How can I test Macrium Reflect Free backup?

Because my Windows 10 pro crashed an became unbootable recently, I decided to be a little more proactive. To my dismay I found that Macrium Reflect Free does not support file backup, nor could I find a way to find and replace a file in the disk image backup I had made.

I wanted a way to verify the backup before moving on to other tasks. Here is a method I tried with good results using Windows File Backup:

• Create a folder on the desktop named test backup.
• Create a notepad .txt file with the same name in the folder. The file merely says success.
• Delete the notepad file, and restore it from the backup file.
• Do the same with the folder.
• Both worked.

I am confident the file backup works. Is there a recommended way to use this verification method with the free version of Macrium?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

regards,
caffeine

The only real test is to restore from a MR I'm afraid.

If you have an extra drive you can swap for your working drive, that might make you feel better. I must say I was sweating bullets the first few times I restored MR images, but after seeing it work a few I am confident the process works.

Macrium Reflect Free does not support file backup, nor could I find a way to find and replace a file in the disk image backup I had made.

If you want the backup image to be writable, you need an imaging program that can create an image in writable format.

You could look at something like O&O or paragon which both allow creating images directly in .vhd or .vhdx format

Some imaging programs also allow file backup separate from partition/disk imaging. Or you could use a separate program for that.

You can try out O&O by using their giveaway of diskimage pro v14. More recnet version v16 has improved speed, and a couple of other features, but it is not free.

You might find that O&O Pro v14 ( on free giveaway) is good enough for what you want. It also allows exclusions , which is an unusual feature.

Giveaway of O&O diskimage pro v14 for free:
Registration for your FREE license of O&O DiskImage 14

they will send an email , click the link and they send another email with your free license.

download pro v14 program here
Download Archive

20% discount for Halloween is still on offer: Macrium Software | Halloween

But if you wait for Black Friday they may repeat last year's 50% discount (which is when I bought mine).

Thanks everyone for participating in this thread. I am marking it SOLVED.

regards,
caffeine