Well, I picked it up today and after charging the battery, I started it and did the basics as required. Next, I went to system specifications and was rather disappointed to find 4 GB RAM installed and not 8 GB as per specifications. What is your opinion on this? Is 4 GB acceptable or too little bearing "shared with graphics" in mind?

I attach a screenshot of the disk. The computer speaks Swedish but I guess that you can deduct what the 4 partitions are about.

---

This is RAM-usage, idling with not even a Firewall or Antivirus running.

---

@ Christer

4 GB of RAM should be OK even though 8 GB would be preferable. If 8 GB was specified why wasn't it supplied? Can you add extra RAM if 4 GB proves insufficient?

Your Disk Management shows (MSR probably follows the EFI partition. It will show in IFL)

EFI System Partition
Win10
Recovery
Probably a restore partition which could be deleted later when you have created backup images. Your choice.

For your initial image I'd create an Entire Drive image. All 5 partitions will be included in a single TBI image.


Christer wrote on Apr 5^th, 2016 at 11:20am:

This is RAM-usage, idling with not even a Firewall or Antivirus running.

I just use the Windows Firewall and Windows Defender, both included in the OS. If you use a third party Antivirus then Windows Defender will be disabled.

@ Brian


Quote:

If 8 GB was specified why wasn't it supplied?

The shop actually said 4 GB but the Thoshiba product specification says 8 GB and I assumed that Toshiba was right. I mean, the product code on the box is extactly the same as in the product specification. I never even saw one until it was delivered today, just looking at pictures and ... ::) ... specifications.

I have sent Toshiba an email, asking about it.


Quote:

Probably a restore partition which could be deleted later when you have created backup images. Your choice.

I thought that both "recovery partitions" at the end of the disk could be deleted and the free space merged into C:.


Quote:

For your initial image I'd create an Entire Drive image. All 5 partitions will be included in a single TBI image.

Exactly my thought. I'll run IFL to see what it shows.

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 5^th, 2016 at 12:57pm:

I thought that both "recovery partitions" at the end of the disk could be deleted and the free space merged into C:.

Don't delete the 400 MB partition as you will lose the ability to do "Windows Startup Repairs".

Do you plan to resize the C: drive smaller and create a Data partition?

@ Brian


Quote:

Don't delete the 400 MB partition as you will lose the ability to do "Windows Startup Repairs".

Okey, thanks for the tip!


Quote:

Do you plan to resize the C: drive smaller and create a Data partition?

I have thought about it but there may not be much space to "transfer"? Maybe 2/1 (~80GB/~40GB) but I have no clue about to what size W10 will grow.

@ Christer

I'm just about to leave for a fishing trip but I'll reply tonight.

My Win10 is 40 GB with 14 GB of Free Space.

@ Brian

I had trouble finding out how to get it to boot from the UFD.

I changed the boot order in the Toshiba system settings. Now it should search the USB and next the HDD/SSD for something bootable but it still booted from the SSD.

Finally, I remembered what Dan said:


Quote:

... you should disable Win10's "Fast Startup" mode before you start messing around with imaging and restoring.

It seems like, until I made that change, it didn't shut down properly and in consequence didn't search for bootable media.

Now, it works fine and boots from the USB when present and otherwise from the SSD.

IFL sees the external USB-HDD.

IFL lists the partitions on the SSD:

ESP > 260 MiB > FAT-32
Microsoft Reserved Partition > 16 MiB > GPT entry
TIH0039100A > 111669 MiB * > NTFS
WinRE > 460 MiB > NTFS
HDDR > 9668 MiB > FAT-32

*) The information states: 24872 MiB used, 86827 MiB free, 26640 MiB to restore. Should I use the "compact" option to reduce the "overhead" or just leave it? When the computer has been used for a while, the "overhead" will become larger but since a SSD should not be defragmented, maybe it shouldn't be "compacted"?

Even if it shouldn't be compacted, I think that I'll ignore that when the "overhead" has become equal to used space ... 8-) ... so why not start now?

@ Christer


There is no need to use Compact unless you have a reason. Such as restoring your OS image to a 27 GB partition. Something that you will never do. The MiB to Restore setting indicates the sector spread. One of my computers has a 30000 MiB OS partition with 15000 MiB in use and 30000 MiB to Restore. No problems unless I want to restore to a smaller partition. Then I'd have to compact prior to creating the image.


I think you should purchase the TeraByte Special Bundle. BIBM, IFW, IFL, IFD, TBOSDT. BIBM Partition Work will run in IFL so you won't have to change the BIOS to boot in Legacy mode. IFL is very versatile. It has TBOSDT and several useful scripts.

