Question about ShadowProtect

Yeah, it's mysterious to me how they do it, although I've used the option with success.

Well, the main system partition has to have an MBR or it won't boot.I use the option sometimes if I've been experimenting with a dual-boot install such as Linux+Windows and I no longer want the Grub file in place of the MBR entry. Also, if a virus or some other issue such as user error (I know too well about this -LOL!) altered or eradicated the MBR, you'd certainly want the option to replace it. Not long ago I wiped it out unintentionally so I was really happy to easily restore it with that option

Other than validating the archive or deciding when to use full or incremental options, I don't really use the other ones.

 

bgoodman4,

Don't get hung up on the MBR. If you are restoring to the same HD you don't need to restore the MBR or the Disk Signature as you are just restoring the exact ones that are already there. So restoring them makes no difference. Doesn't hurt, doesn't help. Even when restoring an image to a new blank HD, you don't necessarily have to restore the MBR as a generic one is created by the restore. If you have a boot manager or other special MBR then it does need to be restored to the new HD. Most people don't have a special MBR.

The MBR is not part of any partition. It is the first sector on the HD. The MBR contains boot code, the Disk signature and the Partition table.The first partition starts at Sector 64. All HDs with a partition will have a MBR as it is created automatically. When you create a partition image with SP, a copy of the MBR is appended to the image. In your restore options you will see two choices, Restore MBR from the image file and Restore original Windows MBR. The latter is just a generic MBR. The same boot code as you get with "fixmbr". There was a bug in SP 3.2 and 3.3 as when you chose Restore original Windows MBR and Restore disk signature, the Disk signature wasn't restored. This is fixed in ver 3.5. Restoring the Disk signature when restoring to a new blank HD isn't usually needed either. It is helpful in the unusual situations where there is likely to be drive letter issues.

 

Okay, thanks Pete! I never did get into the manual for ATI or SP for the finer technical details. One day I'll have to check them out a little more thoroughly.

 

Thanks for this explanation, much appreciated.

 

Brian -

I second that! Thank you for a great explanation - that explains one of life's greater mysteries for me - this whole MBR thing

Len

 

My brain was in WinXP mode. If you are restoring your WinXP image to a new HD (one that hasn't been in the computer before) you don't need to restore the Disk signature. But if it is a Vista or Win7 image you do need to restore the Disk signature otherwise you will have to do a Startup repair to make the OS boot.

 

This image may help. The upper part show my MBR with the Disk Signature highlighted. The lower part shows partition signatures in the registry. The first part of a partition signature is the Disk Signature identifying the HD. Partitions E: and F: are on a different HD from partitions C: and D: (different Disk Signatures). The second part of a partition signature is the starting sector of the partition.

 

Hi Everyone,

I've spoken with some of our technical crew here. I hope this can help clear up the MBR questions, this info comes from our training manual and explains in detail what each option does on that popup window. Keep in mind, this info is from the Server Edition manual, but it's pretty much the same for the Desktop Edition:

<snip>

"All of these options are important when restoring the system volume on a computer.

Set Partition Active - This will make the restored drive the active partition (the drive the machine boots from).


Restore MBR - Restore the master boot record. The master boot record is contained in the first sector of the first physical hard drive. The MBR consists of a master boot program and a partition table that describes the disk partitions. The master boot program looks at the partition table to see which primary partition is active. It then starts the boot program from the boot sector of the active partition. You can restore the MBR from the image file that was saved with the backup image or you can restore an original Windows MBR.


Restore disk signature - Restores the original physical disk signature of the hard drive. Disk signatures are included in Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition (SP3 and later) and are necessary before the hard drive can be used.

Note: While a disk signature is not *required* for Windows desktops, it normally doesn't hurt to include them when restoring and image.


Restore Disk Hidden Track - this will restore the first 63 sectors of a drive. Some boot loader applications require this for the system to boot.

</snip>

Cheers,
Mark

 

'lo Mark: Welcome to Wilders.

