Should I Upgrade to Acronis 2015?
I have been an Acronis user for 3 years and the software has never let me down. I have read numerous negative reviews on the forums about this new version. I would like to hear the (unbiased) opinions of the Acronis MVP's. Anybody who uses the forums knows that Grover H, Tuttle and Colin B. have a great grasp of Acronis software and could provide some interesting points of view.
I appreciate the input. However I am looking for something more concrete. It seems that most people dislike the software but very few have articulated why.
read sticky " Summary of Features Removed in ATI2015" for some more input... :)
You ask "should I upgrade". Only you can answer that, and the answer depends on what you use Acronis for (feature wise)
The real plus point of TI2015 is that it integrates very well visually with W8.1, so much so that it feels like it could be part of the OS itself. I suspect if you were on a touch screen then it would be great from that point of view. If you make use of the more advanced features of older versions (whose omissions in TI2015 are well documented on this forum) then you probably will be disappointed.
Quick answer: NO!
Not only have they removed important features, but the software itself has many problems. e.g. I get a blue screen (win7) when I try to mount an image, Validated image is actually corrupted etc. After contacting Acronis, they keep sending me typical answers and links to their Knowledge Base... (As if I couldn't find these links myself).
I reinstalled v2014 again, but my disappointment was so much, that I am looking for different products for my next upgrade.
To the OP, having been with Acronis since 2006 and through several releases, my advice would be at least to "hold" for now. Being on the "bleeding edge" of new releases is only smart if that release contains something that is so compelling/needed that it is the "lesser of evils". That is basically a known understanding for people in the computing industry in general (regarding software releases).
I also would not narrow my focus to MVPs impressions. They are good people whose inputs are useful. However, there have been many long-time users of Acronis here (non-MVPs) that have posted sober concerns about TI2015. Maybe you missed those posts. Acronis may have also crossed another threshold with the design of TI2015 that is not welcome to "power users" of the product. I can understand the dilemma between making the product simple to use for the general public vs removing things that only a "power user" would love. I think there is some of that stuff going on with this new release.
If you want it very badly, buy it and find out for yourself. As someone else (above) said, decide why you (personally) need TI2015 and whether it would fill that need. It is hard to beat TI2014 (for me) and I'm sticking with what is working. In the end, we all need a dependable backup product that can be counted upon both ways (backup and restore). Living on the edge of new releases increases the possibility of not satisfying that dependability need.
My answer is NO
Why pay for version with cut featureset and ugly UX?
Today I want to check ATI 2015 how it works. I am going to reinstall Windows 7 Pro and see how much time it will take to restore it from a backup. Many previous features were removed that I consider to be important for me and others such as : ,,Try and Decide,,. If I am not satisfied with a new version I will downgrade to the previous one (Ati 2014 premium).
Хочу сегодня заценить новую версию в деле. Жалко, что важные фишки вырезали из акрониса. Если что, откачу на 2014.
Restoring from a backup is quick, probably around 15 minutes for a fully updated Windows install and say 6 or 7gb worth of added programs and data.
Restoring from a backup is quick, probably around 15 minutes for a fully updated Windows install and say 6 or 7gb worth of added programs and data.
Once I tried to restore a backup with ATI 2013 and it took me about 20 minutes to restore. While the same backup I restored for 8-10 minutes with AIT 2010. Many other users also complained about long restore time..... Fortunately, I don't restore OS everyday and it doesn't matter for me the restore time period. Unless, it takes more than 1 hour.
After reviewing all the comments concerning the "New" TIH 2015, I have decided to delay any upgrade ideas that I have been considering. I'll stick with my proven 2014 until all the reviews and comments indicate that the "new version" is performing well and offers Rock Solid recovery options.
I really appreciate everyone who commented with their opinion. I still just find it strange that the MVPs are absent from this feed most of the other posts in the 2015 forum (except for Colin B.).
*And yes I acknowledge that you can get a lot of help and great information from non MVP users.
Without hesitation, NO. The software doesn't work properly. They released it before they fixed any bugs. The recovery media doesn't recognize USB mice and keyboards, not matter whether wired or wireless. So many issues are here, and I was dumb enough to purchase anyways. The people from Cleverbridge were NOT surprised when I called for a refund.
Oh well...looks like other alternatives are needed here...
First of all my answer is always - if your current version is working for you and does everything you want then stick with that, until your system demands you use a newer version.
Having said that, in this version Acronis have attempted to make things more automatic and stripped out (as has been mentioned) those components that have either caused instability in the past or won't work properly with W8 /8.1 (such as Try and Decide).
