See Joe Allen reply in this thread. https://forum.macrium.com/85952/Reflect-X-Subscription-License-not-recognized
The last post in that very complex thread... posted 14 February 2025 9:11 PM: "Ok, I've got Hasleo software installed just in case. Thank You Stephen" Didn't know whether to laugh or cry for the near death spirals of what used to be one of my faves. Always good to have a "back-up" ?
Since they went subscription/rental only, I imagine everyone bailed, except maybe some corporate customers left. Maybe that will be enough to keep them going. They do have a good product, but the greed got to them. I hope they do well as a shell of their former strengths.
I subscribed to Macrium Reflect X because I'm convinced of the program's quality and have never been disappointed. My research with ChatGPT revealed that the company that makes Macrium Reflect has apparently been experiencing financial difficulties for several years. The switch to subscriptions is presumably intended to improve the financial situation through a steady influx of funds. I hope it succeeds.
My problem, just discovered (using the free version): I had a UFD for emergencies in case I needed MR. Tried to boot to MR UFD and I get a message that it has an invalid signature. Chose to create a Windows Boot Manager Menu instead. Restore was successful. Back in Windows and again tried to create a bootable UFD. Tested that and once again I get 'Invalided Signature'. Tried a second UFD with the same result. Why? How do I solve this 'Invalid Signature' issue? Hasleo? Thanks.
Macrium employees deserve to be paid - expecting 'free' anything beyond what they allow, is outrageous. I'm guessing all you 'free'/Subscription protesters do not work for free. If you don't like paying, you are still free to go somewhere else.
I'm going to guess you are not talking to me. If MR can't, or won't restore, then what's the point? Free or not.
Agree with you, everybody deserve to be paid. I like Macrium a lot and I paid for the last 10 years, but sorry the increase I just to much this time.
I can only speak for myself... I'm not expecting free as I also work in the software industry and I do expect them to get paid for their hard work. When this was a permanent license it was actually one of the pricier options but I paid it and felt it worth the money. My complaint with a subscription, especially with a backup and restore product, is that at some point I will have issues restoring due to licensing. I need such a product to be reliable in a critical situation and don't want to deal with licensing issues as a condition of using the product to backup or restore. I've had instances in the past where a Windows update would break the license (in fairness it's been a while) and I don't want to add recurring payment issues to the mix, or the possible loss of my own income to cause me to lose my data.
I too bailed when MR went subscription-based. I have a 4-license pack for Macrium Reflect 8. I will continue to use it as long as it works. When it fails, I will probably explore Hasleo. I already have two lifetime licenses, with free version updates, for Easeus Todo Backup Home. I alternate my weekly system images of my two computers between the two products. Definitely, IMO, MR is the faster and better product. If Paramount again offers lifetime version licenses, I would definitely look again at MR. It is a great piece of software. Just my two cents. Have a great day. Regards, Phil
I still like MR and support them with my subscription. I tried some other backup programs, but I didn't really like them. MR has saved my ass so often -- it's here to stay.
Bug fixes and Improvements v8.1.8631 - 7th August 2025 Rescue Media During a restore, Reflect would sometimes display the error "This file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action". This has been resolved. https://updates.macrium.com/reflect/v8/v8.1.8631/details8.1.8631.htm Just installed it, reboot required.
Totally, the last update for 8.1.8325 is reliable, they tried to push an update that sucked this was when X subscription was out. Only a ploy to make you change to X. Stick with 8.1.8325 and no worries.
I'm not sure what happened with this update. I installed yesterday and today when I ran an incremental backup it seemed to run fine. The log says it did. When I checked my external drive my entire folder with 5 weeks of backups was gone. There were 2 backup sets. The retention rules I had set probably should have deleted the older set. Instead everything was gone and the folder with it. I ran a new full backup and that is there but I have no older backup available anymore. It they messed with the way it cleans up older backups this may happen again next time. The drive itself seems fine and isn't missing anything else. Checkdisk says no issues with the drive.
I haven't made a back up yet, was doing it this weekend. Will wait now until I hear more. Just looked on the Macrium forums and cannot see anything like that so far. Worrying.
Yeah, I'm not sure exactly what happened. I would assume a drive malfunction or a program issue. As I can find nothing else wrong with the drive and the new full backup worked I am leaning towards the program. I have it set to run a full backup at the first of the month and remove the prior set after a few days. If this is a new bug in that cleanup process it would take a very specific set of circumstances for this to happen and it would probably be missed unless some had it scheduled to do the same. I have been running this schedule for years and the only thing that changed was yesterday's update.
I only carry 1 external drive and have been running this schedule since 2022. It is really odd and I still don't know what to think other than I hope it never happens again. Edit: Another thought, I have Image Guardian enabled so there is no way I accidentally deleted the files myself.
@ xxJackxx Your not the only one, I had the same issue I lost 32 weeks backups, And I don't know how. the backups were on my D drive then the update then boom gone..
