Reflections on Image Backup

Bowie Seniors Computer Club – http://bscclub.home.comcast.net

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

Then click next, follow the prompts, and it’s finished.

Right-click and select “Copy”

Paste the Files into the desired location.

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.