Macrium Reflect

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

  1. paulderdash

    paulderdash Registered Member

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    I'll try unticking that.
     
  2. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    Almost sounds as if it's just going set restricted permissions on the backup files themselves. If so, v6 users could easily do the same thing manually.

    It's a longshot, but you might also want to check whether the v6.x file version for "C:\Program Files\Macrium\Common\MacriumService.exe" matches your currently installed v6.x Reflect.exe main program version. That Macrium Service is involved in scheduled task handling and didn't always get updated (patched) correctly. We're told that the patch misplacements of that service executable don't matter, but one can't help wondering why a completely inconsequential file update would be included in any patches in the first place.
     
  3. paulderdash

    paulderdash Registered Member

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    Yes, I updated via a new V6 full install and deleted the Program Files (x86) version.
     
  4. JohnBurns

    JohnBurns Registered Member

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    Question: If I run Windows Defender and this happens in the Fall update, as stated, why do I need it in Macrium? (Controlled Folder Access)


    "Introducing Controlled folder access in Windows Defender Antivirus.

    From today's Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16232 for PC + Build 15228 for Mobile announcement :

    In this build, we’re making it easier for you to protect valuable data from malicious apps and threats, such as ransomware. To enable the feature, search for and open the Windows Defender Security Center from Start, go to the Virus & threat protection settings section, and set the switch to On.

    Controlled folder access monitors the changes that apps make to files in certain protected folders. If an app attempts to make a change to these files, and the app is blacklisted by the feature, you’ll get a notification about the attempt. You can complement the protected folders with additional locations, and add the apps that you want to allow access to those folders.

    Allowing apps can be useful if you’re finding a particular app that you know and trust is being blocked by the Controlled folder access feature. Click Allow an app through Controlled folder access and locate and add the app you want to allow.

    You can add additional folders to the list of protected folders, but you cannot alter the default list, which includes folders such as Documents, Pictures, Movies, and Desktop. Adding other folders to Controlled folder access can be handy, for example, if you don’t store files in the default Windows libraries or you’ve changed the location of the libraries away from the defaults.

    Click Protected folders in the Controlled folder access area and enter the full path of the folder you want to monitor. You can also enter network shares and mapped drives, but environment variables and wildcards are not supported (for right now)."
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2017
  5. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    @JohnBurns -- That MS announcement applies to the Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16232 as noted. Assuming that the same "Controlled Folder Access" is incorporated into a subsequent W10 general release, it would then offer the ability to protect entire folders to at least the same extent as Macrium appears likely to provide for protecting their backup files alone.

    Presumably, as mentioned above, Macrium's proposed Reflect v7 offering is intended primarily for users running earlier Windows versions.
     
  6. JohnBurns

    JohnBurns Registered Member

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    Thanks for info Arvy!
     
  7. MPSAN

    MPSAN Registered Member

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    I just wonder how it would help if one of the Ransomeware attacks, like the last one, encrypts the whole HDD and not particular files. If that happens, I guess all you could do is reformat/partition (if you can even get to the drive) and restore from a backup you made on a HDD you keep offline? Perhaps a Linuxlive DVD can redo the HDD?
     
  8. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    @MPSAN -- In a situation where Reflect rescue media is available along with a full system backup or clone on an offline drive, there would be no need to reformat the source drive prior to restoration or replacement. Just don't boot to the compromised system after attaching that backup or clone drive.

    ____
    P.S.: Restoration would require Reflect's own rescue media. Linux Live media won't handle a Reflect restore operation.
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2017
  9. SandyD

    SandyD Registered Member

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    I understand that some programs like Macrium allow you to mount an image to access your data. I believe you can copy files from old images to your live environment without having to restore the old image. Please correct me if I am wrong. I am just wondering what would happen if I executed a program from my mounted drive, ie doubleclicked the exe file on the mounted drive from programs.
     
