Introducing AX64 Time Machine - hybrid imaging/snapshot software

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by Isso, Jan 18, 2013.

  1. dagrev

    dagrev Registered Member

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    Out of curiosity and my rant is passed, I've been testing the .665, but will likely use this as a secondary backup. Anyway, I've run into this two times now and wondered if anyone else has as well.

    Ran into a problem with a Win update that didn’t complete or something. I have to power it off manually as it would not shutdown or reboot. When I took the next snap because the tracking file had been altered (likely not the right word), TM thought it needed to do a normal full/first image. The problem is in ver2 used to notice there was a tree already present and while it took a long time to do the next image it just added to it. This time and one other it starts an new image family (or wants to) and I run out of disk space. This is new with this beta as far as I noticed.

    I sent an email to Iurie but it wasn't working/waking hrs yet. Just wondering if I'm the only one having this problem. All else seems stable (but hot restores which never worked for me).
     
  2. taotoo

    taotoo Registered Member

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    I found it did that with the very first v2 beta and reported it at the time. Not sure if that was fixed and this has a different cause or not.
     
  3. dagrev

    dagrev Registered Member

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    This is the first it's shown up with me. Ver2 did fine. After an abrupt shutdown it would take a long time to do the next snap but wouldn't think it needed to start an whole new tree. It's funny that some could do hot restores with V2 but I've never been able to do them more than once.
     
  4. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    This darn program is like a tar baby for me, I just can't let go. Tested the latest beta, with the eye to comparing with with Macirum

    First it for sure is simpler. I ran 4 tests from the simple, to abusive.

    1. Just image the system, and then restore. It was as fast as macrium, and worked fine.

    2. Changed a bunch of stuff on the desktop and took and incremental, I was marginally faster the full. Restore was a bit flaky, but worked fine. Faster then full, but still not that great.

    3. Booted into 3 recovery environments but didn't do a restore. Then I took another incremental. It took as long as a full image. Not good. Macrium was still as fast as it normally is. Then before restoring I restored a macrium image that had IR and two IR snapshots, so it was 25% bigger. Then I restored the AX64 image. Restore time was that of a full image, which isn't surprising.

    4. This was the tough test, and speed wasn't going to be an issue. I used the same image for I had from test 3. I started a shadowprotect restore, and about a third of a way in I unplugged the SP recovered drive, and plugged in the USB recovery environment. Did a reset which aborted the SP restore, and booted to the AX64 RE. I then did the AX64(TM2) restore. It took the full 18-20 minutes I expected. System booted fine, IR preboot was there, Windows boot menu was there, and it was a perfect restore.

    So in conclusion, I didn't find the speed I would have like, due to tracking file issues, but this isn't unique to this program. What was good was the restores were reliable under some tough situations, especially the 4th test.

    Pete
     
  5. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Oh as part of my test, I tried this and didn't see a new tree
     
  6. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    Thanks Peter, looks like progress is being made here. Maybe one day it will meet all hopes and expectations. I will stick with MR6 at this point but I am pleased to see progress with this app.
     
  7. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Well I am sticking with MR6, already have uninstall the beta, but I can't resist a play. The reliablity is encouraging. Still have a lot or hurtles.
     
  8. dagrev

    dagrev Registered Member

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    Peter, I'm like you in that I'm fascinated with the ease of this program but what I've experienced means the program is not reliable until this is resolved. I've sent the info to support and They have been interested in my issues.
    I bought MR6, by the way! If AXTM gets smoothed out one will be relegated to a secondary backup method.
     
  9. wajamus

    wajamus Registered Member

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    Hi all,

    A big thanks to everyone who's been testing. The feedback we've been receiving has been very encouraging and it motivates us to keep pushing harder for the next release.

    Speaking of the next release, the next official stable version will be coming before the end of the month.

    More than that, we will be coming in under a new name (to be announced shortly) to coincide with the Windows 10 release.

