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Hmmm. I'll have to set up a Secure Zone and see what my experience
will be. Frankly, this (needing a Secure Zone in order to have the
program generate a secondary copy) is another silly and/or needless
program limitation. It's nearly as bad as not being able to have a
backup completion command run after an entire schedule completes,
rather than triggered immediately after the archive creation part of
a single operation is finished.
Obviously, there would be little point (to me) in putting a secondary
copy in the same location. But I wonder what is going on here.
Because while I haven't used it yet, the dialog for secondary copy
has a drop down or drop out browse button. If it would only allow
the Secure Zone, why on earth would there be a browse button?
Something is strange.
Reboot then verify, because Acronis will trigger the reboot command
immediately after it saves the image -- not allowing the validation
(part of the schedule) to take place. (It would be another matter
entirely if the program was clever enough to run the command, and
then continue to finish the schedule, but it is not.)
Actually, I have no real desire to reboot, only to remove the RAID
drives. The command I run right now is "C:\devcon remove
USB\Class_08". Devcon is a nice little MS utility. But Acronis --
stupidly -- will not wait until after validation to run the command.
And obviously there can be no validation if the device is offline.
An automation program I use runs "C:\devcon restart @usb\*" with a
time trigger, which puts the RAID back online. Minutes later a
separate validation schedule runs. But the remove command does not
always seem to be taking place, even though the Acronis log insists
it is being run successfully. I have tested this, and it's hit and
miss in my testing. I suspect the problem is that Acronis runs the
command so fast -- with almost zero delay after saving the partition
structure and finalizing the archive -- that it is sometimes still
connected to the device the command is intended to remove. I have no
other possible explanation. So I want to try the reboot route.
All of this is an attempt to stop the system from sending spurious
disk and ftdisk errors after running a backup. I had orginally
thought that ticking 'dismount after backup' in the Acronis options
had solved that problem, but it has not. And the errors are clearly
generated by some interaction between Acronis and the RAID, and only
after a backup operation completes, and only for some limited period
of time after that. I have extensively tested the RAID; there is no
problem with the drives at all. I could ignore the error messages,
but I don't like my log filling with 90 minutes or 2 hours of them.
I could not write a script to do what you suggest in 5 years. ^_^
Yuki
Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 4:45:51 AM, you wrote:
JB> Yes, you are right, but as I said before, the only option I
JB> found is locating the
JB> secondary copy on the Secure Zone:
JB>
JB> Why would I want to place 2 copies of a backup in the same
JB> location?
JB>
JB> I am not sure if I understand what you are trying to do.
JB> Why not verify then reboot instead of Reboot then verify?
JB> You could create a script to verify that you place in
JB> startup folder.
JB> --
JB>
JB> Joseph Biran
JB> ____________________________________________
JB>
JB>
JB> -----Original Message-----
JB> From: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
JB> [mailto:amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Yuki Taga
JB> Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 11:55 PM
JB> To: J. Biran
JB> Subject: Re: [amibroker] [OT] Acronis True Image and system
JB> backup [was Re: Re: Curing AmiBroker slowdowns with a system
JB> restore]
JB>
JB> For the secondary copy, go to Tools -> Options -> Default
JB> Backup
JB> Options -> Dual Destination. There is a browse box there to
JB> set it.
JB>
JB> I don't think you can specify a "default destination", but
JB> of course
JB> you definitely can do it if you make a schedule -- even a
JB> schedule
JB> that you would run manually rather than automate. As you
JB> page
JB> through the dialogs, you can set the destination. For
JB> Acronis' part,
JB> they "remember" where your last destination was, and that is
JB> usually
JB> offered. I'm not sure I even like that -- having the name
JB> of the
JB> archive already entered in the dialog box when I get to it.
