Introducing AX64 Time Machine - hybrid imaging/snapshot software

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by Isso, Jan 18, 2013.

  1. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    BG, it was never released (it was a BETA released on 06Nov2013), it was an ongoing development fix. v1.4.1.24 was the official follow-on release for v1.3.0.7... it had additional fixes for W8.1.
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2014
  2. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    So what is this bullet proof app that in its entire history has not had a single failure?
     
  3. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    Thanks Froggie,
     
  4. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    I totally agree. Imaging software has to be 100%. I am using build 36 on two of my desktops and so far hot restore has been 100%, but I do back it up with Macrium Reflect STd which has been 100%.

    Pete
     
  5. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    I never had any failures with Shadowprotect(released versions) and also now with Macrium Reflect.

    Pete
     
  6. jwcca

    jwcca Registered Member

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    Same here, ran SP until I switched to MR.
     
  7. silver0066

    silver0066 Registered Member

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    I never had any backup problems with SP either. I did have some problems with their activation procedures however. I have not had any problems with AXTM hot or cold using Win 8.1 64 bit and AXTM 1.41.36. So far no problems with the new Win 2014 update either.
     
  8. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    Just because you have not had a failure with these apps does not in any way indicate that they are 100% reliable. I bet if you search the net you will find folks who have had failures with these. Besides, even if in the past they have been 100% reliable for 100% of people who have ever used them it still does not guarantee that a failure is not possible. We are talking about 100% reliability here, not just some folks experience, but everyones.

    Anyway, each to their own and I hope your winning streak continues for ever. Me, I prefer to follow what my signature advises. For me thats 2 imaging apps,,,,, just in case.

    As to SP and 100% reliability see the linked to page below ----- that was the easiest win I have ever had in a discussion

    https://www.google.ca/search?num=100&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&as_qdr=all&q=.&btnG=Search#as_qdr=all&hl=en&newwindow=1&num=100&q=failures with Shadowprotect.&safe=off
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2014
  9. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    I am also using multi imaging. Once a month with SP from RE. Daily with both Macrium Reflect with and AX64. I agree that the same software might not work for everyone, but the only way to know is test. In the relatively short time I've had Macrium I"ve already done well over a 100 restores, and since putting AX64 build 36 on my desktops I've done even more hot restores.

    Pete
     
  10. jwcca

    jwcca Registered Member

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    Hardly a win, it turned out to be senseless garbage when I clicked on it.

    People may have problems with apps when they do something stupid and then they blame the app rather than accept responsibility so your conclusion that people exist that have problems is not accurate in the context in which you stated your opinion.

    There are entries in the change logs for those apps that reveal that the vendors have had to fix something, that's true of many apps and will continue to be true. There won't likely ever be an app that's 100% problem free, but the true professionals like SP & MR are very close and thus are worthy of the trust shown.

    So, what will you do the day when BOTH your apps fail? It could happen. Do you then buy a third one?

    Here's an example,
    https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/making-an-image-with-macrium-reflect.362531/
    User upgraded, ran backup, not enough space so fail. Not MR's fault. User hadn't specified high enough compression to fit. User didn't clean up afterwards. There was no backup so it couldn't be 'seen'. All user errors, not the apps fault.
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2014
  11. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    I love the idea behind snapshot programs. A few years ago I jumped on the Rollback Rx bandwagon and was amazed at the operational flexibility it provided. Then one day Rx crashed my system and I lost 2 week's worth of additions and changes to my data/docs! Fortunately (thanks to Drive Snapshot), it wasn't any worse than that. Naturally, I said goodbye to Rx but missed the convenience of a snapshot program, so when AX64 was introduced I started using it (along with DS). Although AX64 hasn't crashed my system neither can I say that it's been very reliable insofar as restoring snapshots. I hope to see the day that I consider it worthy of dropping DS, but that day just isn't here yet.

    Cruise
     
  12. Acadia

    Acadia Registered Member

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    Ok, my two cents. Through the years I have found 3-4 programs that I can absolutely rely on for backup. But to rely on just one to me is risky. There is always a first time for everything and remember, software programs are written by humans who with all good intentions still are not perfect. What is wrong with having a second safety net? And boy, talk about a sense of security when playing with and doing crazy things to my system.

    I use one program for "instant" recovery, you know, just a couple of minutes. But I like protecting my system with other programs in case something goes wrong, usually my own stupid mistakes, like has happened two times thru my computing years including just this past week, just the second time that I ever needed my "backup" backup program to save me.

    Acadia
     
  13. jwcca

    jwcca Registered Member

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    Full disclosure:
    I use both First Defense and Macrium Reflect for backup of my system, but for slightly different purposes.
    FD is for testing new progs, if I don't like or have a problem, restore a good snap.
    MR is for hardware failure or new hardware, to avoid installing Windows & FD again, then restore an FD archive.
    So you could argue that I have two backup apps and you'd be right, but the context is different.

    I looked at AX way back when it was 'alpha', had a problem, I couldn't create a backup to a (second) HDD, entered a support ticket, never heard back.
    Result, haven't tried it since but have been tracking this thread to see if it matured to the point that I'd use it. Still too many problems for me, I'm not prepared to Beta test. I do hope it matures and becomes as rock solid as my current apps.
     
  14. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    I can only quote my own experience of well over ten thousand restores and no imaging app has failed to restore an image.

    What do I do differently? I don't have large images as my data is not stored in the OS partition. I can restore my Win8.1 partition in well under two minutes. But whether this explains our differences, I don't know.
     
