Image For Windows

Has anyone ever used TBNetManage to manage IFW across a Windows network?

 

Hi! Some imaging softwares can add an entry to the boot process. This can be useful in certain critical situations. Can Image for Windows do that. If so, how ? thanks


https://i.ibb.co/qMtcHyBQ/00000000000.jpg

 

This can be easily done. Just use EasyBCD, and create an entry pointing to the boot.wim file. The boot.wim wile is created in the IFW utilities menu.

 

Ok, thks. I am not sure I can do that...I thought IFW could do it on its own...

 

Hi everybody,
I am an old registered owner of Terabyte products.
I am really tired with the constant changes: new version, new upgrade...
All the tools that have been prepared for backups have to be updated. It's time-consuming, and one wonders what the point is.
I work with W7,10,11. All my images are made with IFW 3.64.
Can you give me a good reason to switch to version 4.xx ?!!
Thanks!

 

mrk1,

https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/upgrade-history-image-for-windows/

If your IFW fails in some way, then upgrade.

https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/upgrade-history-image-for-linux/

https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/upgrade-history-bootit-uefi/

https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/upgrade-history-bootit-bare-metal/

 

I didn't even know v4 was out. I update my versions about once a year. And it had really slowed down a lot, given how mature the product is. But, it's never failed me yet!

 

Hello Brian,
That's not really the answer I was looking for...
Of course, one can see what's been added in the 'upgrade histories'.
But I wanted practical, "on-the-job" feedback. If, for example, you've found that version 4 was significantly faster than version 3, that's interesting. The opposite is interesting too!
Or if you've found that this or that element was added and you consider it is a big improvement, I'm interested.
English isn't my mother tongue. I hope you understand my point!
Anyway IFW has never failed once for me.

 

@myk1 - I think if you just look at the 1st LINK offered by Brian and look at the initial v4 release, you should see any features which may affect you in your use of the product (speed improvements, major UI improvements, "miracles" in the backup space ). If any are pertinent, you should consider an upgrade. In my case, there was nothing compelling in that list of changes which would make me consider an upgrade at this time.

 

Thanks..(i like frogs, they are very cool animals...)

 

The bottom line is, there are not really any earth shattering enhancements. You will still reliable be able to image and restore your system, true. But Terabyte's changelogs are never really that amazing. Version four gets visual enhancements and a dark version, although that was done in the flimsiest way possible. It just seems to be to essentially be the same as version 3.

Terabyte is lagging in meaningful development. They always include the line "Other potential changes, updates and enhancements" in their changelogs, as though it's supposed to mean something. It pains me to say, but IFW is not really innovative. They don't even have hash-less delta, which is something unnamed freeware products have not. So, @T-RHex, I don't see a need to upgrade if v3 is working for you.

 

Thanks, that was my clear impression too.
What I would like -for example- is a button, at the end of imaging, which would be: 'open containing folder'.
And the main window of IFW is not 'resizable' (at least in 3.64, did it change in v4 ??), which is unforgivable...
I already talked about those points in the forum but they do not respond.

 

Especially "Froggy the Gremlin," my avatar

 

I haven't seen a speed improvement with Ver 4 software but I have found scripting is easier. You don't need to use scripting but I do lots of backups/restores and I prefer to not click through the GUI. Scripting is a time saver. 99% of my backups/restores are done without clicking through the GUI.

If you would like to try an automated backup or restore, try BootWim. It's one of the easiest methods of creating a script which can be reused. No special knowledge is needed.

 

BootWim. We'll make a Changes only Backup. This backup can already be done in Windows but the BootWim method will demonstrate how it can be done offline. Then you can try an offline restore, if you are brave.

Open this folder
C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\tbwinre

double click TBWinPE.exe
you see Welcome to TBWinPE/RE Builder
Next
select TBWinRE
don't click Settings, just use the defaults
Next
enter Licensed Name and Product Key if it isn't present
Next
select Create a TBWinRE CD, USB Flash Drive (UFD), or ISO file
Next, Start
Finish

you see Welcome, Makedisk....
click Cancel if you don't want to make a UFD at this stage. It can be done later by double clicking makedisk.exe in the main folder.

In the tbwinre folder create a new folder called Testing

Open IFW
click Settings
make sure there are ticks in Output Disk ID to Command Line and Show Save for TBWinPE On Summary. Click OK. Keep the default ticked items.
Backup
Changes Only
select existing full backup
select the folder containing the full backup. Accept the Filename.
on Backup Options, keep the defaults, put a tick in Reboot when completed
the next screen is the Summary. Click Save to TBWinPE
click OK
navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\tbwinre\Testing
File name... changes.txt
Save
Exit

Open
C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\tbwinre\Testing
copy changes.txt to the desktop and delete everything before /b and Save the file. It should now be similar to mine.

