Backup to Synology - Acronis or Macrium Reflect

[bodean]

Any recommendations? Want to schedule full/incremental backups from my Windows 8.1 PC to my NAS.

 

[thiggins]

I've used SyncBackSE with WinXP and 7 systems for a few years now. No complaints.

 

[stevech]

Because image and file backups are really important, I (irrationally?) don't use freeware. Nor do I buy bargain hard disks.

I've used Acronis Tru Image for 5 years or so. Called upon its drive image and its clone capability quite a few times. Virus, crash, bought new disk, etc. Always worked, if not trivial to use. Much better UI than, say, DriveImage XML.

I get Acronis licenses for $20 on sales, eBay, etc.

Just opinion.

 

[thiggins]

SyncBackSE requires a paid license after the trial period.

 

[matthelm]

Any recommendations? Want to schedule full/incremental backups from my Windows 8.1 PC to my NAS.

I use Reflect for all my machines. About the only complaint I have, is that a restore is a bit clickie (needs a lot of clicks it shouldn't). I like the free version for my "servers", as I just make a full system drive copy. For my "real" machines, I have the pay version.

BTW, I never use special backups for "data", I just create a CRC, copy to new location, and check the CRC. QED

I have used Acronis Tru Image once, and felt it was a bit non-user friendly, for the restore.

 

[stevech]

after using True Image so many years, I must be used to it. They did change the UI dramatically in 2012.
I use both drive imaging and drive clone- my two important PCs have an SSD and a mechanical and I clone the SSD to the mechanical to enable a quick reboot in case the SSD gets a virus or corrupted. Only thing that's ever happened was a virus I couldn't eliminate, long ago. Now, I carefully put all files I create on the NAS.

 

[bodean]

thanks for the insight. might wait for TI 2014 to come out, as 2013 has had a lot of issues according to their forums

 

[stevech]

each year, and I've seen 4 or so, users complain, odd configurations don't work, users make lots of usage mistakes.

So I'd not wait. I would say that 2012 was a year to skip. But 2013 has been OK. I had to upgrade due to using solid state disks and needing the new partition alignment to a track boundary - added in Windows/Linux disk drivers to be SSD compatible. Without alignment, a disk restore of an image, or a copy-in of a clone done with True Image 2011 and earlier, may be mis-aligned on SSDs. This reportedly causes some shortened life of SSDs as I understood.

All operating systems and backup software had to make this change - and some still haven't.

 

[claykin]

I've used SyncBackSE with WinXP and 7 systems for a few years now. No complaints.

SyncbackSE (like all Syncback products) is a file backup/sync/mirror program. A very good one too! Syncback does not do full/incremental/differential disk imaging.

For imaging I like and use Macrium Reflect Pro. It can be a little complicated for some to initially setup but once setup it works great, has a small footprint, runs fast, reliably, etc. I especially like their recovery CD solution. I recommend you give Reflect Pro a try (get Pro which allows restore to dissimilar hardware). BTW, Macrium has good online support tools that better explain how to customize to your liking. Also their forum can be very helpful.

My second choice would be Symantec System State Recovery. A solid, very reliable imaging app too.

My 3rd choice, which is a GREAT tool too, but just too complicated for most layman to setup proper scheduling, email reporting, etc...is Terabyte's Image for Windows. Very small footprint, super reliable, fast and inexpensive.

I previously kinda liked Acronis TI, but unfortunately to me its become bloatware.

 

[stevech]

I rely more on disk cloning now. I image as well, but disks are cheap, and I have extras.

Faster to make a clone, faster to boot a clone.
Sorry, but I use True Image for that too.

 

[bodean]

Looks like Acronis True Image 2014 is now out. Ill check that out

 

[bodean]

I rely more on disk cloning now. I image as well, but disks are cheap, and I have extras.

Faster to make a clone, faster to boot a clone.
Sorry, but I use True Image for that too.

Never really cloned before. I have a 256 SSD for my boot drive, and that is all I really back up. Not sure if cloning a SSD to a non-SSD is wise.