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RE: [amibroker] [OT] Acronis True Image and system backup [was Re: Re: Curing AmiBroker slowdowns with a system restore]


  • To: <amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Subject: RE: [amibroker] [OT] Acronis True Image and system backup [was Re: Re: Curing AmiBroker slowdowns with a system restore]
  • From: "J. Biran" <jbiran@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 23:07:40 -0800

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Maybe we should take this off-line...

You can create a batch file (i.e. dismount.bat) with 2
lines:

C:\progra~1\UT\waitnsec.com 2
C:\devcon remove USB\Class_08  

You need to change to a DOS 8.3 path or use quotes (open a
cmd.exe window 
and type cmd /?) hence c:\porgra~1\ is c:\program files\.

I attached a very old (~1998) delay executable
(waitnsec.com) that pauses n seconds before continuing.

Tell TI to execute dismount.bat after completion.

You explanation about TI validation phase makes no sense to
me.
--

Joseph Biran
____________________________________________


-----Original Message-----
From: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Yuki Taga
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:34 PM
To: J. Biran
Subject: Re: [amibroker] [OT] Acronis True Image and system
backup [was Re: Re: Curing AmiBroker slowdowns with a system
restore]

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>  

JB> JB> JB> ------------------------------------

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JB> JB> JB> TO GET TECHNICAL SUPPORT from AmiBroker please
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