Drive Snap: Drive Snapshot Frontend

when you stop coming up with good ideas for it

DOS

 

ok, I'll not throw in any new ideas until you release it. (mostly because I have not had the chance to give it a try... yet)

Panagiotis

 

I have previously used DriveSnap, but now the version I have no longer works (beta time expired). Can I get an old version somewhere that is still usable until the new one is released?

 

Sorry if this has already been decided but - what is that fast boot program.

I have tried UBCD4 and then started drive snap shot. Although the drive snap shot part is fast enough the boot process takes longer than the whole Shadow Protect time from cd start to full restore. I would imagine that all that is needed is an absolute minumum XP or vista ?

 

UBCD4 boot up can take a long time to boot up because it asks you multiple questions if you want to load lots of drivers for CD and USB for all types of hardware so it far from ideal. The automatic restore CD created by Drive Snap doesnt load any device drivers as they not needed. It flashes up and loads in 2 seconds then it starting to restore. The simplest bare bootup CD is best when the image is on one of the partitions. Download a floppy image or bootable ISO without CD-ROM drivers and rip out the junk and use a util such as mkisofs.exe or if that too tricky then use Nero. Drive Snap uses bfi.exe(http://www.nu2.nu/bfi/) as it alot smaller than mkisofs.exe. Find out which CD-ROM drivers works for your DVD/CD and just use the one if you store images or stuff on the CD/DVD.

The Drive Snap CD maximises DOS memory and loads a read cache that can speed up the restore in certain cases. I am now making the boot CD from free legal FreeDOS. The command.com and io.sys are alot smaller so cut down the size of Drive Snap by 200K . There is a good read cache util that comes with FreeDos called lbacache.

btw. I improved the auto restore still further. If you hold down the shift key on bootup it loads a partition manager to wipe or delete partitions instead of deciding to auto restore the image and also a quick menu to restore every image you have. anyway have to stop on the ideas for now or i never come to any pratical completition.

 

markymoo - Any idea when the next frontend version will be released? I'm anxious to see what it can bring to the table.

 

Markymoo - thanks for your reply - how, where do I download your front end ?

 

Maybe it's a dead project.

 

why ? technical problems ? no longer wanting to develop ? I never got to try the original so have no idea but I would have thought that Drive snap shot needed a front end - of for no other reason that quick CD restore. Right now Shadow Protect is significantly faster than DS simply because the boot methods I have tried are just too slow. I can restore C: with SP in less time than some of the Boot solutions take to load.

 

I know what you mean about load times. I've used Markymoo's Drive Snapshot Frontend and it's brilliant. I'm sure the pending software will be even better. I can't recall the load time. I think it was short. Certainly nothing like the load time of DS from a floppy or CD.

The shortest load time of a restore app is IFD from a TBOS automatic restore. Loads in 1 second and the restore of my test computer's OS is complete and I'm back in Windows even before an SP restore has commenced. Admittedly the OS partition is only 2 GB.

 

It does have some of the characteristics of a dead project; little to know communication from the author, no developement, and no progress updates. If the project is not dead it is certainly frustrating. Users cannot download 'old' version and there is no new version, which has been hyped greatly. Bummer. Also, no one seems to have any previous version, which would allow me to see what all the excitement is about.

 

Hello, I have been unable to use net or respond much over the last 2 months to inform you of what is going on and visits have been brief, due to commitments. During that time i been working steadily on Drive Snap right upto today, it is no way a dead project, on the contrary.

Apologies, I didn't mean it be a long delay with the next update but to make it more dynamic and better i had to change the formula. The consolation is i put more alot more effort into making the next update better than the original planned update and will become several updates in one. Integrating all the other features together and due to the nature of the beast it has created a bigger load than i had anticipated, the time spent tweaking and bug testing, experimenting and trying to perfect numerous different boot methods has made for further delay not to mention the good suggestion from Pandlouk of a restore from the hard drive which is a great feature. Anyhow any delay has led me to discover and introduce more practical features and fewer bugs to arrive at a better Drive Snap. In a couple of weeks i be better to tell you where i am with it. I was going to post a worklog later but i can post what i have now and hope that helps.

