Latest Macrium free

[ICIT2LOL]

The latest free Macrium is available now.
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

 

[fireberd]

Thanks for the post. I checked my (paid version) Macrium and there was an update for it too.

Jack

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks for the post. I checked my (paid version) Macrium and there was an update for it too.

Jack

No probs Jack I have been thinking about getting the paid for on the main machine too although the free does do a great job eh?

John

 

[fireberd]

John, I tried the free and liked it so I bought it (4 system package), as I mentioned on another thread about "free" software such as this. Buying it supports the developer, and keeps the free version available. We all like free software but we have to also support the developers efforts.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Here is a list of the changes in the latest version; they don't show up on the linked page itself:

[SIZE=-1]Macrium Reflect 5.2.6427[/SIZE]
Date21st October 2013
What's new? 5.2.6427:

• [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rename XML Definition Feature
  A new menu option has been added to rename existing XML backup definition files. Right click on the file and select 'Rename'. Note that this also automatically updates scheduled tasks and scripts that references the file as well.
  [/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Increased number of characters for the image comment field.
  The 256 character limit in the Image/Backup comment field has been removed.
  [/FONT]

Bug fixes:

• [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Restore/Clone crash
  In rare cases a clone or restore operation could crash after the end of the operation. Note: This didn't affect the integrity of the clone or restore. This has been resolved.
  [/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]CSV export of backed up files.
  The CSV export of files backed up now correctly uses quoted strings.
  [/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Installer issue with paste.
  When pasting a license key into the installer and an existing key was already populated; this would cause the new key to be appended to the original. This has been resolved.
  [/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Explorer context menu bug
  Using the Windows Explorer context menu to directly run a backup would fail if the file name contained white space. This has been resolved.
  [/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Restore error for file systems > 3.3TB
  Restoring a file system greater than 3.3TB could cause a program error. This has been resolved and it's now possible to restore a single partition up to 30TB in size.
  [/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Incorrect log Message for File and Folder read failure.
  If a file and folder backup was unable to read/open a file then 'Error Success' was incorrectly written to the backup log. This has been resolved.
  [/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Comment decoding error in Windows Explorer.
  When viewing backup comments in Windows Explorer some XML escape characters were being shown as comme[/FONT]

I also have the four license paid version (needed only two but two single licenses cost the same as the four pack and, being the cheap, old bi...). The paid version has more features than the freebie (most notably, incremental and differential backups) so that alone is justification for getting a paid version (though doing so to support the developers isn't a bad idea).

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep Lady F picked that up this morning when I logged in to the program

Jack I hear what you are saying the price for the four pack isn't too bad I suppose but at the moment I ma having extreme difficulties in getting the darn thing to do a rescue disk and not a stick I have an aversion to sticks because of the amount of space that are on the things now and I am also really into mixing and matching important stuff like the rescue bit with other programs that may be on the stick.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I recently retired three 4GB USB 2.0 sticks so it didn't bother me to use them for rescue sticks, despite the amount of unused space. I keep one in my desk drawer for my desktop machine, one in my notebook's case for when I'm on the road, and one in my purse for a spare since my purse is always accessible to whichever computer I'm using.

 

[SIW2]

If you have the paid version, you can use this to d/l bits you want, including the pe parts:

http://updates.macrium.com/reflect/v5.0/reflectdlfull.exe

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ah I think I know what I did wrong now on this laptop I downloaded the trial and it maybe has run out although I had no messages to say it had done so??

The sticks look I have a cast of millions just need to sort through what is on them.

In any case if I can get the right payment method I might just pay for the four machines I have in use.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Questions for you if you are using the PAID version. (Not the FREEBIE).

1) If you create a BOOTABLE recovery disk / usb system does it nag you to enter a serial number each time you use the restore. That would be a SHOWSTOPPER if you needed to do an urgent restore and you had to hunt around for serial nrs etc.

2) I don't like the XML idea -- this might make the backups and restores very slow.

3) Can you disable "Restore by sector" -- if I'm restoring from a different HDD or SSD to an SSD with a totally different geometry restoring sector by sector is not a good idea.