@ Brian

How was fishing? Did you catch any?

About compacting, I read the manual and understood it as compacting would reduce the size of the image, not only the required space to restore it to.

I assume that you're referring to this bundle. It might be a mistake recommending it because ... :-/ ... you will probably spend hours trying to teach me how to use it ... ;D ... !

@ Christer

I'm in Weipa, north Queensland, with my wife and  youngest son. Fishing starts tomorrow. Six days.

That's the correct bundle. $49.98. The third party seller might offer extras such as download protection. You don't need them.

Each app is licensed for 3 home computers.

@ Brian

I hope You're enjoying yourself and have some real quality time with Your family!


Quote:

About compacting, I read the manual and understood it as compacting would reduce the size of the image, not only the required space to restore it to.

Can You confirm that to compact or not to compact has no effect on the size of the image?

@ Christer

It should have no effect on image size.

It compacts the sectors in use. MiB in use will be unchanged.

@ Christer

We had a great first day. We caught barramundi, blue salmon, cod, mackerel, shark, jewfish and long tail tuna. The biggest fish was 112 cm in length. Three barramundi were hooked and landed from the first three casts.

@ Brian

Great news!

I myself am out fishing for more RAM ... >:( ... but I doubt that I'll get any without paying for it.

@ Brian

I let IFL loose on it this afternoon. When I first (two days ago) ran IFL to check which partitions were present, these two partitions were empty, zero (0) bytes used:

WinRE > 460 MiB > NTFS
HDDR > 9668 MiB > FAT-32

Now, 353 MiB and 8660 MiB respectively are used ... :o ... and I have no idea what app has used the space or when?

I created an Image of the whole Disk and it verified OK. I will mess around a bit and see if I can gather the confidence to restore the Win10 partition ... :-X ... !

@ Christer

All OK. I think you got your 0% used from Disk Management. It can't read the contents of those partitions.

If you double click your .TBI you will see the partitions in TBIView. You can explore the contents of each partition. If you get an error when you double click it is a Permissions error because the image was created outside Widows. Fix the Permissions with...

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=581

@ Brian


Quote:

I think you got your 0% used from Disk Management. It can't read the contents of those partitions.

Yup, that's what I came back to comment on.

I wonder what application will complain if I delete the "HDDR > 9668 MiB > FAT-32" partition?


Quote:

If you double click your .TBI you will see the partitions in TBIView.

I don't have IFW installed on the laptop but I have on the desktop and can check it there.

Don't tell anyone ... ::) ... but I start liking W10. I search and find all the missing (from Win7) "stuff". Almost everything is there but hidden in a different place.

What I don't like is that McAffe was showed down my throat, free for one month as was a few other products, fishing for revenue. Hopefully easy to uninstall without leaving too many traces. (Not installing in the first place ... ;) ... leaves no traces at all.)

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 7^th, 2016 at 4:35pm:

I wonder what application will complain if I delete the "HDDR > 9668 MiB > FAT-32" partition?

Wait until you get BIBM working in IFL. Then delete the partition but don't select Clear Boot sector. If there is an issue you can Undelete the  partition. I doubt there will be an issue.

IFL has TBIView but it's not as intuitive as the IFW version.

Regarding Win10. I like it too.

@ Brian

See the attached sceenhot of the contents of the drives. Maybe You can deduct which app has created the stuff on HDDR?

---

@ Brian

... and a close up without the beautiful Spitfire!

---

@ Christer

I assume it is a Toshiba Recovery partition that you don't need. Delete it and make sure everything works. Then you could resize the Win10 partition, slide the WinRE partition and create a data partition. When you are ready for these changes. No hurry.

@ Brian

Okey, thanks for Your advise. I'll sit on my hands for a while, at least until I know that I'll keep it. The 4 GB versus 8 GB battle still rages ... :-X ... !

I went google on it and found:

How do I reset my Windows 10 computer to factory defaults?

I guess that's what this HDDR partition is there for. HDDR = Hard Disk Drive Recovery ?

I will test the procedure and if it works, I'll keep my first complete disk image with all partitions intact. Should I decide to sell it, I can restore it to factory fresh using that image and the next owner will have the original recovery options.

On the positive side, Toshiba will send an additional 4 GB module but I will have to install it myself. The best solution, I guess and if it is installed in a "professional manner", it will not void the warranty. My conclusion is that if there are no broken lugs ... 8-) ... there is no broken warranty.

@ Christer

Good news about the RAM.

