Question A 2018 Macrium Free Installation File

[BonzaiDuck]

I don't know where else in the "Software" Forums I should post this.

Back in 2016/2017, I became very impressed with Macrium Reflect. I downloaded and used the FREE version for several months, then I got myself the "Workstation" license, and I even subscribed to support for a few dollars annually.

Only three years ago, I acquired another "Home" license for a second computer. I think I paid about $50 for that license. I do daily work-week days' backup on both computers. That program has saved my A** several times.

Now I have another computer for which I should do backups of the boot disk and perhaps "file and folder" of some other data. I checked Macrium online, and I am horrified.

They have got rid of their Free version offering (which only limited scheduled backups to FULL and DIFFERENTIAL). Worse, there is no "one-time" license purchase: buyers must subscribe to Macrium on an annual basis (by default). They only offer a Trial version of maybe 30 or 60 days' functionality now.

Before I decide to tear a $50/year hole in my wallet for one computer, I have -- POSSIBLY -- another option.

In 2018, I downloaded the FREE installation file to my "Software" collection on a file-server.

Now I'm wondering if I can still install the FREE version and get the basic functionality that I want. I suppose I'm going to try it soon. Anyone know anything more about chances of success with that?

 

[Quintessa]

Macrium Free Version didn't need a license key, so the installer should run, but you'll be stuck on whatever build that installer shipped with in perpetuity. The biggest risk, rescue media made with the old build may not recognize newer hardware (e.g., NICs, NVMe drives). So yes, you'll likely get the basic functionality you want, but weigh that against driver support in case you ever need bare-metal restore.

Do you still have WinPE/Rescue ISO made from your old installs? That might be more important than the installer itself.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Macrium Free Version didn't need a license key, so the installer should run, but you'll be stuck on whatever build that installer shipped with in perpetuity. The biggest risk, rescue media made with the old build may not recognize newer hardware (e.g., NICs, NVMe drives). So yes, you'll likely get the basic functionality you want, but weigh that against driver support in case you ever need bare-metal restore.

Do you still have WinPE/Rescue ISO made from your old installs? That might be more important than the installer itself.

The hardware intended for use of the 2018 FREE version I have is a 2017 chipset and processor. The NVME boot drive is an SK Hynix P31 1TB Gen 3. I don't think there would be a problem.

I would have to use the installed FREE version to see if I'm successful at creating a USB rescue disk. But this is still for Windows 10. I could also see what happens when I use the rescue disk/USB from one of my licensed installations. The hardware is mostly the same.

Can't hurt anything to find out. It goes without saying that I have no enthusiasm for "subscription" software. So for my needs pertaining to having Macrium on the machine of interest, it could do fine for a few years. I only need to resolve the difficulty of the security updates, and the ESU really isn't adequate for the time frame. I could also just upgrade the OS to Windows 11, as I've done successfully with a "test" machine of similar hardware. That installation seems to be working out OK. I DO need the Macrium to back up the boot drive of Windows 10 before I perform that repair-upgrade.

I have yet to encounter an instance wherein I have software installed under Win 10 which then malfunctioned under the Win 11 upgrade.

[AFTER A WEB-SEARCH -- AND COMING BACK TO THIS POST] Get a load of this:

MajorGeeks

A LATER FREE VERSION THAN THE ONE I HAVE __ LIKELY FROM 2023.

I wouldn't know what mainstreamers do in managing their HW, OS and software, or backups. A Mainstreamer might think that I spend fully too much time doing what I do with my PCs and their maintenance.

I have mainstreamer friends who've lost years and years of data because they hadn't set up a backup strategy. I have a friend and colleague here at our forums who may think I should retire from building PCs and buy an OEM, like a Dell Alienware Aurora -- and I admit it caught my eye. But I need -- in addition to a working ODD (DVD/BD etc.) -- hot swap bays for large-capacity 2.5" HDDs or SATA SSDs. I insist on that hardware. It facilitates Macrium backups for me.

 

[Quintessa]

A LATER FREE VERSION THAN THE ONE I HAVE __ LIKELY FROM 2023.

