Poll on Backup software

Photographer_K said:

Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783
(It is not easy to find a free version download link in the official website forum, but incremental backup is still only available for trial)

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As far as I am aware it is impossible to find a link for Reflect Free on the Macrium website, they were all removed when Reflect Free was retired. Someone may have posted a link in the official Forum, but finding it would be a 'needle in a haystack' task. However, Macrium do publish the link to download the full Reflect Home download agent: reflectdlfull.exe in their Knowledge Base. It is not widely known, but this download agent is multi-purpose, the name of the .exe determines its behaviour. Rename it to ReflectDLHF.exe and it will become the Reflect Free download agent.


Yes, Incrementals are a Premium Feature, Reflect Free can make Differentials though. For testing purposes the first Incremental after a Full image and the first Differential should be virtually identical, they both must contain all changes since the Full was made.

I drive a GMC, some of my friends drive a Dodge or Ford, whatever works for you. JMO

RD Mercer said:

I drive a GMC, some of my friends drive a Dodge or Ford, whatever works for you. JMO

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...except for the Ford drivers, there is no excuse for that...LOL...JK

wags1 said:

It all gets back to fact that we all use the BU solution(s) that best fit our specific requirements and as has been stated, their is no right or wrong answer.

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You are making the assumption that we all know what are our specific requirements, and, even if that assumption might be correct, you are still also assuming we all know how to determine the best possible match between our specific requirements and all the various backup solution choices that are available to us. Some of us might know. The vast majority of Windows users certainly do not.

"But backups fail – and, according to a recent survey, the failure rate is a staggeringly high 37%." Backup failure: Four key areas where backups go wrong | Computer Weekly

hdmi said:

You are making the assumption that we all know what are our specific requirements, and, even if that assumption might be correct, you are still also assuming we all know how to determine the best possible match between our specific requirements and all the various backup solution choices that are available to us. Some of us might know. The vast majority of Windows users certainly do not.

"But backups fail – and, according to a recent survey, the failure rate is a staggeringly high 37%." Backup failure: Four key areas where backups go wrong | Computer Weekly

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All true but the fact that we are participating in a discussion thread about the BU solution that we are currently using IMO would imply that we are in fact using a BU solution and do understand our requirements/needs. I know I have tried/used several BU solutions till finally settling on MR because it currently is the best fit for me IMO and it has proven itself in the testing that I have done...and it has saved my bacon a few times. But yeah, their are certainly lots of users that fall into the category you describe.

wags1 said:

the best fit for me IMO

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The "IMO" here already proves my original point.

hdmi said:

The "IMO" here already proves my original point.

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OK, but the IMO is the only thing that matters to me but everyone has their own opinions which are valid and relevant to them. Just because certain features/functions/capabilities/performance matter to me doesn't mean they don't matter to someone else. Different strokes for different folks and all that...and yes, their are some folks who don't really know what they want/need and many that don't even use a BU solution.

hdmi said:

It's because most people almost never need to restore a Windows system image.

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Well, I am of the opposite ilk . Prior to using any imaging software at all, I was a snapshot user (RollbackRX). I needed quick returns to a previous/reference System image on both HoneyPot Systems and Systems that did a ton of "questionable" software testing. RollbackRX did that very well BUT... was probably the most dangerous piece of software I think I've ever used. I needed to get away from that risk.

Along came (2015) Macrium REFLECT v6 with (drumbeat)... Rapid Delta Restore (RDR), WOW, my perfect solution for quick restore of System images as well as a backup imaging solution for my System as well. The RDR was the first of its kind among well known imaging systems. It's been my goto imaging System since Feb. 2015... and has never let me down after many, many hundreds of System restores over the years.

Since then, a few of the other popular imaging systems have caught on and now offer a similar Delta Restore feature (Image For Windows is the first to come to mind). Of recent I have been extensively testing the Hasleo Backup Suite (HBS) which also includes flexible scheduling/retention mgmt as well as a very fast and effective Delta Restore function. So far this imaging system has hit all my needed boxes (have never needed REFLECT's MIG feature... I do that in other ways)... AND it's FREE at the moment.

In my final testing phase, I have made HBS my primary imaging solution (lots of IntraDaily snapshots) with Macrium Reflect taking over the secondary role. My last testing phase should be complete by 01Apr... so far so good as a possible Macrium REFLECT replacement, especially if SUBSCRIPTION replaces the PERMANENT license mode for REFLECT.

wags1 said:

some folks who don't really know what they want/need and many that don't even use a BU solution

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It is still clear to me from the poll (and from a lot of what's written in the 34 pages worth of replies) that a lot of people who voted are not using Macrium Reflect because they know what they need (and why), but instead are using it mostly because they need something to avoid losing data permanently so, they want Macrium Reflect mainly as a result of it being the most popular choice made by those who like to follow this same exact type of reasoning, i.e. as opposed to want it based on investigating proper research that would enable them to do meaningful comparisons and evaluate all the various pros and cons of each different solution candidate that they can then choose between after they've made the first logical step in that whole journey, which is to become well-informed and knowing that they are well-informed, not just believing that that's what they are. I have said it before, and will keep saying it. A lot of people on here don't actually even understand the definition of the term "data backup".

