When comparing Microsoft SyncToy vs Macrium Reflect, the Slant community recommends Microsoft SyncToy for most people. In the question“What are the best software tools for managing personal backups?” Microsoft SyncToy is ranked 1st while Macrium Reflect is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Microsoft SyncToy is:
SyncToy has three methods available: Synchronize, Echo and Contribute. Synchronize will change both the source and the target folder. Echo will not change the source folder. Contribute is the safest option, if source files are deleted, they won't be deleted in the target folder.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Three methods
SyncToy has three methods available: Synchronize, Echo and Contribute. Synchronize will change both the source and the target folder. Echo will not change the source folder. Contribute is the safest option, if source files are deleted, they won't be deleted in the target folder.
Pro Can mount backups like a hard drive
You can mount backups, then browse them in explorer to search for files and copy them back.
Pro Multiple backup methods
Supports full, differential, incremental.
Pro Recovery boot menu
The recovery boot menu enables directly booting to the recovery environment from the Windows OS selection menu, without the need to burn a recovery disk or USB flash drive.
Pro Automatic schedule password protection
Pro The only cloning/imaging software we could get to work with Intel SRT
Odd tech like RAID arrays and Intel SRT cause a lot of cloning or imaging software to just give up, but Macrium is dedicated to updating the Reflect package to actually work with everything
Pro Nifty scheduler
Pro Clone laptop drive
Can clone a laptop Hard Disk to an SSD for instance, see SSD replacement for ASUS X53S.
Assuming you have another drive with sufficient free space to hold the entirety of your current drive:
Download and install Macrium Reflect
Run that, and create a Rescue CD or USB (you'll use this later). "Other Tasks"
In the Macrium client, create an Image to some other drive. External USB HDD, maybe. Select all partitions. This results in a file of xxxx.mrimage
When done, power OFF.
Swap the 2 drives
Boot up from the Rescue USB you created earlier.
Recover, and tell it where the Image is that you created in step 3, and which drive to apply it to...the new SSD
Go, and wait until it finishes.
Pro Easy XML File for editing schedules, etc.
Pro Supports Live CD
Pro Incremental backup
During the free trial or in the paid versions.
Cons
Con Bit complex for a new user - best if you're experienced with computers
Not ideal for really basic users.
Con Incredibly intrusive - computer becomes unusable during backups
Con Incremental only for pro users
Con Installation needs a restart
Con Has some odd behaviours around cloning
For example, you can resize partitions when resizing but you need to drag each partition from the top area to the bottom yourself instead of allowing it to auto populate the field.