MiniTool ShadowMaker 2.0 - The Backup Software

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by V3nuo, May 30, 2018.

  1. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    https://whatech-xbrj0wovpl.stackpathdns.com/images/8050/shadowmaker2.png


    Original Press Release:


    MiniTool Solution Ltd. Updates MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro 2.0

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MiniTool Solution Ltd., an innovative computer software provider, announces the release of MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro 2.0. It is an all-in-one data protection and disaster recovery solution for PCs users. Users can rely on backup files to restore operating systems to a normal state once a disaster occurs, like a system crash, hard drive failure, mistaken operation, Windows update, and more.

    Easy to Use


    MiniTool backup software - ShadowMaker Pro 2.0 offers simple interface and guides users through the whole process flow. Both new computer users and seasoned professionals can easily back up system/disk/files/folders with a few clicks.

    4 Essential Backup Features

    MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro 2.0 provides file backup, system backup, and disk/partition backup in case of any accidents like a virus attack, human errors, blue screen error, natural disaster or hard drive failure.

    File/Folder Backup: Users who pay great attention to some files or folders can choose this feature since it can movesome files or folders from Users, Libraries, or This PC to another safe place.

    Disk/Partition Backup: If users save lots of important files in the same location, this feature is recommended to create a disk/partition backup image.

    Disk Clone: This feature can copy a hard drive in only a few clicks. If users want to upgrade HDD to SSD, this feature is recommended. And, disk cloning is significant for instant boot up.

    System Backup: Windows cannot boot after serious virus invasion, human errors or after an unstable Windows update.This feature is designed to backup system drive completely including system partition, system reserved partition and EFI system partition. All data including applications, drivers, computer settings, system files and boot files will be imaged. When a system crashes, users can keep their PC running after restore with WinPE based Bootable Media Builder.

    In the main interface of MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro 2.0, the partition for system boot is selected by default, users need to specify a place in "Destination Folder" section to back up the system.

    Other Useful Tools of MiniTool ShadowMaker

    1. Manage Remote Computer: Users can manage another computer remotely by inputting the IP address of the computer in the same LAN.
    2. Schedule and Event Trigger Backup: Customize backup schedule. Set up MiniTool ShadowMaker to back up daily, weekly, monthly or on event.
    3. WinPE Bootable media builder and PXE server: Users can effectively restore operating system back to its prior state when computer fails to boot, and boot many computers from micro system in network.
    4. Boot Menu: Restore system without a bootable media.
    5. 3 Backup Schemes: MiniTool offers full backup, incremental backup, differential backup to manage disk space usage by deleting the specified backup image file versions.
    6. Mount/Dismount Image: Mount images as virtual drives to access them as if they were physical drive in Windows Explorer. Dismount drive images as the virtual disk to save considerable system resources.
    7. Back up using Command Line: Advanced users select Command Shell to open Windows built-in cmd.exe and then perform task or function in Windows PE.
    8. Network Booting: Set client PCs to boot from the same network.
    9. Universal Restore: Universal Restore guarantees successful boot when users are restoring Windows system image to a computer with a dissimilar processor, motherboard, or chipset.
    10. Password Protection and AES Encryption: Add password protection (3 data encryption levels None, Normal, AES12:cool: to safeguard the image backup files.
    11. Verify Backup after Creation: Check the integrity of the backup immediately after the backup completes.
    12. Network Booting: Set all client PCs to boot from the same network without installing MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro 2.0.
    About MiniTool Solution Ltd.

    MiniTool®, a professional Canadian software company, devotes itself to providing the best IT solutions for home and business users worldwide in backup schemes, data recovery, and partition management, Today, millions are using MiniTool products and all speak highly of our software and service. For more information, please visit https://www.minitool.com.

    SOURCE MiniTool Solution Ltd.

    Related Links
    https://www.minitool.com
     

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  2. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    I just tested the Free version on a UEFI Win10 system. It only creates a system image, not a disk image, so the Recovery Partition and the Microsoft Reserved Partition weren't included in the image.

