AX64 Time Machine VS Rollback RX PC?

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by Cutting_Edgetech, May 30, 2014.

  1. Cutting_Edgetech

    Cutting_Edgetech Registered Member

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    I'm needing to use some snapshot software for a while to make testing software more painless. I use to use Rollback RX PC on windows XP, but have not used it in a few years. I'm using Windows 7X64 now. I see a lot of users here starting to use AX64 Time Machine. Are there any features that Rollback RX has that AX64 does not? How do they compare in terms of performance? Does one roll back your machine considerably faster than the other? Does one take considerably longer to create a snapshot than the other? I'm already using Shadow Protect version 4.2.7.19756 for full disk backup. Are there any known conflicts between Shadow Protect, and AX64, or Rollback RX? Also, will AX64, or Rollback RX prevent me from using Shadow Protect to roll back my computer to an earlier image even if that image was before ever installing AX64, or Rollback RX?
     
  2. Cutting_Edgetech

    Cutting_Edgetech Registered Member

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    I went ahead, and installed AX64 since I have not used it before. I tried creating my first backup, and it failed. I got an error as shown in the screen shot below. I'm trying to save my backup image to an external drive K:\AXTM. I'm using Windows 7X64 Ultimate.
     

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  3. manolito

    manolito Registered Member

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    For the differences between Rollback and AX64 have a look here:
    https://ax64.uservoice.com/knowledg...parison-to-rollback-rx-eaz-fix-comodo-time-ma

    The backup error you experienced is caused by ShadowProtect. AX64 is not compatible with it, see here:
    https://ax64.uservoice.com/knowledg...compatibility-with-storagecraft-shadowprotect


    Cheers
    manolito
     
  4. Cutting_Edgetech

    Cutting_Edgetech Registered Member

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    Ok, thank you Manolito! That settles it then; I will not be able to use AX64 unless it can be made compatible with Shadow Protect. I thought AX64 was a snapshot application, but after reading a description of it it's clear that it is not. I did not know that AX64 used full disk imaging. It definitely would be way more reliable than Rollback RX thought. I see why it is not compatible with Shadow Protect now since they work very similarly. I've been using Shadow Protect for several years, and i'm very happy with it. Also, I spent a fortune on SP! Shadow Protect is really expensive for home users. It would be a huge waste of money to ditch it now. If I build anymore machines I will definitely give AX64 a try though! The description said AX64 only takes 10-40 seconds to rollback a machine. That is extremely fast for an imaging application that does not use snapshot technology!
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2014
  5. guest

    guest Guest

    AXTM is an Hybrid between snapshot ones (RX, CTM, etc...) and imaging ones (macrium, acronis, etc...) ; it doesn't mess with the MBR like RX does, do backups (called snapshots) faster than imaging softs but slower than RX.

    you loose a bit of speed for reliability.

    the first snapshot take times (around 15mn) with a 20gb system partition, later snapshots takes around from 40+seconds to 5mn (depend the machine specs and what is added from the baseline, hourly snapshots are the fastest of course).

    I used to love Rx but since it made me lost all my partitions after a simple powercut, cant boot , and had to format the whole drive. i will never go to it agin (unless they include a safe way to backup & restore my partitions table during the boot before its installation )

    for the moment all cold restore i did with AXTM v1 were successful.
     
  6. Cutting_Edgetech

    Cutting_Edgetech Registered Member

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    I can't use it. It's not compatible with Shadow Protect. Look at the post by monolito.
     
  7. kriteshHDS

    kriteshHDS Registered Member

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    I have been a user of both products AX64 and Rollback RX and I found that AX64 is just another back up product that is a little faster but it is not an instant recovery software. AX64 takes much longer and takes up more hard drive space than Rollback RX. I find that Rollback RX is much easier to use because of the sub console and is compatible with virtual machines. The space that Rollback RX uses is very minimal on your hard drive and loads your snapshots very quickly.
     
  8. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    I have to take issue with Kritesh on some of the above. First of all, Rollback RX uses appx. 40% more disk space to manage its snapshot data (other than the baseline), and all that space must be located on the protected drive (but can't be seen by the user). AX64 saves the exact same data (other than the baseline), but does so by compressing it at appx. a 40% level and saving it on another drive or partition (internal or external). This allows AX64 to recreate the protected drive in case of hardware drive failure... Rollback RX cannot do that.

