Macrium Reflect

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by Stigg, Nov 23, 2013.

  1. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    NOTE: I CHECKED, AND IT SEEMS I HAVE MOST OF THESE FILES ON ANOTHER, OLDER DRIVE. BUT OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANT HISTORY TO REPEAT ITSELF.

    @Minimalist ,

    I was not even aware that there was such a thing as 'default retention rules settings'. I never had to deal with any of this on Macrium Reflect version 5, or with an older version of Acronis (Windows XP). \the only imaging programs I ever used. Spontaneous deleting of images ??

    There may be a way to get those files back (options?), but before I do that I want to know what I'm doing.
     
  2. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    @Minimalist suggestion for checking any recovered files is decent but a bit setup intensive. Turns out, a Reflect v5 image may use the normal VERIFICATION system of Reflect v5-v7 inclusive... v5 images are compatible with all those versions.
     
  3. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Yes, check Other tasks - Edit defaults (or change settings before making a backup):

    upload_2017-12-13_22-5-3.png

    You should not write anything to that drive! Download an install Recuva (https://www.piriform.com/recuva). Connect drive and scan it. If it finds those files with good condition (they were not overwritten) recover them to some different drive. Just remember to not write anything to that drive until you're done. If they've been (partly) overwritten, than you're out of your luck.
     
  4. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Yes I agree that it's a little more work. I like MR's verification but if I want to be really sure I either restore an image or restore it to VHD and attach it to virtual machine (I'm using VirtualBox).
     
  5. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    @Minimalist, @TheRollbackFrog ,

    re: post #6178

    Please explain to me how I can make sure that this product, will never, ever, remove or delete any image files.

    'apply retention rules' Is there some kind of default that removes files ? I never had an issue like that with version 5.x

    'You should not write anything to that drive! Download an install Recuva (https://www.piriform.com/recuva). Connect drive and scan it. If it finds those files with good condition (they were not overwritten) recover them to some different drive. Just remember to not write anything to that drive until you're done. If they've been (partly) overwritten, than you're out of your luck.' I could try, but isn't it easier to just copy those files from the other drive ? They may be large, so I don't know for sure how that will work. I've never used Recuva before either.

    Were some files deleted because they were old ? 'Linked incremental and differential images will also be deleted' For as far as I know, I always made full images. Everything used to be plain. I made images once in a while, I always kept it simple. I don't know all the theory of making images.

    I think I need some 'hand holding' here, I was counting on this product to protect system files and data. Not to wipe them out. It was a very distressing experience.
     
  6. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    Perhaps Reflect's retention rule might be better understood as "housekeeping cleanup" rules as they actually tell Reflect to remove some existing backup image files in accordance with certain settings that are incorporated into the backup tasks themselves. If you simply accept the default retention rules for running an existing task definition (i.e., one that backs up the same source selections to the same destination folder) then any "matching" image files in excess of the specified retention limits will be removed.

    In fact, in some cases, those "housekeeping cleanup" rules may have been set by a user's task definition to apply to all image files in the destination folder. For additional information on Reflect's application of its retention rules, see this KB article. If you want no such "houskeeping", only you can unselect all of the default retention rules for your backup task definition accordingly.

    __
    P.S.: I any of that isn't entirely clear -- and I can certainly understand why it might not be -- please don't hesitate to ask for whatever amount of "hand holding" is needed.
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2017
  7. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    Fly, as @Arvy has stated, the newer versions of Reflect have new features... you need to understand them prior to beginning the use of that product.

    In the case of the retention rules mentioned above, they must be dealt with PRIOR TO MAKING YOUR FIRST IMAGE with the newer product, especially if you're trying to use the same storage folder for all your images both past and present. The product DEFAULTs make this easy just by editing them. If you have an already existing backup definition, that definition needs to be edited as well prior to the first/next time you use it for imaging. Once the retention rules are disabled, the product will run just like old... it'll do what you say, when you say to do it, affecting no previous images.
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2017
  8. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Yes, if you have copy of those files then recovering them using Recuva is unnecessary. Just copy them from other that other drive.

    Deselect all options in default retention rules settings and check your saved definition files (if you have any) and remove retention rules from those also.
     
  9. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    @Arvy, @TheRollbackFrog , @Minimalist ,

    I think I fixed it. I copied the relevant images from the older drive to the newer external harddrive.

    I removed the 'evil' Windows 7 image that contained the MR edition that wiped my image files. I changed the settings as per Arvy's suggestion. Then I created a new image, and everything went fine.

    'saved definition files (if you have any)' I'm not sure what those are, but I don't think I have any. Anyway, I could make the image without further problems.

    @TheRollbackFrog , I'm not used to reading entire manuals of new versions of existing products ! This new 'feature' was not obvious to me.

    Thanks for all the help. But this will teach me not to update or upgrade products too easily ...
     
  10. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    When you create an image you get an option to save backup as definition file, which you can use to run same backup in future or schedule automatic backups. You don't need to worry if you didn't save any or don't use it.

    upload_2017-12-14_21-44-40.png

    +1
    I've missed this new default settings first time after upgrade also and got burned similar as you. Now I'm little more careful when clicking next and confirming dialogs.
     