Nice of you to post, I doubt you'll be barred

Just watch for that peter2150: a vicious ruthless moderator
(but a known ST/SP booster )

Any clarity appreciated.
Now if you'd just drop that Tech license $$$ a leeetle bit please.
Regards

Edit: spelling: Pete may be ruthless & vicious, I'm not sure he is viscous

 

Thanks for this but my question was regarding restoring a data only drive, not an OS drive. From what you have posted it would be a very bad idea to select most of the options for the data only drive restore. ----- Please excuse my ignorance here but this is the first time I have separated the OS and data to different drives. I am getting the impression that I would be far better of (if I need to do a data drive restore) to mount the drive image and just copy the data across rather than restoring using the restore wizard. Does this make any sense?

 

Hi Mark,

thank you for the info and welcome to Wilders!

I'd also ask that you guys offer a bit more than three measly downloads when the maintenance package is not purchased. After all, $70 bucks is already quite a lot to shell out, albeit well worth it imo Thanks as well for sorting out (I can't remember his name) my activation issue a couple days ago

Almost forgot to ask: is it possible to use an earlier recovery cd (ver 3.3) to restore an image built with ver 3.5?

 

Thanks! Appreciate the good will

Tech License, I assume you're referring to the IT Edition? Unfortunately I don't have any influence on the US prices (I work for the European branch) But considering what you can do with it, is it really that bad of a deal?


I'll try and shine any light I can on technical issues. I'll check the forum as often as I can

Cheers,
Mark

 

Hi Wat0114,

The US guys are pretty helpful and tend to be "on the ball" as it were.

I'm with the European office, so I'm not quite sure what the problem is with the "3 measly downloads" ?

In regards to using an earlier recovery CD (3.3) to restore an image made using a later version (3.5): Yes you can, but it's recommended you use a 3.5 Recovery CD.


Cheers,
Mark

 

Wat0114 is correct, you can restore a Data Image using the StorageCraft programme installed on your PC, as well as with Recovery CD.

Here's how it breaks down:

+ The Recovery CD can restore both Boot Drives ( Ex: C: ) and Data Drives ( Ex: D: ) from their respective images.

- In the case of a Boot Drive ( C: ), you will be asked if you want to restore the MBR. We recommend that you do.

- In the case of a Data Drive ( D: ) you do not need to restore the MBR, so simply uncheck this option if it is proposed.


+ The StorageCraft programme physically installed on your computer can only restore an image of a Data Disk ( D: ). Simply click on the restore button.


I hope that helps..

Cheers,
Mark

 

Thank you Mark! When I purchased the home version for $79.00, I opted out of the "Maintenance" option, which would have allowed me perpetual downloads, or at least more than I currently am allowed, which is only three. This is okay as long as the software doesn't keep upgrading to a version that will not allow older recovery cd images to work in restoring the newer version's backup images. That's what my concern is about and that is also why I asked about the viability of the 3.3 recovery cd working with 3.5 images. I do have the 3.5 cd but now I'm apparently left with only one download remaining. I guess as long as the latest version I have will continue working working for quite a few more years in windows, then I'll be alright.

 

Thank you, I assume I would/should also not check "make active" as well. ----I have not had a chance to read the user guide yet ----- is this topic covered there? I did a quick search of the help files and did not find anything about this. Possibly the info is there and a full read will turn it up but ..........

 

Bgoodman4 -

Just curious - why are you using SP to backup a data drive? I use SP for my system partitions but use standard backup programs for data. Depending on computer, that's either synchback or karen replicator.

 

Bgoodman4,

I'm in the separate OS and data partition school too. But like LenC, I only image the OS partition.

 

I am new to the two drive school and it did not occur to me to use something other than my imaging program to back-up my data. I have SP set to do incrementals of the data drive every 1/2 hour (the OS drive daily) and these are compressed (of course). I really like the ability to go back and grab an earlier version of a data file and it seemed reasonable to use SP to do this. If someone can suggest a good version saving program that will do this for me I would appreciate it.

In the past I relied on Roxio GoBack and now Rollback Rx (on my Tablet PC) to provide revision and file version functions. SP is on my Desktop PC.

 

bgoodman4,

I use Second Copy 7. Not free but it will do what you are asking for.

http://www.centered.com/download.html

 

I use Synchback (SE version). It will also do what you want it to do and is also not free.

http://www.2brightsparks.com/index.html