    Rollback is a very fast instant restore application but is sensitive to changes in disk structures other than the Windows managed areas (the Master Boot Record, for example). Rollback is a decent instant restore app but users of this product should definitely have a separate backup imaging product to protect the Rollback Rx-protected drive against drive failure. I believe the OP said he had Shadow Protect for that purpose so that need is gold on their system.
     
  9. Cutting_Edgetech

    Cutting_Edgetech Registered Member

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    Yes, I have Shadow Protect installed on my machines. If AX64 was compatible with Shadow Protect then I would use them together if AX64 rolled my machine back with speeds similar to snapshot software. I'm looking for something to make software testing less painful, and less time consuming. It's also a lot of wear on my disk to do a full disk restore each time I test a new build. I don't like using VM's for testing software so that's not an option for me.
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2014
  10. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    AX64 does not do a full disk restore each time you rollback, its hot restore function only re-writes what was changed from the time of the current state to the time of the rolled to snap.
     
  11. Cutting_Edgetech

    Cutting_Edgetech Registered Member

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    That's exactly what i'm looking for, but I was informed it was not compatible with Shadow Protect. I tried using AX64, and I got the error shown above in post 2. I was informed it was due to me using Shadow Protect.
     
  12. hashl

    hashl Registered Member

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    I would go for Rollback RX. In terms of performance, Rollback is considerably fast. I have Rollback RX installed in my PC at home and snapshots are very quick to take (3-5 seconds max). Another thing I like about Rollback is that it operates like a mini OS before Windows, so in case of any failure (malware, viruses affecting your PC) I can quickly access it before Windows boots up.

    As far as hardware drive failure is concerned, there is an imaging software called Drive Cloner RX (from the makers of Rollback) that works in conjunction to Rollback RX. With its latest version, one is going to be able to export their snapshots in an image.
     
  13. Baldrick

    Baldrick Registered Member

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    Yes, perhaps...but RB Rx seriously messes with your MBR...so be careful..if it goes wrong (and believe me it can) it REALLY screws your system
     
  14. Masterblaster

    Masterblaster Registered Member

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    Windows 8.1 and Rollback RX 10.2 and Drive Clover 5 are NOT comparable with one another. Do not attempt this. At some point in the distant future they claim to offer a compatible version on DC6 but they have a VERY long history of missing release dates by many months. I believe DC6 is already over 1 year late and there are other projests ahead of it.
     
  15. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    FYI... what Hashl is referring to above is Drive Cloner v6, which has been promised for a little over 2-yrs now, your mileage may vary.
     
  16. Damir Khamzin

    Damir Khamzin Registered Member

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    Although that can happen, it's very, very rare. It doesn't "mess with the MBR" and these situations occur only when conflicting software (Such as certain anti-viruses or third party encryption) have been installed.

    With RollBack RX, you won't need an anti virus. Just RollBack to a previous snapshot and all traces of the intrusion are gone from your system. :)
     
  17. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Ok, it doesn't mess with the MBR, but it does modify the MBR ...and yes, I'm one of those "very very rare situations" where Rx totally trashed my system!


    Wow, does that ever sound like the 'party-line' from HDS (and it's BS)!

    Cruise
     
  18. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Interesting that it is his first post. Hmm
     
  19. taotoo

    taotoo Registered Member

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    Never ascribe to malice etc...
     
  20. MarcP

    MarcP Registered Member

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    Not so rare. Count me as another victim who once paid the heavy price. Never again.
     
  21. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Just so nothing is hidden it has been confirmed this new member is from HDS

    Pete
     
  22. Masterblaster

    Masterblaster Registered Member

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    I am also in the RRX trashed my computer club but I lost 2 of them. Everything.
    And not needing anti-virus with RRX is pure BS. Many times you do not know when you were infected so you are not sure where to go back to. And once you revert backwards, you will lose everything in-between the current date and the reverted date.
    And modifying the MBR is not messing with it? That's also BS.
    That's irresponsible for a representative from HDS to make these statements.
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2014
  23. MarcP

    MarcP Registered Member

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    Well, that guy is sure not helping HDS to come on here and be a sneaky evangelist.
     
  24. Baldrick

    Baldrick Registered Member

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    Well, that is pure c@#p given that the MBR is changed when you install RB Rx, and a copy of your original MBR is stashed away, or has something changed recently that I am not aware of.

    I am not saying that it always 'damaged' by being written to at installation but there are clearly cases where that has happened and I suspect that the same could be achieved without having to touch the MBR.
     
  25. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    What a shocker, I would never have guessed on my own (in case you missed it that was sarcasm).
     
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