rollback and defraging

[wildernow]

Does anyone know if defraging the drive will affect rollback_rx should I decide to restore later?

[moontan]

do NOT defrag while RX is installed.

if you want to defrag your hard drive, uninstall RX first from the boot subconsole, defrag then re-install.

[farmerlee]

If you defrag ur drive before you install rollback rx theres no need to defrag afterwards as no fragmentation occurs. The only fragmentation that occurs is in the changes you make after installation for which theres a built in snapshot defragger.

[bgoodman4]

Originally Posted by farmerlee

If you defrag ur drive before you install rollback rx theres no need to defrag afterwards as no fragmentation occurs. The only fragmentation that occurs is in the changes you make after installation for which theres a built in snapshot defragger.

This is not true. It would only apply if you rolled the system back to the installation snapshot.

Its easy to see that this is true by defragging your drive before installation of Rx, running the PC for 4 weeks or so with Rx installed, run the snapshot defragger, uninstall Rx and run the regular defrag program. You will find a fairly fragmented drive.

Also, the first reply is correct, you should not run a defrag with Rx installed UNLESS (possibly) you plan to reset the baseline immediately afterwards.

[wildernow]

Thanks for your insight. What i am now doing is defrag and then take a snapshot. This would save the trouble of uninstalling to do a defrag.

[aladdin]

Originally Posted by wildernow

Thanks for your insight. What i am now doing is defrag and then take a snapshot. This would save the trouble of uninstalling to do a defrag.

You are supposed to take baseline snapshot, run a dos command to unload Rollback Rx, then defrag, if you want to avoid uninstalling. And, then another baseline snapshot.

Best regards,

KOR!

[moontan]

Originally Posted by wildernow

Thanks for your insight. What i am now doing is defrag and then take a snapshot. This would save the trouble of uninstalling to do a defrag.

it doesn't matter if you defrag and take a snapshot or vice versa.

you are not supposed to run a defrag app while RX is installed.
Period.

[aladdin]

Originally Posted by moontan

it doesn't matter if you defrag and take a snapshot or vice versa.

you are not supposed to run a defrag app while RX is installed.
Period.

Are you sure, the forum says otherwise?

Best regards,

KOR!

[moontan]

Originally Posted by King of Rapture

Are you sure, the forum says otherwise?

Best regards,

KOR!

from their own forum:

Our stand on this "Defragger" subject has always been to:
[1] Clean up and Defrag your drives before installing RollBack Rx, so you start with a nice, defragged system.
[2] RollBack Rx has a build-in snapshot defragmenter -- use that to defrag your system once RollBack Rx is installed.
[3] If you really need to defrag the drives with a third party tool: Uninstall RollBack Rx, defrag the drives and then reinstall RollBack Rx.

-http://horizondatasys-forum.com/rollback-rx/21-rollback-rx-v9-defragging-files-snapshot-degfrag-complete-alternative.html#post75-

[aladdin]

Here is some more from their forum:

Here is some good news that I just discovered... The latest version of RollBack Rx 9 has included the defragger switch. It was created as a silent update to version 9 as many users had requested this in version 8.x.

In order to use this feature however - it needs to be activated via the command line. Also it is important to understand the above thread on how file level defragging is perceived by RollBack Rx. It is advised to update your baseline when you've completed the defragging.

In the future, when you want to defrag with a third party or OEM Defrag tool, do the following:

Run command line switch "shieldcmd /defrag" (no quotes) from start/run
Defrag your OS and File system using your own defragging utility (eg. Diskkeeper, Perfect Disk, Windows etc.)
Run update baseline from RollBack Rx client application console -> manage baseline -> make the current system (after defragged system) as a new baselline snapshot.


Even in this cirumstance, you will LOSE all your previous snapshots. It is for this reason that we still recommend you uninstall RollBack Rx prior to defragging your PC.

We have updated our knowledge base article regarding this issue. It can be viewed at Horizon DataSys Support Portal

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

Best regards,

KOR!

[moontan]

tnx KOR,

i did not know about that one.
maybe i'll give it a try.