JB>
JB> My biggest gripe with the program to date: There is an
JB> option to run
JB> a command after a backup operation. Say you want to reboot,
JB> or
JB> remove a piece of hardware. But rather insanely, this
JB> option means
JB> exactly what it says ^_^ which means that if you tick
JB> "validate the
JB> archive after creation", it will NOT happen if you run a
JB> command like
JB> reboot, or remove hardware, because Acronis rather
JB> unbelievably
JB> considers "after the backup" to mean immediately after the
JB> backup
JB> part of a single, seamless operation that includes validate,
JB> rather
JB> than "at the end of the scheduled task". Somebody there is
JB> really in
JB> need of a serious clue. I could not believe this line of
JB> thinking
JB> when I discovered it. It's exactly what they say (after the
JB> backup
JB> creation), but it's so silly that it would interrupt and
JB> prevent a
JB> schedule from completing that it's absurd. There is no
JB> option to
JB> delay the command until "after the scheduled task
JB> completes".
JB> Brain-lock, I think.
JB>
JB> So if you want to run a command like that, you have to have
JB> a
JB> separate verify later. That could be scheduled of course,
JB> but not
JB> very precisely if you don't know exactly how long the backup
JB> will
JB> take. And if you do full on the weekend and incremental the
JB> rest of
JB> the time, backup time will vary significantly of course.
JB>
JB> I have complained to Acronis about this.
JB>
JB> Still, in the end, we want accuracy and reliability,
JB> probably above
JB> anything else. I've been using the program since it
JB> debuted. I have
JB> never, not even once, been unable to validate, or mount, or
JB> restore
JB> an archive. I have heard that others have had a problem now
JB> or then.
JB> But I have not. (One problem is apparently that some later
JB> versions
JB> cannot read older archives, but then I would anticipate
JB> something
JB> like that, even though I haven't experienced it, and I would
JB> expect
JB> to read very old archives with the newest versions. I'd
JB> restore the
JB> data and recreate the archive in question with a new
JB> version.) Best
JB> of all, I have never run a restore on a system partition and
JB> had that
JB> partition fail to boot -- even a "system partition" that was
JB> created
JB> in WmWare, archived, and then restored to a physical drive.
JB> So my
JB> confidence level in the program is pretty high.
JB>
JB> I can't believe I used to put up with SCSI DAT tapes and
JB> Backup Exec.
JB> (confidence level = not as high) ^_^
JB>
JB> Yuki
JB>
JB> Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 3:47:12 PM, you wrote:
JB>
JB> JB> Thanks.
JB>
JB> JB> I figured out first question, when you actually go do a
JB> JB> backup you CAN specify a destination.
JB> JB> What is strange you can not specify this in the default
JB> JB> properties of the backup.
JB>
JB> JB> The second question of how to specify destination of
JB> JB> secondary copy I haven't figured out.
JB>
JB> JB> I did a test run and compared to Norton's Ghost (14), TI
JB> is
JB> JB> slower and compression is worse
JB> JB> (when set to max compression and encryption). But
JB> JB> reliability is more of my concern..
JB> JB> FYI.
JB>
JB> JB> As far as RAID is concerned, it is a built in RAID of
JB> the
JB> JB> motherboard. In the many years of using
JB> JB> a computer I had 2 occasions that high quality HD
JB> failed.
JB> JB> Just replacing the failed drive (part
JB> JB> of a RAID1 array) fixed the problem with little hassle.
JB> JB> --
JB>
JB> JB> Joseph Biran
JB> JB> ____________________________________________
JB>
JB>
JB> JB> -----Original Message-----
JB> JB> From: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
JB> JB> [mailto:amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Yuki
JB> Taga
JB> JB> Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 8:04 PM
JB> JB> To: J. Biran
JB> JB> Subject: Re: [amibroker] [OT] Acronis True Image and
JB> system
JB> JB> backup [was Re: Re: Curing AmiBroker slowdowns with a
JB> system
JB> JB> restore]
JB>
JB> JB> No, my only RAID is external.
JB>
JB> JB> The power supply problem is one reason I keep a weekly
JB> JB> completely
JB> JB> offline.
JB>
JB> JB> Your experience reinforces my belief that these systems
JB> are
JB> JB> too
JB> JB> complex to mess with when it comes to simply getting up
JB> and
JB> JB> running.
JB> JB> No RAID, no third-party boot loaders, just a simple MBR
JB> that
JB> JB> is going
JB> JB> to get me into the system partition.
