Free versions -- Now IMO virtually USELESS

[jimbo45]

Hi there
seems corporations are really getting STINGY these days

The Free versions of backup utilities seem to be getting more and more hobbled with each release.

EASUS is now so rediculuous that it doesn't even create a bootable version to restore an image -- so what USE is that to anybody --you might just as well use the Windows 7 built in utility bad though it is. -- A decent backup program should ALWAYS have the facility to create a bootable rescue media otherwise it's just NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

Paragon Free now no longer lets you re-size the partition on restore -- you have to fiddle around with a separate partition manager and it won't let you boot into the system recovery partition either if you have one.

I know people want to make you buy FULL VERSION programs -- but offering very hobbled restrictive free products IMO doesn't do the companies any good -- especially for IMPORTANT things like backups etc where you want to be 100% sure that your data and OS is SAFE. A MUCH MUCH better business model is to offer a 30 day Free trial which means you can exhaustively test the software and see if it meets your needs.

CLONEZILLA (Linux alternative) still works fine as a free product but I'm not really sure if relying on open source software is a sensible strategy to adopt for a really important part of your system and data. Don't get me wrong - I'm a HUGE believer in open source but sometimes it's not the best choice and Clonezilla is a bit geekish to use so I'd say out for the average user who usually has a problem in understanding why they need backup at all until the lose all the ITunes Music. !!.

Any of you thinking of using these free backup programs --check CAREFULLY what features they have and whether its what you need -- as you'll soon see that in most cases unless you have very simple requirements they aren't much better than the basic Windows backup (which has improved in W8 BTW).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[fireberd]

I was having a problem with Acronis True Image (that I eventually resolved). I downloaded a trial version of Macrium, to try it out, and it would not allow me to make a backup. Every time I tried it would abort with an error code. Obviously that was the end of Macrium for me.

 

[cyclic]

Macrium reflect has served me well for many years and you can make bootable recovery media with it.
You have to download Win PE (SAIK) but only the once, the program uses it to create rescue media.

 

[jimbo45]

Macrium reflect has served me well for many years and you can make bootable recovery media with it.
You have to download Win PE (SAIK) but only the once, the program uses it to create rescue media.

Hi there

my main issue with Macrium free is that it doesn't work with USB3 ext disks on W8. I didn't actually say Macrium couldn't create bootable restore disks -- that "Distinction" I gave to EASUS!!!

I was testing Macrium Free edition SAVING a W8 SSD image to a USB3 external HDD drive. No GPT or UEFI boot -- 100% Bog standard and simple -- program ABENDS screen shot enc.

(I know this is W7 but I haven't got a W7 machine with USB3 disks to test it on but this is what you get on W8 trying to save an SSD image to a USB3 external HDD. -- screen shot enc)

Note the USB3 disks are USB3 type (not USB2 being used on a USB 3 port) and the port is a genuine USB3 port.

The whole thing did actually work when USB3 disk was attached to a USB2 port although then much much slower -- which is why I got a laptop with a USB3 port in it in the first place. USB3 really is OODLES of times faster than USB2. So laptop with SSD for the OS and external storage with USB3 when you need it is the best combo for me. The small self powered 2 TB (yes 2 TB) passport USB3 drives are brilliant these days.

I don't mind the "Linux" rescue CD's -- the GUI is fine even for Windows users but if the "Normal" product doesn't work why should I invest time in the Stand alone version. Sometimes to restore a disk I don't want to do it stand alone unless I'm restoring the OS.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[4wd]

EASUS is now so rediculuous that it doesn't even create a bootable version to restore an image -- so what USE is that to anybody --you might just as well use the Windows 7 built in utility bad though it is. -- A decent backup program should ALWAYS have the facility to create a bootable rescue media otherwise it's just NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

I do not see the problem, make the boot cd or usb stick, and use it when\if needed, works perfect.
Have done 100's of successful Easeus images, backups, restores & hd swaps, personally + doing paid maintenance. Many years of regular use from xp to w8, it's an excellent tool.

(edit: am using both free and paid versions, all will create boot\rescue media)

 

[fireberd]

I created a WinPE/Acronis rescue disc, which fixed my problem with Acronis. Because of the problem with Acronis, until I created the WinPE disc, I was trying something else (Macrium). I downloaded the trial version of the full Macrium program, not the free Macrium version. Because of the error I got every time I tried to make a back up with Macrium and that I fixed my Acronis problem, I abandoned any further attempt with Macrium and uninstalled it.

 

[jimbo45]

EASUS is now so rediculuous that it doesn't even create a bootable version to restore an image -- so what USE is that to anybody --you might just as well use the Windows 7 built in utility bad though it is. -- A decent backup program should ALWAYS have the facility to create a bootable rescue media otherwise it's just NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

I do not see the problem, make the boot cd or usb stick, and use it when\if needed, works perfect.
Have done 100's of successful Easeus images, backups, restores & hd swaps, personally + doing paid maintenance. Many years of regular use from xp to w8, it's an excellent tool.

(edit: am using both free and paid versions, all will create boot\rescue media)

Hi there
Unless you look for the Free version specifically there's no mention on the EASUS website that a Free version even exists. !!!