So, here comes the final conclusion:

hdmi said:

It is still clear to me from the poll (and from a lot of what's written in the 34 pages worth of replies) that a lot of people who voted are not using Macrium Reflect because they know what they need (and why), but instead are using it mostly because they need something to avoid losing data permanently so, they want Macrium Reflect mainly as a result of it being the most popular choice made by those who like to follow this same exact type of reasoning, i.e. as opposed to want it based on investigating proper research that would enable them to do meaningful comparisons and evaluate all the various pros and cons of each different solution candidate that they can then choose between after they've made the first logical step in that whole journey, which is to become well-informed and knowing that they are well-informent, not just believing that that's what they are. I have said it before, and will keep saying it. A lot of people on here don't actually even understand the definition of the term "data backup".

So, here comes the final conclusion:

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I personally don’t even pretend to know what’s best for anyone else no less what’s in their mind or their thought processes. I’ll leave that to those more omniscient than I…

Perhaps it's time for a new poll, with the possibility of more answers, since there are new kids on the block.

kelper said:

Perhaps it's time for a new poll, with the possibility of more answers, since there are new kids on the block.

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Not sure I really see point as it will be same old "hacks" replying. No matter how many times we discuss things, the answer never really changes - we use the one we like best.

@cereberus

Eeeee, you're getting grumpy in your dotage! I'd be interested in what members think of the backup solutions not included in the current poll.

kelper said:

@cereberus

Eeeee, you're getting grumpy in your dotage! I'd be interested in what members think of the backup solutions not included in the current poll.

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Personal attacks are against the forum rules.

Man - you are not being fair. I just gave an opinion and NO PERSONAL attacks.

If you do not like my replies, either report them or block me.

By all means, why don't you set up a poll yourself and see the responses!

wags1 said:

I personally don’t even pretend to know what’s best for anyone else no less what’s in their mind or their thought processes. I’ll leave that to those more omniscient than I…

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I second this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

cereberus said:

Personal attacks are against the forum rules.

Man - you are not being fair. I just gave an opinion and NO PERSONAL attacks.

If you do not like my replies, either report them or block me.

By all means, why don't you set up a poll yourself and see the responses!

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I agree. You did not make a personal attack. I'm very sorry if I have caused offence. I was teasing you. We all have days when we are grumpy.

None of your posts are negative. Again, I apologise.

kelper said:

I agree. You dis not make a personal attack. I'm very sorry if I have caused offence. I was teasing you. We all have days when we are grumpy.

None of your posts are negative. Again, I apologise.

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Apology accepted with good grace.

I responded to this thread and its Poll way back at that beginning, but please, let me add this thought....

I was setting up backup solutions for users, Corp's and Banks, way before Windows and way before many on his forum even owned a Computer. So, I have a little experience in this matter.
In my own experience, there are two basic types of backups. There is the 'Whole drive or partition' backup, which backs up everything. Then to save time and space, there is the data backup, incorporating only the data files themselves and not the system.
And, even within that faster backup, you could backup ALL the data files or just those that have changed since the last backup.

Microsoft provided us a means to do those two types of data backups, before Windows ever hit the streets.
And, years before any of the so-called Backup programs mentioned here were even thought of.

Microsoft's solution was a simple DOS program called "XCOPY". It comes with a litany of switches to alter its process.

For many years, I've used XCOPY to do incremental backups of my data files, to external devices such as Flash Drives.

I run my own XCOPY Batch File from a shortcut on my Desktop. The very first time I ran it on this PC, it backed up ALL of my data files, but the next time I ran it, it only backed up those new files or files that had been updated (altered or otherwise changed).
And, that takes only a few seconds. And, I can run it multiple times to different devices.
It's a very efficient way to keep all my data files backed up, and I didn't have to buy or download anything. Everything I needed was already present in every copy of Windows.

But for the BIG C: Drive backup, I use my old favorite Backup/Restore program, simply called "Ghost". I started using Ghost in 1997 while I was working in a small, local, Computer Repair shop. We used it primarily for CLONING small HD's to larger HD's.
I still use it today, when I want to make a CLONE of a HD or SSD. It works equally well for both. *

* And, the only time Ghost has ever failed to perform for me, was when there were errors on the HD/SSD. It will refuse to do a backup with ERRORs present on the drive. I guess that's a built in safety factor, going back 27 years. So I never worry about a Backup Image File containing errors.

After Symantec more or less Abandoned Ghost, it was acquired by "Broadcom". They combined my favorite version of Ghost (Ghost 11.5 for DOS) with a Windows 10 Shell, to create a more modern Backup program. It will recognize a Mouse that is plugged in to a USB 3.0 port, which the old DOS version will NOT.

That new version of the old Ghost 11.5, is available on the web for those willing to look for it. I looked, I found it, and the download was FREE.

I seem to vaguely remember saying all this before, but for the newcomers, there it is again.

Cheers Mates,
TM
PS: I'm always available to answer specific questions by PM

TechnoMage2021 said:

I seem to vaguely remember saying all this before

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Your memory is correct