    A USB flash drive was made and the image was restored to a blank SSD. Win10 booted and the disk was GPT but there was no Recovery Partition or Microsoft Reserved Partition on the SSD. This is not an ideal solution for a disk failure.
     
  3. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    Bryan, according to the description above, the "System Backup" is supposed to include, for UEFI Systems, the EFI partition, the System Reserved partition and the OS (Windows) partition which are the ones needed to BOOT that System. It looks like you BOOTed successfuly 'cause you're not using the System Reserved partition in your BOOT path... most factory setups do use that partition in their BOOT path.

    It seems like there may be a glitch of some kind based on the fact that you didn't get the System Reserved partition when you executed a "System Backup."
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2018
  4. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    I downloaded the trial, installed, and created the recovery environment. Took an image and incremental and times as expected. Installed the boot message. Booted into the recovery environment and was greeted by a message that said I was using a beta that was expired. Left me with an unresponsive machine. Rebooted and let Macrium take care of the problem VERY SLOPPY!!
     
  5. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    TRF,

    Some general info on Win10...

    Win10 installed in UEFI mode gives you four partitions.
    Recovery partition
    EFI System partition
    Microsoft Reserved partition
    Win10 OS partition

    Although Win10 installed in MBR mode has a System Reserved partition, Win10 installed in UEFI mode does not have a System Reserved partition.

    The free version of MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro 2.0 images the EFI System partition and the Win10 OS partition. The Recovery partition and the Microsoft Reserved partition are not imaged so that's why two partitions are missing when you restore the image to a blank SSD/HD. This test simulates a drive failure situation.
     
  6. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Hi Brian, thanks for feeding back. The default options are boot and system partition, so if you want to create an image for the whole disk, you can just check the partitions on the same disk.
     
  7. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Hi Peter, it seems like that you've used MiniTool ShadowMaker Beta 2.0 or 3.o before, you can just manually delete the PE files of the previous versions. And then try out "Add boot menu" feature again.

    The file name: C:\Boot\mtf1dcb0-1a7f-4941-9a4f-26edf9f258d2\winre.wim
     
  8. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    V3nuo,

    Thanks. I didn't see the option to create partition images. But I was using the boot disk to create the backup. Is the partition backup option only in the Windows environment or did I miss it in the boot disk?
     
  9. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Thanks. Why didn't the uninstaller clean that up.
     
  10. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    https://www.minitool.com/backup/backup-software-comparison.html

    Hi Brian, you were using the free version, if you want to backup partition in WinPE, you may need to try out the paid version. And you can choose any partition to back up. You may want to try out the trial version, which allows you to access all paid features for free for as long as 30 days.

    The trial download link is here, thanks!
    https://www.minitool.com/backup/shadowmaker-beta.html
     
  11. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    V3nuo,

    Thanks again. I must have been in a hurry but I should have checked out the Windows environment in more detail. Can you backup all partitions (in Windows) using the Free version?
     
  12. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Hi Peter, it's good to hear from you again. It takes a long time to generate such file, to save users time, and were not expect inconvenience. I'm sorry for the trouble, but the team is working on add delete option to clean this off, you'll see it in future versions. Thank you!
     
  13. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Hi again Brian,

    It is only available in trial/paid version, I'm sorry.
     
  14. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Brain,

    Just get a portal for a beta version, you may try out it as well, to save you time to fill out any billing info, hope this will be helpful. Thank you!
    https://www.minitool.com/backup/shadowmaker-beta.html
     
  15. bellgamin

    bellgamin Registered Member

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    I have a desktop computer that needs imaging software. MiniTool ShadowMaker (MTSM) might be just what I'm looking for. What I need is an imaging application that can save me from an unbootable system drive, if that calamity ever takes place.

    MTSM's online user's manual states in part:
    .

    ==>After Media Builder makes my external USB HD bootable, what else can Media Builder put on my bootable HD? Specifically, can Media Builder make that bootable HD include a functional verison of MTSM that is capable of externally creating & restoring images & incremental updates to my computer's system disk?

