Rollback Rx 9.1 - New Build (July 18, 2011)

IFW is the only known disk-imager that can backup all RB snapshots by creating a RAW HOT image (with most other disk-imagers you have to create a RAW COLD image to accomplish that. However, other disk-imaging programs can reliably backup the current RB snapshot (and that's usually good enough) by creating a NORMAL hot image. Since RAW images (hot or cold) take more time and more storage than do NORMAL hot images I much prefer the latter.

Adam, I have never used SP, but I don't see why not (SP is a quality disk-imaging program). Before buying RB, I would advise you to do a free 30-day trial and during that trial you could run your own test with SP to see if it does a reliable hot image backup (as I suspect it will).

You're welcome. It's always nice to receive positive feedback.

Scott

 

Cruise,

This is a good summary...

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=289829&page=8#184

 

@Scott. Your explanation cleared up my misunderstanding completely, so thanks! I will take your advice and use the RB trial to determine if SP works ok with it.

@Brian. Thanks for that reference which pretty much confirms what Scott said.

Cruise

 

IFW is the only imaging program that will reliably back up all of Rx including the snapshots and then, only if an all sector image is created. I believe that some tweaks need to be done to IFW in order to accomplish this but since I have no interest in this area I am not sure about this and am relying on my rapidly failing memory here. Much more info on this subject can be found in a sticky on the RollBack Rx Horizon DataSys forum website.

"Rollback RX" and "Image For Windows"... perfect together??"
http://horizondatasys-forum.com/rollback-rx/2491-rollback-rx-image-windows-perfect-together.html

As was noted above by one of the Rx gurus many imaging programs will be able to image with Rx installed but if you restore you will have to uninstal and reinstall Rx. In addition, only the snap that was current at the time of the image was created will be present. All others will be lost. (I think, but could be wrong, that the imaging program must be able to work under MS Shadow Service - or something like that - please, could someone provide the correct terminology if I have it wrong).

 

Excellently said!

Very informative and to the point. The MS Shadow Service is called, VSS.

Since, one has to uninstall and reinstall Rollback Rx on restoration of image, therefore it would be better to uninstall Rollback Rx before taking the image. This will avoid the followings:

1. Any unforeseen problems with MBR, and thus rendering the restore useless.
2. To avoid uninstall and reinstall Rollback Rx on restoration of image.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

Isn't that what RB instructs us to do?

 

Very true!

Best regards,

KOR!

 

That is an absurd conclusion!!!

Scott

 

Can you point to where the RB developers said that?

 

As a new user I read it somewhere while reading the multitude of instructions on and off line. Jo Ann must have read it somewhere too, as she eludes to it on post #85.

 

Hi twl,

I can't speak for Jo Ann, but from what I've been able to determine that comment seems to have originated from a dated chat with tech support by a user requesting how to run Acronis True Image (and based on my experience, RB online chat reps know less about RB than the knowlegeable RB users on Wilders).

Consider what else Jo Ann stated in that post to the effect that if one had to uninstall RB every time they wanted to create a backup image, they would be much better off doing a raw cold image backup. I agree with her that raw cold imaging would be less of a hassle and would result in a complete (perfect) backup of RB, including all RB snapshots. Furthermore, this way there is no need to uninstall-reinstall RB after restoring the image and no MBR issues on startup!

However, if you are satisfied with just backing up RB's current snapshot, you can simplify the backup process by creating a normal hot image and in doing that the bottom-line is you do not have to uninstall RB before imaging! Sure, you can do that if you wish, but it's simply not necessary. Jo Ann, TheRollbackFrog and Pandlouk (who are very RB-knowlegeable users) have all confirmed this, as have my recent test results.

Scott

 

twl845, regretfully I misspoke in that post when I said "that is the official recommendation". ......I should have said "I've also heard that is their recommendation" .....and to set the record straight, I have no direct knowledge that is their official position.

Scott, I couldn't agree more with your comments (above).

JA

 

Way back when I was first considering the purchase of Rx I spoke to a Horizon rep via chat and he provided some documentation indicating that this was the recommended procedure. I have not had occasion to go through the users guides so I cannot say if the recommendation is there or not for subsequent versions of Rx (at the time the version was 7 which, I believe, was noted above, had issues with MBR and restores).

I think its pretty clear from the various tests done by numerous Rx users that as long as the imaging program can function under VSS (thanks KOR) the MBR issue is a non-issue. STILL, it cannot hurt to download one of the free MBR back-up programs and save a copy of the MBR when Rx is not installed "just in case". IMO its better to be safe rather than sorry, so given there is no cost involved and very little time needed to do this it just makes sense to me to provide this extra layer of security.

 

Good point bg and I already posted the links for two of the best free MBR backup programs here.

Scott

 

Thanks for those links Scott. After trying both of those programs I found HDHacker less confusing and therefore the easier of the two to use (and judging from your referened post it looks like you also prefer it).

 

Yw. You are correct in that of the two I do prefer HDHacker (for the same reason you cited) and giving credit where credit is due, it was Jo Ann who made me aware of it in post #115.

Scott

 

Hi Jo Ann, Thanks for clearing that up. I will comply with your and others recommendations henceforth. Sadly I uninstalled my RB to do some maintenance and now I'm trying to re-install it through a support ticket because it won't eat my activation. If you're interested in the details see my thread over in the Horizon RB forum. If I had listened to you and Scott I wouldn't have a problem. Arrgh!

 

The problem you are having is not your fault. It is the biggest failing of Rollback Rx and HDS.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

You're welcome. Most of the time there's nothing to be gained by uninstalling RB - as to uninstalling RB in order to perform system maintenance, I would suggest adhering to the slogan "if it isn't broke, don't fix it".

JA

 

lol

If your house ain't broken, don't paint it. Or, your trees are not broken, don't trim them.

 

This is a very simple little program to backup and restore the mbr

MBR Backup 2.0

 

awesome can you store the back on a 'jump' drive?

 

If you run this MBR "saver" under a Rollback protected system, you're most likely to get the MBR that preceeded the installation of Rollback, not the special Rollback MBR in use at the time of the backup..

Rollback protects itself fairly well when it can.

 

Quick question..am I ok if I remove a program
that I had installed months ago after having put Rollback
on my pc just weeks ago....argo removed Winpatrol.
thanks G

 

That's not a problem. Afterwards, Winpatrol will still exist on snapshots older than the time of its removal (so if you wish, you could rollback to one of those snapshot with Winpatrol), but it will be gone in your then current snapshot and future snapshots.

Scott