Macrium Reflect Free vs Windows System Image

[BuckSkin]

I am new to a lot of this so please pardon my lack of knowledge.

I have been saving system images with whatever program is included in my Windows 7 system.

I have just downloaded (but not yet installed) Macrium Reflect FREE version 6.2.1549(08-Sep-2016)

I found out about Macrium here, but the information is for version 5

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

What will Macrium do for me that the program I am currently using does not ?

Can a novice such as I manage to use Macrium successfully ?

Thanks for reading.

 

[SIW2]

3rd party imaging programs are more flexible, and the images take up less space.

IMO, the simplest free 3rd party program is Aomei backupper Standard version. It can even restore an image to different hardware.

Very simple to use. AOMEI Backupper: Data Backup and Restore Software for PC, Laptop and Server

 

[mjf]

I used to store both Windows inbuilt system images and Macrium images. For at least a year now I just make Macrium images because it is much more flexible and has compression. I still run Macrium V5 on my main PC because it works fine. I have V6 on a newer build and it works fine as well. Macrium is easy to use and they have a decent knowledge base. Here is the user guide for V6.
Macrium Reflect v6 User Guide - KnowledgeBase - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

I never had a problem with Windows inbuilt but others have reported problems. So I'd vote for Macrium but store images on 2 drives for security in case one fails.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What will Macrium do for me that the program I am currently using does not ?

Can a novice such as I manage to use Macrium successfully ?

It will be less confusing to you and give you more direct control over exactly what is backed up.

Yes, a novice can use Macrium--it has a more understandable interface.

Windows Backup works OK if you understand and can live within it's limitations.

You will need to make "recovery" media with Macrium and understand how to use it when a disaster strikes---if you don't, Macrium isn't of much use.

If you have never actually tried to restore an image, you might be in for an unfortunate surprise, regardless of which program you use.

 

[BuckSkin]

Thanks, everyone.

Thanks mjf for the V6 user guide link.

SIW2, does the AOMEI Backupper also require recovery media as Macrium does ?

You will need to make "recovery" media with Macrium and understand how to use it when a disaster strikes---if you don't, Macrium isn't of much use.

Does the Macrium program have a provision to make this recovery media or is it a regular Windows system repair disc or what ?

If you have never actually tried to restore an image, you might be in for an unfortunate surprise, regardless of which program you use.

Please expand on this unfortunate surprise business; I need more knots in my stomach.

 

[SIW2]

You can start the restore from within windows. However, it is important to also let it create recovery media - necessary in the event you are unable to boot into windows.

It creates bootable recovery media for you in a few seconds.

 

[BuckSkin]

You can start the restore from within windows. However, it is important to also let it create recovery media - necessary in the event you are unable to boot into windows.

Thanks so much.

Am I correct in assuming that this recovery media need only be created the first time I use the program and that same recovery media will then work on all the system images I may create in the future ?

 

[SIW2]

Yes.

 

[BuckSkin]

It creates bootable recovery media for you in a few seconds.

I have successfully created and stored a system image with the AOMEI Backupper program.

However, when I created the bootable recovery media onto a DVD, the progress bar went to 99% and stopped; the box has several lines of text, next to last of which says "Please wait while burning disc...", followed by "Note: after completing the bootable disc, if it is unable to boot the computer, you could see FAQ to solve the problem"
My only option at the bottom of the dialogue is "cancel"
I could hear the DVD burner winding up and working and it is now silent.

The dialogue box has sort of whited over and I got a Windows pop-up saying "the program has quit responding" with the three choices, close, ???, and wait.

Since the progress bar is at 99% and the DVD burner seems to finished, would it be safe to assume that my bootable media disc is good to go ?

Thanks for reading.

On EDIT: Update: I went ahead and popped in another disc and had it create again.
This time, the progress bar stopped at 98% and the DVD tray kicked open.
Progress stayed at 98% and when I tried to close that window, I got the Windows pop-up again and had to select "close the program" to get it to close; are my experiences typical or do I have something weird going on ?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I don't use Aomei and can't help with it, but...................

Regardless of the program you use, you need to test the recovery media by confirming that it will in fact boot your PC. If it won't, the recovery disk is useless and you will be dead in the water if your hard drive is also unbootable---as it might well be.

SIW can likely help you with Aomei--or you can try Macrium.