JB>
JB> JB> Let me play around and see what I can find out about the
JB> JB> rest.
JB>
JB> JB> I am considering breaking my RAID and running it as two
JB> JB> independent
JB> JB> drives. I would then think about putting a Secure Zone
JB> on
JB> JB> one and
JB> JB> using the other for a secondary backup location. The
JB> reason
JB> JB> is that,
JB> JB> once in a while, TI seems to have some problem cleanly
JB> or
JB> JB> completely
JB> JB> disconnecting from the RAID setup. There is nothing
JB> wrong
JB> JB> with those
JB> JB> drives at all, and the only time any error ever shows up
JB> in
JB> JB> the logs
JB> JB> is after TI has accessed the externals. So I am
JB> thinking
JB> JB> about
JB> JB> making that much of a change.
JB>
JB> JB> Yuki
JB>
JB> JB> Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 10:49:21 AM, you wrote:
JB>
JB> JB> JB> No, I meant restore an image file (from a WinXP pro
JB> JB> system
JB> JB> JB> on a raid partition) back onto the same raid
JB> partition.
JB> JB> JB> Is your C: partition on a RAID1 drive? Or is it only
JB> JB> your
JB> JB> JB> external USB HD?
JB>
JB> JB> JB> My computer HD system is organized as one small
JB> (75GB)
JB> JB> and
JB> JB> JB> fast (10krpm) RAID1 system drive, and one larger
JB> (500GB)
JB> JB> JB> RAID1 drive for files, and backups. I also have an
JB> JB> external
JB> JB> JB> eSATA/USB single (not RAID) 500GB HD for a global
JB> JB> secondary
JB> JB> JB> backup location of all my computers. This external
JB> HD is
JB> JB> JB> only switched on when I do a backup. Otherwise I
JB> JB> physically
JB> JB> JB> switch it off. (I have a friend who lost all his
JB> RAID5
JB> JB> JB> system and drives when his power supply failed an
JB> fried
JB> JB> the
JB> JB> JB> computer). So, maybe your "Auto" setting has some
JB> use
JB> JB> after
JB> JB> JB> all.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> I prefer to create an initial clean system install
JB> with
JB> JB> a
JB> JB> JB> few applications as possible except for firewall/AV
JB> and
JB> JB> JB> updates, customized menus, folder locations themes
JB> etc.
JB> JB> I
JB> JB> JB> back up this initial installation and keep it
JB> always.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> I did not change anything in the system. I had WinXP
JB> pro
JB> JB> SP2
JB> JB> JB> installed on RAID1, and backed up regularly. Then a
JB> few
JB> JB> JB> months ago I tried to install SP3 and everything
JB> fell
JB> JB> apart.
JB> JB> JB> I could not restore back the images I had of SP2,
JB> and
JB> JB> spent
JB> JB> JB> 2 weeks trying to figure out where the problem came
JB> from
JB> JB> JB> (replacing everything from motherboard, memory and
JB> HD).
JB> JB> Not
JB> JB> JB> much fun!. After restoring the image the system
JB> would
JB> JB> not
JB> JB> JB> boot. I found out by coincidence that if I disable
JB> the
JB> JB> RAID1
JB> JB> JB> in the BIOS my system would boot ok. The only
JB> solution
JB> JB> was
JB> JB> JB> to start from scratch.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> Ever since than I am leery about my backups.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> I downloaded the demo version of the server version
JB> of
JB> JB> IT.
JB> JB> JB> what I find disturbing is I can figure out how to
JB> JB> specify
JB> JB> JB> the destination of the backup unless I use the
JB> "secure
JB> JB> zone"
JB> JB> JB> partition (which I would like to avoid) and I can't
JB> JB> figure
JB> JB> JB> out how to specify a secondary backup location if it
JB> is
JB> JB> on a
JB> JB> JB> partition other that C: (I only can select a folder
JB> not
JB> JB> a
JB> JB> JB> drive).
JB>
JB> JB> JB> If you have any info on these 2 items and it is
JB> JB> possible,
JB> JB> JB> your inputs will save me some time...