 

Here is a list of main updates and details.

120 DPI aware - Automatically detects and optimizes GUI. Better late than never. I went to alot effort to make it work for 120DPI despite a smaller percentage that use this. After i did it, it struck me i should done a separate version for 120DPI but no matter. I be very glad if you use this feature. The extra features i put into Drive Snap later on, i had to go back and do all again for 120DPI, so if you want to blame anyone for release delay, blame the DPI120 people(joke lol). Maybe we all be using 120DPI in the future . For the 1 or 2 120DPI users that is out there. Welcome.

Overwrite warning if image already exists for Full, Differential, Ez backup and Scheduled Backup Run/Test modes.

Ez Backup - One click system backup to folder on first detected spare partition or a selectable other. A very easy(no thinking) full backup of your system partition to 1 image file. The 'Image Backup Location' will be auto selected to this location for future image backups. Eg. 2 partitions C and D - click Ez Backup and C backs upto D:\Backups\system-full.sna and D:\Backups becomes the default 'Image Backup Location' - no questions asked. The folder 'Backups' is created automatically. If multiple spare partitions, eg. D E F and the first spare partition eg. D is not convenient for any reason, then another spare partition can be used instead, selectable in the Options under Ez Backup. The folder Backups and file system-full.sna will always be used. Available in Graphic or Console mode with optional verify. If you want to make a system backup in a split second to a conventional backup location and not use the other options to backup, use this.

Now just 1 Automatic System Recovery CD can be permanently used to automatically restore anyone of the image backups from the 'Image Backup Location' folder every time and any time. Set the image in Drive Snap (changeable on the fly) for the Automatic Recovery to restore as well as the type of restore,include MBR and partition structure and size. Previously in the older version the Restore CD would automatically restore 1 image and only that image and if you wanted to restore a different image backed up in Drive Snap you would have to create/burn another Automactic Restore CD, but this has now been superceded. No more excuses for not making a boot disk.

Automatic restore can also be installed to the system partition (called Recovery) so it possible to recover quickly without a CD for times when the system is not 100% working or other reason such as change of operating system. This installs a ISO CD image to the root of C and modifys the boot.ini so the image can be booted or the regular Windows. This doesn't touch the MBR. This acts exactly the same as if recovering from CD as it still a recovery CD but mounted from the hard drive.

All automatic restores include a prompt and the right password to proceed the restore. As the restore is fully automatic, this prevents the image being restored by accidental selection and also prevents a 3rd party restoring the image without consent. The password is 'bootsnap', not too long, not too short and not too guessable if you don't know it.(laughs)

All automatic Recoverys include a hidden popup menu to easily select and restore anyone of the images instead from the default 'Image Backup Location'. This overrides and halts the default automatic image to be restored. To access the menu hold down Left ALT on Startup after you insert the password. To navigate the menu use the cursor Up and Down keys and Return key to confirm selection of a different image to be restored to the automatic one.

All automatic restores can optionally include the utility XFDisk(extended FDisk). If XFDisk is present at the time of creating the restore it will be included in the restore. Download and copy xfdisk.exe to the Drive Snap folder without the xfdisk.ini. XFDisk can be loaded from the restore by holding down Left Shift before the password prompt appears. This overrides and halts the default automatic restore. XFDisk is Beta but reliable in testing with a likeable simple interface to create and delete partitions including NTFS. A reboot occurs on exit of XFDisk.

Drive Snap does not now include Burncdcc. Burncdcc is a freeware tool to burn the final ISO to CD/DVD. It has to downloaded seperately. Drive Snap still creates the ISO and will detect and run Burncdcc if included in the Drive Snap folder before the time of automatic restore creation. Keep Burncdcc in the Drive Snap folder. Alternativly a different burn tool can be used to burn the ISO.

