Disk Imaging – Acronis vs EaseUS ToDo Backup?

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I have just purchased a new win8 laptop. I normally do a complete Image of the drive as soon as I have it set up with my usual software, so it is easy to get back to a “Clean state” if the drive dies, or I want to start over.
I used Acronis True Image Home for this task before, with great success. It works like a dream, but I only have an older version that will not work on Win8.

Looking through things, I have found EaseUS ToDo Backup which appears to do the same thing, but is free.

Comparing the two – $29 for Acronis upgrade vs free….. which one will work better? Your experiences would help me immensely!

Thanks in advance

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Hi Photoer, this link will help.

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I use Macrium Reflect free, works great.

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We all have our preferences. I have used Acronis True Image for many years and I still use it, now version 2014, with Windows 8.1. It works as I want it, so I can vouch for it. You can always download the trial version and see how you like it.

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I too have used Acronis for many years, but beware of Acronis 2015,… they have removed a lot of features and it now has a GUI that is infuriating everyone. It also still doesn’t work with some external USB 2.0 devices for cloning unless you go through the trouble of downloading 3gigs of files to burn to DVD from Msft so that you can then make a WinPE bootable CD.

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I have a Windows 8.1 Lenovo H350S-101132. The disk clone feature of Acronis True Image 2014 and 2015 does not work on this machine. To clone the disk, one has to do the bootable media exercise. This disk clone exercise goes from simple in previous editions of Acronis to hassle for the 2014 and 2015 editions.

After an extensive chat with Acronis, I do not believe the simple disk clone feature of Acronis True Image 2014 and 2015 will work with Windows 8.1. The disk clone feature of Acronis requires a RESTART. The RESTART closes the app; therefore, it is the end of the disk clone exercise.

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I have a Windows 8.1 Lenovo H350S-101132. The disk clone feature of Acronis True Image 2014 and 2015 does not work on this machine. To clone the disk, one has to do the bootable media exercise. This disk clone exercise goes from simple in previous editions of Acronis to hassle for the 2014 and 2015 editions.

After an extensive chat with Acronis, I do not believe the simple disk clone feature of Acronis True Image 2014 and 2015 will work with Windows 8.1. The disk clone feature of Acronis requires a RESTART. The RESTART closes the app; therefore, it is the end of the disk clone exercise.

I have just been through this exercise, and the only way this works is to first create the boot CD or USB stick, and boot from that to do the cloning. Also, if working on a laptop, the new drive MUST be in the laptop. You may find that using USB to clone, they aren’t seen by Acronis resue media at all. In that case, you’ll probably need to build a WinPE version of the rescue media boot disk, which requires a huge download from Microsoft and installing the Acronis media plugin. The WinPE version of the boot disk is what finally worked for me.

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What’s with the first posts canning Acronis!? We are all for considered argument, but you need to prove your credentials before we take you seriously.

cheers, Paul

p.s. I paid for and use Acronis 2014.

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We all have our preferences.

Indeed. I’ve been using TeraByte’s imaging tools since the ’90’s. I began with the imaging tool built into BootIt Next Generation, then migrated to Image for Windows. There’s a fully functional 30-free trial. I’ve tinkered with Windows severely through the years, and pooched it more times than I can remember, but as the red statement in my signature line admonishes, I’ve always had a drive image which I could restore.

I’ve never tried any other imaging software, as I’ve never had a reason; my images have always worked as expected. There are other imaging tools used and recommended by others here, and my advice is to try those that are well-recommended, and select the one that fits your needs and expectations for ease-of-use and imaging/image reliability.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Windows 8.1 comes with a very easy to use image maker, and it’s free. Look for it in the lower left corner of your File History screen.

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Thanks for the tips – I will have a good look over them

Does the File History also take you back to a “Clean install” state of Win 8.1?

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Hi Photorer, I think it depends on when it was created. I don’t have Win8.

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OK – so here’s my rocky road so far….

Started up the new laptop with Windows 8 – set up Sophos Antivirus after taking off Norton (which I hate with a passion!) and set up all the 92 +2 updates. all installed over night. THen came the set up of Office 365 which was pre-installed so not too difficult (just activated with my account). Then I had to leave it for another day to download windows 8.1 from the Windows Store……. which also installed fine! I was just about to get busy with some more items, when Samsung Update pops up telling me that the drivers need updating – so I leave it to do its thing some more for another half a day. When it finishes with those updates, the laptop needs a restart, and ……………….
it never wakes up again! It had a cursor, with the spinning circle next to it for around 3 hours. Several restarts later (hard shutdowns, and tweaks etc) and still no luck.

Then I remembered that you can do a “refresh” of windows 8….. so I managed to get to that screen by using the Fn+F1 combination and did a refresh. I am now another 2 days down the line with updates installation and about to do the windows 8.1 setup overnight………… and I will definitely not be doing any of the Samsung updates!

I have purchased the latest version of Acronis TI 2014, and will now install that and create an image that I can get back to in less than the 2 days of setups, and updates!

Thanks for the tips….

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I also use Acronis and its totally trusted on my pc’s.

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I also use Acronis and its totally trusted on my pc’s.

+1
In my experience, you gets what you pays for.

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