Rollback Rx 9.1 - New Build (July 18, 2011)

Hi KOR,

I don't recall ever suggesting that you had bad hard drives. But then again (at my age) those particular brain memory cells may have died.

Regards,
Aaron

 

Dearest Aaron,

We went through this many, many moons ago. At the end there was no solution and thus your suggestion, that the drives might be bad. It is not important, what is important since then I have found out, that if either version 5 or 6 of O&O DiskImage is installed, on every reboot Rollback Rx gives "improper shutdown". After four or five shutdowns, when the chkdsk is run, it gives several errors.

You were just trying to be helpful as usual to pinpoint the source of "improper shutdown". Just being helpful as usual. I don't know how the search function works on forum, maybe you could search it.

I think we could also add to this, Acronis True Image Home.

Best regards,

KOR.

 

I don't believe O&O does anything better than some the top disk-imagers (such as DS, IFW and SP) and seeing that you have determined that it conflicts with RB (and ATI), why use it?

 

I should have said that ATI conflicts with RB.

I love to have too many programs installed on my computers, and I might not use them all. The imaging programs that I own are:

1. ATIH 2011
2. IFW
3. O&O v5 and v6
4. Paragon HD Suite 2011
5. Paragon Drive Copy 11
6. Macrium Reflect v4
7. EaseUs Todo Workstation
8. Wondershare LiveBoot (got it free as a giveaway).
9. Keriver 1-Clk Restore

Would love to add Rollback Rx (3 license pack) during Bitsdujour sale or during Black Friday.

But would like Horizontal to look into it, as I have identified both O&O and ATIH, before I make my purchase. Last year during Black Friday, I was about to make my purchase, but the constant "improper shutdown" stopped me.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

I assume you don't have all these installed on the same computer, or a handful on the same computer. I've run a few on the same system OK but you can run into issues with those apps that inject their own disk driver/filter. You mentioned computerS, so I assume this isn't an issue but figured I'd bring it up. I don't use Rollback RX myself.

 

I have 2 personal laptops Asus G73Sw and Asus N61Jq and a super duper desktop. They all have similar configuration on all three of them. Being retired have too much time to waste.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

Well that was straight to the point

 

I have just installed this program and I have no single problem so far!
I would like info on the defrag options...seems like I can no longer use
any commercial frag program..Rollback suggest the one that comes with it
and when I try the program ask me to delete a rollback date
any help there? and also the best way if I get into a bind
does anyone recommend the best way to remove this program?
Hope I di not bite off more than I can chew! thanks G.

 

If you go to the Horizon Datasys web site and click products and solutions, to the left there's a tab for the User Guide pdf. It explains how to use RB quite well. I put a short cut on my desktop so I can access the pdf when I need to.

 

You can also join the Horizon DataSystems (RollBack) forum and ask questions there. The issue you bring up is odd (trying to defrag and being asked to delete a snapshot) so I think/hope the guys on the forum can help. I have been using RollBack for some time now and I find it to be an excellent program that is easy and safe to use as long as you follow some simple rules. 1: Do not defrag using 3rd party programs with Rx installed, 2: do not image the drive with Rx installed unless you are using Image For Windows and are doing an all sector image. All other imaging programs can potentially lead to serious problems if you use them to image with Rx installed. Thats about it. IMO you have def not made a mistake with this program.

Here is the link to the forum http://horizondatasys-forum.com/disaster-recovery-programs/

 

bgoodman4. thanks for that info
I have had it for just two days after I installed it
I did do a defrag using 'Defraggler' one time after I was directed to the help section
at thier website...am I ok?

and when I go to RX defrag and hit defrag
this window pops up..**see image and I only have to saved snapshots **see image

 

Greetings, Hayc59...