JB> JB> JB> --
JB>
JB> JB> JB> Joseph Biran
JB> JB> JB> ____________________________________________
JB>
JB> JB> JB> -----Original Message-----
JB> JB> JB> From: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
JB> JB> JB> [mailto:amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Yuki
JB> JB> Taga
JB> JB> JB> Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 12:18 AM
JB> JB> JB> To: J. Biran
JB> JB> JB> Subject: Re: [amibroker] [OT] Acronis True Image and
JB> JB> system
JB> JB> JB> backup [was Re: Re: Curing AmiBroker slowdowns with
JB> a
JB> JB> system
JB> JB> JB> restore]
JB>
JB> JB> JB> I have successfully restored systems from the RAID1
JB> JB> drives,
JB> JB> JB> yes.
JB> JB> JB> (You said "restore onto" but I think you meant
JB> "restore
JB> JB> JB> from", yes?)
JB>
JB> JB> JB> In fact, after many, many years (I think since
JB> 2002), I
JB> JB> JB> finally
JB> JB> JB> decided to do a clean install of XP. (Photoshop CS4
JB> JB> would
JB> JB> JB> *not*
JB> JB> JB> install, because of some legacy Adobe and Macromedia
JB> JB> stuff,
JB> JB> JB> and even
JB> JB> JB> their tech support finally threw up their hands and
JB> JB> JB> suggested I
JB> JB> JB> reinstall the OS.)
JB>
JB> JB> JB> The first thing I did was to clean install XP to a
JB> JB> virtual
JB> JB> JB> machine,
JB> JB> JB> making sure it was fully updated, fire-walled and
JB> JB> JB> anti-virused. Then
JB> JB> JB> I installed some key apps, including Photoshop and
JB> AB.
JB> JB> JB> There were
JB> JB> JB> absolutely no problems. When I had all my myriad
JB> custom
JB> JB> JB> settings
JB> JB> JB> matched in both the real and virtual systems, I
JB> backed
JB> JB> up
JB> JB> JB> the virtual
JB> JB> JB> machine to the USB RAID setup, and with a full
JB> system
JB> JB> backup
JB> JB> JB> there,
JB> JB> JB> too, (just in case) I attempted to use Universal
JB> Restore
JB> JB> to
JB> JB> JB> restore
JB> JB> JB> the VM XP system partition to my real system
JB> partition.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> Absolutely no problems whatsoever. (It's been about
JB> 3
JB> JB> weeks
JB> JB> JB> now, and
JB> JB> JB> I haven't yet nuked the old system backup, but I'm
JB> JB> getting
JB> JB> JB> ready to.)
JB>
JB> JB> JB> If your backup destination is a network drive, I
JB> suspect
JB> JB> you
JB> JB> JB> would
JB> JB> JB> have to have the server version of the software, but
JB> I
JB> JB> am
JB> JB> JB> not
JB> JB> JB> positive about that. Maybe not; maybe just the
JB> JB> workstation
JB> JB> JB> version,
JB> JB> JB> but I doubt that the home version of Acronis will do
JB> it.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> There is at least one other thing I know that you
JB> might
JB> JB> need
JB> JB> JB> to
JB> JB> JB> consider: The two versions of XP (Home and Pro) are
JB> not
JB> JB> JB> equal. It is
JB> JB> JB> impossible, for example, to install the TI Agent on
JB> Home
JB> JB> JB> versions.
JB> JB> JB> So you may have some trouble doing what you want
JB> JB> JB> network-wise if you
JB> JB> JB> have the Home version of XP. You can find a lot of
JB> JB> JB> information about
JB> JB> JB> this stuff at the Acronis site.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> I'm surprised you could even try a restore once you
JB> JB> changed
JB> JB> JB> the RAID
JB> JB> JB> configuration. Usually, changing RAID
JB> configurations
JB> JB> wipes
JB> JB> JB> all the
JB> JB> JB> drives. But maybe I did not understand what you
JB> did.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> The newest USB RAID setups can be configured to run
JB> JB> either
JB> JB> JB> on 'Auto'
JB> JB> JB> or 'Manual'. And I don't even know why anyone would
JB> JB> JB> consider 'Auto'.
