macrium reflect
TRANSCRIPT
IMAGE BACKUP
Master boot record Operating system Windows Registry Applications Configurations & settings Data
CONVENTIONAL BACKUP
Data files only Word processing
Spreadsheets
Text files
Macrium Reflect Free & $39.95 Acronis True Image $49.95 Norton Ghost $69.95 Paragon Backup & Recovery Free BounceBack Essential $29.95 Windows System Image Free
Download Macrium Reflect from www.macrium.com
Cost & Features
Image Backup Software
ProductCost
Partitio
ns
Imag
ed
Incr
ementa
l/
Differe
ntial
Restore
Indivi
dual File
s and Fo
lders
from
Image
Restore
Indivi
dual Par
titio
ns
Restore
Entir
e Disk
/
Multi
ple P
aritio
ns at O
nce
Windows System Image Free MS Windows Only No No No ?
Acronis True Image Home 2010 $49.99 All Types Yes Yes Yes Yes
Macrium Reflect (Commercial Version) $39.99 All Types Yes Yes Yes No
Macrium Reflect Free Version) Free All Types No Yes Yes No
PerformanceTime
Required
Size of
Image File(s)
Trial 1, Laptop Computer
Original File: 56.7 GB
Windows System Image 40 min (approx) 51.7 GB
Acronis True Image Home 2010 37min, 36 sec 37.0 GB
Macrium Reflect, 64-bit 30 min, 5 sec 37.3 GB
Trial 2, Desktop Computer
Original File: 79.6 GB
Windows System Image
Acronis True Image Home 2010 44 min, 35 sec 62.6 GB
Macrium Reflect, 64-bit 41 min, 13 sec 58.4 GB
Not tested
Conclusions and Additional Considerations:
1) For users with a single partition, the Macrium Reflect free version is adequate if the user can forego performing incremental or differential backups.
2) The image creation software included in Windows 7 is buried in the Control Panel and will therefore be inaccessible to some users. Its file size and speed of operation are unfavorable for those without very large external drives and no time constraints.
3) ) For users who multiboot with two or more operating systems or who otherwise use more than one paritition, I recommend Macrium Reflect even though it is a bit less convenient in requiring that each parition be restored individually when attempting to restore the entire drive.
4) Acronis True Image would have been the ideal choice for multi-boot systems by virtue of its ability to restore the entire disk at once, including all partitions. However, its rescue disk refused to boot on the laptop and a response from tech support is pending at this time. Substantial effort was invested in attempting to resolve the rescue disk problem. Problems with the image restore process have plagued my use of earlier versions of Acronis True Image on an earlier computer.