Newest Kid on the Block - Shadow Defender

Discussion in 'sandboxing & virtualization' started by nanana1, Aug 23, 2007.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2006
    Posts:
    431
    That is exactly why I am interested in peoples experience so far with SD. Their 30day trial must be coming to an end soon.......:)
     
  2. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2005
    Posts:
    9,455
    I'm planning to try it as soon my computer is reinstalled, meanwhile I read the posts at Wilders about SD.
     
  3. nanana1

    nanana1 Frequent Poster

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2007
    Posts:
    947
    People already had their experiences. It's time you had yours and tell others here your experiences. Don't be selfish o_O
     
  4. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2006
    Posts:
    431
    When I have some, you will hear!!

    Now for some sensible answers thankyou.
     
  5. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2003
    Posts:
    20,590
    Actually, this would more likely make me question Vista, but that's me. But on 3 xp pro boxes, it works like a champ.
     
  6. yahoo

    yahoo Registered Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2004
    Posts:
    290
    Location:
    nowhere
    If it is used on XP, why not ShadowUser? Well, I know it is just a choice.
     
  7. nanana1

    nanana1 Frequent Poster

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2007
    Posts:
    947
    This has been discussed many times in this thread. Don't be lazy, read them.:blink:

    Can ShadowUser go into shadowmode without a reboot?
    Can you password protect ShadowUser ?
    etc.:thumbd:
     
  8. yahoo

    yahoo Registered Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2004
    Posts:
    290
    Location:
    nowhere
    I had read them, but I just have forgotten them:(

    It is true that these functions may be very important to some people, although I can live without them. To me, ShadowUser is a well proved product made by a company with good reputations. So does DeepFreeze. That's what really matters to me.

    Anyway, Shadow Defender does not work on my computer. I do not want to be any kind of beta tester of a paid software either. I have no choice but to say bye-bye Shadow Defender.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2007
  9. Empath

    Empath Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2002
    Posts:
    178
    I mentioned my negative experience, but it appears negatives aren't important enough to discuss. I purchased it, based on the glowing experiences here. I tried it out, and it seemed great. The only problem I noted was that XP no longer shuts down. I uninstalled it, and everything was back the way it should be. I doubt that I'll reinstall unless I hear the problem has been addressed and fixed.

    I'd certainly recommend using the trial offer first.
     
  10. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2003
    Posts:
    20,590
    Have you contacted support? They have responded well to issues I reported.

    Pete
     
  11. BlueZannetti

    BlueZannetti Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2003
    Posts:
    6,590
    Empath,

    Negatives are always important to discuss, but so far you seem unique in that specific issue and that will certainly impact the evolution of any further discussion.

    As for what I've noticed thus far in my own hands:
    • There seems to be a bit of a conflict with the Acronis TI snapshot manager. On logging into my machine while in shadow mode it was very likely a spontaneous restart would occur. At times, 4-5 restarts were needed before I hit the right timing to successfully boot. The only way to resolve this issue was to uninstall Acronis TI.
    • I still see system lock ups if I engage in a (typically) multihour shadow session. Often, by not always, the lockup occurs while launching an application in which it's primary file area is excluded. This may or may not be a factor. The lockup generally develops as a slowing of system responsiveness over a few minutes until the system becomes completely unresponsive. During the "slowing", mouse movements quickly goes from normal to jumpy while the ability to launch or close any application or the Task Manager is lost immediately. A hard powerdown is the only way out of this problem. At present, restricting the period of shadow sessions obviously minimizes the problem, although I'd like a fix. I've only seen this behavior with the latest version (1.0.0.95), I haven't replicated the circumstances to see if it impacts earlier versions as well.
    • Support has been..., shall we say..., silent. Three emails on the issues noted above have gone unanswered over the course of the last 10 days. Multiple addresses have been provided in the event of server level filtering on my primary address. This hasn't resolved the lack of communication. There's really not much I can do to remedy the unreturned emails, but I'm done sending reminders....

    Overall, I see it as a decent product that's still getting some issues ironed out. They clear need to work on customer support, there's an obvious gap there, at least in my experience.

    Naturally, this application was developed on a homogeneous hardware/software base, and when that hardware/software base diversifies, problems not previously noted will emerge. That's what we're seeing now. At present, it more or less sits between the Returnil (system partition only in current version) and ShadowUser (which allows retention of an existing shadow session across restarts, but requires a restart to enter shadow mode) in overall functionality.

    Always good advice for any product.

    Blue
     
  12. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2003
    Posts:
    20,590
    Interesting. They initially responded very well to the first few emails. last one also didn't get a response. Could be the author is on vacationo_O

    Pete
     
  13. Perman

    Perman Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2005
    Posts:
    2,161
    Hi, folks: Author is somewhat English illiterate, his correspondence in English is heavily dependent upon friend's in-time assistance. Perhaps the helper is not around?
     
  14. BlueZannetti

    BlueZannetti Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2003
    Posts:
    6,590
    That's all well and good - but when one goes commercial, that brings some added responsibilities.

    For the record, I briefly ran the program as a trial, decided to examine it for an extended time on one machine - and to accomplish that I purchased a full license - so the unanswered emails were from a licensed user. To be perfectly candid, this isn't the best way to start a commercial endeavor.

    Blue
     
  15. Osaban

    Osaban Registered Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2005
    Posts:
    5,614
    Location:
    Milan and Seoul
    According to this thread Sd can't reboot without loosing all changes. How are you going to test some programs?

    You can password ShadowUser in limited account, and as for the reboot it is only a matter of minutes.
     
  16. BlueZannetti

    BlueZannetti Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2003
    Posts:
    6,590
    You don't.