JB> JB> JB> The auto setting (it's a toggle switch on back of
JB> the
JB> JB> unit
JB> JB> JB> with mine)
JB> JB> JB> means that the unit is powered up *ONLY* when it is
JB> JB> getting
JB> JB> JB> a USB
JB> JB> JB> signal from the OS. Yes, this means that when you
JB> JB> remove
JB> JB> JB> the device
JB> JB> JB> with Windows safe removal option, the OS stops
JB> sending a
JB> JB> USB
JB> JB> JB> signal
JB> JB> JB> there, so the device powers off automatically, even
JB> JB> though
JB> JB> JB> the power
JB> JB> JB> switch is in the ON position. I find this really
JB> odd.
JB> JB> You
JB> JB> JB> have to
JB> JB> JB> switch OFF, then back ON to power up the unit again,
JB> or
JB> JB> JB> reboot.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> But booting with the setup on auto is an odd
JB> experience.
JB> JB> JB> Apparently
JB> JB> JB> the OS (or the BIOS, or something during boot)
JB> sends,
JB> JB> then
JB> JB> JB> stops
JB> JB> JB> sending, then finally again sends a USB signal. So
JB> the
JB> JB> JB> device will
JB> JB> JB> shutoff, then come on, then shutoff again, then once
JB> JB> again
JB> JB> JB> power on.
JB> JB> JB> Very disconcerting to me.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> More importantly, it seems to bother the Acronis
JB> JB> recovery
JB> JB> JB> program run
JB> JB> JB> from a boot CD. If you leave the unit on auto, for
JB> some
JB> JB> JB> reason
JB> JB> JB> Acronis does not seem to see it until you power off
JB> and
JB> JB> then
JB> JB> JB> power on
JB> JB> JB> again, being sure to power on while the "Loading
JB> JB> Acronis"
JB> JB> JB> message is
JB> JB> JB> displayed on the screen. But in manual (drive
JB> always on
JB> JB> JB> unless you
JB> JB> JB> flip the power switch), it's apparently seen
JB> immediately
JB> JB> by
JB> JB> JB> the
JB> JB> JB> Acronis program when it loads from boot. The
JB> problem
JB> JB> seems
JB> JB> JB> to be
JB> JB> JB> that after initially getting a USB signal at some
JB> point
JB> JB> JB> during the
JB> JB> JB> boot (power to the unit then goes ON), the signal
JB> then
JB> JB> is
JB> JB> JB> cut when
JB> JB> JB> the bootable CD is detected, which cuts the power to
JB> the
JB> JB> USB
JB> JB> JB> unit
JB> JB> JB> just when you want the now-loading recovery program
JB> to
JB> JB> JB> detect it. No
JB> JB> JB> thanks; I don't want to play around like that. At
JB> JB> first, I
JB> JB> JB> thought
JB> JB> JB> the recovery program was never going to be able to
JB> read
JB> JB> that
JB> JB> JB> RAID
JB> JB> JB> setup, and that I had a real problem. But I finally
JB> JB> figured
JB> JB> JB> it all
JB> JB> JB> out with a little trial and error, and the manual
JB> from
JB> JB> the
JB> JB> JB> RAID gear
JB> JB> JB> explaining Auto and Manual. Default was Auto. As I
JB> JB> say, no
JB> JB> JB> thanks.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> I just think I'd rather turn the drive off myself
JB> when I
JB> JB> JB> want it off
JB> JB> JB> -- one can configure these drives with either cache
JB> JB> enabled
JB> JB> JB> (*potentially* better performance, but the
JB> possibility
JB> JB> of
JB> JB> JB> data loss
JB> JB> JB> if you do a hot unplug) or disabled (I think my
JB> JB> performance
JB> JB> JB> is the
JB> JB> JB> same because when my system is writing to that setup
JB> I
JB> JB> have
JB> JB> JB> nothing
JB> JB> JB> else going on, so there is not really any need for
JB> the
JB> JB> JB> system to
JB> JB> JB> cache anything anyway), which allows you to unplug
JB> the
JB> JB> drive
JB> JB> JB> without
JB> JB> JB> any warning or preparation, assuming you are not
JB> going
JB> JB> to
JB> JB> JB> unplug it
JB> JB> JB> in the middle of a backup operation, of course. ^_^
JB>
JB> JB> JB> I've heard horror stories about Ghost, but some
JB> people
JB> JB> swear
JB> JB> JB> by it of
JB> JB> JB> course. Since they insist on .NET now, I have no
JB> need
JB> JB> to
JB> JB> JB> even review
JB> JB> JB> the product.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> Yuki
JB>
JB> JB> JB> Sunday, January 4, 2009, 4:00:35 PM, you wrote:
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Yuki,
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Did you have the opportunity to actually use
JB> Acronis
JB> JB> JB> True
JB> JB> JB> JB> Image to restore your complete system (bare
JB> metal
JB> JB> JB> restore)
JB> JB> JB> JB> onto the raid1 drive you use?
