I have used Windows Built-in for many years without a problem, but since the Windows 8.1 debacle where it has been broken, I am looking for a good third party alternative. I also used Paragon Hard Disk Manager a few years ago with excellent results, but that doesn't fully support Windows 8.1 yet.
Hi Stigg, There are snapshot programs like Rollback Rx and RestoreIt. AX64 is not like them. It is simply an imaging program with incremental imaging. However, no imaging program has accomplished this feat so far, that within Windows one can chose an increment from the chain and quickly restore just that increment. Outside Windows it will (cold) restore the complete chain like any other imaging program. I hope this explain AX64. If you have further questions, please let me know as the AX64 thread on this forum is very, very long. Best regards, Mohamed
Also, I forgot to mention that it is very, very fast in imaging and very stable. Acronis True Image Home (ATIH) is plenty fast and AX64 is twice as fast as ATIH, but stable. Best regards, Mohamed
Hi Stigg, It has full support for Windows 8.1, however one cannot make a Recovery Media. This is no fault of AX64. It is Microsoft who have removed couple of files from making the WinRE Recovery Media. Kent with IFW had similiar problem trying to make Recovery Media with IFW. If you have access to a computer with other Windows OS beside Windows 8.1, you can make the Recovery Media on it and then use it with your Windows 8.1 computer. You can try AX64 for 30 days, and hopefully by then Isso will come up with a solution to make Recovery Media within Windows 8.1 Best regards, Mohamed
I could not give a real vote because the list only allowed one choice. I have several that I use. Anyone who only relies on one recovery program is, in my opinion, foolish. Acadia
A vote for one is better than a vote for none. Anyone who thinks otherwise is, in my opinion, foolish. (Doesn't sound too nice, does it?) PS - Still foolishly relying upon Macrium Reflect.
On my fairly new Samsung notebook I've used successfully 6-7 times its own Samsung backup/recovery program 'Recovery'. Lately my attempts to update to Windows 8.1 failed miserably (AMD still has its drivers in beta stage) to the point that the system could not boot anymore, and 'Recovery' worked perfectly recovering my system from a USB hard drive. The reason that I 'foolishly' rely on one program is that I still couldn't work out a way to boot my notebook from an emergency CD or DVD. Believe or not I couldn't find any provisions in the BIOS sequence, although I'm sure there must be a way...
It appears that Macrium Reflect is popular. It must be OK. I wonder which edition most people are using.
None: - i back up all of my files to my SD card. - and in linux all of my drivers work out of the box - i can have my system reinstalled and running
I use Macrium Reflect v5.2 Standard Edition. I think lots of people use the free edition, but I wanted a few of the paid-for features, such as: Differential and Incremental backups Recovery from Windows boot menu Technical support by email and forum access Check out edition comparisons here.
Thanks for your reply, Page42. Reliability and simplicity is amongst the top characteristics of what I am looking for in good imaging software.
Hi Stigg, Yes, it is compatible with Windows 8.1. In my opinion, basically, you need two solutions: 1. AX64 Time Machine. 2. Macrium Reflect (Free or Paid). The folks over Macrium Reflect so nice, I really would like for you to buy the paid version if you can afford it. If you cannot now, go for the Free version and later on after some time buy the paid version. Best regards, Mohamed
With AX64 one creates WinRE, which requires no further download. With Macrium Reflect one creates WinPE which requires a one time download of 348MB. The WinPE is a better solution with newer drivers. Best regards, Mohamed
If I decide to get it, I'll get the Household 4 Pack. It looks a good deal. It doesn't cost much more to go Pro. Do you think that Macrium Reflect is a better option than ShadowProtect or Paragon?
Hi TyRidian, I have been hearing nothing but high praises for the above. And, it is free too! Best regards, Mohamed
Hi Stigg, ShadowProtect is highly and ridiculously priced. Almost $80 per machine, or about $60 per machine for a family pack. Then it has the hardware activation problem, where as Macrium Reflect activation is tied to hardware and once activated it stays like that and easier to move to another machine. Not with ShadowProtect. Also, ShadowProtect cannot co-exists with AX64, for which I have 16 licenses. As far as Paragon is concerned, I have a license. It seems solid, but because on this forum they have their sub-forum, therefore one always reads problems with it. If they didn't have the sub-forum here, they will have a much better reputations with Wilders' members. I personally prefer Macrium Reflect over above two. Best regards, Mohamed
