Macrium Reflect

Agree with you @stapp, who wants to work for free these days…

 

OK. Doing a new full backup with Reflect v8.1.7336 has fixed my excessively large differential backups.

 

I agree with you Spartan, the free version will probably work for many years to come. MR is very popular here at Wilders, but if one does a quick search on the internet about the best backup programs available, surprisingly in some lists MR is not even mentioned, and when it is mentioned it is often the last or second last suggestion.

 

I have a similar problem but it persists even though I created a new full backup. After restarting the system, the size of the backups are too large. Almost half of the full system backup!

Windows 10 22H2
With Macrium v8.0.7175: [CBT is not installed]
Full ~36 GB (after reboot)
DIFF ~10 GB (after reboot)
INC ~1-2 GB (after reboot)
INC <1GB (same session)

With Macrium v8.1.7336: [CBT is not installed]
Full ~38 GB (after reboot)
DIFF ~16 GB (after reboot)
INC ~16 GB (after reboot)
INC <1GB (same session)

INC ~3 GB (offline backup)

INC ~200 MB (after DIFF with CBT installed and enabled)





###

Also getting "Error Code 1392" when CBT is installed but disabled for the drive (Not sure?)

 

Not likely but a possibility, are you using the default Intelligent sector copy or Make an exact copy option? If you select Make an exact copy and defrag that may make a larger than expected backup.

 

Same settings before v8.1.7336. (<intelligent>Y</intelligent>)