    Nothing will be changed, just a name change as Apple doesn't appreciate us using the name "Time Machine". To be clear, the next version will be a free update for existing license holders despite the name/brand change.

    Thanks again for all the support.

    Best

    Waj
     
  10. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    Good work. Patent trolls at Apple is at work again. Those morons never cease amusing us.
     
  11. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    I could have sworn that "Time Machine" has been used before Apple used it. Seems to me that a guy by the name of Wells used it for one of his projects.
     
  12. bgoodman4

    bgoodman4 Registered Member

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    I take it that the free upgrade will be for license holders of the current major version, not all license holders as is indicated in the post..
     
  13. wajamus

    wajamus Registered Member

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    Hi Bgoodman4, yes, a free upgrade for users who currently hold a V2.0 license(s).
     
  14. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Not fair. What do you think Acronis would do if you called it True Image, or macrium if you called it Reflect, etc
     
  15. mantra

    mantra Registered Member

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    hi
    may i ask a question ?
    does ax64 have a feature like macrium RDR or terabyte write changed sector only ?

    thanks
     
  16. taotoo

    taotoo Registered Member

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    Yes it does.
     
  17. mantra

    mantra Registered Member

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    thanks
    but does it work like terabyte or macrium ?
    because terabyte doesn't work with some ssd drives , only ssds with drat feature
     
  18. wajamus

    wajamus Registered Member

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    @mantra

    AX64 Time Machine is known for its ability to do incremental backups and incremental restores (ability to backup just the changed sectors since the last backup, which makes for fast backups; and the same principal applies to the restores, which makes for fast restores).

    TimeMachine is fully compatible with SSDs.

    @bgoodman4 @Peter2150 thanks both good points about the name! We'll announce the new name shortly along with a brand new domain.

    Thanks!
     
  19. taotoo

    taotoo Registered Member

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    I don't recall any reports of this being an issue in this thread.
     
  20. mantra

    mantra Registered Member

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    Thanks a lot Wajamus
    terabyte image for windows have the ability to restore only the changed sector only , but does work with some drives , only the the ssds with drat feature (they found out after almost 1 year ), i said this because i'm worried about it

    i will try ax64 , i read about it , it seems a great software
     
  21. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    "TRUE IMAGE BRTN450 High Yield Black Toner "
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828879068

    There is a "True Image" right there. So Acronis does not get mad because what really count in their name is "Acronis". They don't give a darn about "True Image".
    It's typically Apple Style. They just want to control people, control what you can do and what you can't . It's unfortunate.
     
  22. ratchet

    ratchet Registered Member

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    The beta worked fine: x64 W10 Desktop (SSD)! The only issue I had was that Norton kept removing the setup file. It wouldn't even offer the "ignore" option. It didn't do that last week. Perhaps it was because I'd turned off the boot protection. I never got to that point last week as after AX warned boot protection needed turned off I just quit.
    Anyway, the first (full) backup was my basic five/six minutes like all are. Snapshot was seconds and the Hot Restore, which I've only ever used and were always successful, took about the same amount of time as v1, v2 or MR6.
    I've restored back to my Reflect morning image though. Here is the thing. Conceivably (I think) I could see some type of malware needing a reboot to install, much like software and MS updates often do. Thus I'm not sure I want Norton's boot protection disabled. If there could/would be some sort of workaround via AX or Norton I'd be in!
     
  23. wajamus

    wajamus Registered Member

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    @ratchet please send us a mail at info@ax64.com and shoot us your experience with Norton along with your logs.

    Logs collect by:

    backup tools
    about
    collect logs

    send them through. We'll see what possibilities there are.
     
  24. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    It also doesn't serve any useful purpose far as I am concerned. The restore takes the same time, which makes me wonder how much it is saving the drive.

    Also I am curious. Everyone says SSD's today have no lifetime issues, so why do people worry about it.
     
  25. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    Mantra, I would wait for an upcoming release (very soon) before testing... there will be a lot of changes in that release.
     
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