Acronis True Image 2013 Family Pack

Pros: None

Cons: Everything

Other Thoughts: I don't know what happened to this company. They used to make a SUPERB product - up to version 9/10 (which I still occasionally use for work) The original core group must have sold the company because after version 10 this software is nothing but trouble. Will not finish cloning drives, will destroy source disks, will destroy partitions, it is just a hot mess. What a shame, such a great product turned to kah-kah.

Pros: An OK backup solution.

Cons: I installed build 5551 in January 2013. In April 2013, they release build 6514. Sadly on my standard WIN 7 machine the upgrade installation fails when nearly complete because it can't register a DLL. Error #xxx, Contact Technical Support.

Then the fun begins. Went to the web site and could not log in. Asked machine for a new password, received it by email, would not allow a login. Called on the next business day and tech support reset my password but would not help with the original problem because my 1 month (really?) free support had expired. Pay for support or go away.

I understand paying for support. I make my living charging for support but when I've mess up, I do not expect the customer to pay for my mistake.

Other Thoughts: My suggestion, just use Disk Image. It is free, fast and works with Bart-PE.

Pros: - Not expense
- Fast

Cons: - Bootable recovery media has (know) bugs –basically, does not respond to mouse/keyboard. There are workarounds, but this issue has been around for a while and should have been fixed in 2013 if not earlier.
- The major flaw: I attempted to clone my primary hard drive and Acronis corrupted the MBR on the source (yes, the source) as well as the destination. Bootrec /Fix… didn’t help. Luckily I had a day-old backup (using a freeware tool) so I didn’t lose too much but it is ironic (and disastrous) to have your back-up software mess-up your perfectly healthy machine. I would have been better off just taking my chances without using “premium” backup software.
- To add insult to injury, Acronis tech support is email-based (available for one month only) and useless. If you call, they won’t even discuss the issue with you without paying for their service. I like their business model: Give people buggy software and milk them for cash when they are desperate.

Other Thoughts: I should have stuck to the free edition of Macrium Reflect.

Pros: 3 Pack covered the three computers I have. Each installed with no problems, backups and verifies the backup (Choose Validate).
Can clone a disk, backup eMail and backup a change in system devices (Extra Cost)
Can also boot into backup at startup (Again, Choose)
Lots of choices and options, worth a look.

Cons: None except the backup to different hardware as at additional cost ($14.95) for each PC.

Pros: It works OK when it's working.

Cons: The company has turned into 'one of those' that rides on their old reputation, and now does all kinds of underhanded things to get money out of you. I put a new CPU in my machine..ooops! invalid - buy a new license. Another I upgraded from XP to Win 7, and same thing. The amount of aggravation they put you through if you attempt to have them make it right makes doing your own taxes look easy.

Other Thoughts: Company used to be good. I have nine ATI 2009 licenses that never gave me trouble. I bought this three pack to start upgrading - glad I didn't do all nine! I only have one of the 3 that is valid. I would think if you use the same machine (mobo) you could upgrade CPU, memory, OS. Not with these guys. I think they also manage one of those rebate approval (dis?) services. Oh! Get this! Same company I've had Disk Director 10 for years. Great product. Tried to get me to upgrade to 11 but, no reason to. It did an update, and is now password protected! They've got a 'sorry' bit on their site and an onerous procedure to fix it. The fix also has many broken links. It would take a week to fix it. These guys are now right up there with Creative Labs, as far as 3VIL companies go. It seems like most of these companies are as crooked as politicians these days! Actually, that is probably part of the problem. Our elected leaders no longer go after fraudulent companies. Might miss out on some payola. Well, they got their last dollar from me!

Pros: Had to add. I really found the application very useful and would give it 4.5 stars.
Only complaint is the Issue with the 3 User Keys.

Want to continue using this program but am currently looking into some freeware to use instead, due to key issues.
Welcome Manufacturers response

Cons: 3 User Family Pack Key issues
Welcome any Manufacturers response

Other Thoughts: Wanted to buy another 3 user pack and would have during the recent sale. But am simply afraid of the Key issues and don't want to buy 3 separate user Keys.

Pros: Product work well and is easy to use, Cloning is very nice.
User friendly.

Cons: Bought a 3 user Family Pack (2012 version) to use on all my home PC's. But when one went down, requiring a new Motherboard, I re-installed ATI and it stated I had too many activations. After allot of research, I contacted tech support via live chat (fairly quick response) and explained the problem, and they used Team Viewer to fix the problem, Which it appear they did, but once I got on MY PC it seems they had taken the activation key from my PC and moved it to my wife (repaired) PC so hers was active but it de-activated my key/license.
So After a good half day, I ended up with the same problem, just on my PC instead of my wife's.
Frustrating as I explained that I had tried "moving" one of the keys to the repaired PC and it resulted in the same problem, but they ignored that fact, and left me hanging.
I'm legally trying to use the 3 keys that I purchased.
I rebuild and upgrade allot so I Don't have time to go through this hassle every time I replace a major component.

Other Thoughts: Want to buy the 3 user family 2013 version, and be compatible with Win 8. Unfortunately I feel ripped of after never having full use of my last version, and am afraid to try it again.
Don't feel I should have to buy multiple single user packs.
Probably be buying another product for 2013

Pros: Imaging an HDD or SSD is the best thing instead of reinstalling an O.S. and all your software!!!

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: Creating bootable recovery disks before Windows starts is what I LOVE!!!

Pros: The best hdd imaging software I've ever purchased!

Cons: NONE

Other Thoughts: READ the darn directions! (That always helps a bit!)

Pros: Creates images that can save your bacon if disaster hits your PC.

Cons: Have had a few issues in the past with creating problems within windows. My solution is that I no longer install in in windows, but run it from the bootable recovery disk.

Other Thoughts: I have been using True Image since Version 7 many years ago. I can say that there have been several times over the years when I had to cross my fingers and hope that the latest image would restore my PC properly, because otherwise I would have a serious problem. My images always restored properly and many potential headaches have been avoided because of this.

I should mention that I keep all my data on a separate partition from my operating system, and have a very rigorous backup procedure for that, so what I am talking about is imaging my "C" drive - the operating system and installed applications.

As stated earlier, I do not actually install True Image onto my computer. I download the iso for the bootable recovery disk and use that to boot into True Image and create an image. Same for when I need to do a restoral. I know I'm missing out on some convenience/features by doing it this way, but this works for me. I have created images to other disk partitions, USB drives, and network drives. Overall very happy with this product.