Spoiler: xml

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--                                                                                                           -->
<!-- BDF v3.2.0 Image and backup definition file for Macrium Reflect v8.0                                      -->
<!--                                                                                                           -->
<!-- This file is a template XML to enable a Reflect backup or Image to be initiated from VB Script or an      -->
<!-- MSDOS batch file.                                                                                         -->
<!-- Simply modify this file if required and pass the file name as a parameter to reflect.exe.                 -->
<backup_definition version="2.0" reflect="v8.1.7336">
    <!-- backup or image file properties -->
    <properties>
        <!-- Internal use. Do not modify -->
        <index_type>0</index_type>
        <!-- Name that appears in the log when this definition is executed -->
        <name>%UserProfile%\Documents\Reflect\My Backup.xml</name>
        <!-- Auto Verify Image or Backup File.  Y - Yes, N - No  -->
        <autoverify>N</autoverify>
        <!-- Auto Verify File System before backups.  Y - Yes, N - No  -->
        <fsverify>Y</fsverify>
        <!-- 0 - Disk Image, 1 - File and folder backup -->
        <backup_type>0</backup_type>
        <!-- 0 - Full, 1 - Incremental, 2 - Differential, 3 - Auto -->
        <method>3</method>
        <!-- Compression level. 0 - No compression, 1 - Medium, 2 - High -->
        <!-- Applies to full file and folder backups and images only -->
        <compression>1</compression>
        <!-- Intelligent sector copy  Y - Yes, N - No -->
        <!-- Applies to full disk images only -->
        <intelligent>Y</intelligent>
        <!-- Maximum file size of the destination file -->
        <!-- 0 - Auto, otherwise file size in MB (1024 = 1GB) -->
        <maxfilesize>0</maxfilesize>
        <!-- Password protection. Empty - No Password, Otherwise enter password value -->
        <!-- Applies to full file and folder backups and images only -->
        <password Type="Encrypt">EncryptionKey</password>
        <!-- AES Encryption. 0 - None, 1 - Standard 128 Bit, 2 - Medium 192 Bit, 3 High 256 bit -->
        <!-- Applies to full file and folder backups and images only -->
        <aes>3</aes>
        <!-- Rate Limiting. -1 - None, 1-20000 - On -->
        <!-- Applies a rate limit in Mb/s for the writing of the backup -->
        <rate_limit>-1</rate_limit>
        <!-- Override the application defined timeout for batch jobs.  Y - Yes, N - No -->
        <!-- Applies to all images and backups -->
        <disable_timeout>N</disable_timeout>
        <!-- comment for the backup -->
        <comment>Full C partition backup</comment>
        <!-- Power Saving settings -->
        <power level="0" force="N">N</power>
        <!-- WinPE Power Saving settings -->
        <pepower level="0">N</pepower>
        <!-- settings for email generation on backups -->
        <email>
            <!-- settings for successful backups -->
            <success>
                <!-- enable notifications for successful backup, Y = Yes, N = No -->
                <enabled>N</enabled>
                <!--  attach log file, Y = Yes, N = No -->
                <attach_log>N</attach_log>
                <!--  attach VSS log file, Y = Yes, N = No -->
                <attach_vss_log>N</attach_vss_log>
                <!-- recipients list, separate each recipient with a semi-colon (;) -->
                <recipients/>
                <!-- subject, plain text only -->
                <subject/>
                <!-- body, plain text only, use \n for a newline -->
                <body/>
            </success>
            <!-- settings for warning backups -->
            <warning>
                <!-- enable notifications for warning backup, Y = Yes, N = No -->
                <enabled>N</enabled>
                <!--  attach log file, Y = Yes, N = No -->
                <attach_log>N</attach_log>
                <!--  attach VSS log file, Y = Yes, N = No -->
                <attach_vss_log>N</attach_vss_log>
                <!-- recipients list, separate each recipient with a semi-colon (;) -->
                <recipients/>
                <!-- subject, plain text only -->
                <subject/>
                <!-- body, plain text only, use \n for a newline -->
                <body/>
            </warning>
            <!-- settings for failed backups -->
            <failure>
                <!-- enable notifications for failed backup, Y = Yes, N = No -->
                <enabled>N</enabled>
                <!--  attach log file, Y = Yes, N = No -->
                <attach_log>N</attach_log>
                <!--  attach VSS log file, Y = Yes, N = No -->
                <attach_vss_log>N</attach_vss_log>
                <!-- recipients list, separate each recipient with a semi-colon (;) -->
                <recipients/>
                <!-- subject, plain text only -->
                <subject/>
                <!-- body, plain text only, use \n for a newline -->
                <body/>
                <include_cancelled>N</include_cancelled>
