from all electronic devices, AND has been moved to a safe location away from the computer. In addition to this, the integrity of the backup has to be re-verified on a regular basis.

I am a trained software developer who has a formal degree in IT, whereas most people who voted on the poll are not. It always cracks me up when someone tries to insinuate that the simple fact that the vast majority use Macrium is because it is what the experienced prefer, because it is a superior choice. The reality is that the vast majority are not very experienced at all. Those who truly are experienced are those who know that this type of attitude is just the inevitable result of how the internet factually works. The first step toward becoming an expert is to become aware that you're not an expert. :)

ddelo · Mar 17, 2022

Try3 said:
Dimitri,

If you're interested, I know how to retrieve drive letters from drive labels in batch scripting i.e. I detect the particular drive letter that BertieTheBackup has been assigned on this particular occasion and use that in my script. I have not yet needed a PS-equivalent but I bet it's infuriatingly simpler.
- It's wmic-based
- The drive label to search for is passed by the shortcut to the script or by the script that calls it but in some circumstances can usefully be written into the script instead.
View attachment 24571
- I generally call this from other scripts as a common subroutine so if I ever decide to change it then the change only needs to be done once.
- This script is a stripped down version of an original script that worked both ways - get drive letter from label & get drive label from letter. The latter was not used in any real cases.
- The output, %ThisDrive%, is the drive letter, without colon or backslash.
- If the label is not found then %ThisDrive% is empty {and I've left in a specific test in my posted version but I normally delete it}

FindDriveLetterFromLabel - ElevenForum.bat

:: Examine the passed argument Set "ThisLabel=%~1" If "FF%ThisLabel%FF"=="FFFF" GoTo EndDriveChecks :: GetDriveLetter for /f "tokens=*" %%D in ('wmic volume get DriveLetter^, Label ') do Call :CheckExactMatch "%%D" GoTo EndDriveChecks :CheckExactMatch Set ThisLine=%~1 If "FF%ThisLine%FF"=="FFFF" GoTo :EOF If Not "%ThisLine:~1,1%"==":" GoTo :EOF Set "LabelSegment=%~1" :StripTrailingSpaces If "%LabelSegment:~-1%"==" " (Set "LabelSegment=%LabelSegment:~0,-1%") Else (GoTo StrippingDone) GoTo StripTrailingSpaces :StrippingDone If "%ThisLine:~0,11%"=="DriveLetter" GoTo :EOF Set "LabelSegment=%LabelSegment:~13%" If /I "%ThisLabel%"=="%LabelSegment%" Set "ThisDrive=%ThisLine:~0,1%" GoTo :EOF :EndDriveChecks echo "%ThisDrive%" :: I found the next line useful during testing but not in routine use If Defined ThisDrive (Echo Yes, I found it) Else (Echo Stop messing about) Pause at EndDriveChecks during testing

All the best,
Denis

Thanks a lot Denis. I really appreciate it.
I'll translate it to Powershell and test it,
Thanks again. :)

Try3 · Mar 17, 2022

ddelo said:
I'll translate it to Powershell and test it

Dimitri,

The line
If "%ThisLine:~0,11%"=="DriveLetter" GoTo :EOF
is redundant and can therefore be deleted.
It was a leftover from my use of the original script for two-way checking.

Denis

Haydon · Mar 17, 2022

@ddelo @Try3 I see in Dimitri's restore script /MIR /XX on the same robocopy command line ( and also /XD /XF )

This presumes /XX ( and also /XD /XF ) overrides /MIR ?
Apparently it doesn't cause a conflict ?
Why is /MIR added in the first place ?
Just want to understand things a bit better :)

PerpetualCycle · Mar 17, 2022

Macrium for system and robocopy powershell script for data.

ddelo · Mar 17, 2022

Haydon said:
@ddelo @Try3 I see in Dimitri's restore script /MIR /XX on the same robocopy command line ( and also /XD /XF )

This presumes /XX ( and also /XD /XF ) overrides /MIR ?
Apparently it doesn't cause a conflict ?
Why is /MIR added in the first place ?
Just want to understand things a bit better :)

/MIR = mirror the folders, as the data I want are in the source folder
/XX = If there are any files in the destination folder that haven't been backed up (like Junctions, remember in the backup command we used /XJ to exclude junctions), don't touch them, I.e. don't delete them