The GUI does require some getting used to as it is very different to previous incarnations. Personally I wish the margins and texts in the GUI were larger, on my tablet they are hard to discern.
The biggest plus is that Universal Restore is now part of the standard program and there is a new Universal Media Builder, which is a separate install.
Whilst there are some posts here reporting problems with mice and keyboards when using the recovery media (which seem to have occurred somewhere between the last public beta and the RTM build) the Linux build has been updated to recognise more media such as NAS's etc.
I should add, that the UEFI capability has been enhanced, however, if you have a brand name PC that came with W8.1 and a UEFI boot block, you need a workaround to get that PC to boot from your media due to the Microsoft security requirements.
NO, as for every prior version...
I have never seen such an amount of solely bad reviews for a software like those for TI 2015:
http://www.amazon.de/Acronis-True-Image-2015-f%C3%BCr/dp/B00N8H05S4/ref…
No, see all the threads in the forums , and you will know ,why not!
I am contemplating either AcronisTI or EaseUS TODO. Wanted TI 2015 until I read all the negatives here. I have Win7. Can I buy version 2014?
Amazon list TI2014 ?
Yes it is listed on Amazon (thanks), but the reviews are low opinion mixed. I also cannot get the free version to try first.
Can't anyone get backup software right???
Investigating USEase TODO to see if that works better with my Synology NAS.
TI2014 should be trouble free on W7. I used TI2012 on W7 and it was fine, and now TI2014 with W8.1
If its what you want then I would say get it while you can.
Thanks for input. What I want to do is set up backup "A" and backup "B", so that I can switch easily between to different file backups. I have Synology NAS which I use once a week to backup Win7 files and on occasion I need to back up an external hard drive (G) which holds my iTunes music. My Mac uses Time Machine with the NAS, so no need for TI there.
Synology comes with a simple backup program but I have to enter in different location backup and files every time I switch. So if I back up my "G" drive (music) I then have to start all over to specify Win7 files to be backed up. Right now I'm keeping a sheet of paper with the file paths for the Win7.
Can you say if TI 2014 will do this for me?
I tend to use Acronis for disk imaging rather than just file backups but I see no reason why it would not do as you describe. You can certainly have more than one task set up. You can also "mount" a disk image which means you can browse and copy files from it if needed.
Have you looked at the full user manual for TI2014 ? Half way down the page here,
http://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/legacy.html
Thanks for the link. Went through it, specifically, "Tasks" search but am not sure if that's going to work for me. From your copy can I have "Task 1", "Task 2" which are totally different backups - one for "C" files and one for "G" files?
"you can browse and copy files from it if needed." That's what I do now with Synology.
...I also cannot get the free version 2014 to try first...
that link should work:
http://download.acronis.com/ATIH2014_trial_en-US.exe
You ask "should I upgrade". Only you can answer that, and the answer depends on what you use Acronis for (feature wise)
Pedro,
The above is the best answer so far. The needs as you describe in post 21 can be achieved by any version of TrueImage Home including 2014 and 2015. The number of different tasks to backup different data has no practical limit. Different tasks can be created to backup user selected data.
For years, many of the users have been requesting a basic version with fewer feature and less changes just for the sake of change. This 2015 version may be the response to the users request. The negatives you see expressed are from those expecting or needing something different than was delivered and they are expressing their disappointment.
Most (perhaps all) of the features included in 2015 are functional and I would encourage you to try the 2015 trial before you try a 2014 trial. The 2015 will have a much shorter learning curve as compared to 2014.
One thing I would encourage you to do would be to make a backup of your current system before installing any brand or version of backup software.
Windows control panel should offer a backup option which could be one option. The trial versions of TrueImage offers a bootable media download for use whith recovery but the trial CD is not empowered to create backups from the trial version. Registered Owners of the 2014 or 2015 can download the ISO bootable media which can be burnt to CD. This registered CD can be used to create backups without the product installed.
This is an example of several tasks. Each task backing up its own choice of date and choice of destination.
GH30. Main Menu Example
You ask "should I upgrade". Only you can answer that, and the answer depends on what you use Acronis for (feature wise)
CloneWars,
The above is the best answer so far.
Anyone considering installating 2015 should first do some research to find out infomation about the program before installing an unknown.