How does the Automatic System Recovery work? - Read Important

The automatic restore stores within it the whereabouts of Drive Snap which can be on anyone of the drives you wish. Drive Snap keeps the location of the backup images even if they change to a new location. This ensures a fast recovery and finds the images immediately. If it didn't, it would have to scan all the drives for Drive Snap or the backup images which could take a long time, especially if there were several drives and be several minutes before it started restoring the rightful image. This could take longer than the restore itself! so that be no good! For the automatic restore CD to always continue to work, Drive Snap has to be kept in the same drive/folder location as when you made the restore CD. Move Drive Snap or its folder and the automatic restore will alert you to the fact and no longer work, that is until you move it back to it's original location. Yet it is fine to move all the backup images anywhere using Drive Snap or manually as long as the 'Image Backup Location' from within Drive Snap always points to the location of where the actual image backups are.

So to sum up. The restore finds Drive Snap which finds the backup images which passes back the information to the restore to do it's job. Don't move the Drive Snap folder or it's files but you can gladly move the backup images as long as Drive Snap knows there whereabouts.

BUT having said all that. There is a easy workaround solution if you really need to move Drive Snap to a new folder/drive location and keep the automatic system restore working. Just create a new restore CD from within Drive Snap again ! The new CD will have the new Drive Snap location stored and the automatic restore will work. Physically mark the CD its the new one. There is not much need to move Drive Snap, but if you need to, then it only costs the price of another CD for the automatic restore to continue working or nothing if you use a CD-Rewritable . If you thinking i can save time and edit the ISO and just update it with the new Drive Snap location for the System Recovery that works from the hard drive then don't bother, you will not find it. Incidentally i was going to include a feature to scan the drives if it couldn't find Drive Snap or the backup images in there rightful place but decided against this as it could backfire and recover a different wrong image with the same name kept in a obscure location and then i wouldn't be popular.

Schedule Backup fixes -
Number of scheduled backups increased to 10. (who needs 10?)
Now works for countrys other than UK. Detects and displays correct date format. A scheduled backup would not run if the country date format was mm/dd/yy ie. USA and only run if the regional date set on the PC was in the dd/mm/yy format ie. UK.
If the image backup folder had a space the scheduled backup would be added but failed to run.
Use local blank passwords is turned back off to default again on exit of Drive Snap for security.
The schedule backup names autobackup.bat autobackup2.bat etc. are named the same name as the schedule name for easier identification.

If you create or change to a new 'Image Backup Location' from a existing location with the browse dialog, it will ask do you want to move your backup images to this new location. If you click Yes, all files ending in .s?? eg. .sna .s01 .s02 will be moved there. If you click No, the new location will still become the default. This feature also works for Hash location, moving all *.hsh files. This feature handy to move the backups to another folder, different drive or seperate, move together the hash files from the images without leaving Drive Snap.

If you manually type in the edit box under 'Image Backup Location' a new location that doesn't exist, when you click Backup, it will ask, do you want to create this new location. If you click Yes, it will create this new location and proceed with the backup and will become the default. If you click No, it will not create the location or proceed with the backup. This is an alternative way to create a new 'Image Backup Location' on first run time or anytime without using the browse dialog.

Graphic Mode on by default.

Created images in the Restore tab now display in the correct date format for the country.

C drive is not detected in the Recovery tab as it is not possible to restore system partition from within Windows. A image can be restored to any drive,partition empty or otherwise other than the system partition in Drive Snap just like Drive Snapshot from within Windows aslong as there are no processes running in memory from that partition.

If backup encounters error or is cancelled in Console mode then image is not added,listed in Drive Snap and the corrupted/uncompleted image and hash file deleted.(this already happens in graphics mode when you abort the backup.)

Multiple hash files displayed correctly with scrollbar in backup tab.

Dialog backup,hash and exclude locations remembered on re-selection and cancel.

Backup and Restore also works successfully if Drive Snap and/or the backup images are kept in the root of a drive eg. D:\ instead of folders.

