Macrium Reflect or Windows Backup?

[teckneeculler]

I'm just trying out backup\imaging options and it seems to me that Windows Backup is considerably easier to use than Macrium.

Doing a Backup, anyway. Maybe it's not so clever when it comes to a restore.

Comments?

 

[Megahertz07]

Use the Macrium Software | Your image is everything
It's more powerful and seen some people that couldn't restore their files with windows backup.

 

[SIW2]

Windows image backup works fine.

If you want to use 3rd party program, Aomei is simplest.
Best Free Backup Software for Windows 10, Windows 8.1/8, Windows 7, Vista, XP

 

[mjf]

Macrium (free or paid) is by far the better software for imaging and cloning compared with Windows inbuilt. Once you start using it you'll find it isn't that complicated. It has good documentation with a detailed user guide.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Another vote for Macrium Reflect. More people here use it than any other program.

 

[teckneeculler]

Yes, I know most of you guys like Macrium - that's why I'm trying it.

But Macrium isn't comparable with Windows Backup for ease of use and speed.

Which is why I asked the question.

Does anyone actually know of a documented instance of Windows Backup failing to restore?

 

[mjf]

Does anyone actually know of a documented instance of Windows Backup failing to restore?

Do a search on this forum alone
"windows image restore problems"

I've never had a problem with Windows inbuilt imaging but others certainly have had issues. I still use it but only as secondary imaging software.
Windows inbuilt imaging is definitely slower than Macrium on my PCs. Macrium has compression (Windows doesn't), it is robust and far more flexible. I have no particular allegiance to Macrium - it's just good software.

 

[SIW2]

No.

Does anyone actually know of a documented instance of Windows Backup failing to restore?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Yes, I know most of you guys like Macrium - that's why I'm trying it.

But Macrium isn't comparable with Windows Backup for ease of use and speed.

Which is why I asked the question.

Does anyone actually know of a documented instance of Windows Backup failing to restore?

Once set up, using Macrium Reflect is easy. I click on its icon in the quick launch menu, click "Yes" on the UAC prompt, click on "Image this disk" (the two partitions on the C: drive is normally already selected), uncheck "Use the Image ID as the file name", type in a file name (such as "After MS Updates 07-29-2017"), click on "Finish", uncheck "Save backup and schedules..., then click on ok. It takes me far less time to do that than it took me to type this.

If you save an XML file in the last step, instead of bypassing it like I do, all you have to do is click on the "Backup Definition Files" tab, then click on the file. Easy peasy.

Even if Windows Backup is easier than Macrium Reflect, I would much prefer the one that is more reliable.

I've never had a verified Macrium Reflect image fail to restore.

 

[DavidE]

Here's a Google Advanced Search for Windows Backup failing restore site: sevenforums.com/
Windows Backup failing restore site: Seven Forums

read all you want or refine the search to your liking and make your own choice

 

[mjf]

In terms of ease of use for Macrium:

Click 1


Click 2


You browse to your destination. Ideally it should be an external drive and you can keep doing this until your external drive is full. I can't think of anything much easier.

 

[teckneeculler]

Here's a Google Advanced Search for Windows Backup failing restore site: sevenforums.com/
Windows Backup failing restore site: Seven Forums

Thanks, DavidE, those links say it all

Sounds like Macrium is the way to go.

But while we're on the subject, has anyone tried StorageCraft ShadowProtect?

Or NovaBackup? Lots of good raps online for both of these apps.

Or AOMEI Back-Upper? I've used AOMEI's Partition Assistant for several years and it's really good.
(But kinda duff name, IMO. Seems Asian software writers have no idea how to market their products to Westerners)

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I haven't seen a need to go farther than reflect personally it actually works so that is good enough for me

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Hi,
I haven't seen a need to go farther than reflect personally it actually works so that is good enough for me

 

[teckneeculler]

Thanks again, folks. I've decided that MR is definitely the best on offer.

Which versions are you people using?

6? 7? Free? Paid?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Thanks again, folks. I've decided that MR is definitely the best on offer.

Which versions are you people using?

6? 7? Free? Paid?

I'm still on 6 (paid). I didn't see any changes in 7 that was of benefit to me.

 

[SIW2]

I use Aomei, it works very well.

I used to use macrium, back when it was pretty much the only free imaging solution. That was in the Vista days. I started the whole popularization of it on Vista Forums, which then spread to this forum.

Macrium has issues and is not the most suitable for me.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
V6 free works just fine

 

[mjf]

Hi,
V6 free works just fine

Ditto.
I still use V5 on one PC V6 on another. No problems with V5 or V6.
If you're starting from scratch you would use V6 (free). Decide later if you want the added features of the paid version - I don't need them.
Comprehensive V6 user guide:
http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Macrium+Reflect+KnowledgeBase

 

[RolandJS]

...Macrium has issues and is not the most suitable for me.

I think I know of one or two MR issues? Would you mind starting a new thread so that you can update me on what you found out awhile back, and I can update you on what I am finding during my backup and restoring.