User guide
https://www.acronis.com/en-us/download/docs/ati2015/userguide
2015 webhelp
https://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/ATI2015/#25827.html
For years, many of the users have been requesting a basic version with fewer feature and less changes just for the sake of change. This 2015 version may be the response to the users request. The negatives you see expressed are from those expecting or needing something different than was delivered and they are expressing their disappointment.
Frankly, it is too soon to express a realistic evaluation of this release. I, personally, have only had it installed a few days and still getting use to the product and its changed features. For a person looking for basic backup features, I have found no reason to tell potential users to stay away for it. It will perform and restore backups. Perhaps the ability to sort the backup tasks will be added in a future release.
My only real complaint that I have noticed so far is there is always an open task on the screen with the option "Back up Now". To me, this feature "Back up Now" will be executed with the wrong task selected because the user did not select the task being displayed. Why does an open task need to be displayed??????? I hope this is modified in the future.
User must now select a destination target folder otherwise, the tib files will be put into the root directory of the target disk. Acronis listened to the complaints of the "Acronis Backups" being automatically created. Most users want to select their own folder anyway.
The deletion of new backup files from a task is workable without the Acronis Backup Explorer. Under operation, choose the "open location" option. Right click on the file to be deleted and it is gone. Following the deletion, return to the task and choose Recovery and respond "Ignore" to any query of missing files. One new change is that any deletion of a current tib file will cause the next backup to be a FULL BACKUP even when an inc or dif was to be next. Likewise, any EDIT changes (other than scheduling) seems also to cause the next backup to be a FULL BACKUP. The program seems to be reacting much quicker to a user task modification--although I personally still recommend that task modifications be avoided.
The lack of manual consolidation is the removal of an option which (for many) caused more problems than it fixed. This is another feature which I did not use in 2013 or 2014 due to many complaints (tib files cannot be located) posted on the forum
After I become more accustomed to more of its feature, I may add more comments later.
For a person looking for basic backup features, at this time in my testing, I have found no reason to tell potential users to stay away for it. For most, it will successfully perform and restore backups.
Grover
PS: Disclaimer. Using Win7-64 desktop/laptop w/ MBR type disks.
Not tested on GPT nor UEFI systems. I have no access to a Win 8 system so no trial use on 8.1.
First of all my answer is always - if your current version is working for you and does everything you want then stick with that, until your system demands you use a newer version.
Having said that, in this version Acronis have attempted to make things more automatic and stripped out (as has been mentioned) those components that have either caused instability in the past or won't work properly with W8 /8.1 (such as Try and Decide).
The GUI does require some getting used to as it is very different to previous incarnations. Personally I wish the margins and texts in the GUI were larger, on my tablet they are hard to discern.
The biggest plus is that Universal Restore is now part of the standard program and there is a new Universal Media Builder, which is a separate install.
Whilst there are some posts here reporting problems with mice and keyboards when using the recovery media (which seem to have occurred somewhere between the last public beta and the RTM build) the Linux build has been updated to recognise more media such as NAS's etc.
I should add, that the UEFI capability has been enhanced, however, if you have a brand name PC that came with W8.1 and a UEFI boot block, you need a workaround to get that PC to boot from your media due to the Microsoft security requirements.
You can not just automate everything in it and assume that it is going to be OK. Each system is customized by each user, file systems, boot, even the OS in some instances. Even the backup locations are different, ranging from iSCSI to Mapped NAS to *Shudder* 1TB hard drives bought on Wal-Mart clearance specials. There are permissions to set, security encryptionkeys, the list goes on.
Most of the aforementioned reasons cost Memeo my business. And then some, like poor responses to cash-customers on here over problems with 2015, and their poorly-planned advertising campaign.
Let's not make the same mistakes.
Nighthawke,
Not wishing to start a 'flame' war, but I don't at this moment see how your reply relates to my reply on whether to upgrade or not.
Perhaps you could PM me on your response to my post.
Thanks Ken, for 2014 trial link.
You ask "should I upgrade". Only you can answer that, and the answer depends on what you use Acronis for (feature wise).
I am using ATI for Image/Image Restore,Add New Disk and Drive Cleanser. All of which are available in ATI15. I'm glad that I waited and got the opinions of the forums before uninstalling and downloading the trial version. I will continue to be a Acronis user and supporter but will stick with ATI14 even though ATI15 has the features I use.
Also ATI15 was very slow. It lagged my computer even when a backup was set to run on low priority everything on my system came to screeching halt. I never experienced that with any of the previous versions of ATI.
I've been using True Image for years but the new version is nothing but a headache. They completely screwed this one up. If you're planing on upgrading I would wait until the get the glitches out.