Veeam free, macrium home or EA Todo Backup Home

TurboTheCat · Oct 4, 2023

Hi, newb here.

I just switched from MacOS to windows 11 and I'm in the need of a backup solution. No, Windows 11/7 clone (is it a joke?) or the new OneDrive do not fulfill my needs...
Yes, I know it's a controversial question as almost everybody has it´s preferences and needs. I have searched a lot in reddit, google and in here. Have seen the poll and even read an old chap somewhere recommending a tool from the 90's (was it norton ghost???) ...

I'm shooting my last bullet and asking here now.

I have read almost everywhere that macrium free was the tool of choice for the vast majority... but I don't want to start with a deprecated software.

I need mostly a fiable tool, with incremental/diferential , shadow, schedule, plug and backup. Ability to browse the backup and restore a file/folder/partition, system, disk or disks (I have 2 NVME and a SSD). Preferible if takes care of dual booting systems (windows/Linux), and maybe virtual machines (virtualbox)... and if it has integration with GDrive is a plus...

I prefer it to be free but... well... It seems it´s going to be difficult.

Right now I have installed veeam agent free, as I was in the need of anything quick, I feel nude without backup. I don't care paying the macrium annual plan or the ease us lifetime. I know the only way to fully test them is to install backup and restore and see what mess they make (or not) but... I dont have much time to mess around these days.

Suggestions ??? Even other commercial software, FOSS included... even If I have to use WSL

Thanks

PD: I have more software questions but one at a time

.

cereberus · Oct 4, 2023

TurboTheCat said:
Hi, newb here.

I just switched from MacOS to windows 11 and I'm in the need of a backup solution. No, Windows 11/7 clone (is it a joke?) or the new OneDrive do not fulfill my needs...
Yes, I know it's a controversial question as almost everybody has it´s preferences and needs. I have searched a lot in reddit, google and in here. Have seen the poll and even read an old chap somewhere recommending a tool from the 90's (was it norton ghost???) ...

I'm shooting my last bullet and asking here now.

I have read almost everywhere that macrium free was the tool of choice for the vast majority... but I don't want to start with a deprecated software.

I need mostly a fiable tool, with incremental/diferential , shadow, schedule, plug and backup. Ability to browse the backup and restore a file/folder/partition, system, disk or disks (I have 2 NVME and a SSD). Preferible if takes care of dual booting systems (windows/Linux), and maybe virtual machines (virtualbox)... and if it has integration with GDrive is a plus...

I prefer it to be free but... well... It seems it´s going to be difficult.

Right now I have installed veeam agent free, as I was in the need of anything quick, I feel nude without backup. I don't care paying the macrium annual plan or the ease us lifetime. I know the only way to fully test them is to install backup and restore and see what mess they make (or not) but... I dont have much time to mess around these days.

Suggestions ??? Even other commercial software, FOSS included... even If I have to use WSL

Thanks

PD: I have more software questions but one at a time .

Simple terms - free tools usually have basic facilities.

If you want premium/quality features, you have to be prepared to pay for it.

The paid version of Macrium Reflect is still one if the best tools around. Rapid Delta Restore puts it in a class above most other tools.

I have never regretted paying for paid version of Macriun Reflect.

Why drive a Skoda when you can drive a a Roller?

Rita5 · Oct 4, 2023

Fortunately now I have a topic about this

Some questions about Macrium Reflect

hi :-) started using backup after a friend of mine was exposed to ransomware virus and lost her precious data as a result, wanted to use Acronis as it was recommended by people I know as a reliable program with great experience in the field of backup But the program is terrible to use, and...

www.elevenforum.com

I can confidently advise you to use Macrium Reflect and give you a try if you don't want to buy now

GCG1000 · Oct 4, 2023

TurboTheCat said:
Hi, newb here.

I just switched from MacOS to windows 11 and I'm in the need of a backup solution. No, Windows 11/7 clone (is it a joke?) or the new OneDrive do not fulfill my needs...
Yes, I know it's a controversial question as almost everybody has it´s preferences and needs. I have searched a lot in reddit, google and in here. Have seen the poll and even read an old chap somewhere recommending a tool from the 90's (was it norton ghost???) ...

I'm shooting my last bullet and asking here now.

I have read almost everywhere that macrium free was the tool of choice for the vast majority... but I don't want to start with a deprecated software.

I need mostly a fiable tool, with incremental/diferential , shadow, schedule, plug and backup. Ability to browse the backup and restore a file/folder/partition, system, disk or disks (I have 2 NVME and a SSD). Preferible if takes care of dual booting systems (windows/Linux), and maybe virtual machines (virtualbox)... and if it has integration with GDrive is a plus...

I prefer it to be free but... well... It seems it´s going to be difficult.

Right now I have installed veeam agent free, as I was in the need of anything quick, I feel nude without backup. I don't care paying the macrium annual plan or the ease us lifetime. I know the only way to fully test them is to install backup and restore and see what mess they make (or not) but... I dont have much time to mess around these days.

Suggestions ??? Even other commercial software, FOSS included... even If I have to use WSL

Thanks

PD: I have more software questions but one at a time .

Well, You might be interested in Aomei Backupper (AOMEI Backupper | Best Backup Software for Windows PC and Server), or Hasleo Backup Suite (Free) (Hasleo provides Windows Backup & Clone, Data Recovery, Windows To Go Creator, and more.). Both apps do a complete system backup and a good job of system recovery. Good Luck.

