I used to use Acronis True Image but I was left hanging two times.  Acronis didn't get a third chance and I've moved to Macrium Reflect, paid version.  I like it better as backups are faster.  I've done restores (to confirm it works).  I like the WinPE bootable recovery media over the Linux version (I've had problem with Acronis' Linux recovery media).  Macrium automates the creation of the WinPE recovery bootable media, Acronis requires manual procedures to create the WinPE media (bootable disc).

I'm revisiting this old(ish)  thread to ask a question on cloned drives. I'm considering backing up before it's too late (almost certainly I have now sealed my own fate and the next time I try to boot up, it won't).  Nevertheless, let's try:
 
Has anyone done this with the new Command Centre, and successfully moved everything over to a new disk, and if so, how does it affect serial numbers, etc.  Are all the applications and plugs (D-Pro, AD2, etc) happy to be moved like this?
 
Also - what are good cloning programmes. I don't mind paying, and no doubt very expensive ones are good, but let's be reasonable about this.  All the ones mentioned above - do they still stand? How about Win10 - does that throw any spanners in any works?
 
Thanks guys for any helpful input ...
 
Jerry

I've used Clonezilla in the past and will likely use that again when I go to clone my drive over to the new SSD. It's not as user friendly as something like Acronis but it's free and does the job very well.

I had some intermittent issues with a C drive a few years back. I bought a new drive to replace it, and it came with cloning software. I figured, what the heck, it's worth a try.  In the past before that I had spent hours if not days rebuilding a new drive with the old programs and data.
 
I followed the instructions exactly, step by step and in 15 minutes it told me it was finished. Swapped the drives around so the new drive was the c and rebooted.  To my utter amazement, it came up quickly, and everything was there. I only had to install one application from it's original disks. It was a MAXTOR drive IIRC.

Ok - thanks TerraSin, I'll look in to Clonezilla.  Guitarhacker - do you remember the name of the tool you used?
 
jdf

Maxtor was acquired by Seagate, so a disk cloner may be on their website for new installs.

Another freebie with a simple interface is Macrium Reflect.

The Seagate site has their Disk Wizard which seems to be a custom version of Acronis, and well respected. One point - I currently have a disk image created by the in-built Windows disk imaging software (I'm using Win8.1): Does anyone have any confidence in this?
 
jdf