No, Defraggler won't "hurt" anything. The main reason for not running external defrag software is NOT to cause Rollback to generate HUGE snapshots when doing its thing. Since Rollback manages disk space at the SECTOR level, any changes caused by the defrag program (and they cause LOTS of them) will have to be managed/saved by Rollback whenever it creates a snapshot. Clearly you should only use Rollback's internal DEFRAG function.

The image shown in your msg is not one of the DEFRAG function... it looks like a snapshot window which I don't think you're trying to take. If you went to the Rollback Application Console under Windows, hit "Snapshot Defragmenter" in the left pane, then hit the "Defragment" button, the second window you posted should pop up... from there it's just fine to "Next" that window and move on to the defragmentation process. That's just a gentle remider that maybe you wanna get rid of some old snapshots before it gets started with the process. The process can be long under Windows so it's just trying to help.

That first image posted is wrong for any defrag operation... it should only show up when you are getting ready to take a snapshot, not defrag.

 

TheRollbackFrog, thank you very much!

Just one more issue and I should be satisfied
Un-installing it just in case seems like a little tricky I am being told
any good advise? thanks again
Gordon

 

Uninstalling is actually pretty easy... you just need to READ the uninstall screens carefully.

The first screen is the "Are you sure?" screen... a "Yes" will do just fine.

The next screen is critical. It lists all your snapshots and PRE-SELECTS your INSTALLATION baseline for the snapshot you will uninstall to. Most people DO NOT wanna do this, they wanna unINSTALL to the CURRENT SYSTEM snapshot... that way they won't lose anything during the uninstall (except all previous snapshots). If you unINSTALL to the DEFAULT Baseline, you'll lose everything (all changes) you've made since the initial INSTALL or Baseline update... that's usually what people DON'T wanna do.

Just scroll (if necessary) your list of snapshots and SELECT (<click> on) the CURRENT SYSTEM at the bottom, then check your "I understand" checkbox and hit RESTART. The next window will force you to type YES in a data field before the uninstall will occur. Do that and you're on your way.

The unINSTALL occurs during a system RESTART. After the RESTART, some of the uninstalling occurs during the follow-on BOOT UP but will be complete when the system settles. The unINSTALL leaves the "Shield" folder in "Program Files" (x86 on Win7) and a few leftover files in that folder. I always delete that folder (after the unINSTALL)... just to be sure.

That's it! Good luck!!

 

I haven't done my first uninstall/re-install yet, and I'm wondering if those left over files could contain your key so you don't have to re-enter it when you re-install. some of my other apps keep that info when you uninstall.

 

The Guide suggests that you might want to change your baseline to a current snapshot if the baseline is an old snapshot. If you did that shortly before an uninstall you could avoid the pitfall you describe above.

 

Thank you both and printed
have a great thanksgiving
G

 

I wish that were the case but its not... we've checked. The "leftovers" contain some logs, some past info and a copy of your MBR when RBrx was first installed. It contains no settings and no activation codes.

 

@TheRollbackFrog & twl845 - Thanks as always for your insight and answering hayc59's inquiries.

FYI. Our Black Friday Sale is on now. You can visit http://www.horizondatasys.com/black_friday_2011 for the purchase links.

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

 

hayc59, just for the record, the first image you posted above is NOT one that you would see if you wanted to take a snapshot, its the one you would see if you wanted to rollback the system. The check box at the bottom left is there so you can do one of 2 things if you need or want to.

That is, take a snap of the system before rolling back so you can, if nec,

1: mount the snap as a virtual drive and recover any files that may have been created after the time you are rolling back to.

2: if for some reason you change your mind about the rollback you can undo it by rolling back (or perhaps better thought of as forward) to the state of the PC before you rolled back. I have done this on occasion when I wanted to check something about the PCs configuration that existed in an earlier snapshot but was subsequently changed. Once that was done I then rolled forward to the snap just before the PC was rolled back. I know it sounds a bit convoluted but if you think about it it should become clear, if it does not let me know and I will try to be more precise.