                <include_skipped>Y</include_skipped>
            </failure>
        </email>
        <!--the backup plan for this definition file-->
        <plan>
            <name>None</name>
            <clone>N</clone>
            <!--retention: retain = Y to keep files, N to remove files-->
            <retention>
                <full retain="y">
                    <!--type: 0 = retain count files, 1 = retain by days, 2 = retain by weeks-->
                    <period>0</period>
                    <!--interval: retention type interval-->
                    <interval>5</interval>
                </full>
                <diff retain="n">
                    <!--type: 0 = retain count files, 1 = retain by days, 2 = retain by weeks-->
                    <period>0</period>
                    <!--interval: retention type interval-->
                    <interval>4</interval>
                </diff>
                <inc retain="n">
                    <!--type: 0 = retain count files, 1 = retain by days, 2 = retain by weeks-->
                    <period>0</period>
                    <!--interval: retention type interval-->
                    <interval>10</interval>
                </inc>
                <!--flags:-->
                <!--synth: Y/N - incremental forever retention rules-->
                <!--applyto: 0 - similar backup sets only in the target folder, 1 - to the entire target folder-->
                <!--before: Y/N - run retention rules before the backup-->
                <flags synthetic_full="N" applyto="0" before="N"/>
            </retention>
        </plan>
    </properties>
    <!-- The source of the backup  -->
    <source>
        <!-- The following applies to Disk Images only -->
        <image_entry id="1">
            <!-- disk is the 1 based index of the disk to be imaged -->
            <!-- id is the disk signature and is used in place of the disk index if specified -->
            <disk id="x-x-x-x-x">1</disk>
            <!-- partition is the 1 based index of the partition on the disk -->
            <partition>1</partition>
        </image_entry>
        <image_entry id="2">
            <disk id="x-x-x-x-x">1</disk>
            <partition>2</partition>
        </image_entry>
        <image_entry id="3">
            <disk id="x-x-x-x-x">1</disk>
            <partition>3</partition>
        </image_entry>
        <image_entry id="4">
            <disk id="x-x-x-x-x">1</disk>
            <partition>4</partition>
        </image_entry>
        <!-- File and folder backup. backup ntfs permissions. Y = Yes, N = No -->
        <backup_ntfs_permissions/>
        <!-- File and folder backup match type. 0=Similar, 1=Strict, 2=All-->
        <file_and_folder_match_type/>
        <!-- File and folder backup. follow system junction points and symbolic links Y = Yes, N = No -->
        <follow_system_reparse_ponts/>
        <!-- File and folder backup. follow user junction points and symbolic links Y = Yes, N = No -->
        <follow_user_reparse_ponts/>
        <!-- Fie and folder backup filters. Increment the 'id' for each filter-->
        <!-- Applies to file and folder backups only -->
        <folder_filter id="1">
            <!-- Folder to backup e.g. 'c:\my documents\'. -->
            <folder/>
            <!-- Include sub-folders Y or N -->
            <sub_folders/>
            <!-- File filter patterns, separated with semi colons -->
            <include_file_filter/>
            <exclude_file_filter/>
            <!-- Sub-folder filter patterns, separated with semi colons -->
            <include_folder_filter/>
            <exclude_folder_filter/>
            <!-- Exclude System files Y or N -->
            <exclude_system_files/>
            <!-- Exclude Hidden files Y or N -->
            <exclude_hidden_files/>
        </folder_filter>
        <!-- exchange backup Y or N -->
        <exchange>N</exchange>
        <!-- Exchange Components to be backed up -->
        <exchange_components/>
        <!-- Exchange metadata -->
        <exchange_metadata/>
        <!-- sql backup Y or N -->
        <sql>N</sql>
        <!-- databases -->
        <sql_databases/>
    </source>
    <!-- Destination of backup or image file  -->
    <destination>
        <!-- Fully qualified path to destination directory. Can include the Volume GUID path  -->
        <!-- The 'drive' attribute is the drive letter initially associated with the GUID path and is used when displaying path errors -->
        <directory>X:\.macrium-backups\</directory>
        <!-- Destination file name.    -->
        <!-- A empty name implies SetPrefix="Y"                               -->
        <!-- SetPrefix is the unique Set ID and is the recommended setting    -->
        <!-- Applies to full file and folder backups and Images               -->
        <!-- SetPrefix. Y - Yes, N - No                                       -->
        <file_name SetPrefix="Y"/>
        <!-- Disk Space Management -->
        <dsm>
            <!-- free space to maintain on the target drive in gb -->
            <free_space_threshold active="1">50</free_space_threshold>
        </dsm>
    </destination>
    <netbios>nbname</netbios>
    <bootable system_partiton="Disk 1, Partiton 3" boot_partition="Disk 1, Partiton 1">Y</bootable>
</backup_definition>

