Macrium Reflect Free

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CNET Editors' review

Backing up your computer shouldn't be a tedious task. Macrium Reflect Free Edition makes file backup incredibly easy thanks to its intuitive user interface and helpful wizards.

Installing the program did confuse us a bit, because although it's a free program, it refers to purchasing the program, and you're given a confirmation number. On top of that, the program recommends that you view the online tutorials before getting started, but you might have some trouble deciphering them unless you speak Italian. Luckily, the built-in Help menu is more than adequate and written in English. The user interface is simple but professional in appearance. Intuitive commands line the top of the window, and tabs reveal options for disk images, partitions, XML definitions, and scheduled backups. A helpful wizard guides you through the process of setting up your backup. We were able to quickly select our backup location (local hard disk, network, CD/DVD). Before proceeding, it provides you with a summary of your backup so that you can see the backup type, destination, compression type, and password protection. Here is also where you can make advanced configurations to the compression levels and file sizes.

The program did slow our computer while it worked its magic, and we were unable to browse or work with other resource-intensive programs at the same time. However, we were able to watch the backup process, and the program successfully backed up our C Drive without a hitch. If you're looking for a simple but reliable backup program, we highly recommend Macrium Reflect Free Edition to all users.

Macrium Reflect Free - Clone disks and create, burn, and back up disk images - Download Video Previews:

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All User Reviews

Results 1-10 of 493

  • 5.0 stars

    "Worked perfectly to clone my harddrive."

    June 10, 2013  |   By kweitkamp1

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5870

    Pros

    I was able to completely duplicate the bootable hardrive in my PC to a much larger drive with faster access speed.

    Cons

    It was not entirely obvious that I would have to expand the partitions prior to performing the operation. However, I was able to easily perform the process again with the proper partition sizes.

    Summary

    Excellent product - just read the documentation before using.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Excellent - easy to use"

    June 10, 2013  |   By cnmoore

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5870

    Pros

    Clear GUI, relatively small backup image, no hassles.

    Cons

    Not really a con, just a warning: Conflict with Acronis TrueImage - disable Acronis F11 first if switching to Macrium.

    Summary

    Recommended.

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  • 2.0 stars

    "Easy to set up and use"

    June 5, 2013  |   By Martinc44

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5870

    Pros

    Fairly quick

    Cons

    Could not recover correctly so will not use it.

    Reply to this review

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Didn't work"

    May 29, 2013  |   By Alarian_DarkWind

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5870

    Pros

    Automated backups

    Cons

    Didn't work when I needed it.

    Summary

    I bought this program last november and set it up with little problems. I verified the first few backups were successful, then forgot about it and let it do it's thing. I knew it was working as a few times when I was on my computer late at night, a box would appear letting me know it was about to start the backup. Well... today I logged on to my computer to discover one of my drives had spontaneously corrupted and the data was unrecoverable. No problem I thought. I reformatted the drive, logged into Macrium Reflect to restore the drive and every backup it had attempted since last December had been aborted. I had never received a message letting me know that they had been aborted so I had thought everything was fine. I've lost so much data it isn't funny. Extremely upset at this crap software. It's one thing to fail to complete the backup but to have never warned me it had failed is beyond inexcusable. I have a log file full of failed backup attempts but not once was I notified of this. NOT happy at all!!!

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  • 2.0 stars

    "Constantly failed with semaphore timout message on SSD"

    April 29, 2013  |   By phlypp

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5870

    Pros

    Unable to have a successful experience so can't give pros.

    Cons

    Tried three times, deleted and reinstalled. Still failed

    Summary

    I have a solid state drive backing up to external hard drive with nearly a half-terabyte of space left. Software indicated it only needed 179GB. Goes all the way to end, reads 100% complete on task and project, then gives an error message stating "The semaphore timeout period has expired". Only software, backup or otherwise, that has given me that message.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "A product that appears to deliver as claimed"

    April 24, 2013  |   By fdcampbell

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5870

    Pros

    This version of Macrium Reflect is a fully professional and full functioned product. My personal congratulations (and thanks) for making this program available.

    In my case, it downloaded and installed without a glitz.

    The interface is very "user friendly" and fully functioned.

    I hope that enough will buy the full version to make this a profitable (and continually evolving) system.

    Cons

    None at this time.

    Summary

    A-1 product

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  • 5.0 stars

    "First time user.."

    April 17, 2013  |   By offerPop5737983

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5856

    Pros

    As of a couple of days ago, I never even heard of this program. Nor had I ever heard of the type of function it does. But after it was recommended to me, and after installing it, I was able to quickly figure it out with a little assistance from the person who recommended it. Have used it several times already without any assistance. It has been a valuable tool for what I was needing to accomplish.

    Cons

    Haven't used it enough to find anything negative to say about it.

    Summary

    For something that's free, it did what it was suppose to do, and did so with ease and straight forwardness!!!

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Great Disk Imaging"

    April 12, 2013  |   By rodmoyer

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5828

    Pros

    The most user friendly and full-featured free software I've found for creating disk images. Has never let me down.

    Cons

    The more conventional backup functions, i.e. other than disk imaging, are not include in the free version. However, if I didn't already have favorite software for those other functions, I'd be more than happy to get the paid version of Macrium Reflect in order to have the additional functions in the same software with the excellent disk imaging.

    Summary

    Try it, you'll like it.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Excellent, quick and restore works!"

    April 10, 2013  |   By mburkley

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5828

    Pros

    Software provides both Linux-based and WinPE-based recover environment. It was very easy to set up and to tell it what to do. I had no problems. It also allows you to make the backup into an auto-run program making recovery even more easy.

    Cons

    I don't have any to mention.

    Summary

    I liked it enough that I (almost) decided to buy it anyway to support the developer.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Will not clone drive with partition re-size"

    April 7, 2013  |   By epaul137

    Version: Macrium Reflect Free 5.1 build 5828

    Pros

    Does disk image backup and disk cloning as long as the partition sizes are not changed.

    Cons

    Version 5.1 build 5828 creates false read errors and fails when cloning a partition with larger size for destination partition. Was not an issue with the earlier versions. No method to report bugs in the free version.

    Summary

    Version 5.1 build 5828 reflects a big step backward for this product. Earlier versions were great.

    Reply to this review

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Results 1-10 of 493

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