Image for Dos/Windows 2.00 Final Release

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by markymoo, Dec 21, 2007.

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  1. huntnyc

    huntnyc Registered Member

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    Brian,

    Very interesting. Is there a plugin for BartPE for version 2? Also, it would be nice if the same could be worked for VistaPE CD. If it can and there is a plugin for version 2, I would like to know more. Thanks.

    Gary
     
  2. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Gary,

    Here is the plugin.

    http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-image-for-windows.htm

    I don't know how to run IFW from a VistaPE script. But it's easy to use IFW with VistaPE. Just browse (A43 app) to your USB flash drive and run the exe.
     
  3. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Okay. I know you can't do that with ShadowProtect, and candidly, not sure I'd want to.
     
  4. huntnyc

    huntnyc Registered Member

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    Brian,

    Thanks. Do you just install IFW 2 to your USB flash drive instead of the program files folder and thanks again.

    Gary
     
  5. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    You only need three files on your USB stick for full function.

    imagew.exe
    cdboot.35
    imagew.ini

    Get the first two from

    C:\Program Files\TeraByte Unlimited\Image for Windows\V2 (after you have installed IFW)

    How to make the last one is described in the IFW userguide and in the plugin information. It contains your serial number.
     
  6. markymoo

    markymoo Registered Member

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    I had great reliability with the 2.00 beta and this IFW final 2.00 so far is just rock solid. Terabyte only release the versions when they tested it good and dont give false release dates. They quote it be ready when it be ready. I can say that about there other products too.

    Reliable backups as you quoted automatic backups, no user intervention. What more do you need? Great you can run it from multiple devices like USB. You can't do that with ShadowProtect as thats more a corporate product that comes with alot more files. The auto verify and handy choice of being able to copy it quickly and run it from other storage devices with the automated batch commands to run it just how you want are pluses for me. Its a good product for the individual user.

    Once you decide on the ideal backup and restore you want you just need to press F6 and the command line is constructed for you and so useful for users who find the command line daunting which you can write down to do automated backups and use with the Windows Task Scheduler.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2008
  7. markymoo

    markymoo Registered Member

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    Hi Peter,

    Doing backups is a pain for some especially even if they techy or not computer savvy it benefits all, the more automated the better i think you agree. They not have to flounder about. :D Theres time people go into a state of panic thinking they lost vital work and when they in this mind set then making it easier is a big plus.
     
  8. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    That sounds like an improvement, but it isn't.
    What is the difference between choosing the right image file and the right automatic Recovery CD ? In both cases we are talking about "user intervention", only the way of choosing is different. Using Automatic Recovery CD's is only more convenient, because you have lesser mouse clicks.

    Does that mean I need such Automatic Recovery CD for each different image, I have ? If true I will have a collection of CD's.
     
  9. nexstar

    nexstar Registered Member

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    Having just weighed up the pros and cons of this while setting up a restore DVD for a test laptop, I came down on the side of a semi-automatic restore :) .

    I created a Drive Snapshot restore DVD which booted without user input and which had the image to restore already on it. So it was simple to include a line to auto-run DS and restore the image. However I decided to put the command into a seperate batch file so I have to type 'restore' to make it happen.

    The thinking being that, if the DVD gets left in the machine or gets put in the wrong machine then it may not have saved me a lot of time in the end ;) .

    Graham
     
  10. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Only one CD is needed. Containing IFD. Or a BartPE CD with the IFW plugin. The images to restore are on one of your HDs. Internal or external. You just change one image file name to the name recognized by the command line in IFD and it's ready to go. Hey, you are just selecting which image to restore. It's automatic from the time you click restart. We all like automatic image creation. Nil mouse clicks. This is nil mouse clicks for the restore.

    It is a cool feature. It entertains me. You don't have to do it.
     
  11. huntnyc

    huntnyc Registered Member

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    Brain,

    Could you just give an example of exactly what you are saying such as if I wanted to auto restore System_C image to my C drive from a BartPE disk with version 2? I would appreciate it very much and thank you.

    Gary
     
  12. djg05

    djg05 Registered Member

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    Are they still using the 8.3 file names in IFD?
     
  13. markymoo

    markymoo Registered Member

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    With IFW and ShadowProtect you both have to access 4-5 screens to backup or restore but if you want to go the automated way then the extra benefit of IFW batch command lines is there if you need it. Why sit there clicking through those screens when 1 click will do it. It takes away any thought so less to go wrong. It also establishes a smoother routine. A benefit for it greatly is when you setup a friend or family and implemented a image backup/restore plan. They know how to backup but come unstuck when they come to restore as i wouldn't be always around to help them so less for them to panic about if they have a automated restore, this would help them greatly.

    i now read it, so its an IFW issue not just your pc.

    i chuckled when i read what you wrote above and find it a non argument. :thumb: i not sure if you meant that literally to the second or emphasising the point how efficient and quick it is, either way its better.

