Information: Windows Update Affects MR8 Image Mounting – HBS Completely Unaffected

[garioch7]

Posted with the permission of the Hasleo Forum Administrator and the Root Admin (@AdvancedSetup) of the Malwarebytes Forums.

The latest "Patch Tuesday" Windows 11 Security Update added the Macrium Reflect 8 (MR8) image mounting driver to the blocked vulnerable driver list.  As a result, any images made with MR8 can no longer currently be mounted using MR8, if users have installed that update that updates the current Windows version number to 26200.8246.  There is a workaround to disable the blocked driver list from interfering via a Registry Edit that also introduces security risks, and should only be undertaken after carefully reading the workaround link posted by the Root Admin of the Malwarebytes Forums.

The details can be found here: https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/33...orkaround/

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I have tested the workaround, and it does work.  I am personally not concerned about the security risk since I don't install suspicious and dodgy programs.  I wanted to be able to continue my three-week testing cycle comparing the performance of MR8, Easeus Todo Backup Home, and the Hasleo Backup Suite Professional in another topic I opened in this Forum.

I am also a member of the Macrium Forums, having used it since Version 5, but when Version X (MRX) became subscription-based only, I extensively researched other imaging products.  I chose the Hasleo Backup Suite Professional (HBSP), with a lifetime licence, including free lifetime version updates.  I am very happy with my purchase decision.

Because of a bad experience with another imaging program about 10 years ago that was my only imaging program, I got rid of that one program, and replaced it with two imaging programs, and alternated my weekly imaging of both of my computers.  I like redundancy.  Then I purchased HBSP, so now I have three imaging programs that I alternate using weekly.

The support for MR8 ran out a couple of months ago.  The current information from the Macrium Forums, as of the date of this post, is that Paramount is investigating the situation.  Paramount might issue an MR8 patch to correct this issue, but they are under no obligation to do so since MR8 home customer support updates ran out.  I consider it inevitable that eventually a Windows update will totally cripple MR8.

In the interim, if you are an MR8 user, this workaround can solve this issue, but, as I said, it does leave your computer more vulnerable.  MRX is not affected, nor are any other imaging programs that I know of.

The Hasleo Backup Suite program is NOT affected.

I express my gratitude to @AdvancedSetup, the Root Admin at the Malwarebytes Forums, for permission to link to his comprehensive post, and to the Hasleo Forum Admin for permitting me to post this information for possible MR8 users/customers, who are also HBS users/customers, or those who are considering the Hasleo Backup Suite as an imaging solution.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

[CDC9762]

Even though you correctly obtained permission, I don't know why this problem/solution is posted on this forum - posting on the MR and Malwarebytes forums should be sufficient since that is where MR users are more likely to look or find it.
Do we want to post the shortcomings of any application on all the forums for similar applications?

[Epictetus]

Even though you correctly obtained permission, I don't know why this problem/solution is posted on this forum - posting on the MR and Malwarebytes forums should be sufficient since that is where MR users are more likely to look or find it.
Do we want to post the shortcomings of any application on all the forums for similar applications?

I agree that we don't want to post the shortcomings of other programs here. But most importantly, he points out that HBS is NOT affected by this issue which I at least had been wondering about. So in my view, in the context of  comparison, the post is valuable here.

[n8chavez]

I agree with both points. I don't think we should be advertising other products, yet I also don't think it's appropriate to bash other products here. Macrium reflect 8 was mentioned, which is the last free version. Perhaps the post should be amended to a more pro-HBS tone. People are leaving Macrium for their recent subscription stance, or they're still using MR8. Either way they should switch to HBS. And either way, users are not coming here expecting to see posts about competing products regardless if they're good or bad.

[garioch7]

The sole purpose of the post was to advise existing and potential HBS users/customers, who might also be MR users, of this recent Windows Update causing an MR8 image mounting issue.

A careful read of the post should reveal that there was no "bashing" of MR8 or Paramount software whatsoever, nor did I have that intent at all.  The issue was caused by a Windows Update.  I also provided the then-current information about the Paramount Software response, and a workaround to mount MR8 images.  Paramount Software has acknowledged the issue, and are investigating the situation.  I also noted that MRX was not affected.

So I am bit confused by the negative reaction to what was clearly identified as an "Information" post in the left column.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

[Klaver7]

It does NOT effect the 8.x (free) Bootable Media, that works fine on 24H2 and 25H2 :-)

[garioch7]

@admin,

I sincerely apologize that this topic has strayed far from just being only a simple courtesy information post, as it was intended.  I do not want to have this topic derailed by discussions about what Reflect products work and don't because of the April Windows Update.  We are primarily here to discuss the Hasleo Backup Suite in this sub-Forum.

Good intentions can sometimes be derailed and lead to unintended consequences ... 

I respectfully request that you LOCK this topic I started to further replies.

Thank you, and have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

[al3x]

Nothing bad happened, why apologize?

I don't think locking would really be necessary. But the HBS forum doesn't fit that well IMHO. Maybe just move the thread to "General".
In the future we could maybe add an off-topic forum explicitly for discussions like this, but there's not much going on in "General" anyway so another forum might be just overkill right now.

[garioch7]

@al3x,

I do thank you for your comments.  Earlier this afternoon, I referred this matter via PM to @admin for decision.  @admin was kind enough to approve a post on this Topic before I posted, but I now see that it caused posts that I never anticipated. 

I am sorry this Topic got derailed.   It did have to do with HBS in that HBS was unaffected. There are MR8 users, like myself who use both, and potential users/customers who might be considering HBS, so I just wanted, as a courtesy, to provide the latest information about MR8, which was NOT the fault of Paramount Software.

My intentions, I think, were misunderstood by some.  I expected it to be a single post Information Topic, which is how I labeled it by the Flag in the left column.  If I could have and had thought about it further, I would have locked the topic to further replies immediately.  I should have asked @admin to do that immediately.  Mea culpa!

I respectfully request that no further replies to this Topic be posted until @admin has decided.  This sub-Forum is for HBS discussions, so I thought it did belong here.  One reply to the Topic was from an HBS user who was wondering ...

Thank you again, and have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

[admin]

Dear All,

Thank you all for the discussion.

First, the Hasleo forum takes an open attitude. We welcome helpful information, respectful comparisons, and genuine attempts to help other users, as long as users are not deliberately promoting other software.

Second, regarding @garioch7's post. His intention was good, and there is no need to apologize. In fact, exchanging and posting links between different software websites is a normal promotional practice (we just haven't done this kind of work ourselves due to limited manpower). Moreover, garioch7's post allowed Hasleo Backup Suite to gain recognition from the Malwarebytes Root Admin, which is a positive thing.

Third, regarding @al3x's suggestion about a general section. This idea is good, but creating a new section would increase the burden on admins and moderators, so it cannot be implemented at this time.

Per garioch7's request, this thread is now locked. Thank you all.

Best regards,