Yes, the image you have will be handy if you decide to sell the computer. It can be restored to your current or a new drive. Just restore it (when needed) if you have a new drive as no preparation of the empty drive is needed.

@ Brian


Quote:

I think you should purchase the TeraByte Special Bundle. BIBM, IFW, IFL, IFD, TBOSDT. BIBM Partition Work will run in IFL so you won't have to change the BIOS to boot in Legacy mode. IFL is very versatile. It has TBOSDT and several useful scripts.

Done!

VAT was added making the total USD 62,48 (according to PayPal).

I did the purchase through SWREG and from them I have only received an invoice for "Image for Windows - Including Image for DOS/Linux" = USD 30,84. Maybe I'll get the other one in due course? (Rhetorical question since I have all the KeyCodes.)

There's no downloadable user manuals, only the online knowledgebase articles, right?

Edited: The invoice for "BootIt Bare Metal - Qty 1+" = USD 31,64 has also dropped into my inbox.

@ Christer

Great.

Your download site is...

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/product-download.php

There are several IFW choices. I prefer

Image for Windows V2.99-00 (GUI) with IFD-CUI and IFU-CUI

... as I download IFL (non network) separately.

Good tutorials are on...

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/howto/index.htm

@ Christer

I'll be home by Thursday and I'll post my setup guides (for creating UFDs etc).

@ Brian


Quote:

There are several IFW choices.

I've downloaded all variants, I think but I'll use the ones with GUI.


Quote:

... as I download IFL (non network) separately.

"ifl_nonet_en_gui" is the one I'll use initially. I've created the UFD and will test it later.


Quote:

I'll be home by Thursday and I'll post my setup guides (for creating UFDs etc).

The KB articles are quite good but I look forward to reading Your guides!

@ Christer

I mainly use the non-net IFL as it boots a few seconds faster than the net version. But you can use the net version if you like. The following are what I use. Personal choice.

IFL boot disk...

double click makedisk.exe, next
Traditional- You have control over options. (Custom), next
dot in I accept the agreement, next
Global Geometry----tick in Align Partitions on 1MiB Boundaries, next
Miscellaneous Global Options, no selections, next
Additional ifl.ini Options, no additions at present (I use TimeZone=AUS-10), next
Product Key (it's a short one compared to IFW), next
Leave Boot Drive Mounted as /tbu/boot, next
Normal Boot (for Scripting), next
BIBM Licensed Name, Product Key
For additional options I use TimeZone=AUS-10;GlobalGeoAlign2K=1;ISO8601=1 but you can leave it blank
select your CD burner drive letter (you can use a CD-RW or a CD-R disc). Or USB flash drive. Or ISO File.
If using a UFD I choose
USB Layout... Partition - FAT/FAT32 partition
Geometry Calculation Method... Use Device
Finish

More to come later today.

BIBM

double click makedisk.exe, next
dot in BootIt Bare Metal, next
dot in I accept the agreement, next
select Image for DOS (GUI) and also
select Scripting Support, next
dot in Mouse Support Enabled, next
dot in VESA Video, next
dot in Video Mode 1024*768 - 64K Colors, next
dot in Normal, next
don't choose any Device Options, next
tick in Enable USB 1.1 (UHCI), next
tick in Align partitions on 1MiB Boundaries, next
in Additional bootitbm.ini Options I use TimeZone=AUS-10;GlobalGeoAlign2K=1;ISO8601=1 (you can leave it blank), next
enter BIBM Name and Product Key, Next
select your CD burner drive letter (you can use a CD-RW or a CD-R disc)
Finish
(to create a UFD, select your UFD drive letter
for USB Layout select "Partition - MBR FAT/FAT32 Partition"
for Geometry Calculation Method select "Default - Use Device"
Finish)

IFW boot disk

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/howto/tbwinre_tutorial.htm

I prefer TBWinRE over TBWinPE as you don't have to install the 2 GB Microsoft Windows ADK. Both tutorials are on...

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/howto/index.htm

Your choice. I only have the ADK installed on my test computer as I keep this OS (main computer) lean and mean.

@ Christer

If you want to use BIBM (Partition Work) with your UEFI laptop, use it from the IFL UFD. IFL boots in UEFI and Legacy mode. BIBM boot disk only boots in Legacy mode.

