The report highlights that at a Glance.
Industry observers note that expert's Rating.
According to the latest update, pros.
The report highlights that absolutely free for private use.
The report highlights that reliable image backup.
In a fresh development, disaster recovery and backup boot media.
According to the latest update, clones disks.
As part of the ongoing story, cons.
The report highlights that no incremental backup.
In a fresh development, no longer supported by Macrium.
As part of the ongoing story, our Verdict.
Industry observers note that a gem of a freebie that works in the modern environment as well as it did a decade ago. This venerable free drive and partition imaging program covers all the basics including disaster recovery and disk cloning.
The report highlights that price When Reviewed.
In a fresh development, this value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined.
In a fresh development, best Pricing Today.
Industry observers note that thankfully, it is still available from various download repositories . Just search if that link dies. To the benefit of starving PC users everywhere, Macrium Reflect Free remains a stable, reliable way to quickly image and restore your system — despite no longer being offered or supported by the publisher.
According to the latest update, there are no major fresh tricks, or recent partition or file types in the Windows universe that require updating methodologies. Backup programs, even from 10 years ago, are generally more the up to the tasks of today. Truth be known, there’s simply not that much in Reflect 8 Free that could be meaningfully improved — which is true for just about all backup programs.
In a fresh development, guess what I use for PCWorld’s Windows 11 test beds and my friend’s PCs? Yup, the free version of Macrium Reflect 8. Don’t believe me?
The report highlights that read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best Windows backup programs for comparison.
The report highlights that what are Macrium Reflect 8 Free’s functions?
The report highlights that these files are proprietary so you do need Reflect to restore or browse them. However, you can always create VHDs and transfer the data if you’re worried that Reflect might disappear. Macrium Reflect is an imaging program, meaning it creates files (the images) containing all the data residing on a drive or partition.
In a fresh development, surprisingly, it lacks only a few, such as incremental backups, password protection, and email notifications. Actually, they’re there but only to create nags for the full version — which is now subscription-only. You’d think that the Free version of Macrium Reflect would be missing a ton of functions.
As part of the ongoing story, once you figure out how to define folders as libraries at any rate. There is also no folder backup with the free version of Reflect, but there’s an easy way around that with Windows’ own File History.
According to the latest update, you may not be able to back up specific files or folders with Reflect Free, but there are extensive scheduling options and retention rules (how long to keep and what to delete when space is low), and jobs are saved as standard XML files.
According to the latest update, why is this handy? If you want to upgrade the drive that your operating system is currently installed on, simply install the fresh drive, clone the old one to it, then remove the old one after you’re sure the fresh one will boot. Handily, Reflect will also clone disks.
According to the latest update, macrium Reflect Free creating a disaster recovery disk.
According to the latest update, i’ve used this Windows-based boot media probably 25 times in the last year alone. Finally, and quite invaluably for me is that the free version of Reflect also creates Windows PE boot media with the full program on board.
As part of the ongoing story, it allows me to make backups of friends’ computers before attempting whatever fix might be required, without risking the installation of the program on their possibly failing drive.
The report highlights that absolutely not. It boots, it works, and honestly, if it didn’t look dated in print, I’d have stuck with Windows 10 until the cows came home. Do I care that it’s Windows 10?
Industry observers note that reflect Free offers extensive schedule options and differential backup.
The report highlights that these can be a little complicated if you allow the program full rein, but once you’re used to it, you see the method to the madness. Reflect Free supports both MBR and GPT disks, allows you to create and save multiple jobs, as well as easily create meaningful file names.
The report highlights that windows has such a vast quantity of generic drivers that restoring a backup to fresh devices is no longer the hunt-for-the-correct-driver-that-lets-it-boot mess it once was.
Industry observers note that if you do have some oddball storage needs, you can inject drivers onto the boot disk. Yes, you’ll still need to get the specific drivers you need after restoring an older installation on a fresh machine, but you can do that after you boot.
As part of the ongoing story, how easy is Macrium Reflect 8 Free to use?
The report highlights that that said, you do need to understand a bit about imaging, as well as look carefully for some options. Once you get a handle on it though, it’s a breeze and the interface uses a friendly “light” color scheme. Short answer: Very.
In a fresh development, how does Macrium Reflect 8 Free perform?
Industry observers note that more than that, it’s very reliable and has been for a very long time. I’ll take that over saving a few seconds any day. Macrium Reflect Free version 8 is as quick as just about anything I’ve tried, with the possible exception of Easeus ToDo Backup .
According to the latest update, solid green bars that tell you an operation was successful are a good thing, and just about the only thing we’ve ever seen with Reflect.
The report highlights that as to the more capable paid version of Reflect, X , I love the program and hate that it’s only available via subscription. The free version of Reflect spawns only three background processes, which is way better than the 13 processes invoked by Acronis True Image .
In a fresh development, should you use Macrium Reflect 8 Free?
The report highlights that it’s the imaging solution I now use exclusively. There are other free imaging programs out there, but I trust Macrium Reflect — it’s never let me down over the better part of two decades.
In a fresh development, i heartily recommend that you download Reflect 8 Free, and combine it with Windows File History for a complete and highly competent, low-footprint, file and disaster recovery solution that doesn’t cost you a dime.