Code:

/b /uy /um /logfile:"G:\TeraByte_TBI_Backups\Batch\IFW.LOG" /iso8601 /plur:0 /showtbwp /rb:260 /geoa2k /odid /mdudd /sud /usevss /uftnb:0 /uftns:0 /base:{018EA340-6246-11EC-96FC-E0D55E8553D4}@0x3:"\TeraByte_TBI_Backups\Win11" /f:{018EA340-6246-11EC-96FC-E0D55E8553D4}@0x3:"\TeraByte_TBI_Backups\Backup-w2-0x1-0x2-0x3-0x4-chg-$~YYYY$-$~MM$-$~DD$-$~HHMM$" /rb:4

Cut and paste the desktop changes.txt into the Testing folder. Replace the file already there.

On your desktop, create a New Text Document. Cut and paste this file to the Testing folder. Paste the following into the Text Document.

Code:

@echo off
CD /d %~dp0
"C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\tbwinre\tbwinpe.exe" /bootwim "C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\tbwinre\ISO\sources\boot.wim" /run changes.txt

Save it.

Rename New Text Document.txt to changes.cmd

Right click changes.cmd, Run as administrator, Yes. Click Restart in the TBWinPE/RE - BootWim box that has popped up.
The computer will restart into TBWinRE, the IFW Changes Only backup will be created and the computer will reboot into Windows. Whenever you run changes.cmd a new Changes Only backup will be created.

Anyone ready to do a BootWim restore? A restore without boot media. Just run through a Restore sequence in IFW instead of a Backup sequence.

Edit... In changes.txt my full backup filename was Win11.TBI. When I create a new full backup, say Win11aa.TBI, I simply edit Win11 to Win11aa in changes.txt and Changes Only backups will be based on Win11aa.TBI. You don't have to run through the IFW GUI again.

 

This is my restore.txt. The restore equivalent of changes.txt.

Code:

/r /uy /um /logfile:"G:\TeraByte_TBI_Backups\Batch\IFW.LOG" /iso8601 /plur:0 /showtbwp /rb:260 /geoa2k /odid /mdudd /sud /usevss /uftnb:0 /uftns:0 /d:{C877E477-B86F-5A4A-B5FA-416628000000} /f:{018EA340-6246-11EC-96FC-E0D55E8553D4}@0x3:"\TeraByte_TBI_Backups\Win11" /sp:0x1,0x2,0x3,0x4 /wco /rb:4

restore.cmd would be...

Code:

@echo off
CD /d %~dp0
"C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\tbwinre\tbwinpe.exe" /bootwim "C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\tbwinre\ISO\sources\boot.wim" /run restore.txt

 

To restore a different backup, edit restore.txt. The backup can be a full, differential or incremental.
eg edit Win11 to 11_01
It is simple.

 

@Brian K
I've been using BOOTWIM to boot into TBWinPE / TBWinRE for years. You helped me set it up.
It's not automatic, and I mainly use it to perform a system image restoration. All my backups are done in Windows. Occasionally I access some of the tools I have added to TBLauncher. I also do my Drive Snapshot restorations from TBLauncher.

 

Hadron,

I haven't done many IFW restores this year but I've done a lot in the last few days. I mainly use IFL for restores. An IFW restore used to take about 70% longer than an IFL restore. Now it's less than 10% longer. Have you noticed IFW restores are faster than in the past?

 

The exact same thing for me, word for word. Except I also have Hasleo Backup Suite on my TBLauncher as well.

 

I don't time my backups or restores, Brian. I also don't use IFL. I know I probably should, but I haven't bothered.

I use PE these days for my boot media. It loads much quicker for me than RE. The reason I like my boot media to load faster is because I restore manually and rather not wait long to start the restoration. Once it's started, I don't time it. But as for the backups and restores, I can't say that I've noticed a difference in times. But I don't take much notice.

I often see people chatting about Reflect X speeds, but I have no interest in speeds. Reliability is my main interest.
All my backups are on a schedule, so I don't take a lot of notice with backup times. I also do manual backups from time to time when I think it's needed such as before installing a new application or a major Windows update etc.

 

Thanks and thanks for the explanations you give ! I'll give a try..

 

myk1,

Thanks for trying BootWim. Please let me know if parts of the tutorial require further explanation.

 

You can use BootWim without changes.txt or restore.txt. You just need to edit changes.cmd by removing the run section. Such as...

Code:

@echo off
CD /d %~dp0
"C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\tbwinre\tbwinpe.exe" /bootwim "C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\tbwinre\ISO\sources\boot.wim"

When you right click changes.cmd and Run as administrator, your computer restarts into TBWinRE and you can use IFW manually. Basically, you can use IFW offline without using a UFD.

 

@Brian K
I haven't had the need to use a UFD in years. I still make them though, in case I can't get back into Windows.