No doubt, you can still install and use Macrium Free Edition, even in 2025 (although it seems to randomly notifying by mistake the user about updates sometimes). Make sure you follow the steps to properly activate the Free license, it's in the "Editor's Note" section on that page.

 

[Jimminy]

I don't know where else in the "Software" Forums I should post this.

Back in 2016/2017, I became very impressed with Macrium Reflect. I downloaded and used the FREE version for several months, then I got myself the "Workstation" license, and I even subscribed to support for a few dollars annually.

Only three years ago, I acquired another "Home" license for a second computer. I think I paid about $50 for that license. I do daily work-week days' backup on both computers. That program has saved my A** several times.

Now I have another computer for which I should do backups of the boot disk and perhaps "file and folder" of some other data. I checked Macrium online, and I am horrified.

They have got rid of their Free version offering (which only limited scheduled backups to FULL and DIFFERENTIAL). Worse, there is no "one-time" license purchase: buyers must subscribe to Macrium on an annual basis (by default). They only offer a Trial version of maybe 30 or 60 days' functionality now.

Before I decide to tear a $50/year hole in my wallet for one computer, I have -- POSSIBLY -- another option.

In 2018, I downloaded the FREE installation file to my "Software" collection on a file-server.

Now I'm wondering if I can still install the FREE version and get the basic functionality that I want. I suppose I'm going to try it soon. Anyone know anything more about chances of success with that?

Here is a direct link to the last version of macrium reflect Free. Last free version back before they got greedy is version 8, build 7783. I think it will probably work fine on anything you run it on. Good luck. If you run into problems, I'll try to help, but I'm not an expert.

For Latest Version

64-bit:

https://updates.macrium.com/Reflect/v8/getmsi.asp?edition=0&type=99&arch=1&redirect=Y

32-bit:

https://updates.macrium.com/Reflect/v8/getmsi.asp?edition=0&type=99&arch=0&redirect=Y

 

[Jimminy]

I use the free version on several machines, with both windows 10 and windows 11. And one of the machines is an old dell built in 2012.

It works just fine, and you won't need a wheelbarrow to haul all the cash to send Paramount Software each month

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Quintessa, Jimminy and other comrades --

I already had the 2018 Macrium FREE download, but found the 2023 Macrium Free at Major Geeks.

I should better have avoided the Registration dialog. When it takes you to the web-page from the e-mail link they send you, they're trying to get you lassoed into the subscription "X" version. I just backed out of it, and continued with the installation. There are pop-up messages explaining that their support for FREE is terminated, so there aren't any more "updates" or upgrades to the software.

I was willing to pay them for a one-time life-time license per PC or seat, but given the fact that they'd always offered the FREE version, I balk at the idea of paying $50/annum/PC. My lifetime licenses are still valid on the machines where they were originally installed.

Now I wonder if I should've avoided the Registration dialog altogether, but sending them my e-mail address would do nothing per the FREE version I installed. I can't see how they could "find" that computer and just reach in, grab the FREE installation and disable it.

If we were always the "serious" desktop PC users, while mainstreamers were more casual and likely to follow the lemming hoard with different software paradigms and hardware trends (like cell-phones and tablets), we figure less as a market cohort worthy of consideration and support.

 

[Jimminy]

Quintessa, Jimminy and other comrades --

I already had the 2018 Macrium FREE download, but found the 2023 Macrium Free at Major Geeks.

I should better have avoided the Registration dialog.

Yes. For reference, here are some things in my notes on installing the free version. Save it because it may help you the next time:

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Found on 11 forums:

To get the free version to install successfully. During installation, you need to place a check mark for personal use only> and agree to use the software only for personal, non-commercial purposes. Then, you will need to “uncheck register this installation of Macrium Reflect” as you’ll come to a page during the last part of the installation that has “enter email address” and below that “Get Registration Code” At the top of that page, you need to uncheck the box that says to register”, Once you do that, everything is gray /blank, press next and the installation completes successfully.
Warning, If you don’t uncheck that registration deal and click on “get registration code” all it’ll do is re-direct you to the Macrium website for a 30 day trial or paid version.
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