Automating IFL Backups/Restores

double click makedisk.exe, next
Traditional- You have control over options. (Custom), next
dot in I accept the agreement, next
Global Geometry----tick in Align Partitions on 1MiB Boundaries, next
Miscellaneous Global Options, no selections, next
Additional ifl.ini Options, no additions at present (I use TimeZone=AUS-10), next
Product Key (it's a short one compared to IFW), next
Leave Boot Drive Mounted as /tbu/boot, (this makes saving scripts easier), next
dot in Select at Boot - Show Menu of Scripts Available (this gives you a Menu)
BIBM Licensed Name, Product Key
For additional options I use TimeZone=AUS-10;GlobalGeoAlign2K=1;ISO8601=1 but you can leave it blank
select your CD burner drive letter (you can use a CD-RW or a CD-R disc). Or USB flash drive. Or ISO File.
If using a UFD I choose
USB Layout... Partition - FAT/FAT32 partition
Geometry Calculation Method... Use Device
Finish
    

Script creation
boot the IFL UFD
This is for a Restore script but a Backup script is the same method...

Restore
Normal
File (Direct)
Linux
Choose your backup drive on Restore From screen
Choose your backup Partition on Restore From screen
Navigate to your backup image by double clicking
Single Pass
Select the Drive or partition to restore from the Restore From screen
Linux
Choose the Target Drive and accept the Warning
Choose the Target Partition if not restoring an Entire Drive image and accept the Warning
Select your Options. Also choose Reboot when Completed
click Show Command
click Save to File
after --r type --uy
you should now see --r --uy --d: (etc)
click OK
double click boot
double click scripts
in the name field type something like Restore_HD.tbs
you can choose any name you prefer but you must have the .tbs file extension
click OK
Exit from IFL
You can click the IFL icon to create another script or Reboot the computer


When testing restore scripts (new scripts) I make sure --v is in the script. Validate Before Restore. So after the Validate commences and I know the script is working I can Exit from IFL and the restore doesn't happen.

Now when you boot the IFL UFD you are presented with a Menu of your Backups/Restores.

Using IFW, (or the others), you can create Entire Drive images of your various UFDs and restore them when needed. So you can use the same UFD for multiple IFL, BIBM, TBWinRE etc. You don't have to use MakeDisk.exe a second time.

Installing IFW

double click "ifw_en_setup.exe"
Yes on the User Account Control window
keep going by clicking Next on every screen until...

on the Select Components window put a tick in 6 boxes (first box for IFW is greyed out ticked and doesn't count in the 6)
..PHYLOCK - Allows backup while using Windows
..TBIView
..PartInfo
..TeraByte OS Deployment Tool Suite Professional
..Image for DOS Recovery Disk
..Image for UEFI Recovery Disk

on the Select Additional Tasks window only put a tick in 3 boxes
..Add PHYLock Setup to Program Group
..Show TBIView Setup Wizard
..Show TBOSDT Setup Wizard

For TBIView Setup
tick in TBIMount
remove tick from Create a desktop icon
tick in Add Unmount to Drive Context menu
remove tick from Launch TBIView

For TeraByte OS Deployment Tool Suite..
no choices, just install

@ Brian

Wow ... :o ... that's a lot of tutorials which will make the learning curve much steeper. I've only had a glance but I'll print it to have it to hand when I need it. For starters, I'll use IFL (no net) to image the Toshiba and next, I'll consider removing the HDDR partition and merge the space into the system drive.

Thanks a lot ... :) ... and I'm sure that other users who find this thread will join the choir!

@ Christer

Easy. If you have further questions, just ask.

@ Brian

Now, the Toshiba has 8 GB RAM and ... 8-) ... no broken lugs!

For others who intend to "break into" a laptop:

- make sure that all screws have been removed

- start by removing the battery

- next, remove the DVD-unit or as in my case, the "fake one" (but I saw the connector and it can be upgraded if I want to)

- when removing the bottom panel, don't apply too much force prying and bending

- patience pays off and on my laptop, it can't bee seen that it has been "broken into"

- reassemble in the reverse order

- on first powerup, you probably need to set time and date

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 14^th, 2016 at 6:57am:

- next, remove the DVD-unit or as in my case, the "fake one" (but I saw the connector and it can be upgraded if I want to)

Good news. If you need extra storage space in the future you should be able to install a hard drive to that connector.

@ Brian

Didn't think of that but it would require some kind of adaptor between the SSD/HDD and the DVD-tray.

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 15^th, 2016 at 2:06am:

would require some kind of adaptor between the SSD/HDD and the DVD-tray

An example...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Notebook-9-5mm-SATA-CD-ROM-Optical-Drive-Bay-for-2nd-HDD-Hard-Drive-Caddy-Tray-/321814832535?hash=item4aeda8a597:g:mngAAOSwys5WWDmL

I've done five of these recently. In my case it was replacing the HD with a SSD and putting the HD in the above caddy. There are two types of caddy depending on the size of the optical drive. 9.5 and 12 mm.

