About this release
Macrium Reflect is a disk imaging tool, which means it captures a whole drive, including the operating system, applications and settings, into a single image file that can put the machine back exactly as it was. That is a different and stronger thing than copying your documents, because a restore brings back a working system rather than a pile of files you then have to reinstall around.
The build here spans the edition range. The Workstation level images and clones desktop machines, Server extends that to server operating systems, and Server Plus adds the tools for imaging live database and mail servers without stopping them. Across all of them the core is the same reliable image, restore and clone engine that has made it a standard for keeping machines recoverable.
The parts that matter in a real emergency are all here. Rapid delta imaging so a routine backup only writes what changed, scheduled backup chains with retention rules, direct disk to disk cloning for moving to a new drive, and a bootable WinPE rescue environment on the media so a dead machine can be restored even when Windows will not start. Redeploy handles restoring an image to different hardware.
What it does
- Full disk and partition imaging into a single restorable file
- Rapid delta imaging that only writes changed blocks
- Direct disk to disk cloning for migrating to a new drive
- Scheduled backup chains with retention and consolidation
- Bootable WinPE rescue environment on the media
- Restore to different hardware with the redeploy tool
- Live imaging of database and mail servers in the Plus edition
- Image verification to confirm a backup is restorable
- File and folder recovery by browsing inside an image
- Encryption and compression of the image files
Changes in this version
- Faster delta imaging on large drives
- Updated WinPE rescue environment with newer drivers
- Improved restore to dissimilar hardware handling
- Reworked scheduling interface with clearer chain view
- Better performance mounting an image to browse it
What the package contains
- Macrium Reflect offline installer with the edition range
- WinPE rescue media builder
- Bootable rescue ISO
- Readme with the install order written out step by step
- Notes on building and testing the rescue media
Installation notes
Follow these in order. Most reports of a failed install come from skipping a step rather than from the package itself.
- Disconnect from the network before you begin.
- Extract the archive to any folder you like.
- Run the installer as administrator and pick your edition features.
- Build the rescue media to a USB stick after installing, before you need it.
- Test that the machine boots the rescue media once.
- Reconnect to the network.
System requirements
| Operating system | Windows 10, Windows 11 or Windows Server |
| Processor | Intel or AMD 64-bit processor |
| Memory | 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended |
| Graphics | No specific requirement |
| Storage | 1 GB for the install plus room for the image files |
| Media | A USB stick for the rescue environment |
Things worth knowing
- Build and test the rescue media before you ever need it, the day the machine will not boot is the wrong time to find out it does not work.
- Store images on a separate drive from the one you are imaging, an image on the same disk dies with it.
- Verify images after they are made so you know they will actually restore.
Questions about this title
How is this different from copying my files?
Can I move to a bigger drive with it?
What if Windows will not start?
Can I restore to a different computer?
What people are saying
Restored a dead boot drive from an image via the rescue stick in under half an hour. Machine came back exactly as it was.
Cloned to a bigger SSD and it booted first try. No reinstall marathon.
Verify your images. Caught a bad one before I needed it, which is the point.
Listing information
This entry is catalogued under Utilities & Tools and carries the tags below. Language coverage is English interface, and the supported platform list is Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server. Version 8.1.8854 is the current catalogued build, last checked 5 days ago, and the entry has been in the index since it was added 2 years ago.