Sysrestore by Xia Software (new snapshot/backup program?)

I received a PM from Xiasoftware today:

My reply:

Hi Xia, thank you for your reply.

As far as I know Rollback RX and its sister products were the only 'true' snapshot apps that feature full SDD and TRIM compatibility; so if you guys have managed to make it work with SSDs that's great news! The way RX did it is a mystery, a lot of users believe that their workaround actually forces RAID mode on the SSD, therefore disabling TRIM.

Still, the approach of SysRestore snapshoting seems to be different to RX and CTM, so I'm glad you managed it. Just a couple of questions:

1. Does SysRestore store its snapshots on the drive's free space and then re-directs writes to those sectors like RX/CTM does?
   
2. Is TRIM fully functional with SysRestore?
   
3. What about the SSD's internal garbage collection? GC is intitiated by the SSD's controller and as such its actions are not interceptible by a driver. If GC re-orders data around like it does, how can it not mess-up the snapshots?

Looking forward to hearing your comments on this, thanks again and best regards!

Alex

 

Since a week I'm testing Sysrestore Pro on a computer with french edition of XP Pro SP3.

I use this computer mainly for testing new softwares.
I have already restored several times a snapshot and for the moment the conclusion is simple :

NO ISSUES

 

Greetings, CM. I don't mean to answer XiaSoftware's question directly... just sharing some important info about the inner workings of SSD GC (Garbage Collection).

SSDs maintain their own disk sector allocation table that matches what the OS has. This allows it do do whatever it wishes behind that table to its own contents without affecting how the OS sees the drive. Even it it moves and regroups data to eliminate massive rewrite cycles, that position translation is managed through its own allocation tables... Windows doesn't see anything move that it didn't ask for.

 

Thank you for the explanation my friend, it does make more sense now. So if GC moves data that belong to inactive snapshots (data that the OS cannot see anyway), how does a program like RX cope with it?

 

Sorry... I need to be a li'l clearer. It's not just what the OS sees, it's what the low level disk service (which is actually part of the OS) sees, and that's controlled by RBrx when it's resident on a system.

Even when the high level OS (Windows 7) issues a TRIM command to the disk subsystem to say a disk block has been deleted (as far as data is concerned), the subsystem (and whoever controls it... RBrx, etc.) must inhibit that TRIM from reaching the SSD (if it's managing snapshots the way RBrx does) or the block will indeed, eventually, be disposed of, datawise.

That low level disk I/O management is where it's all done in the OS... then the SSD, behind it's own allocation tables, does whatever it's allowed to do.

 

Thank you again TRF for the detailed rundown, now I finally got it!

 

I downloaded the Pro version and promo code for this but it was after July 23rd, so not sure if it will activate, although the promo is still listed on their site.
Personally, I would rather use imaging in comparison to snapshot style apps.

Anyone still testing this? Is it worth a try? I am guessing it still needs some work considering a few comments from a few testers.

 

I'm still wondering.

 

As far as I am aware, any system restore/snapshot style application such as RollbackRX, Farstone, sysnew, CTM, etc., must alter a systems MBR in order to offer their features preboot. The only other option would be a virtual "undo" like time freeze style app that can undo changes by rebooting, etc., without the need to insert itself within the boot record.

Just my thoughts, but personally I prefer imaging over quick restore style apps, although there are certainly excellent featured apps to do this and are convenient, it does not offer a full solution comparing it to image backups.

I am curious about sysnew sysrestore app, but feel much safer using a reliable image backup solution.

 

Of course there is nothing preventing anyone from using a quick restore app plus an image backup.

 

Good point 2Y I guess my only concern about using both would be how well the restore app worked along with imaging. I have read about if one wants to keep all snapshots, etc then an image must be conducted using the backup all sector approach which certainly adds much time image creation, but that was geared more towards I think rollback, but if all sector is not used, than some say only the most current snapshot would be saved.

I get confused I guess, because if it takes an all sector approach to image something like rollback or other snapshot tech., then why does it even save the current snapshot if the writes are in RAW form on the disk?

See, I am a bit confused with some of the methods, but your point is a good one. years back, I used Farstone RestoreIT on an XP machine. I also imaged, and never had a problem as I would disable RestoreIT before i created and image. I do not remember any problems so to speak, and I admit, the snapshot technology is convenient for quick restores. Always something to try! LOL

Thanks

 

Tried the free version.All good,except ONE BIG exception.I've made two different snapshots and i wanted to revert to one of them.After the 2 restarts,my system was indeed reverted to the right snapshot,but i realized with horror that the other snapshots were gone!!Bad,bad,bad...
And yes,the deleted snapshots were locked.That's what i call a piece of s...
Anyone can confirm this?

 

I haven't installed it yet as I'm still using Rollback RX at the moment, but if this problem is replicated by others then it's a major bug. Jumping from newer to older snapshots and vice versa should be seamless, without any snapshots disappearing...

 

I don't know if it's a bug or not,but i installed-reinstalled Sysrestore 2 times and the result was the same.The snapshots disappear after a restored one.

 

Joe, hve you tried to e-mail them directly and explain the problem? Last time Xia logged in here they said that Wilders was being blocked in China (....)

It's probably best to let them know of this issue via e-mail.