  11. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    @Minimalist ,

    'When you create an image you get an option to save backup as definition file' I indeed do not use that. I'm just surprised that this product was released that way. Not what one would expect. Btw, I skipped version 6.
    Default is 'intelligent sector copy'. I presume that's fine.
     
  12. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    I guess I don't understand your surprise. It's a feature that allows you to save all the specifications of a given backup, saving you all that configuration time when you do the same type of backup the next time around. I would find that very useful... and I do, actually.

    The definition doesn't do anything, it's just there for your future use. With that definition in place, you can easily set up 1 (or 2) <click> operations that can do exactly what you want them do do... there's even one option that allows you to accomplish any type of backup (FULL, DIFF or INC <if not FREE edition>) and COMMENT them as you create them. I find that very useful as well, especially for MANUAL backups.

    ...and if you ever decided to use the automatic scheduling system, the backup definitions are ready and waiting.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2017
  13. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    @Fly - that DEFAULT images only the USED SECTOR CLUSTERs on the device/partition being imaged. The other option is a forensic option allowing you to image EVERY SECTOR on the same device/partition.
     
  14. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    Exactly which new features of the Reflect v7.x release surprises you in ways that you wouldn't expect from a "skip ahead" software upgrade. I can understand your not anticipating that its introduction of default retention settings would result in the removal of some of your existing backup images. But surely the ability to save backup task definitions for use with scheduling and/or repeated manual operations would be regarded as a definite "plus" by most users. Did you look at Macrium's posted "what's new" lists for v6 and v7?
     
  15. paulderdash

    paulderdash Registered Member

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    :thumb:
     
  16. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    @Arvy,

    'I can understand your not anticipating that its introduction of default retention settings would result in the removal of some of your existing backup images.' Undoubtedly there have been improvements. But I was in no way prepared for a default feature that would wipe out some images. For me, version 5 was fine too. Except that it would not recognize new hardware.

    I've never used it or needed it, but does it have a feature to create an 'image' that will allow you to restore the image to basically a different computer ? Or at least, a different harddrive in case of drive failure ? I'm sure there would be some issues with that (hardware). I know there is a name for such a thing ...
     
  17. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    @Fly , Reflect contains a feature known as "reDeploy," which allows images to be restored to different hardware configurations... it's available within the Recovery Media. It is NOT AVAILABLE in the FREE edition.

    Current versions of Reflect easily allow you to "restore" to any type or size disk you may wish to use (without the use of the "reDeploy" feature) as long as it's large enough to hold the basic image, and during the process will allow you to resize that partition image to any size the new disk will allow.
     
  18. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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  19. jopa66

    jopa66 Registered Member

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    Just a quick question. Is there a way in version 6.3 to comment or remark an individual incremental backup? For instance, if I install a major app such as Photoshop or after Windows updates, I would like to be able to add a comment to the daily incremental so that when viewing the various images within the Reflect GUI, it is easy to spot the one I need. I was able to do this in the old AX64 Time Machine. Seems the only way to add a comment is in Advanced Options which then applies to the whole chain.
     
  20. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    @jopa66 - you can easily execute a MANUAL operation to your existing chain (like a single snapshot) that allows you to select any type of image and COMMENT it at the time of taking that image. I use this feature all the time for my event snapshots (when I change software, try stuff, purposely infect my System, etc.). There are 2-ways to do this... 1. from inside the Reflect UI, and 2. from a desktop/taskbar shortcut.

    The only wrinkle with this operation is depending on what type of existing backup scheme you are using currently. If you're using any scheme that's based on # of incrementals, these manual operations will increase that number and with retention set, may cause merging of your backup chain earlier than expected. I don't use that type of scheme. I use a GFS-type of chain mgmt and the incremental retention is not set for # of BACKUPS, it's set for # of DAYS. This way it matters not how many images you take, only that the merging mgmt occurs at the right point in DAYS. I use 7-days in my incremental mgmt spec... and after 7-days it merges forward ALL images that may exist on the merging day (no matter how many I took that day).

    It sounds difficult but it really isn't. My GFS-type backup runs along very smoothly even as I add many MANUAL snapshots to its chain along the way... the automatic retention manages them perfectly (unless you want to save them forever).
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2017
  21. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    Without in any way disagreeing with Froggie's suggestion, just a gentle cautionary word may be in order for anyone who may adopt retention rules based on time periods for any reason at all. Their "housekeeping cleanup" results after any extended user absence from routine operations can be rather more extensive than one might anticipate. Probably best to "disengage" them for at least the first run upon returning, especially if the "Run the purge before backup" option was selected.
     
  22. jopa66

    jopa66 Registered Member

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    Thanks. That will be helpful.
     
  23. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    Macrium Reflect v7.1.2792 update release -- some important bug fixes:

    Free edition download page.

    __
    NOTE: According to one early user feedback report, the "check for updates" patching process may not properly update the CBT Tools executable, in which case the user will need to download and install the revised version of that component manually to correct that problem -- or else use the full current version installer which would be my recommendation.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2017
  24. Banzi

    Banzi Registered Member

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    I'm tempted to buy the home version as I can get 20% off the price, does the license start from the day it is bought or from when it is first used/activated?
     
  25. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    Licensing and other such "legalistic" questions are best addressed to Macrium directly. In practical terms, however, the timing difference would only affect the start date for the one year of direct Macrium support. The licence for the software itself is perpetual and is issued on a transferable "per machine" basis.
     
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