I wasn't happy with Acronis and switched to EaseUS ToDo. I'm more than pleased with it. You may want to have a look, and it is Win 8 ready.

I would think the purpose of the long term evaluation process was to sort these things out. Benchmarks don't mean squat if your software won't run on it.

Sorry to hear that Starkers (no sarcasm).  That type of thing really torques me off too, and it is often one of the *joys* of o/s upgrades.  If it'll make you feel any better, this old box of mine is going to get Win7 (Win8 is not an option), and even doing that some perfectly fine h/w and s/w is going to become trash.  The short time frame you're talking about does just put the icing on the cake, alas it is reality.

"I feel your pain."

Yep... EaseUS is more than fine. Sorry you didn't write me for a license back when... I'll try to see if my contact can do something for you. No promises, but I'm giving it a shot.

EaseUS ToDo Workstation 4.5 works like a charm. It does something I've never seen before! Every time I boot up it updates each partition. All the work you do during the day changes files/folders and such and the workstation has a protect mode. It reflects those changes when you boot up. Amazing! Also it will back up eveything all at once or you can pick and choose what you want to backup. It will even backup external drives. I'd go with this one.

lol... that's the automatic incremental backup, Ross.

What is with using these 3rd party backup programs anyway? I just use the built-in backup functions of Windows 7 to do an image backup automatically every Sunday in the early AM hours and never had a problem with it. Works perfectly for me and luckily I have only had to use it once for a restore. I know this feature is available in Windows 8 also, just haven't had a chance to set it up yet though as it's not a critical system at all.

If I went out and bought new tires and rims to fit my car, then replaced the car, I hardly think I could go back to the seller of the tires and rims and demand they make them work on my new vehicle. Why is software any different?

[thus spake Wizard]

Sorry, Starkers, but it's this exact attitude that sees people pissed off at Stardock when "Thingummy-V-whatever for Windows 7 and older" doesn't work on THEIR-FAULT-FOR-GOING-TO-A-NEW-OS-OUTSIDE-OF-LISTED-COMPATIBILITY.

Get a grip it is NOT Stardock's fault [or in this case Acronis] that your purchase has been made redundant/obselete by YOUR ACTION.

I updated to 2013 myself a few months ago....about the time I was messing with the early 8.  It won't faze me if it doesn't work on 8 ....I bought it for 7.

Paul has a way with words, doesn't he?

If the software didn't explicitly support windows 8, then what are you complaining about? This topic makes no sense.

It didn't say it supported W8, and starkers didn't want W8 at that point. He was probably hoping for at least a partial discount on Acronis 2013, because he'd had the 2012 version less than 6 mos. Many software firms offer a discounted upgrade in these cases. Acronis isn't one of them, I guess... or he hasn't turned to their customer service with a request for that consideration.

Either way, I understand his unhappiness. 

Mark, I'll let you know by pm when I hear. Don't go bonkers in the meantime.

Yes, he does. I, for one, wouldn't want it any other way. Thanks for your input, Paul.(and for quoting me again)  Now if only Windows 8 could throw "your software has been made redundant/obsolete by YOUR ACTION." as an error code. 

Priceless.

Just one more reason I will not be going to Windows 8!

Actually, Microsoft has a site which inventories your programs and will let you know what is and isn't compatible:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/win8/CompatCenter/Home?Language=en-US

Best error code/message EVA ........

"Keyboard not found.  Press F1 to continue.'

[yes, it's a fair-dinkum one [BIOS]] ...