The security update released for Windows 11 on April 14, 2026, has some undesirable side effects. Backups can no longer be mounted in Macrium Reflect 8 Free. I've also encountered this issue with other backup solutions like Acronis. The cause is that the April 2026 update blocks certain kernel drivers. Read details within my German blog post [use build-in translation to switch language].
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FYI the product name is Macrium Reflect (not Reflection).
It's not just the "Free Edition" (which was retired several years ago), but also has been found in the last published release of Reflect verion 8.1 when run on the latest Windows 11 with the April 2026 Windows Update patches from Microsoft. In the update, a driver used by Reflect V8 "psmounterex.sys" was added to Windows 11's list of vulenerable, untrusted software, and the kernel refuses to load the driver, thus preventing Reflect V8 from mounting Reflect V8 backup image files as a virtual disk drive for browsing.
The problem does not occur in versions of Windows 11 containing the change using the latest Reflect version, V10 (aka VX) that has been available for at least a year. The vulnerable driver is not used by Reflect V10.
With regards,
if I got you right, the problem results in an outdated Reflect V8 Version
(not newer release than Reflect V10 / on Win 11`s List).
But as a fictional user of those ore any free versions of any Backup Program on any maybe outdated Systems:
How can I make a "Restore" from those outdated Versions blocked by Microsoft!!!
Resembles me of "who controls the past, controls the future…"
A brave new…