    After Media Builder creates a bootable USB HD for me, I would like to have MTSM create images & updates on that same bootable HD. ==>Can MTSM do that?
     
  16. whitestar_999

    whitestar_999 Registered Member

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    ^^All good imaging programs have boot media builder option so what is special about this one.Also any imaging program's bootable media contains by default a functional version of it(some options may not be available depending on program but all basic functions are) & it also allows creation of images to any media(incl bootable media) as long as space is there.Only thing is that you may have to do some work to put bootable media to usb hdd as by default a bootable media created by an imaging program assumes drive to be removable flash drive so no partitions but not sure.Maybe the newest versions of imaging programs can handle creation of usb hdd boot media too without any user intervention.
     
  17. bellgamin

    bellgamin Registered Member

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    I decided to do a trial of Media Builder so I downloaded a 30-day trial copy of MTSM for that express purpose. It turns out that Media Builder pops up a list of all the locations where it can build a bootable media. It listed only my internal HD & my CD drive. That list also stated, "No USB Flash Drive detected". In other words, Media Builder didn't even recognize my USB hard drive, although it was connected & the "active" light was lit.

    In fact the users manual for Media Builder states that same exact limitation -- the ONLY USB device it will make bootable is a flash drive.
    I trialed several imaging programs. All of them readily created a bootable USB HD, which is my preferred media... but flash drives are an effective rescue media, too.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2018
  18. whitestar_999

    whitestar_999 Registered Member

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    Which other imaging programs you tried that allows creation of a bootable usb hdd?
     
  19. bellgamin

    bellgamin Registered Member

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    Off the top of my head: R-drive Image, Reflect, AOMEI, O&O, Paragon. There were a few others -- maybe Acronis was one -- but I can't remember which.

    Back on-topic: I found MTSW to be an excellent Imaging program. VERY user friendly. More reasonably priced than most others in its class. I tend to misplace flash drives so I have grown fond of external HDs, but a bootable flash drive is arguably a better solution as a rescue media, especially for laptop users.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2018
  20. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    Any disk imaging software that left out any necessary partition(s) when it was told to do a system image (especially an OS with UEFI secure boot install) is not worth its salt. Such sort of disk imaging practice are pure stupidity if you ask me.
     
  21. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Hi bellgamin,

    Sorry for the delay reply, but It's really good to hear from you.

    You can use "Add Boot Menu" feature to make the bootable HD include a functional version of MiniTool ShadowMaker. And you can create a 2 GB boot partition, and use the remaining space to create a partition to back up, that way allows MTSM to create images & updates on that same bootable HD. Thank you!
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2018
  22. V3nuo

    V3nuo Registered Member

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    Hi again, bellgamin

    Sorry for any inconvenience that may have caused. Media Builder supports USB flash drive, it shielded external hard drive, as many users have mistakenly deleted partitions on USB external hard drive, so it failed to detect your USB hard drive. But the members have working on this, it is believed to be solved soon. Thanks.
     
  23. bellgamin

    bellgamin Registered Member

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    Excellent! I wish the members Godspeed. Please send up a flare when they get it done.

    I'm presently using AOMEI, but MTSM would be good for one of my other computers IF it can eventually do what AOMEI does. Namely, AOMEI: 1) Installed Win-PE on my USB HD, 2) Made that HD bootable so that it boots to a fully functional AOMEI, and 3) lets me do imaging on that same HD with no need for partitioning. Macrium & Acronis can do the same thing but I felt more at home using AOMEI.

    I liked MTSM a lot until it made my HD turn invisible. :isay:
     
  24. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Hi Bellgamin

    Just because it works doesn't mean it's a good idea. What you are doing is fraught with danger, if something goes wrong. To me not worth risking a problem.
     
  25. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    bellgamin,

    I used to put recovery environments on USB external HDs. Manually. I haven't tried but I'd expect it to work with MiniTool.
     
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