Windows 10: Macrium Reflect - paid vs. free version...

About a week or so ago, I finally got the paid version of Macrium Reflect. Mainly for the Image Guardian that the paid version adds. Today I was testing, backing up and restoring from a USB stick (fast one). It works. However, I noticed that with the paid version, I also get Rapid Delta Restore. I'm not sure how I feel about that yet. Without Rapid Delta Restore, (delta means change), restoring from a backup took the entire backup and replaced whatever was on the OS drive, with the backup. Restoring takes 1:36 or approx. 1.5 minutes on my computer. 18GB backup. With Rapid Delta Restore, Macrium only replaces the differences (what has changed) between the backup and what is currently ON the OS drive. RDR is FAST. Completes in 24 seconds on my computer. 18GB backup. Both methods do replace MBR (which I use) on the OS drive, which is good. Generally I use backups to be able to eradicate any OS corruption or infections, should they occur. I wonder if RDR does this as well as restoring the old fashioned way. RDR "seems" good on the surface, but I will have to ponder this for a while. Maybe keep an eye on the results others get from RDR. On a side note... Restoring from the Corsair 3.1 GTX 256GB USB thumb drive, was just as fast as restoring from a WD Black internal HDD.

:)

 

Macrium Reflect - paid vs. free version...

Reflect Free can be used by businesses....

Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

That is not a Premium feature, it is included in the Free edition. Coming soon in v8 Macrium will add support for Virtualbox.

Yes, those two are Premium features, Free does include Differentials though.

 

Restoring Windows 10 Image using Macrium Reflect


In addition to the above. Here's my suggestion in step by step.
I assume you have Macrium Installed in your current HD and already made a backup copy.

1. Connect your new HD via USB port and boot up.
2. Run Macrium, click on Restore tab then select the Backup Image that you made to restore
3. click on "select a different target disk" then select your new HD as destination
   
   
   
4. Proceed to restore then Shutdown and disconnect the old HD and replace with the new HD
5. Boot up with your new HD.

 

Macrium Reflect - paid vs. free version...

Like I said... it sounds fantastic. For those with huge backups, it's probably a godsend.
Me... I'm an old man. I'm still running a 2.5" SSD, when I have the capability to run NVMe.
I have tiny backups (18GB).

I'm not discounting RDR, but like usual, I will be a late adopter.
Here's the latest Macrium Reflect guide's section on RDR.