IFW Hot Backup of RollBack System Saves Baseline Snapshot?

[TheRollbackFrog]

Originally Posted by King of Rapture

Dear Froggie,

Can you please confirm that in above scenario, where last to install = RBrx, not IFW, that he can also use PHYLOCK, when he is doing hot normal (non-sector based) imaging and on restoration he will have the current snapshot of RBrx?

Please confirm with YES OR NO, so not to further confuse!

Yes. When Last to install = RBrx, either PHYLOCK or VSS may be used and the resultant image will be the CURRENT SYSTEM STATE (w/neutered RBrx and no snapshots). During this scenario, RBrx is in charge all the way.

As a result of the above scenario, it matters not what the state of IFW's "Backup Unused Sectors" option is... you will always get the CURRENT SYSTEM STATE (remember, RBrx is in charge) and either just the USED sectors (Current System State) or the rest of the "apparently" unused disk space as well (as RBrx sees it) depending on the option set.

[aladdin]

Originally Posted by TheRollbackFrog

Yes. When Last to install = RBrx, either PHYLOCK or VSS may be used and the resultant image will be the CURRENT SYSTEM STATE (w/neutered RBrx and no snapshots). During this scenario, RBrx is in charge all the way.

Dear Froggie,

Thank you for confirming the above.

Best regards,

KOR!

[aladdin]

Originally Posted by The Shadow

I am a relatively new RollBack Rx user and a brand new IFW user.

TS

Dear TS,

You have already confirmed in other threads that you have already purchased the complete package of TeraByte IFW with BM.

The UpperFilters is not some rocket science. If you want to do hot normal (non-sector based) imaging then your UpperFilters registry key should look like below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

UpperFilters
Shield
phylock
...........
...........

And, If you want to do hot full disk - unused sectors (sector based) imaging then your UpperFilters registry key should look like below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

UpperFilters
phylock
Shield
...........
...........

Keep in mind that the above can be done only with IFW and no other imaging program like Drive Snapshot can accomplish this.

I am sure that you are computer savvy enough to understand the above and edit the registry key without much hassle.

Best regards,

KOR!

[aladdin]

All the credit goes to DEAR FROGGIE for teaching me about the UpperFilters in his good book, "RBRX luvs IFW".

Link to his good book, "RBRX luvs IFW":

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17664826/RBRX%20luvs%20IFW.pdf

And, some more information is here:

http://horizondatasys-forum.com/roll...-together.html


Best regards,

KOR!

[The Shadow]

I am appreciative for all the responses I've received to my RollBack system backup problem (using IFW), so thanks to all, but a special thanks goes to Scott W who 'hit the nail on the head' without confusing me any further than I was already!

He is absolutely correct in summarizing what I was attempting to achieve - the ability to make a hot image backup (from within Windows) of my current system with RollBack Rx active. I never had any interest in saving my RollBack snapshots in the backup.

By reading several older threads I had gathered that a normal hot backup would work to backup my current RollBack system (less snapshots). I was (and am) willing to accept the necessity to uninstall-reinstall RollBack upon restoring that image. But as I reported, my first attempt at a normal hot IFW backup of my RollBack system wound up saving my baseline snapshot which left me in a state of confusion.

I might add that Scott is also right in that I am not a techie, nor do I wish to become one. I am someone who learns how to use a program as it was intended for the end-user. The bottom-line is that I found Scott's VSS solution understandable and easily implemented within IFW's backup selection process. So yesterday I did exactly what he prescribed and made another normal hot backup of my RollBack system but this time enabling VSS instead of PHYLock. I then restored this new IFW image and Scott was right - that produced my current system! Of course I had to uninstall RollBack and then reinstall it, which I did, and all is well.

Thanks again Scott!

TS

[Scott W]

Hey TS, glad I could be of help, after all that's what the forums should be about. I just happened to have 'tripped' over that very same situation when testing IFW. As a longtime Drive Snapshot user, I am by no means very IFW-literate. So should you have other IFW questions they would best be directed at Brian K, or The Rollback Frog, both of whom are definitely much more IFW-literate than me!

Scott

[twl845]

Originally Posted by King of Rapture

All the credit goes to DEAR FROGGIE for teaching me about the UpperFilters in his good book, "RBRX luvs IFW".

Link to his good book, "RBRX luvs IFW":

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17664826/RBRX%20luvs%20IFW.pdf

And, some more information is here:

http://horizondatasys-forum.com/roll...-together.html


Best regards,

KOR!