  15. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    Well a failed backup or restore is still a failure. As to users doing something they should not which leads to failure, often its the complexity of the app which is the cause of this. This is one of the reasons I like AX64. Very simple to learn and use and fairly high reliability. THis is why I have recommended it to all my aquaintances who do not do any imaging because its "too much work", Takes too much time", Is too complicated. No AX64 is not 100% but I think I will leave it to you to prove to me that SP and Macrium are 100% reliable since you rejected ALL the links that were associated with the search term.

    In addition, as far as I am concerned,,,,,,,,

    The vendors having to fix something is still a failure attributable to the program. We can rightfully say that all failures not due to user error need to be fixed by the developers,,,,,, so if you are going to hold this position then all apps are therefore potentially 100% reliable -----,the developer just has to fix whatever is wrong!!!! So how does this work? Do you put a time frame on it,,,,if its not fixed withing X time frame its an error and the app is not to be considered reliable, but if it is fixed within that time frame, the fact that the recovery or backup failed does not count?

    And yes, they both may fail, but the odds of that happening are relatively low and I can live with that. If you feel 100% secure with either SP or Macrium good. Use it/them, and as I said I hope your winning streak lasts forever. Nothing in life however is guaranteed, except death and taxes,,,,well taxes anyway.

    I just crused over to the SP forum and plugged the search term "failure" into the search dialoge box. this is what came back http://www.storagecraft.com/support/search/node/failure

    then I plugged in "failed restore" http://www.storagecraft.com/support/search/node/failed restore

    then failed backup http://www.storagecraft.com/support/search/node/failed backup

    I could go on I guess but I think at least some of these are not of the garbage category.

    Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe SP to be an excellent program and early on in this thread I challenged Isso to compare AX64 to SP since SP is the gold standard by which all imaging apps are measured. But gold standard does not translate to 100% guaranteed to work every time and in all circumstances. To me that is exactly what 100% reliable means. It will work 100% of the time,,,,,not 99% of the time,,,,,and not only if you have studies the users guide and made sure you do everything absolutely correctly, every time, and not if the developer fixes problems shortly after they are identified. 100% reliable means the app will work as its supposed to 100% of the time,,,,no excuses,,,end of story.
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2014
  16. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    That is a very large number of restores and I can, given your experience, see why you feel that SP (you are referring to SP here are you not, you did say "and no imaging app has failed to restore an image") is EXTREMELY reliable.

    Still, I have a problem accepting the term 100% reliable since all it would take is a single failure, today, yesterday, or tomorrow, to invalidate this claim.
     
  17. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    Amen to that.

    I am, in hindsight, surprised that the mod has not chastised us for this discussion since it is way off topic.
     
  18. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    I haven't used SP in the last couple of years.

    This story has nothing to do with imaging but it did remind me of why two isn't always better than one. Some people won't fly in single engine aircraft because in the event of engine failure you might die. They prefer twin engine aircraft. But there is a death due to engine failure for every 200,000 hours flown in a single engine aircraft and for every 100,000 hours flown in a twin engine aircraft. "One engine is dangerous and two are twice as dangerous".
     
  19. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    o_O??which app are you talking about then.

    Are you really suggesting that using 2 imaging apps is riskier than using 1? (I suspect not)

    To take this discussion even further off topic ----- I can almost feel the mods hot breath on my neck as I type -

    There is something called the Monty Hall Fallacy (or something like that). What is says is that in the case where you are given a choice between 3 outcomes, and one of them that you did not choose is shown to be a disaster. As on the show Lets Make a Deal, you are given the opportunity to change your initial choice to the remaining option, and most people do not,,,,the argument is,,,,that YOU ALWAYS SHOULD CHANGE.

    The reasoning goes something like this. In the initial scenario the odds were 3 to 1 against you picking the most desirable outcome. Now, the odds are 2 to 1 so, as the argument goes, the chance that you picked the most desirable outcome when the odds were 3 to 1 are such that you have now have a better chance tot selected the most desirable option if you change. Thus, changing your choice is supposed to actually increase your odds of getting the best outcome.

    Makes no sense to me, 50/50 is still 50/50 and either of the remaining, un revealed, choices are as likely, to my mind, to be the best outcome.

    I can dig up a more definitive explanation of the MHF if anyone wants and if the mod will allow. Mine above is rather sketchy.
     
  20. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    I'm not referring to any particular app. None failed to restore an image. But if you are asking which app I'm using now, the TeraByte imaging apps. For me they are such fun to use. There are so many different ways you can create and restore an image. Manually and automatically.
     
  21. Grumpa

    Grumpa Registered Member

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    Everyone is pretending that they can't see the real "elephant in the room". The AX64 "discussion" has deteriorated to useless babble. This was at one time a meaningful place to engage Isso about his vision, recommend features, answer AX64 related questions, identify and correct "bugs", and establish an engaged user peer group. Through no fault of anyone here, I believe that moment, and the possibilities, and the excitement has been lost. I have 4 licenses, across 5 betas, problems with no support, questions, promises not met, feature requests, and no real hope of anything other than what I have now. This isn't Isso's vision. This feels like done. What a shame.
     
  22. clubhouse1

    clubhouse1 Registered Member

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    Completely agree^^^^^^^
     
  23. manolito

    manolito Registered Member

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    +1
     
  24. jwcca

    jwcca Registered Member

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    Since I don't have AX64 I may not have a right to vote but:
    I've been an avid 'lurker' waiting to see how this turns out and right now I simply have to agree with Grumpa and Clubhouse and Manolito.

    (I posted to support Pete's statement)
     
  25. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    That was not my experience,,,,especially with Acronis TI. Had many failures and eventually gave up on it.
    I have never tried TeraByte but have heard good things about it.

    Grumpa, no one is missing the elephant in the room, its just that we can do nothing about it. Definitely the momentum for AX64 has been lost and so has a lot of confidence for its future.
     
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