If you have a spare hard drive, I'd certainly practice a restore so that so you know what menu choices are offered and which are correct. You don't want to have to learn that after disaster has struck and you've never even attempted a restore. Even if you don't have a spare hard drive, you should pretend your hard drive has failed and walk several steps into the recovery process as a learning experience.

 

[SIW2]

Strange. The dvd might be ok, you can check by seeing if it will boot.

Otherwise, you could create an iso file first. Then rt click the iso and use windows disc burner to burn it to dvd.

Alternatively, you can use my boot disc.

It creates bootable recovery media for you in a few seconds.

Since the progress bar is at 99% and the DVD burner seems to finished, would it be safe to assume that my bootable media disc is good to go ?

Thanks for reading.

 

[BuckSkin]

you need to test the recovery media by confirming that it will in fact boot your PC.

you can check by seeing if it will boot.

Thanks for your patience and understanding with me and all of your help; it is greatly appreciated.

On a computer that is booting itself fine, what are the steps I need to follow to test these discs ?

 

[RolandJS]

Just pretend your computer doesn't boot, boot the DVD or USB stick you made. If you reach the first menu, you're very likely good to go

 

[BuckSkin]

Just pretend your computer doesn't boot, boot the DVD or USB stick you made. If you reach the first menu, you're very likely good to go

Thanks and forgive me as I am not very quick yet.

I shut down the computer; with the computer off, I cannot open the DVD tray; when I press the power button, the computer immediately boots itself.

What am I missing ?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You need to find out what F key will cause a menu to come up that will allow you to choose the DVD drive as the first boot device.

It might be F2, F8, F12, or something else on a Dell; you can experiment till you find it. Look for the a menu choice about your DVD drive. You'll also see a choice for your hard drive.

After you discover that key, then:

Start the PC normally.

After it's running, put your recovery media in the DVD drive.

Reboot and hit that F key, tapping it repeatedly as the PC reboots. That should bring up the menu.

It might be touchy about the tapping and not give you the menu; keep trying, maybe hold the F key down throughout the boot process.

Choose the DVD choice as the boot device.

If the recovery media was made properly, the PC should boot from it and bring up your Aomei or Macrium interface, whichever you used.

 

[SIW2]

Restart the computer, and at the Dell logo screen tap the <F12> key multiple times to invoke the One-Time Boot Menu.

Select the Boot from DVD option ( it might say Boot from CDROM ). The dvd drive should be operational at his point, so if the dvd is already in, press Enter. Otherwise open the tray put in the dvd, close the tray , then press enter.

 

[BuckSkin]

Thanks so much everyone.

I tested both of the questionable discs.

At first it said "Windows is loading files"; then, it digested that a bit and brought up the AOMEI window, at which point I X-ed away the AOMEI window and it went straight into Windows.

For what it is worth, if the DVD is not already in the tray and I then insert it, pressing ENTER does not respond; at this point it says to retry boot press F1, which I did and everything then worked.

I appreciate you guys.

After I get more confident in my new-found abilities, I will install the Macrium and see which of the two I prefer; one thing is for certain, if I can manage to use the AOMEI, just about anyone can.

 

[mjf]

Which ever system imaging program you use the sure fire test is to attempt a system restore to a spare HDD/SSD with all other drives disconnected (not DVD obviously). If you can boot to the "new" HDD then you should be very confident that you are covered. For Macrium the HDD/SSD only needs to be able to fit the amount of data you actually image. A major limitation of Windows inbuilt is the replacement drive needs to be at least as large as the physical drive the image was made from - eg if the source drive was say 1TB and you only used say 50GB then you would ned to restore to at least a 1TB drive when using Windows inbuilt imaging!

 

[BuckSkin]

Which ever system imaging program you use the sure fire test is to attempt a system restore to a spare HDD/SSD with all other drives disconnected (not DVD obviously).

Do I understand correctly; open my case, disconnect the hard-drive, connect a guinea-pig hard-drive as if it were the original, and see if it will load the system image to that ?

I have four hard-drives from some old dead computers, mostly XP units, possibly one may be a Win 7; does it matter what OS had originally been on the disc ?

A major limitation of Windows inbuilt is the replacement drive needs to be at least as large as the physical drive the image was made from

That is good information to know.

 

[mjf]

With Macrium provided it is a sata drive with sufficient capacity to store the original data you should be fine. Disconnect all other drives - data drives etc leaving just you "guinea-pig" HDD.
Macrium also has a "drag & drop" capability - look up the user guide.
I haven't used Aomei so I can't comment on it.