I hate starting a new topic because I'm sure that this question has been asked a zillion times, but I couldn't find a simple, straightforward answer to my question.  Currently, I'm doing image backups (full/differential/incremental) of my household's two PCs.  In general, I know that I probably won't be able to just copy these image backups to a new machine in the event that I get new PCs.  The need for a new PC may be planned or unplanned (unforeseen calamity).  In the event that I knew I would be moving to a new PC (probably with a new motherboard and different OS), then I would most certainly do file and folder backups of all my data just before the move.  But in the event of an unforeseen PC-destroying event, would I be able to extract the folders and files from the image backups and copy them to a new PC, or should I be making file and folder backups in addition to the image backups that I now do?  The trouble with file and folder backups is that they go out-of-date on a daily basis, whereas, the image backups, since they're done daily, are always current.  As far as I know, Macrium doesn't do file and folder backups with just the files that have been modified or added and to do this automatically through scripting.  But even if it did, I can't be doing both image and file/folder backups on a daily basis.

Everyone will sooner or later encounter this dilemma, what plan of action does Macrium recommend?

Although you can do differential and incremental backups of File and Folder backups so once you have a full backup you can backup the changes, you can also copy your precious data files from an Image backup.  If you mount an Image backup in Windows Explorer as described in tutorial: http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Browsing+Macrium+Reflect+images+and+backups+in+Windows+Explorer you can copy and paste your precious files from the mounted Image into a new computer.

Please note that if you are using the Image backup with different hardware, at step 3. in the tutorial you will need to tick the checkbox 'Enable access to restricted folders' to get full access when mounting the backup.

If you wish to schedule differential and incremental backups with a File and Folder backup, in tutorial: http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Backing+up+files+and+folders at step 7. in the dialog you can choose a backup plan in section 1. and /or add your differential and incremental scheduled backups in section 2. in a similar way to that with Image backups.

Hope this helps
Regards, et

Thanks for your speedy reply.  I have restored individual files from an image backup to the originating PC and just wanted to be sure that I could do this across platforms en masse.  Since I can restore all data from an image file across platforms, is there any reason at all to also do file and folder backups?

By the way, the links that you provided above don't work (Page Not Found), but I found the relevant documentation, so no need to repost.

Cheers,

HC, if those important files are in your main image, I see no reason to do more than just your current imaging operation.  Those files can always be accessed (and copied, if necessary).  It may take a li'l bit longer doing it from images rather than F&F backups but should work just fine.

that's great news--thanks.

If you are looking at this topic to try to find out how to move your license key to a new PC (from an old), stop now.  Removing the key from the old PC, and moving it to the new PC "DOES NOT WORK."  Macrium software continues to indicate you have the software installed on more than one PC, "no matter what."

Further, if you send an email per week, to their support inbox, like I have, you WILL NOT GET A RESPONSE.

I will be going to the twitterverse to harp upon the complete and total lack of support of this product and strongly discourage ANYONE from purchasing.

In the past, at least after a week or two, you might have gotten a response.  Now, having a license BUYS YOU NOTHING.

A very dissatisfied and angry customer.

I'm not sure what PKLocke's issue is, but if you execute the "Help/Remove License" function prior to uninstalling Reflect, you should have no issues concerning using that license on a different computer.

I have moved my license in this way at least 5-times without an issue.

I agree with Froggie's reply. To clarify, a separate license key is required for each computer but you are allowed to transfer a license key to another computer for legitimate upgrade and replacement purposes. Before you install on a replacement computer you have to remove the license key from the old computer as per tutorial  http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Removing+your+License+key+when+Upgrading+your+PC After removing the license key you can reinstall as follows:

To download and install the latest version of Macrium Reflect, get and run the Download Agent available from: http://updates.macrium.com/reflect/v6/reflectdlfull.exe  In the dialog which appears select 'Full Software' and enter your version 6 license key then click on 'Download'....

If your old computer is beyond use, so you cannot remove a license key, then you will need to complete a support ticket asking for the license key to be reset: https://www.macrium.com/support.aspx#tickets If you contact Macrium Support direct support(at)macrium.com always quote your license key which needs to be reset.

Hope this clarifies
Regards, et

Hello pklocke,

I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way. I have checked our helpdesk and can see all your requests have been responded to in a reasonable amount of time. 

Please feel free to PM me with your ticket numbers so I can look into your missing correspondence further.

Further to Froggies reply, read through this article for more information on removing a licence key.

http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Removing+your+License+key+when+Upgrading+your+PC

Kind Regards

Stephen

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Well yes the is a good reason to have a daily File and Folder daily back up. In fact I have two of them ever day of the week Noon and midnight. I have a folder on my C: Named Important files. In this folder are all my important files. Outlook PST and OST, my Access Data Base, My RoboForm Data File and a couple of other files that are used daily 9 to 5. Furthermore only these data files are there. The noon back up has saved me many times finding an error I had or someone had made in the morning. I also back this folder up full image the total size in less than 3 GB and back up in about 20 seconds and is very easy to restore from. I can restore anyone of these Data Files or all of them faster than you can mount and Image to begin looking for the file you need to restore. I keep these file and folder back up 6 weeks If your short of back up space a weeks worth should be more than enough. I run my Disk back up Images monthly Full and 30 Incrementals These Incrementals back up very fast also while full images take up to 20 minutes. I personally just bought an new Notebook. I back up my old note book fully. Then removed the license from the old and installed on the new used that very same product Key and had no issues. I swapped out my 1 TB  SSD used for data files to my new note book and then Cloned my old SSD to the new 1 TB Hard Drive and then put the hard drive in my old notebook. I replace the Samsung 951 NVME M.2 SSD with a Samsung 960 Pro cloned over expanding my C: to fill my new 512 SSD. All has gone with out a hitch I set up new Scheduled back ups and everything is purring like a kitten on steroids that 960 pro is very fast Write at 1960mbs and Reads at 2500 mbs. That is a miracle to me, that still has the very first 1 GB hard drive that took 3 to 5 minuets to boot up, That my first computer had no hard drive at all, note even a floppy drive. It did have a cassette drive for storage If I remember right that alone cost me $250. Macrium Reflect is by far the most reliable Image/backup software I have used. I haven't seen anyone that came into this forum that didn't get replies from us or MR Employees within a day. There Email Support was pretty fast back in 2012 when I first found out about MR I haven't had the need to use it since. Since answers are found here fast and accurately along with good advise like this rambling on.  Good Luck