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#768066 06/09/23 03:59 AM
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I need some advice on software cloning programs. I have been using Macrium Reflect and in fact paid for support. Now they want $63 USD per machine and I have three machines that I back up. IMHO that is very expensive.

Acronis is only $80 USD for three computers but previously I have had problems with Acronis.

Is anyone using Acronis Cyber Essentials? Are you having any problems with it.

Are there other software cloning programs that you can recommend?

Thanx in advance for your time.


Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
MarioD #768068 06/09/23 04:09 AM
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I do have "issues" with:

Acronis True Image for Western Digital 2023 Update 1

This software package includes AV scanning which I cannot turn off. I have a couple of applications which continue to throw "false positive" AV warnings when I run them. I have talked to the vendors as well as Acronis support and there seems to be no option other than to "ignore" the warnings. Gets to be a bit of a hassel... This morning I just installed the Update 1 and am hoping it may remeady the problem.


BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.

MarioD #768071 06/09/23 04:21 AM
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Woopie, todays Update 1 fixed the problem.


BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.

MarioD #768072 06/09/23 04:27 AM
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Mario,
Did older, free Macrium version stopped working?
Mine seems to work. Just checked. Last time I mirrored 2tb about 3 months back. Everything working well on mirrored copy that I am using daily.

Or they added some magic beans that do something very important?

MarioD #768082 06/09/23 06:04 AM
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Originally Posted By: MarioD
I need some advice on software cloning programs. I have been using Macrium Reflect and in fact paid for support. Now they want $63 USD per machine and I have three machines that I back up. IMHO that is very expensive.

Acronis is only $80 USD for three computers but previously I have had problems with Acronis.

Is anyone using Acronis Cyber Essentials? Are you having any problems with it.

Are there other software cloning programs that you can recommend?

Thanx in advance for your time.


You could try "FreeFileSync", it is an open source software that provides for folder comparison and synchronization, and fully customizable backup copies; they just ask for voluntary donations.


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Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#
Mario,
Did older, free Macrium version stopped working?
Mine seems to work. Just checked. Last time I mirrored 2tb about 3 months back. Everything working well on mirrored copy that I am using daily.

Or they added some magic beans that do something very important?


It appears that they threw in a monkey wrench into my copy. It said my 1TB drive had 1.23TB on it and my 1TB backup drive was to small. Before this I used it many times with no problem. I'm not going to try it on my music computer.

Also I can no longer DL version 7. I tried!


Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
DrDan #768094 06/09/23 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted By: MusicStudent
Woopie, todays Update 1 fixed the problem.


How did it fix it? Is there an option to turn it off?

I have had problems with Acronis in the past and I'm leery about trying it again.


Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Originally Posted By: Artur VC


You could try "FreeFileSync", it is an open source software that provides for folder comparison and synchronization, and fully customizable backup copies; they just ask for voluntary donations.


Thanx. From what I have read that is a very good folder comparison program but it didn't say anything about cloning a C:/ drive or any drive.


Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
MarioD #768096 06/09/23 08:00 AM
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+++ Lazesoft Recovery Suite +++

The Home version is free and includes disk cloning. I've used it for a couple of years and have never encountered a problem using it.

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Jim Fogle - 2026 BiaB (Build 1224) RB (Build 7) - Ultra+ PAK
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MarioD #768101 06/09/23 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted By: MarioD
Originally Posted By: Artur VC


You could try "FreeFileSync", it is an open source software that provides for folder comparison and synchronization, and fully customizable backup copies; they just ask for voluntary donations.


Thanx. From what I have read that is a very good folder comparison program but it didn't say anything about cloning a C:/ drive or any drive.


It does "Volume Shadow Copy", but you are right, it is not the same as cloning. My mistake.


Artur
MarioD #768113 06/09/23 11:43 AM
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Once I tried this: AOMEI Backupper
Free version. Seemed to do the job OK

MarioD #768360 06/12/23 12:28 PM
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I have used Macrium Reflect in the past a couple times, didn't have any issues. Way back I've also used Acronis, but that was over a decade ago when I was a regular Windows user.

The one I liked best was Cobian Backup, which is free - I set up my mum's backup system using Cobian probably 10+ years ago, and haven't had to service it since. Again, not something I've used in a LONG time, as my daily driver is macOS, so YMMV.


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Thanx everyone for your time and suggestions. I have done a lot of research and contacted a number of companies. My problem is I have three computers I need to back up, I'm on a limited budget, and I get a little leery of free cloning software, but that may be me being a little paranoid.

Bottom line is that after talking to Lazsoft I purchased their Professional Edition. It is a lifetime purchase for $28 USD that is good for three computers. I tried it and it is easy to use and it works.

Thanx Jim for suggesting them.


Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
MarioD #768392 06/13/23 01:49 AM
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This will probably be outside of the comfort zone for many people, but one option is to use a Linux bootable USB stick and use the Unix command dd to do the cloning. dd is a command-line tool that copies a disc very close to the hardware level, sector-by-sector. It works very well but is perhaps a bit scary, particularly as, as with many Unix commands, it will do what one asks whether or not that was sensible.

dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb bs=1G status=progress


Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
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Thanx Gordon I'll have to give that a try.

A few years ago I did mess with Linux. I would have stayed with Linux but none of my music programs would work with it.

You did give me an idea. I've got an old slow laptop running Win 10. I'm going to install Linux on it and give this a try.


Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
MarioD #768400 06/13/23 03:31 AM
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You'll need old and new drives on the same machine, which is why I suggested a bootable stick.

I had most software running on a slightly earlier version of AVLinux under Wine, but on this version the 64-bit doesn't work and the 32-bit has compatibility issues with plugins.

Just about every other Windows music tool I have runs fine under Wine on it.

C'est la vie.

I'm now back to rebooting to Windows to use BIAB on this machine :-(


Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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#769480 06/24/23 12:02 PM
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I purchased Lazesoft professional. It is only $28 for three computers with free lifetime updates. I am very happy with both the program and the customer service; I asked a lot of questions and they responded very quickly.

https://lazesoft.com/

PS - I would be very leery of free trials. Do they really work? Will you need to purchase it to use the cloned drive? I don't know and I was not willing to find out. YMMV


Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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