Introducing AX64 Time Machine - hybrid imaging/snapshot software

Hi twl

Yes, that would work too IMHO. Just throwing options up for comments. At the end of the day I am sure that Isso know where he wantsto go with the app in the future and will steer the right course.

 

As I have said before having enter to start the backup is an annoyance for me. I tend to write at times multi lined descriptions. It is also normal to use enter to create a new line. If this program is picked up by "normal" users they will expect the same. Though you could argue that they won't bother to write anything at all.

I suppose you will at some time include an options/preferences menu and that could be added there.

 

n8chavez,

I've sent to you a PM. Ax64 is much faster than Keriver, otherwise it's an imaging software too.

You can use your current imaging software along with AX64. The only imaging program that I know is incompatible is StorageCraft ShadowProtect.

isso

 

Hi Stode,

The error C1000006 means failure in Volume Snapshot Service (it's a Windows component responsible for backups). On some machines it fails sometimes, and unfortunately there is nothing that I can do about it. Normally a reboot fixes this.

For the error 20 - could you please send to me the program logs so I see what happened. You can collect them by clicking on the top left corner, then selecting About and Collect Logs. Please create a ticket by clicking on Feedback & Support button on www.ax64.com page and attach the logs to it. Thank you

Isso

 

Hi Peter,

Absolutely! It will restore just fine.

Isso

 

Totally agree, as is often said "If it ain't broke don't fix it"....I'd hate to see it get bloated out with buttons for this and that....It does exactly what it says on the tin right now....And its unique enough as is.

 

I think the point is being missed here. New features will be added; Isso has advised as much on the web site. The original suggestion about the 2 GUIs (and it was ONLY a suggestion) was to try and retain the simplicity of what AXTM is now for those who want it, whilst allowing those who want to use the new features that are coming to do so without interfering with the simplicity inherent in Isso's design.

There is no need for a polemic on the subject.

 

I wasn't arguing the point, simply expressing my opinion

 

As was I...originally.

 

Bless you my Welsh sibling...

 

Right. I agree that ideas from the users are important. We've seen some really good ones. Isso will sort them out and keep the ones that make AX64 even greater. I think he's down to refining some things already in it but I don't see how it can get really much better than it already is. I was just requesting that we K.I.S.

 

+1 to what stapp said. !! You don't have to do it all today.

 

Isso, I intended to communicate with you via PM, but I'm receiving a message this is your inboxes for any cannot receive any more messages. Because of that, I have to add on to this thread.

 

Now that I'm able to to test the software, because of Isso's generosity, and was able to answer a few questions I had regarding the software. But there are still a few remain. For example, I can't seem to find any settings anywhere from the software, other than the tick marks that enables the user to create snapshots every hour on the hour. Maybe correct in assuming that right now there are no options to create snapshots at user requested intervals? To me that would seem like a very basic part of any snapshot application, and a feature that I think is vital.

 

I like my tag line better!

I was afraid my drive would fill up fast with snapshots, but I saw somewhere it only saves 3. Is that correct, as I would like that. I mean what happens when my wife walks away from her system for 6 hours?

 

I'll let others who are much more well-versed in this program than I respond. But, I started using this software 2 days ago and I am ONLY making manual backups. I choose not to select the automatic option. So, yes, you can do manual backups. It's pretty simple actually, you just click on the button and it will do a manual backup anytime you desire.

 

I vote against having an Advanced Gui and in having an Advanced button in the original Gui. Both will simple confuse normal users and would make the program more complicated that needs to be.
If Isso decides to allow us to tweak some settings, IMO it should be done with an ini file. Advanced Users would be able to tweak it as they want and would keep normal users safe from breaking anything plus won't scare anyone (as IFW advanced window does) since they won't see it.

my 2 cents,
Panagiotis

 

I kind of like the idea of having snapshot software create it snapshots at a user controlled time. As it is now it kind of handcuffs users; either snapshots have to be created manually (as you like to do), or snapshots have to be created every hour on the hour. The latter option is not very user-friendly and does not make sense for a lot of PC users; theoretically you could have 24 snapshots created in a single day. And that doesn't make much sense either, because users might have a lot of sifting through of snapshots to do noted to find the file they want, for example. I would like to sell for much better if allowed users to create snapshots on their own schedule, and automatically so that it's done without the user having to think about it. Creating the snapshots manually is all well and good if the user can remember to do it, but if they do not the user is simply, and flat out, screwed.

