Revision 495160111 of "Macrium Reflect" on enwiki

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{{notability|Products|date=May 2012}}
{{unreferenced|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox_Software|
 name = Macrium reflect
|developer = Paramount Software UK Ltd
|release = [[2006]]
|latest_release_version = v5.0.4522
|latest_release_date = {{release date and age|2012|04|27}} 
|update = yes
|operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows|Window XP, Vista, 7, Server 2003, Server 2008, Windows 8 CP]]
|genre = [[Backup software]]
|license = Commercial Use [[Shareware]]<br> Home Use [[Freeware]]
|website = [http://www.macrium.com www.macrium.com]
}}

'''Macrium Reflect''' is a [[backup]] and [[disk imaging]] software program for [[Microsoft Windows]] developed by Paramount Software UK Ltd in 2006. It creates [[disk images]] and file backup archives using Microsoft [[Volume Shadow Copy Service]] to ensure 'point in time' data accuracy.

{{As of|2011|November}}, the latest version supports [[Windows XP]], [[Windows Vista]], [[Windows 7]], [[Windows Server 2003]] and [[Windows Server 2008]], both in 32- and 64-bit editions. The application has a [[VBScript]] generator that uses [[Windows Script Host]] WSH to enable system administrators to handle complex backup scenarios. Backup definitions can be saved as [[XML]] files for simple editing and re-running. Macrium Reflect also offers [[Windows Preinstallation Environment]] 3.1, and [[Linux]] based system recovery solutions.

==Disk Imaging==
Macrium Reflect can create full, [[incremental backup|incremental]] and [[differential backup]] images to optimize speed and storage requirements. Data is compressed and encrypted in real time using [[Abraham Lempel]] LZ based compression and AES encryption algorithms. Images can be [[mount (computing)|mounted]] as a drive letter in [[Windows Explorer]] and restored using a custom [[Live CD]].

==File Backup==
Macrium Reflect can also backup files and folders into a compressed [[virtual drive]]. This can be [[mount (computing)|mounted]] as a drive letter in [[Windows Explorer]] for file recovery using copy and paste. Full, [[incremental backup]] and [[differential backup]] files are supported as well as data compression.

==Disk Cloning==
Macrium Reflect can clone one disk onto another. An image is taken of the disk to be cloned and rather than create an image file, the output is placed directly onto the target disk. The target disk does not need to be the same size as the original provided it is big enough to fit all the data. Macrium Reflect also ensures that the underlying disk signatures and data structures are consistent on the new disk.

==System Recovery==
The Windows [[System partition]] cannot be restored whilst Windows is running. To overcome this issue the PC has to be started with another operating system using a [[Live CD]]. There are typically three ways to do this:

1. A customized [[Linux kernel]] can be used to load the restore software and overwrite the Windows [[system partition]].  The [[Linux kernel]] is booted from CD/DVD and completely loaded into main memory. This enables any partition on local hard disks to be freely accessed for update. This is the option used by [[Acronis True Image]] Home and others.

2. [[Microsoft]] provides a cut-down version of Windows called [[Windows Preinstallation Environment]] or Windows PE. This also creates a [[Live CD]] but is proprietary and needs to be licensed from Microsoft before distribution. This option is used by the current version of [[Norton Ghost]].

3. Microsoft also provide a free-to-download tool called the [[Windows Automated Installation Kit]] (WAIK) that Macrium Reflect uses to create a Rescue CD. The advantage of using this method is that the WAIK has a much richer set of preinstalled drivers compared to Windows PE allowing the rescue disk to be created more easily. The disadvantage of using this method is that it requires a 1.7GB download from Microsoft.

Macrium Reflect v5 offers Linux and Windows PE as standard. 

==Redeploy to new hardware==
Macrium Reflect Professional and Server editions provide the ability to redeploy and image to new hardware in the case of catastrophic hardware failure. Using a pre-created Macrium Reflect Rescue CD, it is possible to inject the critical drivers associated with the new system into the image taken from the old system, enabling it to boot on the new system after it has been restored.

==Free Edition==
A free edition is available for non-commercial use. It is missing features available in the paid versions, limiting its practical use to one off imaging and cloning operations. Technical support is not included.

==See also==
*[[List of backup software]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50074.aspx How to create a disk image with Macrium Reflect]
*[http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50079.aspx How to restore a backup image]
*[http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50081.aspx How To clone a disk]
*[http://www.tucows.com/article/1809 Review of Macrium Reflect by Dr FileFinder]

==External links==
*[http://www.macrium.com Macrium Reflect official website]
*[http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx Free Version for Home Use]

[[Category:Shareware]]


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