I'm currently using Acronis True Home 2014 (paid for version) which works just fine (although their customer support - or lack of it - must be the WORST in the universe -- makes using those "Indian" call centres so beloved of typical corporations and Banks seem like a model of efficiency !!).

Note if you are using an EARLIER version of Macrium than the latest one it doesn't handle GPT drives (you have to create GPT drives for disks > 2TB).

I must admit I HATE WINPE based solutions -- I use the Windows to Go system (W8 / W8.1) which is a fully BOOTABLE windows system that runs totally from an external device and run the full windows version - much more flexible BTW.

Download the 90 day TRIAL (FREE) for Windows 8.1 enterprise - and you can make your own Windows to Go system even if you have no intention of upgrading to W8/8.1 -- beats all those "WinPE" type solutions hands down as it's a FULL PORTABLE windows system where you can install things like Office on it .

Creating a Non-Certified Windows To Go USB Drive » ADMIN Magazine

(For a 64 bit version extract the F3-* file rather than the F1-* referred to in the post).

Makes a good recovery system too. Much easier to add your own programs on it instead of messing about with WinPE.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well having read Jimbos post I have to be honest and admit that I prefer having a clone rather than images or whatever to back up to (on a spare drive) .

The thought of spending hours of fiddling around doing this and that - is like trying to undo those dreadful tangles in a fishing line I spent many hours undoing in my youth. So I have a clone of whatever I am doing now sitting on the shelf and back data to an external or another internal which I can easily copy back to the other drive when the time comes.

Now everyone is probably thinking I am quite potty but I do (and have done in the past) intensely dislike losing data such as personal pictures or documents such as short stories, resumes for example when a drive goes belly up. It's another reason I like using Ubuntu as a bootable way of retrieving most data from a dead drive.

Now seeing what Jimbo has posted only reinforces my "comfort zone" in cloning the drive from time to time. The fact that I can slot the clone back in means that within the time it takes I can be back on line and working again albeit with some stuff missing.

Mad perhaps yes - stupid I don't think so

 

[Golden]

There is nothing at all complicated about restoring a Macrium image. Whats all the confusion about?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well I must admit I have never had to restore using the Macrium but if you say it is ok then perhaps I will try it when the time comes. But until then that clone is staying put

 

[fireberd]

I have partially tested my paid version with the WinPE recovery disc. I didn't actually do a restore but did everything up to the actual restore and it did not ask for any serial number.

However, as I created the disc, I noted that it loaded hardware drivers for the specific system on to the disc. Thus I created a separate WinPE rescue disc for each system. I don't know if that is really needed, I didn't test one for a different system.

 

[mjf]

When I've used Macrium (free), I haven't had a problem doing a restore. Some time ago now though since I still use Windows inbuilt as my primary imaging tool . Also I'm on basic ADSL and I don't see the fuss for a WAIK download which is what I used for my pe rescue disc.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Hi there
Questions for you if you are using the PAID version. (Not the FREEBIE).

1) If you create a BOOTABLE recovery disk / usb system does it nag you to enter a serial number each time you use the restore. That would be a SHOWSTOPPER if you needed to do an urgent restore and you had to hunt around for serial nrs etc...

No. Once you enter the serial number in your computer the first time you set up the program, that's it. It's not needed for recovery using the recovery disk.

...2) I don't like the XML idea -- this might make the backups and restores very slow.

The "XML idea" doesn't slow anything down and actually may speed up backups and restores a bit by simplifying the process but it isn't necessary except for making differential and incremental backups. Since I only make full images of my boot drive and clone my data drives now, I deselect making XML files.

...3) Can you disable "Restore by sector" -- if I'm restoring from a different HDD or SSD to an SSD with a totally different geometry restoring sector by sector is not a good idea...

MR uses Intelligent Sector Copy by default which means it backs up only the sectors that has any data on it. To save space, it also doesn't backup the page and hibernation files. Making a complete copy, including all sectors, even empty ones, is optional. I use the default setting myself. I haven't heard of anyone having problems using Macrium Reflect to move an OS from an HDD to an SSD although a clean install on an SSD is generally recommended, no matter what imaging program is used.

I'm using the latest version of Macrium Reflect Pro. When version 6.x comes out, I'm probably going to keep using 5.x. even though there will be no updates, because it's working just fine for me.

