Macrium etc Free Software--How to avoid CNET Virus/Adware/malware prog

Hi everyone !

(I have two similar topics so not trying to spam but I'll post this in both so it does not get missed as Golden etc have criss crossed my two different topics into just one)

I have an idea!

What if I choose to "pay" (unhappy face Emoticon goes here) $44.95 for a "Standard" edition of Macrium?

Would I not get a direct to Macrium link in the "Email" they promise to send me when I pay the full price for their lowest version?

Would that not avoid all of the "freeware" PUPs adware etc as I paid already! They should not make me upset by dropping more stuff on me concept? I'm using the Macrium direct site, no other site, no Major Geeks, none of the other download now buttons (that have "CNET" printed on them as I've posted already here and elsewhere in screenshots...

Any advice on that plan?

And wondering (for Golden here) Question for Golden from my FreeFileSync Thread Does that mean I get the same "WIN PE 5.3.7220.iso" CD/Download as you gave me? Nothing different? And I paid $44.95 for it?

Or do I get something different?

Something that can run "in the background!!!" while I work on the computer ??? So I can be productive while backing up my HDDs??? LIke I used to do with Norton Ghost (the advanced versions that ran while Windows OS was on).

I chose the Standard as it does "incrementals" and "differentials" just like my old Norton Ghost did...
while the free version does not (check back for my screenshot of this somewhere above)...

Thanks for advice!

Hi everyone!

Just to be even with the information:

Golden just posted this in other thread I have started:

Golden said:

Purchasing Macrium will allow you to create your own WinPE (more updated than your current PE) if you choose amongst other benefits.

Its money well worth spent, and one of the few products I advise people to purchase.

The PE iso can be run from CD/DVD or USB...very flexible.

And I replied thus:

Hi Golden!

Thanks for the vote of approval for plan.... Will purchase it (and relate if the Email link also offers junk stuff or not for those here considering that move as well ---so posting is not closed yet)

Can you explain why they use WinPE? "PE" Personal Edition? for their .iso?

I had a tiny tiny (anyone wanna buy it?) pre-iPad Windows touch screen computer.... sold very short time before iPad eclipsed it..... and the OS for that was called a Windows "Personal Edition" to indicate it was a watered down version of Vista or whatever was out then...

Just adding to the knowledge base here (or subtracting depending upon my lack of knowledge )

(I'll post this in the other thread too... so that both are "even" with answers)

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for staying with me on this thread and your advice.....

I have another similar thread so I'm posting this message there too for those who miss it here...
I took my "idea" listed in two threads I have--about purchasing the Macrium and hopefully avoiding the Adware/bloatware/spyware PUPs etc and guess what?

It works!

For $44.99 it was peace of mind....

No problems.... just as I assumed. If you're paying full price for their product, they are not going to make your life unhappy with Loading your computer with extra items.

So paying that price, I did not have to fight the English language tricky wording where you have to either check the box to avoid or not check the box to avoid, and many such choices to wade through, and if you miss catching just one you're in trouble having to spend hours of time here writing back and forth to remove their unwanted software/toolbars and who know what else (one pointed out a secret "enable" for a constant survey of web sites you visit!

So Macrium downloaded directly from their purchase screen, web address (did it twice and saved it so I can't accidentally erase one with strange names in Downloads section), plus checked it with Norton plus Malwarebytes for problems.. both said the "Reflectdll.exe" was clear of everything (as everyone here assured me it was---once you get past those CNET and other downloaders)

Its successfully installed and launched.

Now I have a new problem... so I began a new Thread: Macrium Reflect--How to Use It....

Thanks to everyone---will mark this solved when the other thread is solved I guess??

Thanks again!

Hi Golden:

Thanks for the information....

Golden said:

XP VM User said:

Can you explain why they use WinPE? "PE" Personal Edition? for their .iso?

PE = Pre-installation Environment.

I try Googling stuff to not ask stupid quesitons.... but when it says "Windows PE" and I Google that without knowing what the PE stands for I get everything BUT what you said it was. As a knowledgeable computer person you knew what it was , now I was able to Google it...

I see its a small copy of the Windows Environment used when installing Windows....as such it has a limited 72 hour lifespan, use it beyond that and it locks down/or erases itself, so its not a free way to get Windows without paying for it... I get that part... But I see now how it can help reinstall a damaged Windows after Macrium has disk imaged/cloned/backed it up etc etc..

So I have 2 CD's with it on it... on to do list get a more sturdy Flash Drive with small memory level on it and save it to there as well...

Thanks again! (I know about how reps work now and will have to get back here as I've already given for now and waiting until I get 10 others before I can do everyone once again for older postings)

Hi Everyone!!

I wish to thank all who posted and helped me to get this far.

Summary of where I am:

1. Discussions on what types of Backup Programs work the best, settled on two: Macrium Reflex and AOEMI Backerupper as the best to choose.

2. Recommendation from all was to have not just one type of backup program, but two in case one fails, as they are only software and prone to all the trouble third party software can have.

3. Downloaded and Installed Macrium, but it did not work due to problems with VSS system on this laptop.

4. Thanks to the assistance here, I got AOMEI Backerupper to work and successfully made a backup using its own VSS "shadow copy" system

5. Confident I had at least "one" backup recently, we then Fixed/Repaired the problem on Windows 7 Registry about broken/taken over VSS System.

6. I then was able to use Macrium Reflect I purchased to make a second backup copy (first for Macrium that works!) using the native, repaired Windows 7 VSS system.

7. I then was able to get "free!!!" a permanent, successfully registered Professional copy of the AOMEI Backupper ver. 2.2 and it works so everything is ok there...


So in honor of all these accomplishments I'm closing most of the open threads that had problems with getting /obtaining/ installing/ using the various Backup systems we discussed here.

Now I'm going around to distribute as promised, some reps to those who helped me the most to succeed in this complicated backup jungle out there....

One final item left over.....

I started a new thread....... about AOMEI and getting its rescue boot disk downloaded... I got a few replies here: Question about WAIK vs WIN PE lost the info-search no find inmythreads
but I think I still have the questions in "red" numbers not answered, unless I read the items wrong

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(Remember I lost a bunch of Word Pad documents---explained in another thread.... Welcome to Seven Forums [6] ((at post # 227))

........ and Opera history where I stored the pages I got from everyone here and opened them up for easy reference all vanished.... Crashed computer DSKCHK deleted all Opera history .

..............so I will return to those threads to solve those problems now that I have backups current (and of course I'll do another backup before playing with Registry etc if that is needed to fix any of these new problems).

Thanks for all your help in this complicated (at least to me!!!) issue.

XP VM USER