This speed issue between MR and DS has piqued my curiosity and therefore I have downloaded the incredibly small DS to run a test. I have backed up the same system with both MR and DS. It was an SSD internal system drive to an external SSD both 500 GB, 45 GB to backup, these are the results: DS is by far faster, it performed the backup operation in 90 seconds, MR did it in 193 seconds (1:30 minutes and 3:13 minutes) Then I thought what about restore time, here MR was by far faster, MR did it in 2:10 minutes, DS in 4:30 minutes. With DS I experienced a problem when rebooting the system, it said 'press any key to reboot' 'please wait' nothing happened and therefore I had to restart the computer the hard way, although the restored image was perfect. It might have something to do with MR bootable rescue media kicking in at every reboot, not an important issue at this stage. DS is really amazing considering its size, but all in all I wouldn't get any real improvement in terms of speed as my incremental images are very fast with MR and restores are definitely faster with MR. One important aspect to consider DS is the price $44 compared to $ 70 for MR.
For me it is. I have a GPT disk with 5 partitions that I need to image every time I image. That can be a pain if they are all not contained within a single file. Also, it lessens the chance of losing an image.
Nate, would you please be more specific - are you referring to the EFI, MSR, Reserved partitions (in addition to the Windows partition)? ...or other user partitions?
Very interesting (and informative)! Thanks for sharing that. While I understand your preference for MR's incremental imaging, in order to compare 'apples to apples' (since DS doesn't do incrementals) it would be very interesting to have also compared the speed of DS' differentials vs. MR's differentials (backup and restoring)! Finally, as you speculated in a subsequent post, DS' price is one-time (i.e., it's a lifetime license).
Pvsurfer you are welcome, I'm pretty sure that as Brian pointed out differentials must be very fast too, by the way do you make differentials on your systems? What makes MR a popular program is its free edition which I have used successfully for 2 years before buying the home edition. Given the price difference I would have certainly bought DS instead, for me speed is very important when backing up and restoring as I often use MR to test configurations and programs, if I see the slightest problem a restore takes about 2 minutes with a few clicks of the mouse.
@Osaban - Yes, I do use differentials much of the time. When the dif's size gets to about 50% of the size of its full parent I will next make a new full image (starting a new backup set). I've been using DS over the past decade on WinXP, 7 and 10 systems with 100% success. When it comes to computing I like 'simple' and DS certainly fits that bill.
The problem with this discussion is most of the time, apples & oranges are being compared. For instance, with the above statement, I can tell nothing. If @Osaban is using DEFAULT settings for MR, the image will be significantly longer. Why... because MR does an almost full FileSystem check prior to its imaging operation and a full VERIFICATION of the image following the image operation, both of which are not currently being done by DS. In the case of MR, both of those functions may be disabled by the user which would make for a much better comparison as far as the apps are concerned. ...and BTW, only one of the above is a FREE app as inquired by the OP. The discussion is getting a bit convoluted by FREE vs PAY features among other things. Maybe we should start over...
Hmmm... I guess my initial question is... why are you excluding REFLECT? You only stated AOMEI was having issues with System shutdown. Are you just looking for "additional" FREE alternatives that allow commenting?
@TerryWood , just so you are aware, only the automatic scheduling of REFLECT's images are affected by continued comment annotation of images in an existing image chain. If MANUAL operations are being performed, REFLECT allows the use of a simple PROMPT window which allows for the image type selection as well as a comment for each image being taken. I use this feature all the time when taking manual images into an existing automatic scheduled imaging chain for documentation purposes.
Interesting, how would you disable the file system check and the full verification of the image with MR?
Hi @rollbackfrog Thanks for that. I use Macrium Reflect Free and have done so for many years. I don't do Auto scheduled backups but I do use the opportunity to add commentary by right clicking on the Backup Definition File and click on the advanced properties box and then select Comment from the Left Hand Menu. This enables a running commentary right from the first Full Backup to and including every incremental. I find this incredibly helpful, particularly if I am problem solving, because one can often pin down using commentary and dates the start of a problem. Also by Right clicking on the Backup Definition File then Run Now and finally Prompt you can select the type of Backup ie Full, Incremental or Differential. From this point onwards the backup runs. I give this information for anyone who is not aware. MR is in my view is the one to go for in spite of the number of updates correcting issues. I also use Aomei Backupper as an alternative which has proved reliable and is perhaps simpler to use. I started this thread because there was a problem with Aomei v5.8 (slows shutting down Win 10) I was looking for an alternative to replace it because I use two imaging programs as a cautionary measure. In my search for a replacement I was astonished at the number of well known names in Imaging that don't have a "commentary Feature" this includes TodoBackup and acknowledged by their Support team. Hence the question I posed in my first post of this thread:- "how do those of you who do a Full Backup followed by several Incrementals or Differentials, know what each contains in order to restore to the right version." terry
As far as GLOBAL defaults are concerned, it is set under "Edit Defaults/Verify file System" and "Edit Defaults/Auto Verify Image." If you already have created definitions (prior to changing the DEFAULTS), the image verification may be changed using the "Advanced Options" link of the definition. The FileSystem check cannot be changed in the def, if you want to change it, you must change the default then recreate the def.
This process can be made easier just using the PROMPT feature which also includes the ability to change the COMMENT at that time as well. I make it even easier by selecting the DEFINITION and using the "Create a desktop shortcut of the selected file" option from the ToolBar. This presents you with a small window which allows you to select the ShortCut's name and function (Full, Diff, Inc or PROMPT). When complete, you have a ShortCut which, when activated, goes directly to the PROMPT window of that definition, letting you select image type and COMMENT. That function is very useful... I use it for all my unscheduled snapshots when I'm testing stuff.
Interesting, I don't use Comments. I usually remember what I've done and if not I just restore a few images until I've fixed the issue. Almost all my images are scheduled and I tend to remember the one-off images.
I have disabled file system verification and verify backup after creation is disabled by default. I’ve tested a backup with file system verification and without, the results in terms of time are exactly the same (within 5 seconds).
No testing here but yes, just checked one system, and just to confirm ... Never changed these options and by default Verify File System (before backup) is enabled, and Auto Verify Image (after creation) is disabled. Think I'll just stick with that. Edit: My continued thanks to Froggie for this link on how to set up manual snapshot, which I still refer to when setting up a new computer : https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/macrium-reflect.356309/page-164#post-2643507 which I also use prior to testing (can include comments if necessary).
Why do you find it so important? Personally when I need to comment I create a txt with the same name of the backup and add the comments there. Or when doing incrementals I edit a global txt that has data/name of the backup and comments. Panagiotis
Personally, I never said I found it important... I just found it a very useful feature of REFLECT (since it was already there). Your method is more than adequate. I use it mostly when running MANUAL snapshots (Incrementals) as they are usually the most special ones to remember (software & configuration testing).
Hi @Panagiotis Each to his own! I explained why I found it useful in Macrium in a previous post. Since they along with Aomei, have provided the Commenting, built in so to speak, I find it easier to use whats already provided. I am amazed that there are people who don't annotate their backups. Still, I won't have to change after all Aomei have sorted the problem Thanks to everyone for their "Comments" Terry
For those I prefer to rename directly the snapshots .e.g. "before x program" or "after x program" Hi Terry, For me this feature is useful only for high confidential encrypted images. For everything else, I want to know what to restore before, I even start the program. But as you said, each to his own.