 

Thanks for the suggestion,done.Now i'm waiting for the answer.

 

In all their documentation (and there's not much available), there's not a single mention of the ability to be a "time machine" as far as snapshots go (i.e., Rollback RX or CTM), only the ability to do multiple snapshots.

That leads me to believe this app provides nothing more than a multiple state virtual sandbox... instead of only 1 state to return to, you have many.

Without any more documentation or some input from XiaSoftware, I don't think there's much more we can learn at this point.

 

Sorry for late reply. The giveaway shall be used before its expire date July 23. If you missed the giveaway or haven't used before expiration, we would host another giveaway probably next month or the end of this month. Stay updated on our Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/sysnew

 

Thank you for your reply.
I received the email answer from Sysrestore,about the so called bug.It's not a bug,it's the way the software is working.

Well,that's it....I don't see any good for me to use a software that makes screenshots of my system,but doesn't keeps them for the later use when i'll need them.It's simply useless for me.

 

So Froggie was right.

In this case Joe you should wait for Comodo Time Machine 3 (or go for Rollback RX) if you need fast snapshot functionality...

 

I just won an activation code for "Sysrestore by Xia Software" and came over here to Wilders Security Forums to see if there was any information on it.

I have found that I really need something better that windows 7 system restore which has failed to work enough times over the years that I live in constant dread of having to reformat my machine if the system restore function does not work.

BUT, so far this thread is scaring me off from installing "Sysrestore by Xia Software." .....If I get a blue screen and cannot reboot or my regular system restore does not work, then I'm up the proverbial "creek without a paddle again, left to reformat."

I have also been looking at Macrium Reflect Free, Paragon, Easeus Todo Backup, and get a few positive but a lot of troubling accounts all over the web .

Maybe this part of PC technology has not yet been fully developed enough to recommend anything out there as being easy to use, quick to work, and not scary to install.

I used the first version of Comodo's backup on the Athlon PC I had before I got this new Dell , but Comodo was slow and I had to debug my hard drive a lot over the time I used it.

Anybody got any response that can help me. Or, must we all wait until Microsoft gets its operating system's "system restore" function finally reliable?

Thanks for hearing me out.

 

For free try Keriver 1-Click Restore. For paid try Drive Snapshot and Terbyte's product range.

 

Hi divinenews

Welcome to Wilders! As you mentioned, every solution you mentioned does not always fit the users needs, it may cause problems, the problems may or may not be due to user error using such programs, etc.

There are many threads here on the forum that Ithink you should take the time to review, and come to a conclusion that best suits how YOU would like to manage your computer backup/imaging needs. If you are looking for a free solution, there are several that are very good, but do not of course contain all the features that maybe more advanced users would need. In your case, it sounds like you are tired of the format/reinstall routine that us windows users have learned quite well over the years. LOL I know how you feel.

Here is a quick free list that is very capable at the very least, to enable you to make an image of your Windows partition, preferably when windows is in a good stable state, perhaps just after a fresh install, before it gets corrupted with a host of problems. Macrium free, Keriver 1 click restore free (<this one may be just the right choice as you can install it, and allow it to boot into a restore mode without bootable media, but to do that, it must alter your MBR or master boot record, or you can create a rescue disk which I advise to do), Drive Image XML (<this one does not come with its own bootable media but must be created using plugins, so this is not likely a good program to start with, but it is very capable). I could include several others, but I advise to start with something that is easiest to learn, and at least help you create a good backup image.

Many years ago when I first began to learn disk/partition imaging, I was terrified I would do something wrong and end up with a useless system having to go through all the format/reinstall routines. But after a short time, it really was not difficult to learn to create an 'image', a byte for byte duplicate of your disk or a partition, and that created file is generally compressed into a file that, when needed, you can use a bootable CD to bring up the restore feature of the program you used to create the image, and then proceed to restore to that exact point in time that you created the backup image.

That is the simple part, once you find what solution works easiest and most reliable for your needs. I suggest doing a search in this category of backup, imaging & disk mgmt, and taking the time to learn what is available.

It is good to ask questions, and there are a lot of threads that are very helpful for someone like you looking for a reliable backup solution. You only need to start with 2 areas: A reliable proven product that is easy for you to utilize, and make sure that product has a reliable restore facility so that you can create a bootable disk in order to access the restore features. Once you find this, it is enough to protect your windows system when it decides to stop working properly.

Other more in depth features you can learn once you have run through and performed the basic function you need...create an image backup, and be able to restore it.

I hope you find the choice that works well for you. Also remember, that if you use windows 7, it has built in drive imaging that many have found useful. You can find out more about this within your Win 7 help files.

Take the time to learn...there are great free choices that can do the job you require, without being too complicated, but you can learn as you are able to accomplish each beginning step. it really is not that difficult, although at first, it can be scary.

Jim

 

I dont know if my post is one of the posts that puts you off, but remember just because I have problems doesnt mean that you will have. Have you tried Image for Windows? It is very reliable, rock solid IME (I have done more than 100 successful restores without any problems). For me Macrium has so far been very reliable too, not a single problem in 30+ (or so, I´ve lost count ) restores.

 

Bump, anyone else still using this? I'm lurking this thread for a while now, and I'm now thinking of using it.