Filed under: Utilities, Windows
Macrium Reflect Free: Create a disk image without rebooting
by Brad Linder Jun 10th 2008 at 7:00PM
While there are plenty of free utilities for performing both types of backup, most free disk imaging software requires you to reboot your computer and load Linux or simplified version of Windows to complete the image. That means you can't create your backup while you're using your PC to do other things. But Macrium Reflect Free Edition lets you create an image of your Windows system while using Windows.
Macrium Reflect comes in 32 bit and 64 bit versions and is compatible with Windows XP and Vista. You can image a complete disk or just individual partitions. And you can save your images to a local hard drive, network drive, or optical disc. You can also schedule backups and create restore discs using Linux or BartPE.
We were able to backup a partition with 12GB of data in just about 16 minutes. Since Macrium Reflect lets you create compressed backups, the image weighed in at just 8GB.
There are some features that you can only access by paying $40 for a fully licensed copy of Macrium Reflect, including Windows Server 2003 compatibility, differential and incremental backups, and the abililty to backup and restore individual files and folders. But the free edition is still pretty useful and provides an easy to use alternative to previously mentioned DriveImage XML.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mtbiker said 8:07AM on 6-11-2008
DriveImage XML does this too - for free. I've used it a number of times, last time to back up an Asus eeePC to an iPod. Very flexible, free and easy to use.
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Ian Tammy said 8:07AM on 6-11-2008
But DriveImage XML doesn't work with Vista. It relies on a BartPE plug-in for system recovery. This is not compatible with Vista or 64 bit Windows!
mtbiker said 8:07AM on 6-11-2008
Well I stand corrected then. If you're using XP, DriveImageXML (reviewed here 2 years ago) works a treat.
Ken said 10:50AM on 6-11-2008
Thanks, this will prove useful, i was looking for something like this better than DriveImage XML. I find driveimage to be a little slow. I don't mind paying $40 for the additional feature. Better than software like acronis for $1,000. What a rip off!
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Steve said 8:50AM on 6-15-2008
Excellent product.
Macrium Reflect is simple and easy to use. Install it and start backing your system up in just a few minutes. The wizards guide you through the simple steps without you having to read loads of manuals etc.
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