 

It looks like a bug to me.
I'd post that on the Macrium forums.

By the way. I don't install or use CBT either.

 

Since they've done away with the free version, I imagine they will be mentioned on review sites even less often.

 

I concur and found it rather disillusioned because Macrium is long been a holy grail of sorts many paying customers found optimal and highly reliable. Free Version was a massive hit as well. Acronis seems garners top billing in most reviews that i run across which i never could really wrap my mind around but it was there high on lists.

 

It is obvious that one ought not to trust the internet about lists compiled by pseudo-technical writers about any product indeed. There might be too many intrinsic interests at bay, sponsorship, personal choices, outright lack of critical judgement etc.

But the most fundamental reason for those lists being often highly inaccurate, is the lack of testing time which can only be gauged in the long term that is months of usage. I’ve used MR for about seven years (free and home version), I’ve performed hundreds of restores most of the time using the program as a time machine, and never ever it failed doing this fundamental task.

The only time it notified an error was because my hard drive was dying, and refused to proceed any further… I agree having a second program as a ‘backup to MR’ would make sense empirically speaking, but I don’t as I think it is a waste of time given the reliability record of MR.

It is true, there might be other programs as good as MR, and given the fact that the free version has been discontinued, it would make sense to try them out…

 

I like the free version of MR a lot, but by year's end security fixes will stop, and even though it will probably be perfectly fine to use it beyond EOL, it is my priority to purchase the Home version, especially since it includes several nice perks such as encrypted backups, ransomware protection and incremental backups.

If I can just get a few hours of unexpected overtime from my employer in the coming weeks, the purchase will happen sooner rather than later

FWIW, the free MR has performed "letter perfect" for me so far in both backups and restores

 

In my opinion, the reason MR is often ignored is because of its user interface deemed too complicated for the average user, and its price is a bit steep…

 

I used to like the free version a lot too, but the home edition has too many ‘nice perks’ as you say. But the main reason to buy the home version is speed. Backups and restores are way faster than in the free version.

It really depends on the volume of data and hardware, in my case a full backup of 85 GB takes about 6-7 minutes, restores are under 4 minutes, and incrementals if done daily without huge additions are under 2 minutes. My computer is a 10 years old i7, with a new powerful machine one could get down to 1 minute for each operation…

 

I don't think I've ever seen a security fix for Macrium REFLECT... OSes/browsers, yes but hardley ever an imaging program. I don't understand why that's an issue...

 

[/QUOTE]

Not necessarily an issue, just stating what's being posted on their website regarding the free version.

 

There was one for V6 and V7. You were involved in the thread. It involved a bypass that allowed Reflect to be launched interactively without admin privileges, which in conjunction with its ability to run pre- and post-snapshot scripts created ways for attackers to do basically anything.

The former issue was introduced when Macrium issued an update to work around Task Scheduler changes in Win10 1607, but was never intended to be used for launching Reflect interactively.

And the latter issue was there by design, but it became much more dangerous now that there was a way to run Reflect without elevation.

So in both V6 and V7, Macrium pushed an update that closed the interactive launch loophole, and also disabled execution of pre- and post-snapshot scripts by default.

Bottom line: Anything that can use elevated privileges can potentially be weaponized, and therefore should be designed securely — so there can be security updates for it.

 

Stated perfectly! I have experienced the same picture perfect luck with Macrium Reflect over the years.

That point is well taken and shared.

 

Tried it this weekend (the GUI though).

I wasn't too happy about giving admin access to an unsigned executable from the internet, but got really disappointed when the PC still shut down with ShutdownBlocker running (and claiming to prevent that).

So unfortunately it does not seem to work on this particular PC.

Any other suggestions?

 

Virustotal reports that the file is clean.

 

Just got this notification. Not going first...

Bug fixes and Improvements v8.1.7367 - 7th February 2023

• Changed Block Tracker
  We've resolved a rare BAD_POOL_HEADER exception caused by an I/O error raised when CBT read a highly fragmented NTFS Master File table (MFT).
• Disk Images
  • v8.1 images could take longer to restore if the image file storage medium was a bottleneck in the restore process. This has been resolved.
  • On some CPUs and disk drive combinations, Reflect v8.1 manual image verification could be noticeable slower than Reflect v8.0. This has been resolved.
  • Some customers have reported a slower backup speed to Network Attached Storage. This has been improved.
  • Adjusting the CPU priority slider to the 1st or 2nd position will now also reduce the maximum CPU usage to mitigate system slowdown when creating images.
  • Some image backups fail with error code 995. This has been resolved.
• General
  • The Email parameters for skipped backups are now correctly localized for the currently selected language.

 

(fraidy cat...)

Just installed update. Requires reboot. Trying options now.

 

Updated to V 8.1.7367. Tested backup and hot restore with no issues, it feels faster...

 

How to exclude files from Disk Images and Clones

 

Someone probably mis-typed when they changed an actual user name to UserName.