Thanks for the RBRX luvs IFW pdf.

[The Shadow]

Originally Posted by TheRollbackFrog

Greetings, once again, TS!

I know this all seems a bit confusing but it's all due to RBrx's system management and not any IFW anomalies.

I'll try to summarize...

1. If you ever want to do a FULL disk/partition image of your fully functional RBrx system and all its snapshots, you must insure the above conditions are met (last to install = IFW or PHYLOC positioned above SHIELD in the UpperFilter REGISTRY key, and "Backup Unused Sectors" option selected in the final options list in IFW).

2. If your main interest is in your CURRENT SYSTEM STATE when you image, the easiest method is to select "Use VSS" in IFW's options (this is NOT the DEFAULT). In this case it will not matter how or when RBrx and IFW were installed. However... when that image is restored, RBrx will be neutered (non-functional and no sub-console) and any previously managed snapshots will be gone. At this point, RBrx must be unINSTALLed (be patient here, it takes longer when the sub-console is no longer available) then reINSTALLed for continued RBrx functionality.

As you can see from above, as soon as you do operation #2 (last to install = RBrx, not IFW), operation #1 is no longer available unless the UpperFilters are repositioned in the REGISTRY.

I wish it was easier to explain ... but I guess it isn't. When you have two different technologies trying to assist each other, things like this do happen sometimes.

Hi TRF,

Your 2nd item (above) addresses my issue and desire (I'm not at all interested in backing up my RollBack snapshots). Additionally, it confirms what Scott W told me previously (in post #14). Your confirmation about using VSS is very reassuring in that it instills more confidence that my future normal hot backups will be as successful as the backup and restore I finally realized by following Scott's suggestion.

Thank you!

TS

[Function]

Sorry for asking but what is IFW/IFS.

I have googled around and can't seem to find what this imaging software is called.

Does anyone have the full name or a link to the website?


Also I have recently uninstalled rollback RX and re-installed it to update it. Will this cause a system lock in the future as stated by a earlier post.

[crofttk]

Originally Posted by Function

Sorry for asking but what is IFW....

Image for Windows from Terabyte.
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/image-for-windows.htm

[bgoodman4]

Originally Posted by Function

Also I have recently uninstalled rollback RX and re-installed it to update it. Will this cause a system lock in the future as stated by a earlier post.

I do this monthly and have done so for at least 3 years (thus at least 36 times) and have not had a system lock. In truth, in comparison to just about any other program you may care to name, Rx is a very trouble free program as evidenced by the number (not many) of folks that appear on this and the Horizon Data Systems forum seeking help. The majority of threads b egun that deal with Rx are asking for clarification about some use of Rx.

Is Rx absolutely trouble free? Certainly not. However if its used correctly it will generally work like a dream.

This of course is my opinion, which is based on my personal experience and observations.

[twl845]

Originally Posted by bgoodman4

I do this monthly and have done so for at least 3 years (thus at least 36 times) and have not had a system lock. In truth, in comparison to just about any other program you may care to name, Rx is a very trouble free program as evidenced by the number (not many) of folks that appear on this and the Horizon Data Systems forum seeking help. The majority of threads b egun that deal with Rx are asking for clarification about some use of Rx.

Is Rx absolutely trouble free? Certainly not. However if its used correctly it will generally work like a dream.

This of course is my opinion, which is based on my personal experience and observations.

+1 Thanks to you for calming my fears to install RB last year. It's the best investment I've made for snapshot control.

[2YsUR]

Originally Posted by Function

...
Also I have recently uninstalled rollback RX and re-installed it to update it. Will this cause a system lock in the future as stated by a earlier post.

What "system lock" are you referring to?

[TheRollbackFrog]

2YsUR... I believe he was referring to that condition when some folks unINSTALL and reINSTALL RBrx, the ACTIVATION fails and they have to get it reset by HDS support.

[Scott W]

I think that Function is somewhat confused about the posts discussing a normal hot-backup of an RB partition using IFW and the potential problem in using IFW's Phylock driver.

[Wendi]

Hi Scott,

I was very impressed with the benefits of Rollback Rx which you outlined (to me) in another thread, so I just read this thread and have a question. Seeing that I use Drive Snapshot (as I see you do), would I have to use VSS with Drive Snapshot in order to do a normal backup of Rollback Rx system while running Windows?

Wendi

[Scott W]

Originally Posted by Wendi

Hi Scott,

I was very impressed with the benefits of Rollback Rx which you outlined (to me) in another thread, so I just read this thread and have a question. Seeing that I use Drive Snapshot (as I see you do), would I have to use VSS with Drive Snapshot in order to do a normal backup of Rollback Rx system while running Windows?