    Brian, You could even make your restore easier. You currently have to change the filename each time if you restore a different image to the last but you could create a batch menu of all the images you restore with a 1 key input for each iimage. If those images i am guessing are differential for each day of the week then the image name is the same from week to week. The Monday differential or full filename is the same as the Monday the week before etc. so you just have a batch menu listing Monday to Sunday that runs the corresponding image.

    @nexus
    A good point, leaving a automatic restore cd in a pc could work against you and maybe too efficient. Be abit of a shock if you see a different windows installed one day, laughs. If you just have to type one command or one key i still call this 99% automatic. :p I think the next step is voice command. :)

    You also answered Brians question 'what other image software does auto restore?'...DS
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2008
  14. markymoo

    markymoo Registered Member

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    Alternatively you could keep alot images together on one disk if it was a Blu-ray 50gb disk :) but that be quite pricy.

    @ErikAlbert
    Also if you have 1 main image and make differential images of this then you would reduce your drive space so much than having full images.

    Be interesting to compare everybodys differential image sizes day to day or whenever they take them. I save 50gb of drive space taking differentials as opposed to full per week.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2008
  15. rendez2k

    rendez2k Registered Member

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    Has anyone got HIR to work with IFD? If so, could some basic instructions be posted?
     
  16. markymoo

    markymoo Registered Member

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    IFD reads and writes to NTFS partitions and support long filenames and also with FAT32 fine. If you ran your own dos commands or a batch menu before or after you are limited to 8.3 filenames. When you run IFD you inside a menu system that supports long filenames.

    @Easter

    IFW v.2.02 cannot currently open and mount v.2 images to browse but it will soon i guess.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2008
  17. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Gary,

    Let's say you have a base image and 7 differential images of the OS partition, taken over a one week period. Something has gone wrong with your computer but you know everything was OK on Wednesday. You would like to restore to the Wednesday image. You simply change the filename from Wed.tbi to Gary.tbi, insert your BartPE CD and click restart. When the restore has completed you restart the computer. Change the filename back to Wed.tbi.

    The file Gary.tbi doesn't normally exist (you deliberately named it because you wanted to restore) so if you boot to BartPE by mistake, nothing happens. File not found.
     
  18. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Mark,

    Would this mean making a choice after clicking Restart? That's what I'm trying to avoid.

    I was referring to restoring my second OS. My restore time from the end of the POST is less than a minute. Most recover environments take several minutes to load.
     
  19. huntnyc

    huntnyc Registered Member

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    Brian,

    Thanks much. Would that special filename Gary.tbi need to be noted in any other place besides just renaming th eimage you want to restore? Thanks again.

    Gary
     
  20. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    The filename Gary.tbi is part of your command line in autoexec.bat in the CD.

    For example...

    image /r /d:b0@0x2 /base:b1@0x202:\BackupImages\IFW\WinXP /f:b1@0x202:\BackupImages\IFW\Gary /rb:0 /mp /v /a /o

    Don't be concerned about creating the above line. You simply run through IFD manually (once) and on the last screen (press F6) there is a readout of your proposed command line. Write it down and later create your autoexec.bat.

    For BartPE the command is even simpler.


    path=X:\Programs\ifwv2;%path%
    H:
    CD \BackupImages\IFW
    imagewc /r /d:w0@0x2 /base:WinXP /f:Gary /rb:2 /v /a /uy
     
  21. djg05

    djg05 Registered Member

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    Thanks

    I don't quite follow you there. Do you mean that if you use IFD direct then you can only see 8.3 names. When I used IFD a couple of weeks ago that is all I could see and it put me off going any further with it.
     
  22. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    David, are you using ver 2 IFD? It sounds like ver 1.99.
     
  23. djg05

    djg05 Registered Member

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    I think so Brian, but don't have it installed at the moment. I think it must be 2 since the other version I downloaded did not recognise the IFW image file.
     
  24. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Ver 2 (IFW, IFD, IFL) produces .tbi files. Ver 1 produces .img files.

    See my command line above.
     
  25. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    David, you are only limited to 8.3 filenames if you choose File (OS) in the "Backup To" window. I've never used this choice. The default is File (Direct) and there are no DOS filename restrictions.

    If you create a boot disc with MakeDisk, the File (OS) choice is not offered. You only see that choice with a custom disc.
     
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