Acronis or Paragon or Nova BACKUP?

[Matt_Stevens]

I have never used a backup program, other than Windows 7's own System Image. But now that I have upgraded my PC and have a wonderful new Samsung SSD and Widows 7 running beautifully I would very much like to have a really good, easy to use and restore Backup of my C drive.

Over the last few days I have read mounds of reviews and everybody agrees to violently disagree on what works best.

I'm down to these: Acronis, Paragon and Nova.

But even with these there are different versions and some swear one is better than the other.

I'd like some opinions here. I'm not an advanced Windows 7 user by any means so keep that in mind.

My goal would be to quite literally have an image of my entire C drive and if Windows shits the bed I can just clone it on over and be back in business with all of my programs included.

I don't mind paying $30 to $40.

 

[Berryracer]

I don't know about the other two you mentioned but I have been using Macrium Reflect Home (the paid version for 2 years and it's the best)

My review of Acronis vs Macrium:

Acronis was great back then when MBR disks were the most used but when GPT disks began showing up on new systems and especially UEFI systems, I was able to backup the GPT partition just fine after buying the additional add-on which allows GPT disks but never succeeded with restoration. always starts and never succeeds. Since then I switched to Macrium Reflect Pro (now called the Home Edition after recently being upgraded to v6) which supports everything under the sun no problem, MBR, GPT, RAID, you name it. Never failed me once.


You can also use the free version of Macrium Reflect which has the same functionality of the paid version but the only difference between paid and free is with the free version, you can create a backup while in Windows just fine, but to restore the backup, you have to create a Macrium Reflect Resecue disk to boot up from it and initiate the restoration. The paid version allows you to add a startup entry to your boot options so when you do want to restore, the system will automatically restart into the rescure environment and start the restoration. Otherwise they're both the same, effective with no bloat like Acronis has now become, cloud storage and backup and so many extra services that come installed with Acronis.

Another thing I don't like about Acronis is it's like a yearly subscription, every year you have to buy a new version or upgrade if you want to benefit from the latest features but with Macrium Reflect you get a free upgrade for 1 year and they don't usually upgrade the main program version often.

 

[MontyAC]

Try the free Macrium Reflect version 6. Great backup/imaging program. It now includes incremental and auto verification. Also, you can dual boot to windows or to Reflect to start the re-imaging.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I'll also recommend Macrium. Been using it for years and it is great.

 

[Matt_Stevens]

Okay thanks. I'm reading up on this. The Free Version does not have "File & Folder" backups so what exactly does that mean? Also no SSD Trim. I am running my OS on an SSD, though quite honestly I don't even knowif TRIM is enabled.

 

[Berryracer]

Okay thanks. I'm reading up on this. The Free Version does not have "File & Folder" backups so what exactly does that mean? Also no SSD Trim. I am running my OS on an SSD, though quite honestly I don't even knowif TRIM is enabled.

What does TRIM have to do with a backup program? it's in the OS

To check if TRIM is enabled or not:

http://lifehacker.com/5640971/check-if-trim-is-enabled-for-your-solid-state-drive-in-windows-7

 

[Matt_Stevens]

What does TRIM have to do with a backup program? it's in the OS

As I said, I am no expert. I am unaware if a backup would work if trim is or is not enabled in regards to the free version. That's why I asked.

EDIT: I checked and TRIM is properly enabled.

 

[Berryracer]

As I said, I am no expert. I am unaware if a backup would work if trim is or is not enabled in regards to the free version. That's why I asked.

EDIT: I checked and TRIM is properly enabled.

no problem mate, TRIM is on the OS level. When creating the backup, it is simply creating an image of your entire partition directory to a single file (image file) so since TRIM is already enabled it has nothing to do with what tool you use to backup. Plus, even if TRIM was or was not enabled, that has no effect on the backup whatsoever other than the fact that you may wanna actually ensure that it's enabled before creating the backup so when you do restore, TRIM is enabled out of the box (or out of the image file in this case :$ )