However google and you arrive at the part of the site where it's mentioned.

From the FAQ it says the current FREE version -- you have to BUILD yourself a PE disk to create bootable media -- too complex for a lot of people -- we just want a built in utility.

Create bootable disk - EaseUS Todo Backup online help

here's the features listed

(However again in tiny to find -- you CAN make a linux bootable CD / USB --that's fine by me --info on website unclear --seems they really don't want people to find out about the Free version any more).

Still looks as though the LINUX bootable media can only do RECOVERY and not BACKUP --better than nothing but I like to do BOTH backup and recovery via stand alone bootable media.


cheers
jimbo

 

[kado897]

Virtually all free imaging programs only supply the Linux recovery environment. The reason, they say, is a licencing issue with the WinPE environment so its all Microsoft's fault. Macrium get around this by allowing you to build a PE disk using the WAIK, but this does involve a hefty (1.7GB) download from Microsoft.

 

[fireberd]

The WAIK download and Acronis True Image Plus Pack is required to build the WinPE/Acronis rescue disc. Otherwise its a Linux bootable rescue disc.

I thought the procedure, from what I saw on the Acronis forum, would be complicated but it wasn't that bad.

 

[jimbo45]

The WAIK download and Acronis True Image Plus Pack is required to build the WinPE/Acronis rescue disc. Otherwise its a Linux bootable rescue disc.

I thought the procedure, from what I saw on the Acronis forum, would be complicated but it wasn't that bad.

Hi guys
You are missing the point here

Acronis - for all its problems- currently supplies almost the same features on the LINUX BOOT CD / USB - even though it's a Linux one as the MAIN program itself on a Windows PC. -- so you can BACKUP, RESTORE, BACKUP to DIFFERENT SIZE PARTITIONS, RESTORE TO DIFFERENT HARDWARE etc.

The GUI is fine also so even a Windows user won't have any trouble using it.

There is also a WinPE type of method you can use but it's not needed with Acronis. You can build one if you need to.

EASUS FREE from the Linux CD is simply a RESTORE function --won't even re-size the partition. YOU CAN'T BACKUP WITH IT. -- If that's all you want or need --fine -- but I really need the full functionality even if I'm booting from CD / DVD.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[kado897]

The Linux CD on Macrium has always been restore only too.

 

[F5ing]

CLONEZILLA (Linux alternative) still works fine as a free product but I'm not really sure if relying on open source software is a sensible strategy to adopt for a really important part of your system and data. Don't get me wrong - I'm a HUGE believer in open source but sometimes it's not the best choice and Clonezilla is a bit geekish to use so I'd say out for the average user who usually has a problem in understanding why they need backup at all until the lose all the ITunes Music. !!.

Although it does take some time to get used to it, I'll vouch for Clonezilla even though the open source thing might bother some. Dozens of perfect restores from at least a few hundred clones over the years.

 

[HammerHead]

Question for Firebird

That could be "Freebird".

What ver of Acronis are you using? Has it replaced you disk drivers?
You can check in device manager to verify your disk drivers. The last ver I used was either 2012 or 2013, don't remember. But what I do remember is when I tried to uninstall I had to take a fire axe to it.

 

[fireberd]

My current installed version is 2013 Plus Pack.

I didn't have any problems with the Linux Rescue disc with my old PC. I built a new PC this past summer with a Gigabyte GAZ77X UD5H motherboard. I had a problem and wanted to rebuild the hard drive from the latest backup. I booted with the 2012 Linux Rescue disc and was able to select the backup I wanted to use to restore from a USB connected hard drive. However, Acronis would never get past the point of selecting the "target" drive (the drive I wanted to restore to). I went on the Acronis forum and was advised there was a known issue with SOME motherboards and that those would require the WinPE/Acronis to restore. To create the WinPE/Acronis disc, the Plus Pack version of Acronis was required. As I had just upgraded to Acronis 2013, I purchased the Plus Pack addon. I went through the procedure with WAIK of downloading, creating the iso DVD, installing and then creating the WinPE/Acronis rescue disc. I then booted with the WinPE/Acronis and was able to select the backup to use and also able to select the target hard drive (which I wasn't able to do with the Linux version).

Before building the WinPE/Acronis disc, I tried Acronis rescue discs (Linux versions) that I had from previous versions and none would allow me to select the target drive.

 

[HammerHead]

Yes, But

Did 2013 replace your ms disk drivers in Device Manager?

 

[fireberd]

Oops. After looking at what I have, I have 2012 installed on my Win 7 install and the disc drivers are Microsoft. I'll install 2013 on my Win 8 drive (2013 is required for Win 8).

After going through and rebuilding the hard drive from the Acronis backup it turned out Win 7 was the problem. The problem I had with Win 7, SFC did not detect any problem, but it would lose what was on the hard drives and the OS would hang up trying to search the drive(s). I had to reformat the hard drive (Intel SSD) and start over with Win 7, yesterday. I forgot that I installed the 2012 version when I reinstalled. Reinstalling everything, I lost track of what version I had installed.