One thing you might want to do before rolling back if you are uncertain about if you will want to stay with the rollback to state is manually take a snapshot just before you effect the rollback and name it something like "Pre Rollback State". This way you will not get confused by any subsequent snaps that might be created.

Also, since you are new to Rx keep in mind that one excellent reason to use Rxs manual snapshot function is as a way to back out of system updates (Microsoft or perhaps a browser update) or a program trial. If the update is not to your liking or messes the system up you can simply roll back to the state JUST BEFORE the update. In the case of a program trial if you decide you do not like the program you can simply roll back to just before you installed it and it will be as if the program was never on your system. Again I name the manual snap (for example "Pre MS Update") so there is no chance of forgetting which snap is the one you would want to rollback to if nec.

Have fun with Rx, I suspect you will find that its a really fine program.

 

I guess I have two more questions....
1-Why cannot remove the 'baseline' back up?
**as seen in the image above[installation one]
2- So any defrag program I have is suggested not to use and can be removed
or deleted from my pc? Seems to me Rollback cannot do a defrag of whole system
like Defraggler or others can do!
that's all for now
G

 

I cannot ans your first question with any certainty but I think if you reset the baseline you are in effect deleting the original baseline. Think of it this way, the original baseline is the root of the tree, cut that and the tree dies. You can remove branches etc and the tree will continue to grow, sprouting new branches, but the roots cannot simply be removed. If you reset the baseline all the info contained in the existing snaps is consolidated to the current state of the system and in effect a new root mass has been created from which the tree can grow. That, in a nut shell, is my best guess.

As for the 2nd question there is some debate there.

There are those who are very knowledgeable about Rx that say all you need is Rxs defrag function. That it will do what a regular defrag program will do without generating a lot of changes to the drive that Rx will then have to log.

Others disagree.

I am certainly no expert but my personal opinion based on my experience is that defragging snap shots is not the same thing as defragging the drive. Once a month I uninstal Rx in order to do my regular PC house keeping. One of the things I do is run Diskeeper at that time and according to Diskeeper the PC will often be quite fragmented and needs defragging, this in spite of the fact that I regularly defrag my snaps using Rxs defrag utility. Those in the other camp say of course Diskeeper is going to say that, it wants you to feel its valuable, if it did not you would have no inclination to upgrade. As I said thats my experience, the truth of the matter is undetermined so you will have to make up your own mind.

I should mention one other thing.

Rx prevents drive space that has been written to from being written over. The reason for this is that this data must be available in case Rx needs to revert to a time when the information was (for lack of a better word) live. Its only after a particular snapshot or snapshots have been deleted that RX will permit the space protected by those particular snaps to be over written.

I have seen in months where I have done a lot of program testing and/or graphics work that my free disk space can have dropped considerably, occasionally by as much as 15% of the drive. After uninstalling Rx and cleaning the PC this space is for the most part freed up. You might want to keep an eye on your free space, depending on how you are using the PC this issue may or may not be one that concerns you. If you do not want to have to uninstal Rx in order to free the space you can simply reset the baseline. This will accomplish the same freeing of space but of course you could not defrag etc as you can if you uninstal.

 

1. Rollback Rx's baseline (installation) snapshot is the foundation of all subsequent snapshots so it cannot be deleted like other (unlocked) snapshots.


2. The official position on the defragging subject has always been:
Before installing RollBack Rx: Clean-up and Defrag your disk-drive.
After installing RollBack Rx: Just use its build-in snapshot-defragger. Do not use a file-defragger (and disable scheduled automatic defragging in Vista/7)*.

*As Aaron Here has pointed out a few times in this forum, defragging a Rollback Rx system serves no beneficial purpose whatsoever and is actually detrimental in that doing so will result in an inordinately large snapshot!

JA

 

I took advantage of the Black Friday sale, and bought 2 license. Nice deal!

 

While $24.95 is a sweet deal, I've heard that v10 is expected early next year!