Why does Paragon takes to long?

macrium reflect of course. ...

 

But isn't one of the reasons Paragon backups take longer is that with default settings, it checks the archive integrity while doing the backup?

 

archive integrity check doesn't affect too much, I have disabled this function, the speed still not as fast as Acronis and IFW.

 

I wasn't aware of that...thanks for the information. I've used AIP and can lend some credibility to the speed aspect.

 

Agree 100%...for the price, it's awesome. I love offline imaging with IFL.

 

buy one get 2 free

I like it has three imaging environments
I like IFW&IFD more, because they have GUI, more user-friendly.

 

no prob buddy ....

lol...

 

Paragon one.

 

What's the difference between choosing "Paragon Hot Processing" and "Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service"?

Which is the better one to choose and what's the difference?

 

Why you use the Paragon one and not the MS one?

 

For live imaging, choose VSS...Paragon Hot Processing is a "legacy" method before VSS was mainstream. This is especially true when backing up VSS-aware applications (for example, SQL, Exchange).

 

Some information from the manual...

"Paragon Hot Processing Technology

Paragon Hot Processing is an online copy/backup technology for Windows NT+ family operating systems. Developed back in 2001, nowadays it is integrated with all copy/backup solutions offered by the company.

Paragon Hot Processing is not exactly a snapshot technology, though it has much in common with it. During an online copy/backup, the program uses the kernel mode driver HOTCORE.SYS to intercept and control disk write activity of applications and the operating system. The hotcore driver as an integral part of the program is installed during the setup procedure (that’s why the system reboot is required to complete the setup procedure). For the most part the driver is in the idle mode until it is activated with the program. While in this mode it bypasses any calls having no effect on the overall system performance, but a few kilobytes of the system memory.

Paragon Hot Processing technology offers copy/backup of locked partitions and hard disks under Windows NT+ family operating systems providing both high operating efficiency as well as low hardware requirements.

It is not recommended to use Paragon Hot Processing with active SQL Server, Exchange or Oracle databases since the backup image contents may be corrupted.

Volume Shadow Copy Service

Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is designed to provide the copy/backup infrastructure for the Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/Server 2003/2008 operating systems. It offers a reliable mechanism to create consistent point-in-time copies of data known as shadow copies. Developed by Microsoft in close cooperation with the leading copy/backup solution vendors on the market, it is based on a snapshot technology concept.

Initiated by a VSS aware copy/backup utility, VSS creates snapshots for the selected volumes and represents them as virtual read-only devices, called volume shadow copies. Once the shadow copies are created, the copy/backup utility starts processing the data while applications keep writing to original volumes.

Unlike Paragon Hot Processing the VSS technology provides a unique possibility to make a synchronous snapshot of multiple volumes. This very feature can be particularly beneficial when backing up active SQL Server 2003, Exchange 2003 or Oracle databases located on multiple volumes the way it is recommended by Microsoft to improve the level of database performance and reliability, thus providing 100-percent data consistency."

 

What do you mean by "live imaging"?

And so I should use Paragon Hot Processing when backing up my C: drive to my external hard drive?

I am using Windows Vista, which is best for Vista?

Should I use "Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service"?

I am confused.

 

I think he means "hot" imaging

 

I cannot believe this

I had to remove Paragon FREE, because whenever I turn on my USB hard drive, Paragon refuses to load and says:

"Operation Failed. Paragon Backup & Recovery could not be started because some product that uses the Hard Disk Engine must be already running. Please close that program first and try again"

That never happens on Acronis Trueimage. So why is Paragon doing this? What's wrong with Paragon?

And when I tried Macrium Reflect, the linux boot CD/USB won't see the destination drive.

Why does Acronis Trueimage work with my USB hard drive, but not Macrium or Paragon?

I guess if you use the FREE versions, you must expect them not to work

 

TheMozart,

Is there a free version of Acronis True Image?

 

It's not free. It cost me $58 a few years ago.

But I am looking for a new backup imaging program that actually works. So far Paragon and Macrium does NOT work for me.

What other imaging program can I try? Something that works with external USB hard drives, and something that actually sees my hard drives, and something which can be booted from an USB stick?

Paragon + Macrium + EaseUS Todo Backup Free 3.5 all failed in that department. EaseUS Todo Backup Free 3.5 couldn't see my external USB drive either when booting the Rescue USB stick.

Surely there must be something else that is free which actually works?

 

yes....there are two versions called Acronis True Image Western Digital edition and Seagate DiscWizard....these are somewhat stripped down versions of acronis true image and very easy to use.....google them or search them here in the Wilders Security to find out more....

 

Yes, I meant live imaging...as in running the imaging operation within Windows while it is running. I prefer offline (boot from CD/USB) myself. I have never seen that error before!

 

Paragon + Macrium + EaseUS fail to see my USB external hard drive when I boot the linux rescue USB stick.

But Macrium + EaseUS see it if I am in Windows Vista, but Paragon fails to load in windows when I turn on my USB hard drive.

What a mess these 3 applications are

I guess you get what you pay for..so that's why the FREE ones don't work properly.

I am having to go back to Acronis Trueimage, because it WORKS and the others do not!

 

Hi Mozart,

As 'free' seems to be an important criterion for you, you may want to try ODIN. While it is still in beta most users find it to be reliable, but not for hot-imaging, as it does not yet support VSS.

Wendi

 

If you use the FREE version of Paragon, just be a bit patient and investigate and don't condemn the program because it won't load when you've connected an external drive before booting up.
First boot up using the Paragon B&R CD/USB, then connect your external USB HDD, let Paragon B&R rescan your drives and walla, there's your external HDD.
No need for thumbs down, sad smileys et al.
No need to try out a plethora of other imaging programs.
Paragon FREE works just fine.

 

Didn't work. I still get the same error!

"Operation Failed. Paragon Backup & Recovery could not be started because some product that uses the Hard Disk Engine must be already running. Please close that program first and try again"

Google that error message and notice heaps of people are getting it as well.

And the Paragon Rescue media doesn't even detect my external USB hard drive either. And your "fix" wouldn't fix that either, because when I boot the rescue CD or USB stick, Paragon cannot and does not see my external USB hard drive, so I am unable to restore my backed up images.

Paragon is a big thumbs down from me. If Paragon freaks out as soon as I turn on my external USB hard drive and refuses to load and gives that error message, then began giving me "I/O error messages" in Vista, and refuses to detect my USB external hard drive when I boot the Rescue media, then that is a sign to immediately REMOVE Paragon and not touch it again.

I have never ever had such problems using Acronis Trueimage.

So it's obvious that Acronis makes a quality program and Paragon is very messy and buggy, that it cannot even do the most basic things.

 

As I wrote in the previous post, first boot the Paragon B&R CD, let it load, then attach your external HDD.
When having loaded the rescue CD, choose Backup&Recovery, attach the external HDD, if Paragon doesn't recognize the HDD, go back to the main screen and select Backup&Recovery again and walla.

As far as anecdotal evidence goes, it has never failed me, not with XP, Vista or Win7, on 3 different desktops and 2 different laptops and 2 different external HDD's. Not a single glitch ever.

 

Any luck getting Paragon to work based on the above advice?