ShadowProtect vs. ATI

and al the dudes who pushed you to do these things,feel sorry for you !

 

That was the purpose of the test.
Trying something to restore that is very possible in practice : one harddisk with 3 partitions : C, D and E.
Some users separate their data files from system files and create on their only harddisk at least TWO partitions :
1. System partition [C:] = Windows + Applications (+ FDISR)
2. Data partition [D:] = personal files, emails, ...
The restoration of both partitions failed with ATI and SP, which means high time for Paragon users to test this also, if they have the courage.

 

Peter,
My zero tool is only for my type of harddisks (WD Raptors), it's not a general zero tool.
Why didn't you try DiskPart ?

 

You got that right. It's better to know this IN ADVANCE, than having this problem, when you really need it.

 

Sooner or later, you have to 'bite the bullet' and do a thorough eval on the PC on which the disk-image program is intended to be used. Unless your Test PC and Primary PC are identically configured (OS, motherboard and ALL components), a disk-imaging program could very well work on one's 'testbed' but not on the primary PC!

 

As with most laptops mine has but 1 HDD, so when I bought it a year ago I partitioned it into C:, D: and E: to separate my OS & Programs (C) from my Data & Docs (D) and Music & Photos (E). Since then I have successfully used ATI to image and restore all 3 partitions (Entire Disk) on a few occaissions... I can't understand Pete's difficulty in accomplishing the same thing with ATI, but it would be very interesting to discover why!

At this time, I only have a single partition HDD on my test system (with PHDM 8.5 installed), but over this weekend I will use PHDM to create 2 additional partitions on that drive and see if PHDM can successfully image and restore them.

 

I sure did when my pc kicked the bucket 2 months ago.

 

Peter didn't even get to ATI or SP for restoration, he had another problem.
So we still don't know if SP can handle such situation.
Peter was also planning to try ATI, but ATI wasn't included in my request, but I don't mind about that, because ATI must also prove itself.
According you ATI can handle such a situation and that's what I expected.

The test with multiple partitions should be done in two separate tests :
1. First with restoration of the whole harddisk.
2. Then with restoration of each partition separately.

 

Maybe Darik's Boot and Nuke can wipe the harddisk :
http://dban.sourceforge.net/features.html

 

Oops, somehow I misunderstood that... But I can assure you that ATI does the job 100% (that is with the version of ATI on my laptop)!

I will try both methods as you suggest, but won't get to it until tomorrow (at the very earliest) as I first have to first backup my test system's single partition, create the additional partitions and then populate them.

 

If you can get a hold of the Hiren's Boot CD 8.9 i use Active KillDisk to Zero all my Hard Drives with it. Theres an option to write randoms too which i use before writing zeros. Works.

 

The main reason why you should test the restoration of each partition separately, is this :
A user usually creates two partitions, because his data partition requires a daily backup, while his system partition only requires a backup when it has been changed, but that doesn't happen every day.
This means also that he doesn't have to restore both partitions, if only his system partition needs to be restored and that saves backup/restore time.
You were smart, because you created a third partition to store graphical files, which also increase the backup/restore time significantly.
I didn't need a third partition because I'm not interested in graphical files.

Of course it also depends on how big the volumes of each partition are.

 

On my 200 Gb Maxtor i have it sectioned into 3 partitions. The system partition C:\ (80Gb w/ 49.9% UsedSpace/Data), with MBR backs up and restores great with Paragon Drive BackUp Pro. I tested this yesterday, all day long. Also another partition of lesser amount done very well also. But i have one partition that throws up an error in Paragon every single attempt just barely into it at (2.31Gb) to a 32.7Gb image. I'm still looking into this matter and have questioned support for an answer or solution. At least my MAIN system goes off without a hitch.

Now the coop de gras will be to IMAGE the entire drive partitions and all and restore, several times. I am always greatly suspicious if just a single glitch or error rears it's ugly head and throws me into a complete panic.

 

Well Pete, for me anyway, pc matters of critical importance such as imaging are improving much more than i been accustomed to in the past. In reality, enough time is passed where imaging programs have been able to overcome plenty of obstacles in XP. Now they have a whole 'nother hurdle to cross in Vista.

Speaking but briefly on Vista slightly OT, I already collected plenty of freelance developers latest creations, and not just those mediocre at best Vista Transformation Packs, but COMPLETE Vista features, graphical one's specifically, that been ported over very nicely to XP whereby my XP Pro has all the trappings as a Vista so far as looks without adding too many additional programs. The only enhancement lacking is the Flip 3-D. TopDesk doesn't do it for me, so i'm waiting to see what other alternatives surface. The Vista appearances and sounds are pretty cool though. I finally don't have to look at that silly flag anymore in IE but a cool spinning wheel.