 

You are quite correct...unless you count a 'manual' snapshot as a user defined interval...

Swing by the Feedback page on the AX64 website:

http://feedback.ax64.com/forums/206143-general

and you will see that it is a user requested feature that is being worked on for future release...you can even vote on the ones you like best.

And whilst why not leave your own suggestions if you have some...Isso & the Team review and update the page re. the status of each suggestion.

 

I would say that what really matters is your purpose in using the software. For me, I wanted to make some system changes to my PC. As I stated earlier in this thread, I have plans to try out a couple different AV software. I really like the idea of taking a manual snapshot, then uninstalling my AV and installing a new AV. If I like the new AV, I can take another manual snapshot and just go about my business. If I don't, I can "AXRestore" back to my earlier snapshot and start all over again.

I don't see the need to run automatic snapshots because I work full-time and I'm only on my PC for a couple hours in the evening. I don't need it making snapshots when I'm not there and haven't done anything. Plus, I back up all my documents every night both online and to my external HD.

So, again, this software very nicely serves my purposes. I see it as a tool for me to try out new programs/utilities/AV's, etc. but, be able to go back in time if needed. But, I could see others needing hourly backups because they are on their PC all the time.

With all that said, it would be a nice feature to be able to select how often the automatic backup/snapshot is done.

 

Hi N8! There's really a lot more going on during the AUTOMATIC mode of AX64 TM than I think you realize. Give this link a read.

FYI... one of the PLANNED projects on the drawing board is as follows...

Provide a time-frame setting for auto-backup.

Replace the 'Automatic hourly backup' checkbox with 'Automatic Backup'. Provide an auto-backup setting option whereby one can choose one of the following for the automatic time-frame:

Every x-hours (specify a value for x).
At every system startup and restart.
Once daily at startup.
Once daily at shutdown

 

Thanks for that thread TheRollbackFrog. It was a good source of information. I hope that some of the suggestions are implemented, because if I may be blunt ax64 is rather skimpy on features right now. There needs to be some features added, such as the ability to auto create snapshots on user interval and the ability to combine snapshots (both of which were discussed in the thread that TheRollbackFrog linked to).

I will say that the foundation for this product seems to be very good, the developer seems to be active and aware, that he does not have a long development cycle. Those are all great things. However, I think at this product aims to be successful, or at least more so than it is now, he needs to be keenly aware of directly competing products, and to be better, and more feature-rich than they are. In this case specifically on talking about 1-Click restore Pro. As of right now, ax64 does not have more features than 1-Click restore Pro. As discussed in the links thread a ax 64 lacks the ability to add a restore entry to the MBR, which would allow you to restore an image should Windows not boot. (Yes, I understand you can use the recovery media, but this would just be one other option and one that would be faster and easier than having an external media source.) Ax64 also lacks the ability to auto create snapshots on schedule, which again has been discussed in the links thread. All of these features are currently existent in 1-Click restore Pro, which is why I would have to give them the edge as of right now.

All that being said, the foundation of a ax64 is better, the development cycle of the ax64 shorter, and the author seems to be more interested in user input then 1-Click restore Pro. Give it a while, let it to determine its direction, and let it as some polish and some more features and I would gladly use and recommend a ax 64. However, given the reasons I mentioned above I currently cannot.

Of course this is just one person's opinion, and you're welcome to totally disregarded if you want to.

n8

 

I just restored to a snapshot which took 4 to 5 hours to complete. It was from a HD to a SSD.

 

Isso,

Over the weekend I finished a new install of Windows 7 on my My Mac. I created a new backup set. I deleted the windows partition and recreated as vFAT as I did before using Disk Utility. This time I knew the exact size of the partition. Before I did not take note of the original partition size from the original Windows install. Well this time the restore worked! I went into Mac and it saw all the windows files and showed the partition was now NTFS. I did this procedure again to verify and it worked again. I am not sure if not having the exact partition size was the problem or if I had a bad backup set from the old install. Although Windows was happy with all of it using the old or new backups. I am happy with it and will be buying the 4 Pack later this week. Keep up the good work.