Drive Snapshot v1.39 can repair a corrupted/damaged image to another file which can then be mounted which makes it useable to rescue any files from it. The Drive Snap feature of it repairs the image to a filename, auto mounts the repaired image eg. pc-full.sna becomes pc-full-repaired.sna, and auto mounts on a last drive letter such as Y or Z in 1 swoop. Note. The repair can take a little while, Drive Snap will alert you when its done and list the repaired image under the Restore tab so it useable there also.

ChkDsk and Testdisk buttons added to the Volume tab. To run ChkDsk on a partition, first highlight a partition in the volume list and then select the ChkDsk button. To run Testdisk from within Drive Snap, copy the main files and then copy the c folder to the root of the Drive Snap folder.

Reduced filesize by approximately 250K

Plus a number of minor improvements and bugs squished.

What didn't make it?
I have removed image validation for now which was 3/4 done but always a secondary feature. I had settled on 128 bit CRC for image validation. MD5 checksums take quite a long time to calculate. To calculate several image backups 5-10GB apiece takes a long time and becomes impratical with MD5(maybe not) but CRC is acceptable. CRC32 is alot faster and 128 bit CRC checksums are even better and very very honest. Drive Snapshot already uses 128bit CRC checksums to verify a image. I discovered a very good and fast error checking routine called Tiger. A addon menu with cool logo and background with extra free useful boot utils to repair drives. Backing up and restoring an image located on DVD.

Never mind it awesome without these. It now even more practical to backup and restore with confidence and ease.

 

Since then i have done the USB restore. Plus Drive Snap can be moved to any location! just like the backup images and the automatic restore will still find it , so no need to create a new cd like mentioned in the worklog.

 

Any time table for its release. Maybe we all can get a pretty sweet Christmas present.

 

Indeed!

This is a masterful addition and IMO greatly enhances DS functionality with VARIETY!!!

Thanks many times over markymoo for all your efforts in this from the EASTER man and looking forward to glowing reviews upcoming from everyone who gets the chance to experience all those new features when ready for prime time.

EASTER

 

The Ultimate Goal AFAIK for adding even more useful features is to be found in Drive Snap which should just about round DS out entirely and IMHO complete what DS is been sorely missing in greater advanced functions for simplicty as well as usefulness above and beyond what many have xpressed as a needed addition to tip the scales.

With that in mind, i'm sure i speak on behalf of the many satisfied users of DS that this next Drive Snap should finally remedy the missing links needed to take this image app many steps forward ahead then the ordinary.

EASTER

 

I would suggest, also, that the time limit be removed from this version. I actually can't understand why it was put there is the first place, as is prevents users from using it when there is no newer version.

 

Agree.

Leave out the hard coded time limit and let users have at it. Because many users still have a problem getting all of the command lines into an order they can remember.

 

I would just like to be able to try out any version in any condition.

 

I was on course to get a small update out well before the expiry ended. So sorry and apologies again for that. I wont make the same mistake again.

I have managed to find a demo in a flash video i had made before of that previous version, highlighting some of the features of Drive Snap. I will upload that so you can see it at work at least.

 

markymoo - Might I make a perhaps unpopular suggestion. Why not charge a small fee for your work with the DS frontend? I kow Phantom did something similiar for his LooknStop ruleset (after letting it bw freeware). He puts a olt of work into his set, as you undoubtedly do with this DS frontend. That way you are compensated somewhat.

You owe us nothing. You are all greatful that you have continued this project, at whatever pace.

 

It expired because it was a BETA and the initial plan was to release a steady trickle of updates. The new version is a major improvement. It started Oct 07 so it a year onwards now but May time it appeared. I started out developing this for myself, and thought the number of DS users is on the small side. The plan was to keep developing it and welcome any ideas, feedback with contributions to support it with a 3 month trial on a later version and a charge for it after the trial if it of worth, receiving extra updates. You shouldn't have to wait too long now. The LookNStop has a similar interface - interesting.

 

Here is a 10 min flash movie of a previous version of Drive Snap in action, for those who have not been able to experience it.

Streaming

Download 3.0MB

 

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