[bgoodman4]

Originally Posted by wildernow

Thanks for your insight. What i am now doing is defrag and then take a snapshot. This would save the trouble of uninstalling to do a defrag.

Thats not a good idea. You need to defrag and reset the baseline. You have only so much space for snaps and defragging while Rx is installed will create very large snapshots.

[bgoodman4]

Originally Posted by moontan

tnx KOR,

i did not know about that one.
maybe i'll give it a try.

Same result, extra work. Just either uninstal and do your various clean-ups and reinstall, or defrag and reset the baseline.

Not sure why you seem to not understand. A number of folks have said the same thing.

[farmerlee]

Originally Posted by bgoodman4

This is not true. It would only apply if you rolled the system back to the installation snapshot.

Its easy to see that this is true by defragging your drive before installation of Rx, running the PC for 4 weeks or so with Rx installed, run the snapshot defragger, uninstall Rx and run the regular defrag program. You will find a fairly fragmented drive.

Also, the first reply is correct, you should not run a defrag with Rx installed UNLESS (possibly) you plan to reset the baseline immediately afterwards.

I don't find your observations to be true either. I've been running this system for over month with rollback installed. I just uninstalled it and analyzed the drive using windows built in defragger and it tells me its 0% fragmented.

[bgoodman4]

Originally Posted by farmerlee

I don't find your observations to be true either. I've been running this system for over month with rollback installed. I just uninstalled it and analyzed the drive using windows built in defragger and it tells me its 0% fragmented.

I have been using Rx for 2.5 years and I uninstal it monthly to do system maintenance and image using Paragon. Every time I do so I run a defrag and Diskeeper shows the drive to be fairly heavily fragmented. The difference may have something to do with how we are using our respected PCs but thats my experience. I guess the bottom line is you do what you find to be appropriate for you.

[PJC]

After Installing a SnapShot App (e.g. Rollback Rx, EAZ-FIX, AyRecovery etc.), I use ONLY the built-in Defrag Tool.
I prefer to do it from the system Sub-Console (i.e. Reboot and press the Home button).
A second option is to defrag the SnapShots via the program Tray Icon.

I do NOT use any Defrag Tools (e.g. the Windows Disk Defragmenter or other Defrag Tools)!

If I had to use any Defrag Tool (apart from the built-in Defrag Tool), I should have:

-Uninstalled the SnapShot App,
-Used with the Windows Disk Defragmenter or other Defrag Tool
and
-Reinstalled the SnapShot App.

[wildernow]

but can you still use registry cleaners? i use the eaz-fix defrag option.

[nikanthpromod]

can i use iolo Drivescrubber to wipe free space when using with Rollback RX??

[Boyfriend]

Originally Posted by nikanthpromod

can i use iolo Drivescrubber to wipe free space when using with Rollback RX??

No. You should not wipe free space while using Rollback RX.

[bgoodman4]

Originally Posted by Boyfriend

No. You should not wipe free space while using Rollback RX.

And the reason why(?) is that the snapshots are hidden from Windows and scrubbing the free space may affect your hidden files (I think).

[bgoodman4]

Originally Posted by wildernow

but can you still use registry cleaners? i use the eaz-fix defrag option.

Yes, I believe this would be OK as the file changes will not be significant in size.

By the way, deleting large files will not free up drive space with RX installed because RX protects the space in case it needs to restore the data that was deleted. The snapshots are (as I understand it) the hooks that are associated with the data. This nis why the snaps are small, they are not images of the files, just the details regarding the hooks (BTW I am not sure what a hook is but the name is descriptive enough that I think I understand). Once you reset the baseline the space will become free for Windows to use. Again, this is my understanding of the situation. If I am wrong I would appreciate it if someone could correct me.

[PJC]

Using Disk and/or Registry Cleaners is allowed, but it implies that a new SnapShot must be created.
(Otherwise, all changes will be removed when the system is restored.)

As far as Free Disk Space Wiping, I wouldn't use aggressive Tools!

[nikanthpromod]

Boyfriend ,bgoodman4 thanks for ur reply.