MiniTool ShadowMaker 2.0 - The Backup Software

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by V3nuo, May 30, 2018.

  1. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Hi Hadron, the team had not yet found anything error, should keep you updated if there's any news, thank you very much for your patience.
     
  2. Hadron

    Hadron Registered Member

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    No worries, V3nuo.
    The only problem is, I could be dead before anything happens.
    I'm probably better off sticking with backup applications that work.
     
  3. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Sorry for that inconvenience, if there's any other problem while using it or other problem you may encounter with others, you're free to leave message here, we'll be glad to help. Thank you!
     
  4. Hadron

    Hadron Registered Member

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    No problem, mate.
    I can't help but notice a significant difference in quality between MiniTool Partition Wizard, and MiniTool ShadowMaker. MiniTool Partition Wizard has been faultless for me over the years, but I can't say the same about MiniTool ShadowMaker.

    Why would that be? Even that cosmetic issue with MiniTool ShadowMaker shouldn't be there, in my opinion.
    But, probably my main problem is being unable to get MiniTool ShadowMaker to make differential backups. It just keeps making Full backups. I have spent many hours trying to work it out, but without success.

    And some sort of visual notification to show that a backup is being performed would be nice.

    By the way, I own both of the above mentioned applications. I love good backup applications.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2019
  5. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Hi Hadron, the team updated me with nothing error found, to better assistant you and find out the mistake, I wonder that if you mind providing more details of the differential backup practice, like the report file. They will do effort to help. And sorry for any inconvenience caused, the program should be better with every time of its update. You are just making it as good. Thanks!
     
  6. guest

    guest Guest

    MiniTool ShadowMaker Free v3.2 Released (October 28, 2019)
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  7. EASTER

    EASTER Registered Member

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  8. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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  9. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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  10. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Hi Pete

    I don't consider them good deals. I might buy Shadowmaker licenses if the price is riight but to spend money on other stuff I don't need makes no sense. Make a deal on licenses for shadowmaker and I might bite
     
  11. Hadron

    Hadron Registered Member

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    Ditto, Pete.
     
  12. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Sorry for the delay response, but you can actually get some good deals.
     
  13. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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  14. Peter 123

    Peter 123 Registered Member

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    I just started to test a little bit ShadowMaker and my first impression is very positive: It has a clear user-interface and it seems to be easy and comfortable to use. I created a first image on an external disk. All worked without problems. Image creation took a little bit longer than with Macrium Reflect (1h 25min vs. 1h 05min for about 140 GB). But that's o.k.

    Two remarks concerning the language:

    1.
    My operating system is in German and I also chose German as language for the installation of ShadowMaker. So its user interface is in German too and this is in general fine. But sometimes I would like to change to the English version e.g. in order to look up what various expressions in English are. Is there a possibility to change temporarily the language and then to revert to the initial one?

    2.
    My English is not very good and my knowledge about computers limited. But I am quite sure that the following issue is a serious mistake in the German translation that leeds to misunderstandings:

    When using the Media Builder, via click on "Options" opens a window which looks in the English version like this (picture taken from the online User Manual: https://www.minitool.com/help-sm/tools.html#media-builder):

    SM-en.jpg

    ---> So the action refers to drivers (s. green underlined word).

    But in the German version in the same window you can read the following:

    sm-ge.jpg

    ---> Here is written "Laufwerke" (the red underlined word in the above picture.)

    I was confused about this word until I saw the English version in the User Manual. Obviously the German translator mixed up two expressions:

    - "Laufwerke" is the German expression for "drives"
    - "Treiber" is the German expression for "drivers".

    ---> Therefore obviously the correct expression in the German version should be "Treiber" instead of "Laufwerke".

    So, v3nuo, please could you check if my assumptions are correct, and if they are, could you take care that the expression in the German version will be corrected?

    And something more (which does not concern the language):

    3.
    When a backup operation is finished, in the right side of the window there is again the option "Back up now" (in German: "Jetzt sichern"):

    JS.jpg

    This is misleading and should be replaced by something like an information "Backup successful" or simply the option "Close Window".

    4.
    The created backup is in a folder whose name is a quite long combination of numbers and letters. May I change this folder name to something more simple (e.g. "Backup1") or will the program have troubles to find it when I want to restore the backup which is within the folder?
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2020
  15. Hadron

    Hadron Registered Member

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    Hi @Peter 123
    I purchased this, but I had a few problems with it and ran out of patience.
    I am a big fan of MiniTool Partition Wizard, but I can't say the same about this application.
     
  16. Peter 123

    Peter 123 Registered Member

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    Thanks for your information, Hadron. The positive thing is that V3nuo seems to be quite responsive and open to suggestions or complaints here in the thread. So there may be a good chance that shortcomings of the application will be fixed.
     
  17. Hadron

    Hadron Registered Member

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    Sorry, Peter.
    I only just noticed your reply.

    Another problems I have with it is that the development is very, very slow, if not stopped altogether.
    Life is short...
     
  18. guest

    guest Guest

    MiniTool ShadowMaker Free v3.5 Released (August 24, 2020)
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  19. guest

    guest Guest

    MiniTool ShadowMaker Free v3.6 Released (January 11, 2021)
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  20. guest

    guest Guest

    MiniTool ShadowMaker Free 3.6.1 Released (December 21, 2021)
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  21. Jim1cor13

    Jim1cor13 Registered Member

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    Hi everyone
    I am curious if anyone is using this Shadowmaker to backup and restore on a regular basis? I would like your thoughts as to how reliable it is and also ease of operation.

    I have tried it out, version 3.61, and it is fast as far as backup goes, comparable to other good programs for imaging. I have not yet tried a restore, main reason is the whole issue of the "MBR Track 0"
    usage when restoring.

    I understand you need to check this when restoring an entire system to include System reserved, OS and Recovery partition.

    Would I need to check the MBR Track 0 if out of an entire drive image of my disk, I only wanted to restore the OS partition and not anything else?

    If the system boots from the MS SRP as mine does then hands that over to the OS, if I only restore the OS, do I need to check the MBR Track 0?

    It is confusing to me, because in my system, drive "C:" that has the OS on it is not what first boots, the SRP does. So if I wanted to restore only the OS,
    why would the restore of that have any affect on the system reserved partition or any partition other than what I want to restore?

    Appreciate your thoughts, I really like the program so far as backup speed and features, I can image entire drive of about 30GB in about 2 minutes. That is using a USB 3.0 external HDD and ADATA SSD for system drive.

    I am confused about the MBR Track 0 need though for restoring if you are not restoring an entire drive.

    Thank you! :D
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2022
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