@ Brian


Quote:

Now, the Toshiba has 8 GB RAM and ... 8-) ... no broken lugs!

I guess ... :-/ ... that my L50D-C-18V possibly ... :-/ ... is the only one with 8 GB RAM ... :) ... at the expense of Toshiba. They have corrected the specifications to 4 GB!


Quote:

An example...

The drive bay is not square on the Toshiba, it is profiled. Maybe I'll find one that is but it's something for the future.

@ Christer

When you boot BIBM on your Legacy computers, don't choose the install option. Choose Maintenance. You only need to install BIBM if you want to multi-boot. If you ever get the desire to have ten or twenty OS (or just three) on your Legacy computer, let me know. It is surprisingly easy to do this and each OS will be independent of the others. Basically you enable Unlimited Primaries, create a Primary partition for the new OS and setup a Boot Item for the new OS. Then you try to boot the Boot Item. It won't boot of course but this sets the partition Active and creates a relevant MBR for that item. That MBR partition table (maximum of 4 entries) will be used for the OS you will now install. Partitions not in the partition table won't be seen. Install the OS in the usual way.

Unlimited primaries work like this. Let's say you have six OS (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) and a Data partition on HD0. Example Boot Items could be...

1, Data
2, Data
3, Data
etc

When OS 1 is booted there will only be two partitions in the partition table. Disk Management will only show those two partitions and the remainder of the drive will show as Unallocated Space. This is why you should only use BIBM as a partitioning tool if you are running Unlimited Primaries. I like using Unlimited Primaries. I use the setting even when I have 4 or less primary partitions on the drive because it allows you to remove partitions from the partition table rather than just Hiding partitions that are in the partition table.

If you aren't using Unlimited Primaries you can Hide partitions from each other. But you can only have four Primary partitions on the drive. It took six months before I felt comfortable enough using BIBM to transit from Limited to Unlimited Primaries.

Installing BIBM...

INSTALL
Boot from the BIBM boot disk and click Cancel
Click OK to enter maintenance mode
Click Partition Work and make sure you have at least 8 MB of Free Space on HD0 (Free Space inside an Extended Partition doesn't count)
Resize the final partition 8 MB smaller if you don't already have 8 MB of Free Space.


Restart and boot from the BootIt BM boot disk
Setup... Click OK to install BootIt ...
Setup... Don't put a tick in Change all MBR type drives to EMBR and click No to not "enable support for more than 4 primary partitions". If you already have 4 primary partitions you will have to click Yes.
Setup... Click Yes to let setup choose the partition for you (even though there isn't a partition yet)
Setup... Click Yes to install to a dedicated partition. No tick in Install to any drive
Setup... Click OK to begin
Setup... Click OK for Setup completed successfully
click Close
Setup... Click OK for the Remove the boot disk and click OK to restart


BM will boot to a Boot Menu
Click Maintenance

This is the BIBM desktop

In Settings you can select whether you want 1MiB or Cylinder alignment.

Further to Reply #44, you don't need to install further OS to multi-boot. Let's say You have Win7 and a Data partition (and BIBM) on the drive and plenty of Free Space. You can Copy the Win7 partition to the free space several times, say five times. Now you have six Win7 OS which you can use independently of each other.

Using TBOSDT to see your partitions...

In the All Apps menu (Win10) click "TeraByte OS Deployment Tool Suite Professional". Enter..

list hd 0 /f /u

If it says "Invalid drive" go to C:\Program Files\TeraByte Unlimited\TeraByte OSD Tool Suite Pro\win
Right click tbosdtw.exe, Properties, Compatibility tab. Put a tick in "Run this program as an administrator". The command line will now work for subsequent...

list hd 0 /f /u

@ Christer

You probably already know but I don't use IFL for image creation. I use IFW for hot imaging. I've restored (not created) thousands of images that were created while Windows was running. Never an issue. My computer creates a new differential image daily, while I'm using the computer. It's scheduled so I don't see it happening.

Christer wrote on Apr 14^th, 2016 at 2:11am:

I'll print it to have it to hand when I need it.

That's my intention. When or if you need it. I'll post what I think could be helpful in the future.

@ Christer

You will probably never do this but for your information you can use BIBM to convert your UEFI/GPT system to MBR.

