ShadowDefender or Returnil?

Matching feature for feature, both are shareware in my opinion sice the freeware will not include the commit changes feature. Returnil still has a feature disadvantage in its disability to exclude folders and files.

Which is better ?.....it's really up to the individual.

 

The more you exclude folders and files in frozen mode, the more vulnerable your system partition becomes. I didn't exclude any folder or file in my frozen mode.

 

Well I tried to use ShadowDefender but it didn't play nice with partitions. Don't know what it did but I have a Raid0 with 240 GB (2x120 GB) and it has four partitions. Well I noticed ShadowDefender created a virtual Fat32 with about 3.5 GB and then another NTFS with 668 GB which I didn't understand. Anyways, it combined two of my partitions into one somehow screwing everything up. I had to restore all partitions to get them to work correctly again. ShadowDefender is a no go here on my Raid0 with Partitions. Next will be Returnil and I wonder if it will work well.

dja2k

 

Hi Erik,

All my documents are on the system partition and I therefore need the ability to exclude my document files from protection. I would welcome this exclusion feature in Returnil and would accept the extra vulnerability.

Surely sometimes you also have to make changes to your system partition. It can't remain frozen all the time. Don't you install new software or carry out updates?

 

Well, that's at the user's discretion to decide. The option is there and many will use it for their daily virus definition updates, etc. You can decide not to use for your total protection if you so wish....again, you decide. Returnil does not give you that choice to decide other than a virtual data partition.

 

very good point.

 

but some bad news to Erik. Keep in mind a lot of communication is between English and Chinese. So this is my fault. One update will be done before the other. The ability to reboot and save is about 2 months away I was just informed. That was my fault in translating.

 

I separated my system from data
1. System Partition [C:] = Windows + Applications
2. Data Partition [D:] = personal data, email, ...
As long I don't need any new software, I don't want any change in my system partition and a frozen mode gives that guarantee. That's why I am in control, not the bad guys with their malware.

I don't use blacklist security softwares, so I don't have daily signature updates.
To upgrade applications that depends on the software, but I try to upgrade as much as possible OFF-LINE.
Unfortunately more and more softwares make that impossible, some softwares even require internet to make an installation possible.

 

In a typical Chinese translation then, I would not bet on a 2 months deadline for the ability to reboot and save, it just means he will be working on it.

 

My personal experience - based on being peripherally involved in bringing some large manufacturing sites online - is that 2 months is an optimistic good faith estimate based on a seat-of-the-pants and rather fluid project plan. If no roadblocks pop up, the target will be doable and they pull out all stops to reach it. If there are roadblocks on the critical path...., well..., there's that whole thing of "what's the critical path?"

Blue

 

Communication is usually a problem, when you have technical difficulties.
I hardly need support to LEARN and USE a software.
Of course, I avoid softwares from companies, that are not able to communicate in English. I'm not going to learn another language.
After all, English is THE language of computer, that's why I install always the English version of a software, never a software in my language (Dutch).

 

Interesting example, Peter, thanks, you always offer stimulating viewpoints.
I hope I am not hijacking the thread when I ask you if you care to comment on the relative advantage of this approach to using
TrueCrypt
personally I haven't used either but it would seem to me that TC would be simpler.

 

One thing both products do is also, protect. How well just depends. But I am confident in SD in doing just this. Returnil I think, personally has more room to grow with options in the future. Who really knows what it may evolve into. Keep in mind, all of this started from my looking for a software like this that met my needs as Peter knows. And currently SD does. Just as each of you will have to decide if this is the route you want to go and what works for you. Heck, I dont mind buying licences.

 

ok, now Erik, give my best option for software to fully restore my pc if I blow it up.

 

The very best ISR-software is dead and I don't see any better alternative.
So I have no suggestions, because I never used these alternatives.
I'm not in a hurry to find an alternative, because I'm good for the next 5 years and MAYBE another 5 years. I only keep a good eye on all these ISR-softwares, because one day I will have to use one of them.

 

Returnil is first and foremost designed to be lean and targeted for a specific purpose: to plug the hole left in standard security line-ups. This also makes it appropriate for a wider range of potential users.

This does not mean that SD is not a good solution, that RVS OR SD is better than the other, or you are less protected using either over the other. These types of distinctions or comparisons are unproductive and confusing for the reader.

The 2.0 series is being developed to provide the most requested feature set which has selective file and folder saving while using the system protection feature as its core upgrade with the ensuing choice between caching methods. This requires a ballance between what is needed by the majority of users with those that an important subset of all users want included...

Kind regards
Mike

 

The only annoyance I don't like regarding ShadowDefender is the toolbar describing that you are in Shadow Mode is always on top. This kills my PowerPoint presentations that I capture with Camtasia Studio. Wish this could be turned off. if I am missing something, please let me know. Other than that, they are both great products to me.

Gary

 

In the control gui, under the administrative tab, uncheck the "enable desktop tip".

 

Your only annoyance is now gone with Empath's help tips

 

Well said and agreed !

 

I think there is at least one more. But I wont go off topic mentioning names.

Thanks,

Chris