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> The reason for my question is that I was using
JB> JB> Norton
JB> JB> JB> Ghost
JB> JB> JB> JB> and felt secure until I needed to restore my
JB> system
JB> JB> from
JB> JB> JB> an
JB> JB> JB> JB> image I created (from a raid1 HD). It failed to
JB> JB> restore
JB> JB> JB> to
JB> JB> JB> JB> the same raid1 drive but if I disabled the raid
JB> JB> JB> everything
JB> JB> JB> JB> functioned ok. I had to start reinstalling
JB> windows
JB> JB> from
JB> JB> JB> JB> scratch in order to keep my raid configuration
JB> ;(
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Also, does Acronis True Image work with a backup
JB> JB> JB> destination
JB> JB> JB> JB> that is a network drive? (this would apply to a
JB> JB> backup
JB> JB> JB> of a
JB> JB> JB> JB> laptop).
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> --
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Joseph Biran
JB> JB> JB> JB> ____________________________________________
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> -----Original Message-----
JB> JB> JB> JB> From: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx On Behalf Of
JB> Yuki
JB> JB> Taga
JB> JB> JB> JB> Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 4:04 PM
JB> JB> JB> JB> To: Lester Vanhoff
JB> JB> JB> JB> Subject: Acronis True Image Re: [amibroker] Re:
JB> Re:
JB> JB> JB> Curing
JB> JB> JB> JB> AmiBroker slowdowns with a system restore
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Lester, on what do you base your claim that USB
JB> JB> drives
JB> JB> JB> are
JB> JB> JB> JB> any less reliable than others? I've got a
JB> Buffalo
JB> JB> twin
JB> JB> JB> 1-TB
JB> JB> JB> JB> in a RAID1 configuration, and I've never had a
JB> hint
JB> JB> of
JB> JB> JB> any
JB> JB> JB> JB> problem. And a six-year-old Buffalo 120 GB USB
JB> is
JB> JB> still
JB> JB> JB> in
JB> JB> JB> JB> perfect operating condition, other than the fact
JB> JB> that I
JB> JB> JB> JB> cannot use it for an entire system backup
JB> anymore,
JB> JB> JB> because
JB> JB> JB> JB> of the size. (Thank you, 15 megabyte RAW
JB> files.)
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Also, a tip for something I *finally* solved in
JB> JB> JB> conjunction
JB> JB> JB> JB> with Acronis and my backup configuration. For a
JB> JB> long
JB> JB> JB> time
JB> JB> JB> JB> with this RAID setup, I was getting ftdisk or
JB> disk
JB> JB> JB> errors in
JB> JB> JB> JB> the System log, for about 1 to 2 hours after a
JB> JB> nightly
JB> JB> JB> JB> backup was completed. Then the errors would
JB> stop
JB> JB> (about
JB> JB> JB> 5
JB> JB> JB> JB> am in the morning). I could not solve it until
JB> I
JB> JB> JB> finally
JB> JB> JB> JB> looked at each and every item in Tools > Options
>>
JB> JB> JB> Default
JB> JB> JB> JB> Backup Options > Additional Settings. Unchecked
JB> by
JB> JB> JB> default,
JB> JB> JB> JB> is a line item: "Dismount media after backup is
JB> JB> JB> finished".