  10. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

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    I couldn't be bothered with "Macrium Image Guardian".
    To me, it's just a bit of fluff to attract interest for some people. It doesn't interest me, and I really don't think it's necessary.
     
  11. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Yes Macrium allows you to mount and access data from image. I never tried executing program from it, so I don't what would happen. So far I would only copy and restore data from it.
     
  12. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    @SandyD -- Like Minimalist, I've never actually tried running an executable file located on a mounted backup image either, but I'd recommend against doing that while booted to your regular Windows working environment. Most Windows applications rely on absolute and/or relative paths and other dependencies that were specified in the currently loaded Windows registry hives during their installation. So, even if it did work or appeared to work, there would be some considerable risk of unexpected results that could adversely affect subsequent program runs under normal conditions. Much safer to restore and reboot to the regular working environment and run it there unless you're absolutely certain that it's a "standalone" executable with no such dependencies at all.
     
  13. JohnBurns

    JohnBurns Registered Member

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    Appreciate the comments in this thread. Think I'll stick with Version 6 for now - it's working fine for me and I don't want to "rock the boat".
     
  14. MPSAN

    MPSAN Registered Member

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    Great. Yes, I would do that when booted from the rescue media. I had wondered about malware messing up the C: drive, but even if they somehow played with encrypting the C: drive, I guess you can always reformat it. I think laptops had that feature, and if you forgot your password there was no way to recover except to reformat. I do not remember the password being in BIOS.
     
  15. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Even if the drive is totally encrypted IT DOESN'T NEED REFORMATTING. All you need to do is plug a Macrium RE USB key or CD, and restore the image. That is it. Tested and proven.
     
  16. MPSAN

    MPSAN Registered Member

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    Great. I am looking at a SATA III to USB 3 enclosure now and may buy another fast 4TB HDD. I like the way my current 4TB HDD will do a full image and verify in 12 minutes, and still wonder if this External setup would be as fast using a SATA III to USB 3 adapter. I only thought an additional 4TB drive made sense as a 2 or 3TB drive was not that much less money.
     
  17. Rainwalker

    Rainwalker Registered Member

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    I keep the Macrium RE stick plugged in. This is probably a bad idea. Should malware infect my c drive I am thinking it might be able to spread to my other drives in which case it could eat the RE USB. Right o_O
     
  18. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Yes that's not good idea. Why do you keep it plugged in?
     
  19. Rainwalker

    Rainwalker Registered Member

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    Laziness...for when I do restores. As of now I am not keeping it plugged in.
     
  20. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Good. Minimalist is right, just not a great idea. Hey if you want to go lazy and not have to remove it do this. Get one of those external USB ports that has a power adapter and on off switches, so you can physically leave it plugged in but turn it off. Best of both worlds. Tis what I do.
     
  21. Rainwalker

    Rainwalker Registered Member

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    Yup...good idea. Thanks Pete and Minimalist.
     
  22. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    Under identical conditions, will v7 create a full image any faster than v6?
     
  23. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    Nope. Uhhh... lemme correct that. There are some caching options available under v7 that didn't exist under v6. On some Systems, a change in that option can up the I/O bandwidth of that System. I think v7 checks that automatically and sets it up optimally (see HERE) the first time you use a disk for imaging...

    I don't think you'll see any significant differences unless you're running a really weird System configuration...
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2017
  24. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    Using MR (v6), IFW and DS to make an identical full (hot) backup I find Reflect takes about 20% longer to complete than does IFW or DS, although the resulting image-file sizes from all 3 programs do not differ by more than 2%. While I realize that Reflect's differential and incremental backups are quite fast, it's too bad Macrium hasn't 'fast-tracked' their full backups.
     
  25. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    If you do full cold backup from boot USB, MR is typically 20%-80% slower as compared to IFW/DS depending on the CPU, and the disk image file of MR would be ~20% or more larger. Full backup/restore has been the weak point for MR from the very beginning.
     
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