Introducing AX64 Time Machine - hybrid imaging/snapshot software

Softpedia review of AX64 Time Machine: http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows/AX64-Time-Machine-Review-355541.shtml

 

RE: Incremental backup did not occur when expected?

I am using AX64 TimeMachine 1.1.0.996
I've performed a full backup and it completed successfully.

I also have Macrium Reflect 5.1 on the system, which did a full image backup.

When I reran Time Machine again, (not configured with hourly backup). It has decided to do a full backup again. Am I missing something about why it did not do an incremental backup, which is what I expected it to do?
Did Reflect do something to upset it,?

The backup folder looks like this (2 full backups)

Code:

24/05/2013  07:53 AM   144,618,267,648 CD49758D8B32F0AB-20130524073507.axd
26/05/2013  08:12 AM   144,619,517,000 CD49758D8B32F0AB-20130526081255.axd

EDIT: I have just run a AX64 backup, then hit make backup again. It's gone ahead and created a new full backup, so I am ruling out Reflect as a issue. I have a misunderstanding of what should occur clicking "make backup now". How do you actually perform a incremental backup from the application?

 

Re: Add Backup shemes

Panagiotis,

Partition table is restored automatically if the original partition cannot be found. The program asks the user to specify the target disk, then creates the partitions and restores the data.

Isso

 

Dermot7,

Thank you for posting this information!

Isso

 

Hi monstermorphic,

Sorry about this problem. The program is supposed to automatically take incremental backups after the first full backup. To understand the cause of this issue I need to look into the program logs. Could you please collect the logs, open a ticket by clicking on "Feedback and Support" in top left corner of www.ax64.com web page, and attach the logs to the ticket. Thank you very much.

Isso

 

Hi Isso,

So far today, I haven't experienced the behavior described on my support ticket. I guess we can discard it, as it may have been something else (tho, I really don't know exactly what).

Now, I have another question that probably was already answered (excuse me if so). Is it normal for the GUI to show the legend: 'The computer was shutdown improperly. Backup will take longer than usual' when making an image after defragging the partition?

 

Hi atomomega,

Thank you for letting me know. For the message - no, it's not normal. Which defragmenter are you using? Are you doing a boot defragmentation?

Isso

 

Hi Isso,

I used Windows built-in defragger.

However, prior to defrag, I did a cleanup with Windows built-in cleaner and then with CCleaner, then ran the defrag.

 

atomomega,

I don't see how defragmenter or CCleaner can make the program to produce such message. I'll try to reproduce it. Could you please try to repeat these steps and if you see the problem happening again please create a ticket. Thank you

Isso

 

Thank you Isso,

Will try on a different machine as the first one doesn't need defragmentation nor cleanup at the moment. Will that be ok?

EDIT: I was able to reproduce the same behavior on a different system. Same steps. Backups do take longer.

 

Isso, I know that my friend cleaned and defragged his PC prior to experiencing his problem but we installed AX64 and created the baseline and hourly snaps prior to doing the cleanup (TuneUp Utilities 2013) anddoing a defrag. I had deactivated auto defrag in TU 2013 as I did not think it wise to defrag the backup set and could not find a way to exclude the backup drive. My friend told me that he was able to determine that Windows had done an auto defrag a few hours before his PC blue screened. I suspect that his mention regarding defragging may well have been similar to the message that atomomega saw.

It sounds similar to what he told me when I spoke to him but I did not press him to be more specific. I will give him a call in the morning and try and get more detailed info.

Is it possible that a backup would take longer after defragging the drive that the backup set is on since a change in the data location in the image may have similar results to a change in data location when a protected drive is imaged. Whats also puzzling though is where the message is coming from if AX64 is not designed to produce it.

 

atomomega, bgoodman,

Is the program running on Windows XP? Thank you

Isso

 

Hey, you're welcome Isso

 

Have been testing AX64 since the beginning, and now use the stable version, however, the trial will be expiring shortly. Was wondering if I'm able to get a complimentary license?

 

VoipDude, just send a PM (Personal Msg) to Isso through the Forum and he'll send you what is needed.

 

Hi Aladdin, Sorry to ask a dumb question, but as I have mentioned elsewhere, I'm a home computer user and not a techie, so may I ask where do I look for the WinRE.wim or WinRE.dat? I did a search from my desktop start menu and there's no listing. I have my computer set to show hidden files.
I don't have a problem as I can make a recovery disk. I just want to learn as much as I can so I can eventually use my AX64 proficiently. Thanks in advance.

 

Try searching for it with the Windows Search program by pressing the Windows key and F.

 

Yes, I'm on XP Pro.

 

Thanks for the response. That's what I did. No listing.

 

VoipDude, I've sent a PM to you

Isso

 

atomomega,

Thank you, I think I might know the reason. Will fix it in the upcoming release. Meanwhile you might want to avoid defragmenting the drive that is protected. Vista, 7, 8 users shouldn't worry about this problem.

Isso

 

Hi TWL,

I am not sure, but I think you have to do two things.

1. Un-hide everything in "Files and Folders" option
2. Take ownership of C:\Recovery

Or best thing yet, do down the sub-directories in C:\Recovery and you will find it there. Carfal posted earlier how to take ownership of C:\Recovery.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

twl485,

I agree with Mohamed - the best method to fix Recovery Environment is using Reagentc as carfal proposed here

Isso

 

Dearest Isso,

You have an excellent memory!

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Thank you Isso,

I'll do that. Take your time.

Regards.