Image For Windows

Sure. Double click a batch file and the computer will restart into TBWinRE/ IFL or IFD, do the restore and then reboot into the restored Windows.

See the TBWinRE web site and the section on bootfile.

 

I use that batch file and it takes a second to delete diffs. Are you running it as an Administrator?

 

I just checked. It doesn't have to be run as Admin. Can you post your batch file?

 

ROBOCOPY B:\ B:\del /mov /minage:4
del B:\del /q

pause


But like I told you before, the robocopy aspect of it is what takes the time.

 

nate,

That's not the script I'm using. You need the 3 lines. Also, you have omitted /create. I'm afraid your script is totally different.

 

Yours should be like this...

Code:

MD "B:\delete"
robocopy B:\ "B:\delete" *DIFF*.TBI /move /create /minage:4
RD "B:\delete" /s /q

 

This is why it works...

/CREATE : CREATE directory tree structure + zero-length files only.

 

Nate, if you are creating 6 diff you will need to use /minage:6 or /minage:7
Otherwise the IFW script won't rollover to the new full image.

 

Thanks Brian. So then if I add this to the end of the IFWrotate script it should work fine:

MD "B:\delete"
robocopy B:\ "B:\delete" *DIFF*.TBI /move /create /minage:7
RD "B:\delete" /s /q

MD "B:\delete"
robocopy B:\ "B:\delete" *_FULL*.TBI /move /create /minage:28
RD "B:\delete" /s /q

That will delete the differentials when another (newer) full is created, and keep no more than four full images. That'd be nice.

 

Nate,

Currently, you have these lines in your IFW script...

set TBIMaxFullCnt=4
set TBIMaxDiffCnt=6

This script will keep the 4 most recent full images (a week apart) and each full backup will have 6 associated differential images. So, 24 differential images. But you only want a total of 6 differential images. The most recent 6 differential images.

What I suggest is having a separate batch file (the Robocopy differential one you have confirmed as working) that is scheduled to run about an hour (your choice) after the IFW script runs. Remember to disable this Robocopy script if you go on holidays otherwise all differential images will be deleted on the first day you return from holidays. Re-enable the script a week later.

Does this make sense?

Code:

MD "B:\delete"
robocopy B:\ "B:\delete" *DIFF*.TBI /move /create /minage:7
RD "B:\delete" /s /q

By the way, you can delete images manually if you desire.

 

Thanks Brian! Here's a head-scratcher for you....can you think of a reason why, before the restore process, if I select to write changes only that it would not be done but instead a complete restore is done? As I recall, that option was available only on certain supported drives, or some you told me when I was using an SSD. If that's the case then my new drive is indeed supported. However, when I select that option and restore the entire image gets restored and not just the altered sections. Any idea why?

 

Nate,

How are you measuring the amount of data written to the SSD during the image restore?

 

I guess I'm just basing that off of similar tech, like Macrium Reflect RDR. With it I can restore only changes in a fraction of the time it takes to restore a full image. With IFL it takes exactly the same amount of time....to the second.

 

It takes the same amount of time as a FULL image because it compares every sector to see where the changes are so it has to read them all (same as a FULL). Reflect uses a FileSystem compare (much smaller than a complete USED SURFACE compare) to determine where the changes were, and only restores the blocks that were changed.

Both apps only WRITE changed sectors, but IFW has to read them all to make that determination...

 

Hi Pete. I'm not brian, but the below script will work if copied in a .bat file.

Essentially: "IFL exe" /b /base:"full tbi to make changes off of" /f:"where to for the differential and filename" byte for byte verification compression encoding

Alter the above to fit your needs, copy it into a bat file, then create a shortcut to that bat where ever you want. You can also use a vbs script to to have it run in the background, silently, and eliminate any windows. For that create a vbs file and enter the below. (This assumes the above script is located in c:\scripts and is called IFW.bat.)

 

/comp:12 is compression, so lower that number for looser compression. /enc3 is needed only if your also using a password. /vb is not needed, n your case. I think without the /vb switch it reverts to default, which is /comp13.

 

Hi Pete,

Let's start by using IFW to create your batch file. This is the simplest way and if you like the idea you can move onto more complex batch files later. Or keep using simple.

Open IFW
Backup
Changes Only
run through the choices until the Backup Options window
on this window click Show Command
put a tick in Save to file and click OK
click OK on the Edit window
select Desktop for the batch file site and type in a File name. For example pete_changes (Save as type will be Batch Files) and click Save
click Cancel on the IFW Options window

Double click the batch file on the desktop whenever you want a Changes Only backup image. These images will be Differentials. Batch files for Incrementals need a little more effort.

 

Pete,

If you create a full image with a fixed name such as full.TBI you can have two batch files that don't change. One for full images and one for differential images. When you have finished creating diffs for that series, move the images into a sub folder and create a new full image. You can have a batch file that moves the images for you, if you like. For example, your images are in
I:\OS_backups
For this to work your date format must have - and not /
Such as yyyy-MMM-dd
The folder created for the moved images will be named with the date and time of creation. eg
2017-Feb-06_082653

Code:

CD /d I:\OS_backups
:: +++++++++  Move all .tbi files to another folder  +++++++++
set hh=%time:~0,2%
if "%time:~0,1%"==" " set hh=0%hh:~1,1%
set timestamp=%time:~0,8%
if @%timestamp:~0,1% == @ set timestamp=0%timestamp:~1,7%
set timestamp=%date:.=%_%timestamp::=%
echo.Timestamp :: %timestamp%
MD %timestamp%
MOVE *.tbi %timestamp%

 

Simple is good. I understand.

 

I finally got my new system built. It's Windows 10 x64 Pro. I am having a couple problems with IFW 3.06a. The first is that I cannot obtain a phylock lock no matter what I do. I cannot even uninstall and reinstall the driver. VSS works fine, just not phylock. I've read the help article about it but it was not very helpful. The second issue I'm having has more to do with the fact that I'm an idiot. I've never had a UEFI system before. How do I boot to a UEFI iso? Can I still add IFW/IFL to my boot menu like I did with legacy?