Set the BIOS for Legacy mode
Boot a BIBM UFD/CD

Run
chgdtype.tbs
Convert a Physical drive
HD1 (if booted from a BIBM UFD)
HD0 (if booted from a BIBM CD)
Configure the "Win10" partition to be active
.... Will say Win8 if that's what you have
.... By not creating a "System reserved" partition you free up one primary partition slot
You see a confirmation message saying the MSR and ESP will be deleted, press Enter

Boot into Windows
Disk Management shows 2 partitions. Recovery and Win10. To remove the Recovery partition and retain the Recovery Environment...

1. In Win10 or Win8.
2. Open an Administrator Command Prompt.
3. (The following Disables WinRE)
reagentc /disable
dir /a C:\Windows\System32\Recovery

You should see Winre.wim in the Recovery folder along with other files

4. Boot BIBM and delete the 450 MB Recovery partition
5. Boot into Windows
6. (From an Administrator Command Prompt the following Enables WinRE)
reagentc /enable
dir /a C:\Recovery

You should see a WindowsPE folder in addition to a Logs folder and ReagentOld.xml

@ Brian

Thanks for Your hints. I have never done more than a dual boot of XP and W7. That was accomplished not by me but by the W7 installer.

When I upgrade W7 to W10, it will probably/hopefully still be a dual boot but of XP and W10. Not that I use XP for much these days but there are programs that work better in there than in W7/W10.


Quote:

I use IFW for hot imaging.

I'll consider that option but I'm suspicious of anything "hot". A friend of mine used Norton 360 and didn't know how to control it. He only installed it and let it loose. He gave me a call when his 1 TB HDD was running out of space and he didn't know "what or why". It was Norton 360 and its scheduled backups that during 6 months had used 800 GB space ... ::) ... !

A few weeks ago, I reinstalled his W10 on a SSD and forbade him to use anything other than a firewall and antivirus solution. I left him with Defender and the Windows Firewall but I think that he'll get Norton Security.

Just a few words on deleting undeletable files/folders with TeraByte Explorer.

Run TeraByte Explorer from BIBM. This can be done from an IFL UFD.
Mount/Unmount a drive path identifier
Select the OS partition
Ctrl-O for options
Space bar to select View hidden files and View system files
Browse to the folder and select it
Press the Delete key on your keyboard
Choose Yes and wait a short while
Done

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 16^th, 2016 at 2:18am:

When I upgrade W7 to W10, it will probably/hopefully still be a dual boot but of XP and W10.

It should be. If you wanted to restore your Win7 image to free space on the drive you could have a triple boot. If that is of any use. Maybe not.

@ Brian

I edited my post above while You were responding ... :-[ ... !

@ Brian


Quote:

If you wanted to restore your Win7 image to free space on the drive you could have a triple boot.

Would that be legal? I mean, after doing the free upgrade from W7 to W10 ... :-X ... would it be legal to run both?

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 16^th, 2016 at 2:18am:

but I'm suspicious of anything "hot".

IFW is safe. It only creates the images that you want it to create. IFW can either use PHYLock (TeraByte driver) or Microsoft's VSS to lock the drive prior to creating the image. As I understand the bitmap snapshot is created in a fraction of a second and no matter what you do thereafter, it won't be included in the image.

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 16^th, 2016 at 2:35am:

Would that be legal? I mean, after doing the free upgrade from W7 to W10 ... Lips Sealed ... would it be legal to run both?

Yes, it is legal and accepted by Microsoft. You are only running one Microsoft OS at a time if you use BIBM as the boot manager. If you run a Microsoft OS in a Virtual machine you are using two OS at a time and require two licenses.

Also, if you copy your Win10 several times and boot each with BIBM, each will be Activated by Microsoft. If you then install another Win10 to that drive and boot it with BIBM, it will be Activated by Microsoft.

Edit... I've copied Win10 from HD0 to HD1 and booted it with BIBM. It was Activated by Microsoft.

@ Brian

I think that one of each would be enough for my needs. My switch from XP to W7 was slow because it was a dual boot and making a dual boot of W7 and W10 would make that transition slow too.

When I have upgraded from W7 to W10, I'll probably configure and use W10 and only have the possibility to roll back to W7 as an option if I don't like W10. When I make the final decision to go for W10 permanently, I'll get an SSD and do a clean installation.

(One has to like W10 because there's an end to W7 too.)

The little I have used W10 on the laptop is encouraging. I have not tested the "classic start menu" that can be downloaded and installed but using it "as is", is a question of finding the "stuff from W7" in its new place.

