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Macrium Reflect

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Macrium Reflect
Developer(s)Paramount Software UK Ltd (trading as Macrium Software)
Stable release
v8.1.7847 / January 30, 2024; 17 months ago (2024-01-30)[1]
Operating systemWindows XP SP3 or later
Windows Server 2003 SP2 or later
Available inEnglish, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (BR), Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Hungarian
TypeBackup software
Licensepaid, trialware
Websitewww.macrium.com

Macrium Reflect is a backup utility for Microsoft Windows developed by Paramount Software UK Ltd in 2006. It creates disk images and file backup archives using Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service to ensure 'point in time' data accuracy. Macrium Reflect can back up whole partitions or individual files and folders into a single compressed, mountable archive file, which can be used to restore exact images of the partitions on the same hard disk for disaster recovery, or a new hard disk for data migration.[2]

It has received numerous favorable reviews,[3][4][5] and is often recommended and used as an example program for cloning and backup tutorials.[6][7][8][9][10]

Overview

Macrium Reflect can create full, incremental and differential backup images, or selectively back up individual files and folders. Data is compressed and encrypted in real time using LZ-based compression and AES encryption algorithms. Images can be mounted as a drive letter in Windows Explorer and restored using a custom Macrium Reflect Rescue CD. In the event of a partial or complete system loss, this image can be used to restore the entire disk, one or more partitions, or individual files and folders.[11]

Macrium Reflect can clone one disk onto another, and restore an image to new hardware. Using pre-created Macrium Reflect Rescue media (CD, DVD or USB memory stick), critical drivers required by the new system can be inserted into the image taken from the old system, making it compatible with the new hardware.[12]

Macrium Reflect image backups created with any older version (Free or paid editions) can be restored with any later version.[13]

Free edition and trial edition

An unsupported free edition was available for home and commercial use. It lacked some features of the full versions, such as incremental backup (though it included differential backup), but still had some features found only in expensive commercial products. The free edition was retired, and received security patches up until 1 January 2024.[14][15][16][17]

Macrium Reflect v8.0 was the last free version to receive feature, compatibility or bug fix updates.[18] Service announcement: "This is to notify that Macrium Reflect Free Edition is being retired. Security patches will be provided until 1st January 2024, but there are no planned feature changes or non security related updates following this update. No further updates will be provided after that date. Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7167 was the last release to receive bug fixes, compatibility updates and features. Users of the free version may continue to use it, but they are on their own when they run into issues. (...)"[19]

A free trial version replaced the free version, and the trial version has virtually all of the same features as the paid-for version for 30 days, after which the software will revert to restore-only mode (where a user can only restore existing backups but not make any new backups).[20][21]

Releases

  • 2024-10-9 Macrium Reflect X released
  • 2023-01-30 Macrium Reflect 8.1 released (build 8.1.7280)[22]
  • 2021-05-17 Macrium Reflect 8.0 released (build 8.0.5903)[23]
  • 2021-11-18 Macrium Reflect 7.3 released (build 7.3.6391)
  • 2020-10-14 Macrium Reflect 7.3 released (build 7.3.5281)
  • 2017-09-29 Macrium Reflect 7.2 released (build 7.2.3811)
  • 2017-09-28 Macrium Reflect 7.1 released (build 7.1.2602)[24]
  • 2017-02-27 Macrium Reflect 7.0 released (build 7.0.1994)[25]
  • 2015-02-16 Macrium Reflect 6.0 released
  • 2011-06-01 Macrium Reflect 5.0 released

See Macrium Product Support Policy for Support Status of Macrium Reflect.[26]

Macrium SiteManager Platform

Macrium SiteManager Platform is a separate solution to Macrium Reflect, although based on the same principles. The key difference is that where Macrium Reflect is designed for standalone use and better suits home users and business users where it is necessary to manage backups on an individual workstation, Macrium SiteManager Platform offers a centralised console for backup and deployment.

SiteBackup

As of November 2024, SiteManager Platform has two components. SiteBackup for centralised backups with networked workstations and servers enables scheduling, backups, and restoring on devices running the SiteBackup agent, and is managed using a Web browser user interface.[27]

SiteDeploy

The second component of the SiteManager platform is SiteDeploy, which offers centralised deployment of Windows OS images to remotely accessed computers and servers. One key aspect of SiteDeploy is its ability to deploy an image to dissimilar hardware from the reference machine. It significantly reduces complexity and automates complex tasks, like connecting from boot media and automating post-deployment first-time configuration.[28]


References

  1. ^ "Macrium Reflect v8.1.7847". updates.macrium.com. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  2. ^ Horowitz, Michael (8 July 2013). "A hit and a miss from The Tech Guy". Computerworld. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  3. ^ Williams, Mike. "Macrium Reflect Free 6.3.1821 - Backup & Recovery - Downloads".
  4. ^ "For Simple Hard Drive Imaging Needs, Macrium Reflect Free Fits the Bill".
  5. ^ "Macrium Reflect Free Review: Best Disk Imaging Software". 1 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Step-by-step instruct on creating image: Macrium - Windows Secrets Lounge".
  7. ^ "Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect 5.0". ask-leo.com. Archived from the original on 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  8. ^ "Why do you prefer Macrium Reflect over Windows 7's backup program? - Ask Leo!". 3 April 2014.
  9. ^ "How to Create a Full-Disk Backup of Your PC with Macrium Reflect".
  10. ^ How to Clone a Laptop Hard Drive Using Macrium Reflect Free Archived 2017-08-30 at the Wayback Machine (archived), wikiHow
  11. ^ Jacobi, Jon L. "For Simple Hard Drive Imaging Needs, Macrium Reflect Free Fits the Bill". PCWorld. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  12. ^ Peers, Nick (27 April 2016). "How to use Macrium Reflect Free to back up your PC". TechRadar. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Macrium KnowledgeBase Upgrade FAQ". Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  14. ^ Martin Brinkmann (19 June 2015). "Macrium Reflect 6 Free gets differential backups and auto verification". Ghacks. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  15. ^ Jacobi, Jon L. "Macrium Reflect Free". PCWorld. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  16. ^ Da Costa, Andre. "Create a Windows 10 System Image using the Best Free Alternatives". groovypost. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  17. ^ "Backup software Macrium Reflect Free is being retired - gHacks Tech News". gHacks Technology News. 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  18. ^ "Macrium Product Support Policy. For Current and Legacy Versions of Reflect". Macrium. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Backup software Macrium Reflect Free is being retired". ghacks.net. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Macrium Reflect Free Trial Page". Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  21. ^ "_Restore_Only_Mode". Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Macrium Reflect 8.1 changelog". Macrium. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Macrium Reflect 8.0 changelog". Macrium. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Macrium launches Reflect 7.1 with brand new features". Macrium. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Macrium Reflect 7.x changelog". Macrium. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Macrium Product Support Policy". Macrium. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Centrally Managed Backup". Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  28. ^ "Macrium SiteDeply". Retrieved 14 November 2024.
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