    Blue
     
  17. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2003
    Posts:
    20,590
    There are quite a few programs you can test without reboot. For those you can't you have to step up to FDISR or Rollback.
     
  18. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2005
    Posts:
    9,455
    I don't know about RBRx, but with FDISR you can install softwares, that require a reboot during the installation (most firewalls require a reboot) and still go back to a previous state. A feature that seems to be missing in most immediate system recovery softwares.
    Besides you can't compare FDISR's possibilities with all these other softwares, because they don't have the functions of FDISR.
    They only put your system back in a previous state and that's it.
     
  19. Osaban

    Osaban Registered Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2005
    Posts:
    5,614
    Location:
    Milan and Seoul
    There is no doubt about that. Let me just say it costs less to buy ShadowUser than to buy ShadowDefender and FDISR, not to mention the learning curve of having two programs.

    I'd like to be constructive when comparing programs, and competition if anything is the only way to see state of the art improvements.

    I'm going to get another machine soon, and I think I will buy FDISR for it.
    So far ShadowDefender hasn't convinced me as being a real alternative to ShadowUser (it costs less, if money is an issue).
     
  20. EASTER

    EASTER Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2007
    Posts:
    11,126
    Location:
    U.S.A. (South)
    I seem to be the Black Sheep when it comes to the alternative of Power Shadow Master, but i still cling to the combo of PS + FD-ISR and that is been months now without a single issue. To repeat, NO ISSUE, not a one.

    Now Returnil has stolen the limelight if you will away from PS, at least for the time being, and rightfully so. It has had excellent results as well as johnny-on-the-spot "live" support courtesy Wilder's; with that said, upon reflection concerning Shadow Defender, there seems to be some disappointment, some of which is common with various new introductions such as this one is proving ATM.

    Has anyone considered the aforementioned combo i presently made mention of?

    More OT. In all honesty, PS in tandem with FD is proven reliable and very practical in actual practice from my standpoint, "BUT", as some of you, i would have no problem turning attention to Shadow Defender if it offered something dependably radical from the norm as RETURNIL has provided.

    My inquiry rests with this question. Is SD really worth holding to and are the issues so critical ATM to deter from recommending it as a viable/useful alternative?

    Thanks: Good Discussion.
     
  21. L Bainbridge

    L Bainbridge Registered Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2006
    Posts:
    173
    Location:
    London,U.K.
    It's been a while since I posted as I've been watching, learning & playing with softwares.
    I've tried Returnil , Shadow Defender, Shadow User & Power shadow 2.6 & 2.8.
    In the end I settled on Shadow defender for my desktop PC as:
    1. It protects more than one drive partition (Returnil doesn't )
    2. It goes into Shadow Mode without a reboot (Shadow User doesn't)
    3. It protects the MBR ( Power Shadow 2.6 ?doesn't, 2.8 does but ? questionable provenance of 'English language version' of software)

    It has so far worked flawlessly together with FD-ISR & Shadow Protect despite many attempts to 'break' it.

    On my laptop I use Returnil very happily as it only has one partition to protect.
    I don't see Shadow defender as being a quantum leap above any of the others but for me it ticks most of the boxes for what I want 'Shadowing' software to accomplish.
    I have to agree with Easter that Power Shadow seems to be somewhat neglected as it's very stable & works flawlessly . However a lot of that seems to be related to failure of the developers to get the up to date (2.8 ) version of the software released for English language markets.
    In the end it's up to them whether they want to be a player....
     
  22. Huupi

    Huupi Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2006
    Posts:
    2,024
    I expericenced BSOD with trial Shadow defender on both my rigs so if its my or SD i dont know,but not worth bothering because i already have PowerShadow and Returnil and sofar they work like a charm,most satisfied with these app.
     
  23. EASTER

    EASTER Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2007
    Posts:
    11,126
    Location:
    U.S.A. (South)
    I'll step in yet once again in support of POWER SHADOW

    PS Protects "ALL" partitions solidly, configurable of course to monitor only one if selected.

    It also glides effortlessly into Shadow-Mode without reboot. Always has.

    The MBR protection, while suspect and concern for some, has yet to ever become compromised in the least, at least with my experiences with it.

    The lingustics are irrelevant where plenty of cross-culture members can adequately interpret matters and offer concrete answers to satisfaction be they up or down in support.

    Another major and important aspect is that PS is widely compatible with every other security program in the market/field mainstream.

    It just works, and without issue or failure and is a great layered shield when teamed with the likes of a good HIPS and Sandboxie for that matter.

    Just some pluses very worth pointing out in PS's favor that simply cannot be discounted or overlooked.
     
  24. Franklin

    Franklin Registered Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2005
    Posts:
    2,517
    Location:
    West Aussie
    Returnil is working on doing the same, hopefully.

    Protect MBR and all partitions.

    One thing that may sway users of these type of apps is that it may be FREE!!!
     
  25. L Bainbridge

    L Bainbridge Registered Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2006
    Posts:
    173
    Location:
    London,U.K.
    Agree with all of this but why the delay in getting the updated version out?
    2.6 worked well on my rig but (and it is for me a big but) I need to feel that shadowing software is definitely protecting the MBR which 2.8 does but 2.6 doesn't.
    My preference would have been to use Power Shadow if 2.8 was available but I couldn't wait to see if it would eventually be released outside of the Chinese domestic market.
    Having extensively torture tested Shadow Defender I couldn't break it & I haven't had any problems with entering or exiting Shadow Mode - therefore for me it's a keeper. (Unless, of course, someone comes up with a way to exit Shadow mode without a reboot -aka the Holy Grail of Shadowing)
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.