Windows 10: Windows 10 Backup Versus Acronis Backup 12

• Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
• Acronis Backup 12

I am curious if there is any advantage of using a commercial backup software when we already have Windows 10 Backup. I am not using sophisticated features or elaborate configurations. Instead, I want to have peace of mind knowing that I can backup my computer on a daily or weekly basis.

I have been a long time user of Acronis True Image for Home and then more recently Acronis Backup. I am comfortable with the software and have my backups. I am wondering, though, using Windows Backup would be an equally good or better choice? Does anyone have any thoughts or reasons why one method is superior to the other?

:)

 

Naive user needs assistance with encrypting new Dell PC with Windows 10 Home edition and Seagate backupplus drive with hub

Stepwise advice appreciated. Long ago I had a computer expert and a self-encrypting external backup drive but both are long gone. I am confused about using bitlocker for both encryptions versus using a third party (Acronis?) to backup the Seagate drive.
Thank you for any simply put info.

 

The app didnt start Error

after installing windows 10 and softwares, i create a backup from windows with acronis true image

i restore my backup with acronis true image rescue disk

 

I hate Acronis software since an earlier version left low level disk drivers/filters installed after uninstalling Acronis backup software and these drives were very hard to remove.

Most people on this forum use Macrium Reflect Free which is an excellent, versatile and reliable product.

 

Hi, Windows 10 Backup and Restore has been noted to fail for apparently inexplicable reasons and is deemed relatively unreliable by a number here from experience. Please feel free to search the forum.

A program such as Macrium Reflect (free) provides a solution which
- is more robust
- more reliable
- more flexible
- more feature rich

If you are happy with Acronis, that's fine. The most important thing is you have the security of reliable disk images with all their advantages, and then additionally file backup if needed.

 

I was a long time user of Acronis but finally threw in the towel at the start of the year as the latest offering was hopelessly buggy and unreliable to use.

Windows own disk imaging is (imo) pretty good but it does have a problem with some W10 features in that they are not imaged and restored correctly. Its a minor thing but annoying if you use one of the items that isn't restored correctly (such as user created photo albums).

Macrium I'm finding to be very good but (and no one seems to take any notice of this) has exactly the same issue as Windows own utility in that exactly the same problems are apparent in restored images. The good news is that Macrium is configurable and a simple setting change fixes the issue.

Solved A challenge for the pro's. Can you help identify a reg key please. - Page 2 - Windows 10 Forums

Macrium uses the same Microsoft VSS (volume shadow service) technology and so this is why both versions (at least in default state) can not correctly create and restore a W10 image.

 

What is the 'issue'? I've restored images with no problems (I think).

 

Post #6 here.
Solved A challenge for the pro's. Can you help identify a reg key please. - Windows 10 Forums

The user created photo albums are blank. Windows own disk imaging did exactly the same and it was that bug that led me to try Macrium which had (has in default form) the same issue.

Post #148 shows the issue under Windows disk imaging utility.
System Image - Create in Windows 10 - Page 15 - Windows 10 Forums

 

Thanks. I don't use Photo App albums so this issue doesn't bother me so long as it's the only restore problem. Does unticking that box "exclude all VSS writers..." in the post you referenced have other consequences we should note?

 

I asked Macrium that very question and there reply was (post#19):

Solved A challenge for the pro's. Can you help identify a reg key please. - Page 2 - Windows 10 Forums

 

Thanks for replying, Steve. I am aware that many don't like Acronis and had issues with it. I also saw in the Acronis forums that many have switched to Macrium. I switched from the Acronis True Image for Home to Backup, which seems to be better. If I continue experience further difficulties, I will consider Macrium.

 

dalchina, thank you for your reply. Yes, for now, I am inclined to stick with my current solution now that you mention Windows 10 Backup and Restore has its own issues. Because I can always start from scratch by reloading the operating system and software, my main concern is my data. My operating system and software are on the C drive, while my data is on separate drives.

 

For data backup there are a lot of options available (free and paid). E.g. there is PureSync (paid), Areca (free), Fastcopy (free)... And of course the renown backup solutions like Acronis, Macrium, Paragon, EaseUS... all provide data backup features. So the choice is up to you. But if you want a piece of advice: I personally would avoid Acronis. It used to be a great program but the latest versions have rendered the program unreliable and thus useless to me. Of course that's only my experience. I bet there are others out there who are perfectly satisfied with Acronis.

 

System imaging means you can restore your system from an image in a tiny fraction of the time to install the OS, do all its updates, install programs, configure hardware and settings.

The latter might take you 3 or 4 hours... minimum- for me it takes some days from scratch.

Restoring an image can be pretty quick.

 

Perhaps if I were just starting backups, then I might choose a different solution. I have some tib (Acronis files) stored on hard drives from a while ago of archived stuff. So far, Acronis is meeting my needs. I appreciate your advice, however.