Introducing AX64 Time Machine - hybrid imaging/snapshot software

YES, if you want to keep your existing chain intact YOU MUST delete snapshots from the AX64 browser. Failing to do so will destroy your ability to restore either via the browser or recovery media. If you do not care at all about the snapshot set then Win Ex is the way to go.

 

Re: AX64 Time Machine - My View

I have today suffered 3 BSD's, Windows repair was unable to fix it, Windows restore using two separate dates was unable to fix it.

AX64 restored my complete machine in 16 minutes, I am sure it would have been shorter if I was not on an external drive.

But you know, when you have no machine, and no hope of restoring it time is not really an issue is it.

The bottom line I am fully restored thanks to AX64 superb piece of kit.

Thanks Isso for your hard work!!.............................Nope I am not being paid for this, I am simply a very happy customer.

 

As suggested by my earlier post..I tried to delete my 2 restore points from within the time machine explorer and it said I was forbidden. I am the admin and I chose to run as admin. I had to delete the folder on my drive that hosted the backups. Thought I was too delete them from the program? Thanks.

 

If you had only two snapshots in the AXTM folder then you would not have been able to delete them individually...for the reasons stated in a previous post, i.e., you cannot delete the baseline snap or the last snap taken...which is the likely configuration if you only have TWO snapshots in the folder.

 

I guess you missed my post above (5 or 6 back I think). Here it is again.

 

You folks are great. Thanks.

 

The only snapshot that cannot be deleted from AX64 Browser is the current snapshot. All the others (included the initial one) can be deleted.

Panagiotis

 

If you think about it, BG, AX64 TM will just MERGE the baseline into the current when the delete is done... as expected.

 

I had not tired to delete the baseline and thought it could not be done (I expect I was basing this assumption on the fact you could not delete Rxs baseline --- or could you? I am getting increasingly confused in my old age) ,,,,,I assume you guys have tested it, correct?,,,,,thanks for the correction BTW, much appreciated.

 

This program has nothing to do with Rxs, neither it shares the same technology. It is simply an imaging programs with the ability of:

1. The restoration of images can be started within the Windows. For example Drive Snapshot, Keriver 1-Clk Restore and others do the same.

2. It can restore only an increment within Windows rather than the complete image. In this regard, AX64 is unique and no other imaging program can accomplish this so far.

 

Doesn't an imaging program like Macrium Reflect allow you to restore from an incremental image, providing you have the others in the chain?

 

Sure... but what it's restoring is the whole image, all components up to and including the INCREMENTAL selected. Whereas AX64 needs to only restore the INCREMENTAL differences between where you are and where you are going (while doing the RESTORE LIVE under your running Windows system). If you use the RECOVERY MEDIA of AX64, the result is the same as MACRIUM... it restores everything from the BASELINE to the INCREMENTAL of choice.

 

Hi Tony,

I believe that TheRollbackFrog has already answered to you. Only AX64 can just restore the increment, rather than the full chain as all imaging programs do. In this case AX64 is unique and no one has achieved this kind of breakthrough.

For this reason, it makes AX64, one program in two.

1. It is an imaging program. It images your OS.

2. Just restoring only the increment, it makes it a snapshot program too.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Great idea!
Why didn't i think of this before...
Got now ax64 recovery disc in my boot menu,pre-windows ..
it loads the .iso image in memory.

 

I apologize folks, but this went totally over my head?! Am I to assume from the above that you somehow have your PC set up so that every time it boots or re-boots it boots into the AX64 recovery console? (without a CD/DVD or Flash Drive?)

Can you explain the benefits of doing this and secondly how one would go about setting this up on their PC?

 

Hi Alex,

Yes, you are correct!

Every time your PC boots or re-boots, you are given a choice of menu. The default is Windows OS and then anything else like AX64 Recovery Environment with a default timing of 30 seconds.

Within that default time, if you don't do anything, you automatically boot into Windows. However, yes like you said above, you have a choice in that default time to boot into something else like AX64 Recovery Environment (without a CD/DVD or Flash Drive).

I have setup my default time to be 3 seconds instead of 30 seconds, so to load Windows OS quickly.

It is really simple. First thing you want to do is to download EasyBCD or similar program, which is FREE. Basically, this program allows you to edit your bootloader.

Here is the download link for EasyBCD:

http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

Then you create an ISO of AX64 Recovery Environment. Some people like to use the ISO, I like to extract the ISO with 7-Zip (another FREE program). Then I place this extracted ISO in a different partition on my hard drive within that extracted folder. So, in my "D" partition or drive, I have a folder called, "WinPE" and have the "AX_Recovery" extracted folder there.

Now, this is one time thingy. Start the EasyBCD.exe and choose the 3rd menu on the left. And again 1st menu on the top and then 3rd option. Go to the "AX_Recovery" folder and there inside there will be a folder called, "sources" and pick "boot.win". Pick that and give it a name, for example "AX64 Time Machine", and you are done. In the 1st menu on the left, change the default time of 30 seconds to 5 seconds and you are done.

Then on, anytime a new version of AX64 comes out, make a new ISO and extract the ISO. Then replace the old files/folder "AX_Recovery" in the "WinPE" with the new files/folders, "AX_Recovery". Like this you have the new AX64 Recovery Environment, without making any new CD/DVD or Flash Drive.

I will post some images for EasyBCD for you.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Here is an image how to setup the AX64 Recovery Environment.

 

Here is an image how my bootloader looks like with AX64 Recovery Environment and with 3 second automatic Windows OS boot time.

 

Awesome! And...sweet!

Thank you very much Aladdin! I know what I'll be doing this weekend!

And....before I do this....I will make a snapshot using AX64 in case I need to go back to it or I screw it up....

 

http://i.imgur.com/0BYjEVo.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/3yS6yX9.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/IMJHsgM.jpg


edit: not sure why the board isn't displaying the images, click on them in order since it's an guide.

 

I have a strange problem with AX.

I have been playing around with various programs and in the process created two branches of images from a single source and swapping from one branch to the other. Gradually the system got slower and slower and started getting BSODs.

None of the AX images improved it nor my Active@. All restored but the fault remained.

Checked for a virus and none found. Suspected my SSD but no fault there. Then checked the memory (Memtest86) and no fault found.

I then end I have re-installed Win 8/64 and restored my Baseline Active@ image and that appears ok.

I then tried to restore from AX to get back again and although I am running on the same disk, AX cannot see it. It offers the the others but not this one. Applies to all images in that folder.

I can create a backup from this disk which will a full one using this folder.

If I rename the AX folder it will then see others which it can restore.

So it would appear that something I did the other day is causing confusion.

This is not a problem for me, but purely mentioning it in case it might have highlighted a problem in AX.

 

Macrium does this with a click at "Other Tasks". Maybe Isso could incorporate it in the AX64 GUI.

 

Hi TWL,

Very true! And, this prompted to buy Macrium Reflect as my first imaging program. The ease to have the Recovery Environment as bootmenu.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Could I trouble you to detail how you were doing this? With details we may be able to suggest a possible explanation for why you ran into the problem.

 

Difficult to explain but will try


I created a main branch - call it A and created for stepped images in it. So I have A1, A2, A3, A4.

Then went back to A2 and installed a replacement program - call it branch B with 2 steps - B1, B2.

B2 was causing problems (not due to AX) so went back to A4. Then again to B2 and back to A2.

Although AX did this (hot) when I went back to A4 the second time I was still having the same problem.

So the question is does AX not completely write out the previous image?

Can you follow the logic?