The "apps" versus "programs" is still a mystery ... ::) ... !

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 16^th, 2016 at 4:26am:

I think that one of each would be enough for my needs. My switch from XP to W7 was slow because it was a dual boot and making a dual boot of W7 and W10 would make that transition slow too.

Understood.

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 16^th, 2016 at 4:26am:

When I make the final decision to go for W10 permanently, I'll get an SSD and do a clean installation.

This is what I've done, several times...

Boot BIBM CD/UFD
Create a primary NTFS partition, size of your choosing
Set the partition Active
Boot Win10 CD/UFD and do a custom install into the above partition
You don't need to enter a serial number if you have had Win10 previously installed in that computer. Click "Skip" if one is requested (or I don't have a Product key). Win10 will be auto Activated.

Using this method will give you a single partition Win10. If you let the Win10 installer create the partition you will get a multi partition Win10. Probably SRP, Recovery and OS. The same applies if you create the OS partition manually in the Windows installer. You will get multiple partitions.

@ Brian

Yes, when I installed Win7 and made a dual boot of it and WinXP, you told me to create the partitions (XP, 7 and data with no unallocated space) prior to installing the operating systems. In that way, the 200 MB system partition was avoided. I did it using another computer, running WinXP to get the partitions cylinder aligned for Ghost 2003 to work properly. This time, MiB alignment (IIRC) is the option to use but can there be unallocated space?

@ Christer

I forgot. Yes, make it a 1 MiB aligned partition. The partition doesn't need to be full sized. You can have unallocated space and you will still end with a single partition Win10, the size of your created partition. You can create a data partition in the unallocated space before or after the Win10 install. It doesn't matter but you probably save time by creating it at the same time as you create the Win10 partition.

@ Christer


I still recall your tutorial on separating the data from the WinXP OS. This is how I do it but you probably do the same.

Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos are in the D: drive. I like my OS partition to be lean and mean so I have small C: drive images and fast restores.

https://researchaholic.com/2012/08/16/windows-8-how-to-move-user-folders-personal-folder/

Basically, right click (say) Documents, Properties, Location tab. Change C: to D: and click apply, etc. (Don't click Move)

I shift Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos to my D: drive. Anything I put on my desktop will not be in my OS partition. I’ve done this with Win7, Win8 and Win10.

@ Brian


Quote:

I still recall your tutorial on separating the data from the WinXP OS. This is how I do it but you probably do the same.

Yes, and when dual booting, getting XP and 7 to share the same folders on the data partition was quite easy but took a few hours to figure out.


Quote:

Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos are in the D: drive.

I like a clean desktop (you saw it in a recent screenshot) and it gets de-cluttered when I restore an Image but maybe your way is better. I also move the IE Favorites folder and the Firefox profile to the data partition.

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 18^th, 2016 at 3:40am:

and the Firefox profile to the data partition.

I used to do that too until Win8. My Profile folder is only 200 MB and compared with the many GB of data in the D: drive, it wasn't worth moving. It gets backed up daily anyway, in the daily OS differential image. The differential image size is only a few percent of the full image size so I can save the last 15 or so. They get deleted automatically when they reach two weeks old.

@ Brian

That would be an option for me too, should I decide to let IFW loose doing hot imaging and incrementals.

About incrementals, if you have a base image from 2014 and a number of weekly incrementals, if you decide to roll back to 2016 week 10, does the restore include the base image plus all incrementals up til and including 2016 week 10?

What if 2016 week 10 is the first incremental to still be saved? Does each incremental contain all changes from the base image was created or only changes from the last week?

@ Christer

Let's say the Full image is F
Let's say you create some incrementals, E1, E2, E3, E4
E2 contains the changes since E1. E3 contains the changes since E2.
If you want to restore E4 you need F, E1, E2, E3, E4

Let's say the Full image is F
Let's say you create some differentials, D1, D2, D3, D4
D2 contains the changes since F. D3 contains the changes since F.
If you want to restore D4 you need F, D4

I prefer differentials as you only need 2 images and I no longer use incrementals. Having a long incremental chain, probably  more than 20, can result in slow restores, RAM related.

@ Brian

Aha ... :) ... the differential images grow in size, just like a new full image would do but to restore the system, you only need the original full image plus one differential image, either one of them. With incremental images, you can't "break the chain", you need them all.

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 18^th, 2016 at 8:24am:

the differential images grow in size,

I find the differential image is about 10% of the full image size after a month. Even though the used space in the OS partition might not change, the differential image size increases due to sectors being moved around and the TeraByte image is sector based.