Fabler2 · Oct 4, 2023

TurboTheCat said:
I don't care paying the macrium annual

It also has a one -time purchase rather than annual plan.

starchase · Oct 4, 2023

Fabler2 said:
It also has a one -time purchase rather than annual plan.

But that "one-time" or "life-time" license is restricted to that version only, which is now 8.1. You don't get upgrades to the next version.

TurboTheCat · Oct 5, 2023

starchase said:
But that "one-time" or "life-time" license is restricted to that version only, which is now 8.1. You don't get upgrades to the next version.

You are right, I don´t like those kind of "lifetime" licenses.
Thanks all for your answers, even the SEO guy.

I´m trying macrium & Todo and will decide...

cereberus · Oct 5, 2023

starchase said:
But that "one-time" or "life-time" license is restricted to that version only, which is now 8.1. You don't get upgrades to the next version

That is true for just about every quality paid package in the world. It is an unrealistic expectation to pay once and get updates free forever. Conpanies would go out of business.

garioch7 · Oct 5, 2023

I have both Macrium Reflect Home (MRH) and Easeus Todo Backup Home (ETBH) (Lifetime licence). I often recommend ETBH to my clients who are not comfortable with more complex software, but my own strong preference is MRH. It is faster, particularly when verifying images, than ETBH. I do a full system image (all partitions) of about 180 GB every week, alternating between the two apps. MRH takes 24 minutes to create an image and verify it to an internal backup HDD from a source SSD.

ETBH, on the other hand, takes about 25 minutes to image the SSD and another 34 minutes to complete its "Check Image," which you have to initiate manually.

Just my two cents. I won't go near Acronis. I had a disaster with one of their buggy updates crippling both of my computers years ago. The irony was that I had to use a previous Acronis image and their boot disk to restore my computers to their state before the update. Once that was done, it was "Good Bye" Acronis.

Everyone has their favourites. Take the trial versions and choose what best suits your needs. There is no one perfect backup suite, although I would second the opinion that no one does it better than Macrium. They also have incredible support on their Forums. Easeus did away with their Forums. You have to contact their support now.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

TurboTheCat · Oct 7, 2023

I think i'm going to stay with macrium. Todo BU interface is .... urggg. Like going back to the 90's.
But what bothers me a little is: in osx you have time machine, plug any disc and it just works. No need to read about differential, incremental, father, son and the holy spirit. Macrium reflect manual is 485 pages...

. Sure, it gives more flexibility and it´s more powerful but... 485 pages!!!!

garioch7 · Oct 7, 2023

@TurboTheCat

Have to agree with you: the ETBH GUI interface is ugly. No one needs that questionable "eye candy." At least they toned it down a little, but it is still too "glitzy" for me. I preferred the GUI of the earlier versions: nice and clean and simple.

Macrium Reflect is a very complex program, and the support is excellent. That probably explains the 485-page User Guide. MR has features that I will never use.

I just found out yesterday, by accident, that ETBH now has its own version of "Image Guardian" buried in the Settings. I never knew it existed. It was turned off by default. I turned it on.

I have to continue using ETBH to be able to properly support some of my clients who are not that knowledgeable about backup software. They don't want to be intimidated by the MR GUI and all of the many options it offers. They want a simpler interface, and some even like the "eye candy."

MR is Number One in my book. I alternate using both apps for my weekly system images.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

TairikuOkami · Oct 7, 2023

In the end it is whatever works for YOU. Create a backup and restore it. That is the only way to test it.
I settled with EA, it is the only free one with PreOS support. 1 min to create a backup, 1 min to restore it.

garioch7 · Oct 7, 2023

@TairikuOkami

I agree with you. The biggest issue is persuading people to implement a sound backup strategy and stick to it. Just yesterday evening, a client of mine was hit with the "Windows Security" infected webpage scam that locked up his computer. Of course, he had no backups and no restore points, even though I had set up his previous computer with ETBH. I did not configure his new computer, so I wonder if he even installed ETBH, not that there is much point in installing ETBH if you are not going to use it.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

PS: I did get his computer going again, so I doubt he learned anything.

TairikuOkami · Oct 7, 2023

garioch7 said:
The biggest issue is persuading people to implement a sound backup strategy and stick to it.

The problem is that people are always looking for the "best" product. Like recently a person, who used some AV for years and he was satisfied with it, yet he changed it, because he thought, that he needed to try something else, of course he ran into troubles.

retiredat44 · Oct 7, 2023

catch the Easeus when on sale. One more option, get a Seagate backup, usb drive. It doesn't have all the features some of the paid software has, but it still works fine. to play you have to pay.

kelper · Oct 17, 2023

cereberus said:
Simple terms - free tools usually have basic facilities.

If you want premium/quality features, you have to be prepared to pay for it.

The paid version of Macrium Reflect is still one if the best tools around. Rapid Delta Restore puts it in a class above most other tools.

I have never regretted paying for paid version of Macriun Reflect.

Why drive a Skoda when you can drive a a Roller?

Skoda has four wheel drive for a start and better ground clearance!

cereberus · Oct 17, 2023

Why do people keep comparing oranges and bananas?

Free versions can be compared against each other as can be paid versions.

Comparing free versions of one app against a paid version of another is meaningless!

Anibor_11 · Oct 17, 2023

Free Hasleo Backup is comparable to paid programs, according to people that have tested it extensively.

Hasleo Backup Suite

Hasleo Backup Suite Free is a free Windows backup and restore software, which embeds backup, restore and cloning features, it is designed for Windows...

www.wilderssecurity.com