ShadowProtect Update (v3.5.1)

ShadowProtect version 3.5.1

Fix for a rare bug, primarily, but not necessarily limited to Vista, Windows 7 and Server 2008/R2 was resolved. This bug could result in incrementals which do not include all changes to the file system meta-data since the last backup. Affected incremental images, when mounted, will contain chkdsk errors. This issue affects incremental backups only and not full images. It is recommended that all users apply the 3.5.1 patch, reboot their system and start a new backup image set beginning with a new full image.

http://www.storagecraft.com/software_update.php

 

The ISO needs to be redownloaded too?

 

There is no new ISO yet to download.

After installing the 3.51 update it seems that I can no longer activate SPD. I sent a support request but I don't know if this an issue with 3.51 or just a glitch with my system.

 

It *must* be an issue with 3.5.1 because I'm experiencing the same anomaly. The s/w will not accept any of my serial numbers. Instead, it simply informs me that "there are no activations remaining for this serial number...".

I hope this gets fixed or else it appears as if I'll be calling support on Monday.

 

Any idea if a restore would work if run from the ISO file? Or possibly restoring from an FDISR archive might get things working again...not sure how their activation works.

 

I'm not at all certain. I suspect, though, that I could restore one of my images and it would work fine (i.e. no activation issues). Problem is I'd wind up with the last build (3.5.0) rather than the latest.

At this point, I'm sure the activation issue is the direct result of some glitch in the new build. You experienced it on your machine and I have the same issue after installing it on *two* separate machines. Gotta be some problem with this build and their activation servers, or the like. Hopefully, they'll rectify this on Monday.

 

I just did a quick backup and restore of a small partition after booting with the ISO file and it worked fine, no activation issues as you said. We'll just have to get it sorted out on Monday.

 

Yep, Monday. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I'm not going to be forced to jump through all sorts of hoops on this one. I have no idea why the s/w is indicating I have "no activations remaining" when I only activated the s/w **once** (immediately after I first purchased the licenses).

I will say this, however: If I have to spend an inordinate amount of time getting this resolved, I'm going to seriously consider buying another product. I am of the opinion that, after paying top dollar for licenses, we shouldn't have to be thoroughly inconvenienced when developers' activation schemes implode.

 

I had the same no activations remaining issue with the previous version, and I was able to sort it easily enough by e-mailing support.

 

Yep, done! Again, however, it's a shame doing so is necessary in the first place, IMHO. Anyway, lesson learned: don't upgrade on a weekend (or late Friday) and SC should probably think twice about releasing new versions on weekends as well.

 

I agree. I don't really like the licensing guidelines Storagecraft imposes on its customers, especially for a product that costs $80 US, although I have no problems with the cost, because it's a great product, but that should be it - a lifetime license with no activation restrictions.

 

Absolutely - couldn't agree more! No activation hassles......not at these prices.

 

I don't and will never use the incremental function of SP, so I'm not going to update. I should also add that I find it more and more of a pain to download the ISO whenever there is an update, create a new recovery CD and eventually new backups.

Obviously the update is not mandatory.

 

I too tried to update : the activation wouldn't work, because I need the german language version, which is still in 3.5.0. Too bad !

 

One thing isn't clear to me. Major Upgrades (v.3->v.4) are not free (unless you have that yearly subscription thing). Minor updates like this one are free right (till major v.4)?

 

I'm thinking about buying SPD right now, and I wonder when they will release 4.xx version, I asked about this on SP forum - without any answer from development team

 

According to SP, if you do not have a yearly subscription, you are not entitled an update.

See here

Under "Sales & Ordering" see, "What is '1 Year Maintenance', and should I purchase it?" and "What does 'upgrade pricing' cover?"

This should answer your questions.

 

So without the year subscription this minor update because of the incrementals is not free?
Sorry i dont understand this.

 

Yes, this is what it says. You can only get updates if you have an active maintenance subscription. If you do not then you can purchase the update separately.

Let me quote below

 

....And THAT appears to have changed since I first purchased the s/w. I'm going to quote part of a post by Nate from the SC forum:

We typically provide all minor version upgrades free-of-cost to existing customers. In other words, if you paid for version 3.0, and 3.1 becomes available...then existing 3.0 customers will receive 3.1 for no cost. However, when major new features are added to the product the product receives a major version increment (such as 4.0) and in this case an existing 3.x customer would not automatically receive 4.0 for free. However, at the time that you purchase ShadowProtect you can pay some additional amount...to receive "Maintenance"...

 

When I tried SP v3.3 about 3-4 months ago, they had the same policy that I quoted previously. In fact, this was the reason I did not go for SP as it was too expensive for me.

I am currently trialing the 30 day free evaluation of v3.5 and had 14 days still left. I installed this update v3.5.1 and it reset the clock back to 30. So, I have restored to an earlier image and will probably install this update when my 30 days for v3.5 run out and get another 30 days for free.

Also, I have tested it in Vmware. Versions 3.3, 3.5 and 3.5.1 do not carry on each others licenses. So, if I install 3.3 over 3.5.1, I will get another 30 days free evaluation period.

 

The good thing is that v.3.5 works good for me. No bugs here.

 

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. The bug probably is only applicable to windows 7 or only if you try to mount your incrementals. I have done 3-4 restores with v3.5 on Vista and the image set had chained incrementals and had no problems. But I never mounted my incrementals, so maybe the bug only prevents you from mounting.

 

I make incremental Backups/Restores in Win7 without problems. And im not afraid
But since i have a new big hdd i also have a Full Backup made with Image for Windows, just in case .
Both take around 10-11 minutes (each) to backup so its not a big deal.