Introducing AX64 Time Machine - hybrid imaging/snapshot software

Hi Mohamed

Why not pop over to the Feedback page at www.AX64.com, and formally raise the feature request? Then all those who agree that this is a good idea can vote for the suggestions.

I personally think that AXTM should also identify, via the main GUI, if VSS is ready or not (I am assuming that the app already checks to see if the VSS service is not disabled and prevents a backup/snap being started until it is ready) but it would be good to see this so thatif there is an issue the user can investigate/rectify this themsleves, etc. Will be suggesting that over at the feedback page shortly.

Regards, Balders

 

Hi Balders,

Very good idea, I will do this and go to AX64 site and paste the request as you kindly suggested.

In fact, Macrium Reflect checks the health of the hard drive, and if the hard drive has problems such as it needs chkdsk or it is failing, then it refuses to do the imaging. In case of the hard disk requiring chcdsk to be done, it advise one as such. On failing hard disk, it simply refuses to do imaging. Thus, one is not under the impression that they can recover a failing hard disk.

I really like your idea about VSS being ready or not. In case of Macrium Reflect and other imaging programs, if the VSS is not ready or it doesn't work then they have their own proprietary service, which they use.

Best regards my friend,

Mohamed

 

Hi Mohamed

Happy to be of assistance. The feature suggestions web page is great as we can all see what has been suggested, vote on what we like (up to 5 votes at any one time) and we also see the status of those suggestions that Isso & the Dev Team are working on, etc.

Re. what you say on Macrium, etc., you have set me thinking as to whether it would be sensible to suggest the same, i.e, a proprietary service, to Isso (as a longer term objective if it is complex/difficult to do) given that some of the users posting have identified issues which may well be VSS-related, etc., and I believe that periodically I have an issue when running AXTM, that may well be VSS-related.

I shall have to think on that one...as we don't want to run Isso into the ground, eh?

Regards, Balders

 

I too use ESET and Zemana so I know these are not a problem.

I expect Isso will figure out what the problem is. He has been excellent in helping me get to the bottom of a number of difficult issues that I was having. with AX64.

 

If you are going to restore from the recovery media you will find AX64 to be similar to regular imaging apps but from within Win times will be much faster,,,,even if going back weeks. Also, AX64 has a few other things going for it such as instant availability to access any file in any snap simply by opening the AX64 browser, clicking on the snap, and navigating to the file. There are other nice touches and more are on the way.

As to the best of both worlds,,,,,well,,,,,not quite. But a pretty darn good compromise between normal imaging and rollback programs like RollBack Rx (and in some cases significant benefits over Rx type programs).

 

Yes and no, the longer the time period the more incremental snaps there will be. AX64 will keep weekly, monthly, and yearly snaps if you keep the chain going that long. Also, as noted above, these are incrementals not differentials so each snap will have to be examined to restore the system from the recovery media. Where AX64 differers is with the restores from within Windows. AX64 maintains a record of changes between snaps so it does not have to examine all snaps to do the restore. Its not instantaneous but it is much faster than doing a restore starting from the baseline.

 

It should be easy enough for you to test this. Load a few apps and take snaps along the way. Then try a singe step back (1 snap back) and see how long it takes, then, step back 4 or 5 snaps and check that time (and total size of snaps in question).

 

Hummmm, def not sure I like the idea of AX64 refusing to do an image as when a drive is failing thats the time you need to do an image so you have a chance to recover at least some of the data. I def would like to get a warning that there is a potential problem brewing, be it with the drive, VSS, or some other aspect of the system, though.

I recently installed Hard Disk Sentinel to monitor my drives for just this purpose.

 

Anyone knows what's the deal with AX64 build 1133? It has been lying on the ax64.com/other folder for almost a week, so I am curious...


Cheers
manolito

 

I assume it is not done being QA'd. I would wait until versions are officially announced / made available.

 

@bgoodman4,

i use Hard Drive Sentinel, Best out there.

Also Dev,

Please can we have an option to put password encrypted protection on the images and snapshots.

 

I haven't quite managed to do that, but I did do an online restore back to the previous snap - it was probably about 100mb of data - it took 6m20s. I then renamed the AXTM folder, made a new baseline and an auto-snap, then restored to that snap (probably only 30mb difference this time), and it took 35 seconds.

So for whatever reason, at least in my case, like Rollback, AXTM seems to be something that needs to be reset once in a while. Going to do so monthly from now on, as I imagine some of you already have been doing.

 

I am actually doing a weekly...given that you can access and use the 'old' baselines & increments if you keep them.

 

I fear weeklies might be asking too much of my mere 320gb backup drive...

 

So no one can help me fix the error that I'm getting since reinstalling Windows 7 Home Premium?

 

The best approach would be to open a support ticket on the AX64 site. This is a now 153 pages thread where posts get drowned in minutes.

 

Is that the drive you are protecting or the one holding the image/snaps?

 

The latter. My baselines are only 13.5Gb, but I also use the drive for file backup. I suppose I could retain the folders in a 4 per month, 3 per quarter etc. scheme.

 

Hi taotoo

The question I would have is why hold backups for so long in such detail? Surely if all is well a monthly going back a year, i.e., 12 in total, should be suffcient? I personally have never had to go back more than a month although for a while I kept a 'brand new PC' image...just in case...but my system is now old and therefore I suspect that going back to scratch would not save much time given everything i would have to reinstall to get back to today's set up.

I would review what you need the backups for and what you should realistically keep and for how long...if you feel short of space and do not have the option to purchase a new, larger HD, etc.

Regards, Balders

 

Hi Balders,

Very well said and I couldn't have said it better. AX64 is only needed to image the Operating System (OS) with Programs. And, one doesn't need an old, old backup (image) of OS with Programs which is very outdated. In that case, one needs to evaluate is it better to setup the OS from scratch with Programs as you have said above or to restore a very outdated image.

As far as User Data is concerned, I have learned from this forum, to keep this User Data on a separate partition, and to backup my User Data with a backup program, basically with syncing program.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Hi Mohamed

Thanks.

Completely agree with you re. the programs & user data split. If I ever have to re-install Windows (hopefully never ) or when I move to a new system (must check the piggy bank...) then I would certainly do as you have.

Unfortunately, I picked up on this approach after having had my current system for a while and it was to late to change apart form in the aforementioned circumstances.

Best regards


Balders

 

Im having a huge slowdown when i browse folders while its doing a backup.
ESS6, XYplorer File Manager and Sandboxie installed on a win8 64Bit. Any one noticed this? I tried AX64 on a fresh win7 64Bit and it didnt have any slowdowns.
Ty

 

Actually that is what I was saying e.g. 4 x weekly, 3 x monthly, 1 x six-monthly, 1 x yearly = 9 per year.

I agree, normally I would only go back 24 hours or so. Though on at least one occasion the ability to go back multiple months has saved me a whole lot of work versus reinstalling everything, but then my system doesn't change much and for other people it might not be worth doing so.

 

I just take a break for the 5 minutes or so until the backup is done.