IFW, IFD and IFL all create and restore the same images, full and differential. To create a differential image choose Backup (Changes Only).

With restores, TeraByte apps do sector based copies/restores so if  your original partition was....( * is sectors in use, - is free space)
[---**----**--]

then the target partition to copy/restore into cannot be smaller than...
[---**----**]

You can't restore into a smaller partition like this...
[****]

But you can compact the sectors to
[****---------]
and then create an image

Now you can restore to a smaller partition like this
[****]

@ Christer

I forgot to mention the "hash" file. If you want to create differentials or incrementals then you should select "Speed up Changes Only Backup" when you create the full image. This creates a hash and Changes Only backups will be created in a third of the time.

@ Christer

Here is a great example of the usefulness of daily diffs. Today I uninstalled QuickTime in view of the recent web article. I then found my Astronomy program wouldn't open. It said it required QuickTime so I reinstalled QuickTime. The Astronomy program still wouldn't open. It said it required QuickTime even though QuickTime had just been installed and the computer restarted.

I restored a diff created 3 hours ago. The IFL restore took 108 seconds, SSD to SSD. All OK again.

@ Brian


Quote:

I find the differential image is about 10% of the full image size after a month.

I understand the need for compacting if the used sectors are spread out but what I meant was that used space grows with time, regardless of "unused sectors in between". My Ghost Image of the Win7 partition has doubled in size over the past 5 years and using IFL with differential images, the growth (percentage) of the differentials would be "huge", from a few MB to several GB.


Quote:

I forgot to mention the "hash" file. If you want to create differentials or incrementals then you should select "Speed up Changes Only Backup" when you create the full image. This creates a hash and Changes Only backups will be created in a third of the time.

Do you get a notification such as "IFW - work in progress" if you try to shut down the computer while an image is created in the background?


Quote:

Here is a great example of the usefulness of daily diffs.

Exactly why I use imaging but in the same situation, my system would have been rolled back up to a month. That has been good enough since my system is pretty static. I don't install too many programs (I hate the word "apps") and if I do and it's a "keeper", the I restore an image and install it the way I want it and reimage afterwards. This would happen when I plan to create my monthly image.

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 19^th, 2016 at 2:53am:

of the differentials would be "huge", from a few MB to several GB

I create a new full image every two weeks or so and subsequent diffs are based on the new full image. So the diffs never get huge. I keep the previous sequence for a week or so.


Christer wrote on Apr 19^th, 2016 at 2:53am:

Do you get a notification such as "IFW - work in progress"

I've not seen it because my computer is only restarted every few days.

@ Christer


Christer wrote on Apr 19^th, 2016 at 2:53am:

Do you get a notification such as "IFW - work in progress" if you try to shut down the computer while an image is created in the background?

I just ran a test. The computer shuts down without a warning message.

@ Brian

Interesting ... :-? ... I wonder if the interrupted process resulted in a "corrupt" image or no image?

@ Christer

There was a .TBI but of zero size. Nothing was written in the IFW log.

@ Christer

I "tried" to restore the zero size .TBI with IFL. When I selected the .TBI I saw this message...

"***.TBI is missing data written on completion"

...and I couldn't progress further.

@ Brian

Thanks for the feedback!

@ Christer

If you get some spare time and would like to test an IFW backup script, here is what I've been using in the last year.

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-image-for-windows.htm#addon

Sample Backup Batch Script 2 - Rotate based on count.

In IFWRotate.cmd you only have to edit 6 lines...

set TBIBase=
set TBIName=
set TBIParms=
set TBIMaxFullCnt=
set TBIMaxDiffCnt=
set TBIDifParms=

My lines are...

set TBIBase=I:\Tera\OS
set TBIName=Win10ssd
set TBIParms=/b /uy /d:w0@0x1 /vb /hash    
set TBIMaxFullCnt=2
set TBIMaxDiffCnt=15
set TBIDifParms=/uy /vb

When you run IFW stop at the Backup Options screen and click Show Command. This info helps with TBIParms. Your TBIParms will probably be (/uy helps automation)

/b /uy /d:w0 /vb /hash

@ Brian

Now ... :-/ ... you're speaking "Greek" (a saying in Sweden when you don't understand) but maybe I'll learn that too, thanks!

@ Christer

We use the same "Greek" phrase in Australia.

No problem.

@ Christer

Are you a Win10 convert? I am.

@ Brian

Well, not yet. I have had so much to do the past week and it will continue for a while. I will upgrade my XP/W7 dual boot to XP/W10 before the offer expires but I really don't know when.