I start usually with an IFW or IFD image, then use FD-ISR to copy my working primary snapshot into a new snapshot for installing and running the BETA application. If I have time, like in the BETA I'm currently in, I'll also set up a virgin WinXP snapshot with nothing but WinXP and FD-ISR to see if any problems I have with the BETA program in the "working" snapshot are duplicated in the virgin snapshot.
I have acronis true image and shadowuser. Id like to try FDISR but my single disk is in fat32. Old slow computer here Still saving for that new one. Would it be alright to convert my 40Gig hd to ntfs? only got 1ghz cpu and 384RAM I read somewhere nfts might slow things down.
NTFS is a little slower than FAT32. Use BING to image your data BEFORE the conversion to NTFS. Always plan for the worst case scenario.
'Another PC dedicated to beta test' I test + play for a few weeks .. If stable and usefull [software] get's moved to 'main pc's'
I consider all software to be beta. Therefore, I rely upon well-tested backup and restore processes (multiple processes, as all software is beta).
I very rarely beta test anything, except lately Windows 7 for which I created an image with ShadowProtect. Testing normal software I use FD PC Rescue, I don't like left overs if I decide to uninstall it. I also use Shadow Defender with the occasional scanner, download - scan - reboot - it's gone.
I checked "My primary PC with no protection (I haven't got anything to loose )" Yes I do have things to loose; however, I have no special programs or "protection" installed for beta testing. Why should I? Just as AKAJohnDoe, I rely on well-tested backup and restore processes that I would use regardless. I believe the best way to beta test is through daily use, what better way to do that than on computers that I use on a daily basis.
It depends: if I have to try a new software, also only as trial, to decide if I want to use it, I use a snapshots software or True Image Acronis. If I had to test a security sw against rootkit or malware, I use a Virtual Machine and in the VM I run the virtual system in Returnil or SandBoxie. And then I 've deleted the VM, as I'm a bit paranoid, I restore a previous TIA disk image.
Used to have 2 pcs running side by side with KVM switch, and dual booting on each also, but now I simply don`t have the time or the energy to bother....I now have a smaller desk as a result Single PC now, install & uninstall without worrying....with Macrium as a fallback.
One of my primary PCs.. I have my important data stored on multiple PCs, so losing one temporarily doesn't hurt, and OS inbuilt tools like Windows "System state" backups and System Restore have always saved me in case a beta software has caused something more serious.
To test antivirus software I primemerly use WMware, and sometimes I test on a clean laptop,mostly because it is my experience that not all software works equally well in visualise environment. The Laptop is restored using a driveimage. This year I have just tested one AV-vendor, Comodo V5 and it performed surprisingly well.
I am running the SeaMonkey & Firefox betas on my old laptop. They are pretty stable. I don't use them much though, I am just curious in how they are being developed.
Whether it's "beta" or not doesn't matter. Whenever I install or test new software, I make a full system backup beforehand. The uninstallers that come with software rarely remove everything, especially in the registry. Relying on uninstallers usually leaves you with extra files and useless registry entries that may or may not cause problems, but the gradual buildup of junk will start slowing your PC down. Uninstallers rarely reset your default handlers back to the settings you started with. Often they drop you back to a default setting that may not be what you had. With full system backups, I get back the exact same system I started with. For the actual testing, I use both virtual and real systems. The exact setup will vary depending on just what kind of software I'm testing. When I was beta testing System Safety Monitor for example, I used 2 setups. One was close to what I would call a typical setup for the operating system. The other was my default multiboot system which was completely different.
I use Virtual PC for all testing purposes. If Virtual PC cannot be used, then I backup my computer and use it instead with certain limitations and extensive care/monitoring/logging.
I have 4 PCs(3 Desktops and one laptop)and use the oldest one for testing 1 gb ram intel celeron 3GHz 256 nVidia<with windows XP For malware analyzing i use Virtual PC