I use the Win PE recovery disk (actually, I just recently switched over to using USB sticks) and the only problem I've had is the slow USB interface. I recently enabled the option to allow the recovery from an internal drive but haven't used it yet. However, it should be faster than going through an optical drive or an USB.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Well having read Jimbos post I have to be honest and admit that I prefer having a clone rather than images or whatever to back up to (on a spare drive) .

The thought of spending hours of fiddling around doing this and that - is like trying to undo those dreadful tangles in a fishing line I spent many hours undoing in my youth. So I have a clone of whatever I am doing now sitting on the shelf and back data to an external or another internal which I can easily copy back to the other drive when the time comes.

Now everyone is probably thinking I am quite potty but I do (and have done in the past) intensely dislike losing data such as personal pictures or documents such as short stories, resumes for example when a drive goes belly up. It's another reason I like using Ubuntu as a bootable way of retrieving most data from a dead drive.

Now seeing what Jimbo has posted only reinforces my "comfort zone" in cloning the drive from time to time. The fact that I can slot the clone back in means that within the time it takes I can be back on line and working again albeit with some stuff missing.

Mad perhaps yes - stupid I don't think so

You are making a mountain out of a molehill (a large mountain and a small molehill). Making an image with Macrium Reflect is no more difficult than making a clone. There is a small learning curve but, believe me, it isn't as dire as you seem to believe; certainly not as difficult, frustrating, or time consuming as detangling fishing line (been there, done that, snagged and ruined the tee shirt). It's faster to make an image than it is to make a clone and restoration is also faster. Images are smaller than clones and can be used to backup and restore individual or multiple partitions instead of being restricted to entire disks. Also, also a Intelligent Sector image can restore to a different sized partition as long as the partition is large enough to hold the restored files.

I only use images to backup and restore my boot drive because they are simpler and faster to use and take up less storage space. Although imaging is superior to cloning for backup and restoration, I do use cloning because, if an data drive in my machine should take a one-way trip to computer never-never land, I can disconnect it, plug one of the backup clones into the hot swap bay in my computer (I keep two on hand), and keep chugging along until I can get and install a replacement for the "departed" HDD.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I have partially tested my paid version with the WinPE recovery disc. I didn't actually do a restore but did everything up to the actual restore and it did not ask for any serial number.

However, as I created the disc, I noted that it loaded hardware drivers for the specific system on to the disc. Thus I created a separate WinPE rescue disc for each system. I don't know if that is really needed, I didn't test one for a different system.

I haven't actually tested it either (yet) but I'm thinking the downloaded drivers are only for if one uses the Restore to Dissimilar Hardware feature, which I'm highly unlikely to ever use. I used each of my machines (desktop and notebook) to make a restoration USB stick to keep with each machine since the notebook gets used when traveling only and I'm too lazy to pack and unpack stuff (not to mention absent minded).

 

[fireberd]

The downloaded drivers would not be for dissimilar hardware, as the drivers would not be applicable to the different hardware. The drivers would only be for the particular machine the recovery disc was created on.

For example, I have one Desktop with a Gigabyte motherboard and another with an ASUS motherboard; both have different hardware, such as NIC's and SATA drive controllers. The recovery disc I created for the Gigabyte system loaded driver for the Gigabyte hardware. The recovery for the ASUS loaded drivers for the ASUS hardware. I have a third system, a Lenovo Laptop and it too has different hardware and the drivers for that system were loaded on the recovery disc for that one. I have one System with both Win 7 and Win 8.1. I made separate recovery discs for those, to be on the safe side.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

The downloaded drivers would not be for dissimilar hardware, as the drivers would not be applicable to the different hardware. The drivers would only be for the particular machine the recovery disc was created on...

Good point! I shouldn't post shortly after waking up from a short night.

That got me thinking, though (yeah, I know, a dangerous thing). Downloading the drivers is an optional step when making the recovery "disk". Under what circumstances would they actually be needed?

...I made separate recovery discs for those, to be on the safe side.

I did the same thing but, in my case, it was cowardice . I really need to dig out my notebook and see if the recovery stick I made for the desktop will work with the notebook (or vice versa).