Introducing AX64 Time Machine - hybrid imaging/snapshot software

The best alternative, imho, is Macrium Reflect. That's what I'm using now. I still use the 1.48 version of AX64, but I don't rely on it. My go-to is MR paid.

 

Thanks

 

Yes, Macrium Reflect Pro. Its not as simple to set up as AX/FB but it can do everything RX/FB can do and does not have its issues.

 

I too have Macrium reflect but was looking for something on the lines of Rollback.

 

I had Rollback and it completely trashed one of my systems.

 

Zach, Rollback RX is a "snapshot" tool that uses "redirect-after-write" technology, not any sort of "copy after write" technology as imaging tools do. AX64/Flashback is an imaging tool.

Rollback RX has been the only "successful" (and I say that very loosely) redirect-after write snapshot tool on the market... IT IS NOT A BACKUP TOOL. Rollback has a few clones out there (EAZ Fix) but they all use exactly the same technology as Rollback does (licensed from Horizon DataSys) and are usually behind on the development curve from Rollback.

 

Althought this topic is about AX64, i will give my few cents here...
If you take a full sector-by-sector backup eg. with Macrium Reflect, BEFORE starting to play with Rollback RX, and maybe another one,
AFTER it is installed, you are 100% safe about your computer and Windows..
If anything disastrous would happen,you restore either one of the images and you should be fine.
And it just works, ask froggie if u don't believe me.
Been there, seen that, done that.

 

I would add a coupla small caveats to Stode's declaration above...

Those "before" images he mentions may be taken normally without a full "forensic" sector-by-sector approach. The "after" image, if you wish to image all of Rollback's databases and its snapshots, must be taken as a forensic image OFF-LINE, not under your LIVE Windows System. This is usually done using your imaging product's Recovery Media (if it allows off-line imaging... some don't <AX64>).

Some Macrium Reflect users have stated that when restoring a forensic image, Reflect has balked concerning the format of the bogus MBR (Master BOOT Record) used by Rollback... since I have not done this operation with Reflect, I cannot offer any guidance here. Using IFW, no forensic restoration problem was encountered.

If I can find some dead time, I may go back and check all this stuff out once again.

 

Thanks guys. I'm a little hesitant on using rollback. I did inquire about Raxco Instant Rescue in the Macrium forum and was told it also could cause problems. So there are no other suggestions other then Macrium Reflect Pro ?

 

Zach, Rollback is fine, even if it garbles your System which it has been known to do occasionally (some have no problems with it), as long as you have protective System images to fall back on (disaster recovery). Off-line Forensic (All sector/sector-by-sector/all unused sectors) images are the best... they will contain Rollback, all its databases and all of its snapshot data BUT they must be taken off-line using your favorite imaging Recovery Media. The imaging tool must be capable of doing this type of image... the most popular ones do this (Reflect, IFW/IFL, etc.).

If you're protected to the level you feel comfortable for disaster recovery, any experienced Rollback "anomalies" can be managed.

I, personally, no longer use Rollback. I have found Macrium Reflect, with its RAPID DATA RESTORE feature, to be more than adequate for any System reversals I may need. No, it's not as fast as Rollback, but YES, it completely protects my System against most anything that may happen to it and it's fast enough for the occasional System reversal after any sort of anomaly (Malware, software testing, unexplained glitches). I'm happy waiting a few extra minutes rather than Rollback's 45-sec to 2-min just to insure I have the right protective tool for my whole system.

 

I have tested the above Reflect forensic restoration and all is handled as expected... Rollback RX, its databases and all its snapshot DATA were returned successfully.

I took a forensic image. I then ZEROed out the original RBrx protected partition and wrote a Grub v2.0 loader into Track 0 (MBR + Sectors 1-62). These steps obliterated any semblance of RBrx having ever been on that System... as well as all the DATA involved. I followed that with a Reflect restoration of the above mentioned Forensic image.

 

Although it sounds like of mean, personally I would never touch any backup/restore solution that mess up with the MBR/UEFI. I consider this sort of software malware that is capable of doing what viruses would do: destroy your system and renders it un-bootable.
The whole disk offline restore of a IFL image normally take less than 3 minutes on my computers so I don't see why I need to use anything other than disk imaging software.

 

Agreed... if the user's System image is as small as yours and the System volume is located on an SSD. The "typical" user will not experience quite what you describe above... although with features like Reflect's Rapid DATA Restore, they can come close.

 

As we've all said many times, Rollback RX is NOT considered a "real" Backup/Restore solution at all.

 

O yea.. it was very essential to mention that once RX is installed the backup has to be COLD one,done via the boot media.

 

Thank you all for your input. I think I'll play it safe and just stick with Macrium Reflect.

 

Is there a repository for the V2 versions?....I've decided to go back to Win 7 on one of my laptops and was very satisfied with the final V2...I know the V2 final is available on the site but I don't like the new GUI and I'm sure there are options missing (I can't remember though)

 

HERE and HERE are the most common places for that stuff...

 

Thank you sir.

 

If you need the FlashBack stuff (v693-703), lemme know and we'll get it to you.

 

I still have a License for this product so does anyone really trust this app to protect there system? (FlashBack) AX64 Time Machine........?

Official Windows 10 FlashBack: Build 703
by wajubalo | Jan 10, 2016

Daniel

 

Thanks Peter! Very sad as development is very slow to none IMO. So I will not even install it at all.

 

TheRollbackFrog,

I have installed AX64 V2 Stable Latest on Win 10 64 Pro Anniversary Build Latest.
I have created AX64 V2 Boot Entry with AX64 options, Rescue Media - Startup Manager.
It is working fine.
Is AX64 V2 Stable Latest compatible/supports Win 10 Anniversary/Redstone?

I was using Rollback Rx Pro Latest & was working fine.
But Win 10 cumulative, etc updates are kinda often & it becomes annoying uninstalling/installing Rollback Rx for Windows Updates.
Windows Updates doesn't affect AX64 V2 like Rollback Rx, right?

I did the recent Win 10 64 cumulative updates with AX64 V2 installed & was fine with no probs.