JB> JB> JB> JB> I checked that, and from that moment on I never
JB> had
JB> JB> JB> another
JB> JB> JB> JB> ftdisk or disk error in the System log. I
JB> should
JB> JB> add
JB> JB> JB> here
JB> JB> JB> JB> that the errors did not mean anything -- the
JB> data
JB> JB> was
JB> JB> JB> fine.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Oddly enough, as far as Windows is concerned,
JB> the
JB> JB> USB
JB> JB> JB> drives
JB> JB> JB> JB> are still mounted in the morning. So the
JB> "dismount"
JB> JB> JB> must be
JB> JB> JB> JB> Acronis from the drives, rather than the drives
JB> from
JB> JB> JB> JB> Windows. But I think Acronis ought to fix this
JB> so
JB> JB> that
JB> JB> JB> it
JB> JB> JB> JB> doesn't spit out dozens upon dozens of yellow
JB> JB> triangles
JB> JB> JB> in
JB> JB> JB> JB> the log. (Why the default would be not to
JB> dismount
JB> JB> JB> prior to
JB> JB> JB> JB> program close, I cannot imagine.) They could
JB> JB> overhaul
JB> JB> JB> that
JB> JB> JB> JB> interface, too. The sub windows (such as the
JB> one
JB> JB> you
JB> JB> JB> get to
JB> JB> JB> JB> above) are much too small and don't stay sized,
JB> and
JB> JB> JB> resizing
JB> JB> JB> JB> them has an clunky feel about it. When I "drill
JB> JB> down",
JB> JB> JB> I
JB> JB> JB> JB> like to see where I've been, as well as where I
JB> am
JB> JB> and
JB> JB> JB> where
JB> JB> JB> JB> I'm going. ^_^
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Excellent program however. I've accomplished
JB> JB> numerous
JB> JB> JB> JB> restores and never had a bit or a byte out of
JB> place
JB> JB> to
JB> JB> JB> my
JB> JB> JB> JB> knowledge. That's what we pay for: peace of
JB> mind.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> I'll add that in your "the way it works"
JB> JB> explanation,
JB> JB> JB> maybe
JB> JB> JB> JB> you forgot to say that one has a choice, too, of
JB> JB> either
JB> JB> JB> JB> restoring entire partitions, or just restoring
JB> files
JB> JB> or
JB> JB> JB> JB> folders. And in the later case it's sometimes
JB> just
JB> JB> as
JB> JB> JB> easy,
JB> JB> JB> JB> or even easier, to simply mount the image and do
JB> a
JB> JB> JB> manual
JB> JB> JB> JB> copy across, than to sort through all the dialog
JB> JB> options
JB> JB> JB> for
JB> JB> JB> JB> a restore.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> BTW, I've always had an uneasy feeling about the
JB> JB> Secure
JB> JB> JB> Zone
JB> JB> JB> JB> feature of Acronis. To me, that just adds one
JB> more
JB> JB> JB> layer of
JB> JB> JB> JB> complexity between a restore and the data. (If,
JB> for
JB> JB> any
JB> JB> JB> JB> reason, TI cannot solve the Secure Zone -- that
JB> it
JB> JB> JB> exists on
JB> JB> JB> JB> the drive -- then I cannot see how it can
JB> possibly
JB> JB> JB> restore
JB> JB> JB> JB> the data that resides there, nor can I see how
JB> one
JB> JB> could
JB> JB> JB> use
JB> JB> JB> JB> the OS to make that data visible to the
JB> JB> JB> JB> program.) So I never used it and still don't.
JB> But
JB> JB> TI
JB> JB> JB> has
JB> JB> JB> JB> never failed to restore (never had an unreadable
JB> JB> JB> backup), so
JB> JB> JB> JB> I have no particular reason to think it might
JB> fail
JB> JB> to
JB> JB> JB> JB> decipher the Secure Zone.