Wendi

Hello again Wendi,

As a Drive Snapshot user running a normal hot backup of a RB-System volume, either DS' system-snapshot driver or Windows' driver (VSS) would work to achieve the proper backup results.

The image-restore issue experienced by The Shadow in this thread came about because:

1. He installed Image For Windows (IFW) after he had installed Rollback Rx (RB).

2. He used IFW's default system-snapshot driver, Phylock, which for his situation was inappropriate. The Rollback Frog explains that very well here and here (along with The Shadow's reply).

But as you are a Drive Snapshot user none of the above would affect you, so don't concern yourself with it.

Scott

[aladdin]

Originally Posted by Scott W

The image-restore issue experienced by The Shadow in this thread came about because:

1. He installed Image For Windows (IFW) after he had installed Rollback Rx (RB).

2. He used IFW's default system-snapshot driver, Phylock, which for his situation was inappropriate. The Rollback Frog explains that very well here and here (along with The Shadow's reply).

Scott

When I was trying Rollback Rx for two months on three computers and then asked for an refund, I never had problem doing HOT NORMAL REGULAR IMAGING WITHIN WINDOWS WITH IFW.

I used IFW's default system-snapshot driver, Phylock and upon restoration of that image it always contained the "CURRENT SNAPSHOT" of Rollback Rx.

The Rollback Frog explains that very well here

Best regards,

KOR!

[aladdin]

Originally Posted by twl845

Thanks for the RBRX luvs IFW pdf.

Hi twl845,

You are most welcome!

Best regards,

KOR!

[The Shadow]

Originally Posted by King of Rapture

When I was trying Rollback Rx for two months on three computers and then asked for an refund, I never had problem doing HOT NORMAL REGULAR IMAGING WITHIN WINDOWS WITH IFW.

I used IFW's default system-snapshot driver, Phylock and upon restoration of that image it always contained the "CURRENT SNAPSHOT" of Rollback Rx.

The Rollback Frog explains that very well here

Best regards,

KOR!

KOR,

Could it be that the reason you never encountered the restore problem I experienced (baseline snapshot restored instead of current system) was because IFW was already installed before you installed RollBack? According to the The Rollback Frog's explanation that would account for your success in using IFW's PHYLock to make a normal hot image of your current system.

I'm also curious as to what issues prompted you to request a refund for your RollBack Rx purchases? RollBack has been running 'smooth as silk' for me!

TS

[2YsUR]

Originally Posted by Scott W

....
2. He used IFW's default system-snapshot driver, Phylock, which for his situation was inappropriate. The Rollback Frog explains that very well here and here (along with The Shadow's reply)....
Scott

How do you create that single post link ("here") - TIA

[The Shadow]

Originally Posted by 2YsUR

How do you create that single post link ("here") - TIA

This is OT, but what the heck. I don't know the way Scott does it, but the way I do it is by inserting the following statement into the appropriate place inside the sentance.

{url=single-post link}here{/url} ....replacing { } with [ ]

To get a single-post link click on the post # you want to reference and then copy the link. For example, clicking on your post #46 delivers a single-post link of "http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=2074807&postcount=46"

So you would copy and paste that link (without the quotes) into the above statement, as follows:

{url=http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=2074807&postcount=46}here{/url}.

....and by using [ ] brackets instead of { } the above statement simply becomes here.

TS

[2YsUR]

Originally Posted by The Shadow

This is OT, but what the heck. I don't know the way Scott does it, but the way I do it is by inserting the following statement into the appropriate place inside the sentance....
TS

Thanks, it just never dawned on me to click on the post# to get the single post url. 2 ys U r

[aladdin]

Originally Posted by The Shadow

KOR,

Could it be that the reason you never encountered the restore problem I experienced (baseline snapshot restored instead of current system) was because IFW was already installed before you installed RollBack? According to the The Rollback Frog's explanation that would account for your success in using IFW's PHYLock to make a normal hot image of your current system.

Either you don't understand IFW's PHYLock or you are being very, very unfair to IFW's PHYLock.

Because of IFW's PHYLock, you can do HOT NORMAL NON-SECTOR BASED imaging and HOT NORMAL SECTOR BASED imaging. You cannot do this with any other imaging program, let it be Drive Snapshot.

And, for this reason Froggie (The Rollback Frog) has a booklet out called, "RBRX luvs IFW".

Best regards,