Image For Windows (IFW) Validation Questions

Hi Guys,

I'm currently using Image For Windows (IFW) for backup and restore,

Do I have to opt for 'Validate Byte-for-Byte' option every time I restore an image?

Or is there a standard validation functionality (but less reliable compared to 'Validate Byte-for-Byte') which will perform automatically everytime I restore an image,

The reason I ask is 'Validate Byte-for-Byte' option doubles the time taken to restore, So what I'm thinking is
• when maximum reliability is needed, check for 'Validate Byte-for-Byte'
• when speed is more impotant than reliability (compared to 'Validate Byte-for-Byte'), uncheck 'Validate Byte-for-Byte'
Is that correct?

Also I'd like to know about 'Validate before restore' option,

I think 'Validate before restore' option is for checking the image file itself for any corruption and this is not related to any disk writing validation (like 'Validate Byte-for-Byte'), Is that correct?

Thanks

 

I just have the top Validate option in my default (saved) configuration. I believe it is a hash-type of validation as opposed to the 'B-F-B'. From my perspective IFW backs-up so accurately that I don't see any need to ever use 'B-F-B' (and perhaps not even the former type)!

...and I don't know about the Validate Before Restore as I never use it (I don't see the need if the image was validated after backing up)!

I'm sure that either Brian, MudCrab, Panagiotis, or The Rollback Frog (all IFW experts) will drop by and answer your questions more accurately.

TS

 

Thanks for the reply The Shadow ,

There is a top validate option other than B-F-B?
Well, I'm using IFW WinRE for restore and I think I never saw that option,

The only options I'm getting related to validation is 'Validate before restore' and 'Validate Byte for Byte',

Which one you are using for restore (IFW,IFL,IFD)?

Thanks again

 

Chris,

On IFW's Backup Options screen the very first option (before 'Validate byte-for-byte') is 'Validate'. That is what I use and what I was referreing to in my prior post.

Insofar as restoring, I use IFD (and as I already indicated, I never validate my image before restoring).

TS

 

Validate is not so much a test of the integrity of the image file but a test of the ability of your hardware to restore the image. For example, if you have bad RAM and you don't run a validate before restore, you might suddenly find you have no OS to boot as the partition has been deleted and the restore has failed. We've seen a few threads where this has happened.

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=350

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=151

In my test computer I don't use validate at all. In my main computer I use all the validate options. One validate after creating an image and both validates when restoring an image. I've never seen it fail but I'd prefer to know in advance if there was a hardware issue.

 

Thanks for the replies The Shadow and Brian,

Ok Brian, I got 'Validate before restore', Thanks

What about 'B-F-B' validation
If I didnt opt for 'B-F-B' validation, is there any other standard integrity check to ensure whether the image is written correctly to disk or not (like any hash type validation instead of 'B-F-B' as mentioned by The Shadow)?

 

I suggest you use Validate Before Restore as well as Validate Byte-for-Byte. But it's your choice.

Edit... My restores only take a few minutes because I've separated my OS from my data files.

 

in my experience, validating images with terabyte's products is a waste of times.

i have yet to see any of their stuff fail in over, what is it now, 200 or 300 imaging and restores.

my way of 'validation' has always been to restore an image i just created but i don't bother with that anymore either.

 

Thanks for the replies everybody,

I read somewhere that Acronis TIH & Macrium Reflect are using hash functions (MD5 I think) to validate each sector or somthing like that,

So I just want to know what is TB using for validation if no 'B-F-B' is selected,

Absolutely Moontan,
I also restored pretty much times (but not anything near you ) and never had any problem,

But the reason I asked is for some speed benefits
With 'B-F-B' it takes 28 minutes for me to restore, without it 14 minutes

As Brian mentioned I think its safe to go for 'B-F-B'