JB> JB> JB> JB> I just like to keep things as simple as
JB> possible.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Finally, I never bother to verify my images
JB> after
JB> JB> JB> writing
JB> JB> JB> JB> them anymore. First, I've never had an image
JB> that
JB> JB> did
JB> JB> JB> not
JB> JB> JB> JB> verify, and second, according to posters on
JB> Acronis
JB> JB> JB> forums,
JB> JB> JB> JB> a verified image still is no guarantee that the
JB> JB> image
JB> JB> JB> can be
JB> JB> JB> JB> restored or mounted. So I don't bother with
JB> JB> verifying
JB> JB> JB> now.
JB> JB> JB> JB> (The verify process only verifies that *all*
JB> data on
JB> JB> the
JB> JB> JB> JB> image can be read; it does *not* compare data on
JB> the
JB> JB> JB> image
JB> JB> JB> JB> with source data.)
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Yuki
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> Sunday, January 4, 2009, 6:24:26 AM, you wrote:
JB>
>>>>>> I can take a product like this and save my complete
JB> JB> hard
JB> JB> JB> JB> drive on say
>>>>>> a usb hard drive and it will automaticly backup the
JB> JB> JB> JB> complete hard
>>>>>> drive when ever I want it to do it.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> 1) The backup can be stored on your disk, in
JB> the
JB> JB> JB> secure
JB> JB> JB> JB> partition
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> which is not visible to Windows XP / Vista.
JB> On
JB> JB> the
JB> JB> JB> JB> screenshot below
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> it is shown as "Logical Disk - Unknown (BC)
JB> and
JB> JB> has
JB> JB> JB> no
JB> JB> JB> JB> drive letter:
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV>
JB> JB> JB> JB>
JB> JB> JB>
JB> JB>
JB> http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/7749/01032009160435kv5.pn
JB> JB> JB> JB> g
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> 2) Another method is to store the backup on
JB> an
JB> JB> JB> external
JB> JB> JB> JB> hard drive.
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> USB drive is not a good idea because they
JB> are
JB> JB> not
JB> JB> JB> very
JB> JB> JB> JB> reliable.
JB>
>>>>>> Then if I have hard drive problems, I can put the copy
JB> JB> JB> JB> that is on the
>>>>>> [external] hard drive on my machine hard drive and it
JB> JB> JB> JB> will be just
>>>>>> like it was, with all programs and files the same as
JB> JB> the
JB> JB> JB> JB> last backup?
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> That's right. The backup copy has it's own
JB> JB> mini-OS
JB> JB> JB> (it
JB> JB> JB> JB> doesn't need
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> Windows). You boot into the external drive
JB> (or
JB> JB> into
JB> JB> JB> the
JB> JB> JB> JB> secure
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> partition) and follow the prompts.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> My Windows XP takes about 8 GB of disk space
JB> and
JB> JB> JB> JB> restoring all this
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> from Acronis secure partition takes about 4
JB> JB> minutes.
JB>
>>>>>> This type of software is something everyone should
JB> JB> have.
JB>
JB> JB> JB> JB> LV> Absolutely correct.
JB>
JB>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: Lester Vanhoff
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Microsoft's System Restore is very unreliable. It's
JB> JB> JB> JB> just dumb luck
>>>>>> that it worked for you. Consider getting a disk
JB> JB> JB> imaging
JB> JB> JB> JB> application
>>>>>> and do the disk image backup every day. One of the
JB> JB> JB> best
JB> JB> JB> JB> programs is
>>>>>> Acronis True Image, I've been using it for years.
JB> The
JB> JB> JB> JB> way it works,
>>>>>> when you get into a problem, it wipes out (formats)
JB> JB> JB> the
JB> JB> JB> JB> whole disk
>>>>>> (or selected partitions), including your operating
JB> JB> JB> JB> system, and then
>>>>>> restores everything from the backup image.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
JB> JB> JB> JB>
JB> JB> http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
JB>
JB>
JB>
JB> JB> JB>
JB>
JB>
JB>
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