Introducing AX64 Time Machine - hybrid imaging/snapshot software

Hi Stigg,

Froggie is very helpful, he is the Virtual VP of Marketing for AX64 and paid pennies a month in virtual currency.

I keep my AXTM backup directory for about a month and then delete it. On next backup, AX64 creates a new AXTM directory, makes a new baseline and starts the chain allover again.

Some people instead of deleting the AXTM directory, they for example rename it to AXTM Old. They go through this procedure every month. Others keep the current month and the last three months, so they will have AXTM1, AXTM2 and AXTM3 and so forth. I guess you get my drift.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Thanks Mohamed.

Do you delete it through AX64 or via Explorer?

 

Hi Stigg,

I delete it through Explorer. I first rename the directory to something like AXTM Old and and delete it after couple of days, when I am sure that a new AXTM directory is made with a new chain of backup.

If you keep the AXTM1, AXTM2, AXTM3 ......., you can always rename it back to AXTM and use it to restore from it.

It all depends how much hard disk space you have, and how many days old backup you need. For me one month is enough.

I never keep my data on OS Drive. I have a separate partition/disk for my Data, and I use a program called, "Second Copy 8" to continuously backup of my data with two versions.

Best regards,

 

Thanks Mohamed.

Yes. I have at least 2 hard drives in all my computers.

 

Hi Stigg,

Some times I delete after 15 days. It all depends how disk space I have available. You need to watch your disk space, especially if you are backing up on a partition on your local hard disk of your laptop, which I do.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Excellent! All my computers, four of them have SSD and a regular hard drive on them too, even my laptops too.

On my laptops, I have gotten rid of my CD/DVD drives and instead inserted in them SSD for the OS.

SSD for the OS and regular hard drive for Data and Backup.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

SSDs are very cheap these days.

120GB SSDs for about $80

and

240GB SSDs for about $150

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

It is not real safe backing up to a partition on your local hard drive.
You are gambling that your hard drive won't physically die.

 

All my 4 computers, which includes my 2 laptops, I have at least two hard drive. On my laptops, I am limited to only two hard drives, but not on my desktops.

On all my computers, I have the OS on SSDs and the regular hard drive is for my Data and OS Backup with AX64. I monthly backup my OS either with Macrium Reflect or Image For Windows on my NAS Server.

My Data gets continuously backed up to my NAS Server with two versionnings.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Dearest Pete,

Thank your for such an excellent information.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Hi Stigg,

My local hard drive is not the OS Drive. If my OS Drive dies, I still have the backup on a separate local hard drive.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

I wait until I have about 10 snapshots before I start a new chain. I want to have enough choices to restore to on hand. Then when I feel all my installs etc. are behaving well I start a new baseline and rename the current chain.

 

Hi

I have question about last beta version. Is this version working good on Windows 8.1 + TrueCrypt with fully encrypted system drive?.


Thanx for reply, regards.

 

Master Frog, is there a reason NOT to use the automatic hourly mode? Seems like that would be a "set and forget" option? At least, perhaps, for a month?

But do you also do a manual chain when installing new software? Or no?

 

Hourly mode/set & forget always used here as the norm...with manual snaps when testing new software or just before Windows Update (just in case).

 

Thanks Baldrick. And when you do the manual snap, does that go in a different folder? And does the hourly keep on ticking along independently of that?

 

It goes into the same folder (the default one or AXTM...there is no choice currently) and it remains as itself, i.e., not merged until the user deletes it manually, at which time it is merged with the previous snap.

 

That's cool. So you can see that it is different from the hourly via it's time stamp or description? And then if all is well with the software, you can delete later on and rely upon the hourly snaps. Is that right?

 

That about sums up the approach, my friend... The hourly snap is automatically given a description of 'Automatic backup'.

Small tip: only add a description to the manual snaps, i.e., a meaningful one. Note that if you add a description to an auto snap you effectively turn it into a manual snap. So if you install software to test just after an auto snap you can just add a description and you effectively have your manual snap already in place.

 

Chamlin... yea, what he (Balders) says.

 

Thank you both! We should hire you guys out to make clear, concise, simplified instructions for those of us in the remedial class! I've read the entire thread but really wish I would have cut and pasted the key elements. Well, from here on!

 

Surely the Windows 8.1 compatible version can't be far away now.

 

413 Years Ago

I just tried to open Backup Browser from the View Backups on the main interface, and Backup Browser hung. So, I ended task and tried again.

Now I have a backup 413 years ago 2 months ago.
Screenshot here.