although i do have true image, i dont necessarily use it for beta testing. i only have one computer with each of my parents, so if theres a beta i want to try i will install it. if i dont like it, i will simply uninstall it. if it does break windows and i cant uninstall it, then and only then will i resort to using true image.
I rely on First Defense-ISR. So far it has reliably bailed me out of trashed system. As a fall back I rely on IFD/IFW Pete
I'm not really a beta-tester, but my assumption is that any new software can break my system and it happened in the past. So I always have an image backup file ready when I start playing with new softwares. Like Peter, I use FirstDefense-ISR for immediate system recovery and when that doesn't help, I use Acronis True Image like pvsurfer to recover my complete system. In most cases a simple reboot is enough to save my system. It makes you feel invincible, but that is just a psychological problem, one of the side-effects of using FDISR & ATI together.
The idea behind using something like FD-ISR to test beta software is that one snapshot can be set up purely for that purpose. I have one such snapshot for testing various builds of KIS. This isn't just for recovery purposes.
My OS primary active C partition is only 900MB. All other programs/data/personal folders and pagefile reside in another extended logical partition. I image the active C partition PRIOR to loading the BETA application. When done with the evaluation, I simply restore the image file of the active C partition. It takes about 40 seconds to image or restore this C partition using Bootit NG. With this setup, I can test the compatibility of the BETA application with all other proggies on my PC.
For me, the correct answer to the poll question would be a combination of several of the choices, so I chose other. I only have one PC, but I have several hard drives with operating systems and varying amounts of software on them. By switching to different primary master drives, my single PC is both my primary unit and test rig. I also use Acronis to copy the different setups onto the drives as I need them. These are stored on either my external hard drive or on CDRWs, depending on what I'm doing. When I'm testing security apps/configurations, the external drive is disconnected from the PC. It's not the arrangement I'd like to use but it's the best I can do with the hardware I have. A bit inconvenient, but it gets the job done. Rick
I use our primary computer with DriveImageXML,although I haven't tried a restore yet. I'm fairly selective in beta programs that I test.I seldom take a really new beta.I wait until reviews or feedback are available,unless it's a developer that I trust from previous experience. I may be using my wife's old computer for beta testing in the future.Just have to pick it up.
Hello, Well I use more than a single option: VMware and dedicated beta machine, primarily. ShadowSurfer, sometimes. Mrk
More than one. At home : VMWorkstation, a test machine, Firstdefence ISR, Imaging. Working : VM Subscription, a test machine, Imaging.
FD-ISR here Argh clicked the wrong voting button.. So scratch one from 'other' and put it up in FD-ISR
Depends on what I'm testing. If I'm testing an antivirus, firewall or any other security app, I would use FD-ISR. If I'm installing a new alpha/beta app (other then those mentioned above), I just install it on my drive. Of course always having an image ready, just in case. Do have to reinstall Windows anyway soon during my vacation.
I use a separate machine with drive imaging software. For more finished software (that I'm confident is relatively stable) I will install it on my everyday machine, which still has disk image and standard data backups.
Acronis True Image... I have incremental backups which are done at shutdown and stored on a dedicated ASZ drive. I also have external images as a Plan B Fairy
I'm very satisfied with Rollback Rx Pro, which is MISSING in this poll ! and has never let me down so far. Solid as rock for me . nicM
The only thing beta on my PC is Windows XP and everytime I uninstall it my freaking computer stops running!
