henriette

henriette wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2012 at 8:28am:

This can be done in IFL by using mnt and TBIView. But let's leave that to later because there is an easier way. Download and install TBIView™ with TBIMount™ from...

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

It's a free download and it lets you explore .tbi images and extract files.

Regarding the manuals. I've never printed any of them as I'm happy just viewing the PDF on the monitor. IFD/IFL are updated every few months and there is a new manual. The changes are usually minor. Such as someone has requested a feature which you will never use. But often there are really useful changes such as Enhanced Speed A. This has cut my imaging time in half.

When you have some spare time read about Differential images. They record what has changed since the last Full backup. For example, my full backup is 6 GB. I can create a differential backup image a month later which might only be 50 MB. (depends on what you have installed over the month of course) Not only are they a space saver on your HD but they are created in a third of the time of a full backup image.

henriette

henriette wrote on Aug 4^th, 2012 at 7:11am:


No, the Drivers are already installed. If you right click your .tbi and click Mount as Drive Letter the image will be mounted as Drive Z: which is slightly different than opening the image in TBIView. I use both methods. When you are finished using the Z: drive you can unmount it. (don't have the Z: drive open when you right click to Unmount. A restart unmounts it too)

henriette wrote on Aug 4^th, 2012 at 7:11am:


No, they are the same. I try to use the term Backup Image but sometimes forget either word.

henriette wrote on Aug 4^th, 2012 at 7:11am:


I use *multi pass* although it probably doesn't matter which one you choose.

OK. Differential. From ver 2.71 onwards differential creation became faster. 3 to 4 times faster because of the creation of a Hash file. You get this file when you create a full backup image by ticking this Option, "Speed up Changes Only Backup". The Hash file is created in the same folder as the full image backup and you should create your Differential images in the same folder. All of the above in the same folder.

"Speed up Changes Only Backup" doesn't make creation of the Full backup image any faster. It's only the subsequent creation of the Differential image that will be faster.



To create a Differential backup image from an Entire Drive Image with IFL gui and write it to a USB external HD...

Backup
Changes Only
Multi Pass
File (Direct)
Linux
ATA ..... (sdc) (or sdb) This should be your external HD (or internal if that is where the image is stored)
select partition on USB
select folder on USB
select the full backup image
File (Direct)
Linux
ATA ..... (sdc) (or sdb) This should be your external HD (or internal if that is where the image is stored)
select partition on USB
select folder on USB
make sure you can see the full backup image (to confirm you are in the correct folder)
give the Differential backup image a name (your choice)
leave the ticks in Omit Page File Data, Omit Hibernation Data and Log Results to File
put a tick in Validate Byte-for-Byte
Compression Enhanced Speed - A
File Size Max
Start
     



To create a Differential backup image from a Partition Image with IFL gui and write it to a USB external HD...

Backup
Changes Only
Multi Pass
File (Direct)
Linux
ATA ..... (sdc) (or sdb) This should be your external HD (or internal if that is where the image is stored)
select partition on USB
select folder on USB
select the full backup image
File (Direct)
Linux
ATA ..... (sdc) (or sdb) This should be your external HD (or internal if that is where the image is stored)
select partition on USB
select folder on USB
make sure you can see the full backup image (to confirm you are in the correct folder)
give the Differential backup image a name (your choice)
leave the ticks in Omit Page File Data, Omit Hibernation Data and Log Results to File
put a tick in Validate Byte-for-Byte
Compression Enhanced Speed - A
File Size Max
Start
     


You can create as many differential images as you like in the same folder. Naturally each will need a different name. Once the differentials start to get larger than say 10 or 20% of the Full image size I suggest starting the sequence again with a Full image. But when to start again is up to you. Before you start Differentials I'd create another Full image (in a new folder) with these extra options..

Speed up Changes Only Backup
Compression Enhanced Speed - A

You are progressing nicely.

Brian

I'm afraid things have to wait for a few days > "Duck got stuck" [see attachment = my DONALD = PC] 

... insofar:
One of my external drives - supposed to become my 'main' external drive for Backup images only - has died after 2 years. > Western Digital

I had been busy over the weekend copying data from the above mentioned drive to a brandnew external drive. Including all Backup images < latter also copied to internal drive!
(So far the drive was still 'alive').

Then I re-partitioned etc., had a "nice" 2nd partition for Backup images only [1.26TB]  < ... I thought.

This a.m. {thank goodness for the 'brainflash'!} I ran a DFT - quick test before I was going to copy data to the drive.  ... .

Phoned WD support. WD will most certainly be accommodating and send a replacement 

Since that will take awhile (weeks/months) ... I just ordered a 2TB usb 2.0 external WD. For Backup images only !

AH! A very important question:
Should I ever defragment a drive/partition which holds backup images ???



So I will - for safety reasons - delete all backup images on that partition and copy the backup images back from External drive, again, to internal partition (the one that I defragmented).

I'd even format the partition  - using *disc management* before copying.

That copying procedure will take till late night again ... well, I'd better start right after this.

OOOOOOOOOH! Here is your answer:
Quote:

BUT: What does it mean for defragmenting backup images in general (as I asked above) ??? ... where to 'draw the line' ... NO defragment at all will be safer ???

{sorry, dog-tired}

---

Brian

wrote Reply #48 - 04.08.12 at 22:13:38

differential images :

Quote:

Okay, will do so.

Quote:

Just you wait, my master 

Usually Amazon delivers within 2 days > new 2TB external :=)))

Brian

wrote Reply #49 - 04.08.12 at 22:36:37

Restore a Differential backup image (of a Partition) with IFL gui:

Quote:

Have to read your brilliant instructions, then I'll probably get it --- will go to bed early tonight 

Quote:

Certainly, I will report.

Thanks, Brian, for the instructions.
As always I copy the instructions to notepad > format in big letters & print :=)

henriette 

henriette

I'll get you to make a BootIt BM CD so we can sort out the partition or partitions on the 2 TB HD. It will probably arrive already partitioned as it's designed for USB usage.

Download BootIt BM. There is a 30 day trial usage. Unzip the file and make a boot CD.


double click makedisk.exe, next
dot in BootIt Bare Metal, next
dot in I accept the agreement, next
don't select Image for DOS (GUI), next
dot in Mouse Support Enabled, next
dot in VESA Video, next
dot in Video Mode 1024*768 - 64K Colors, next
dot in Partition Work (Don't put a dot in Normal), next
don't choose any Device Options, next
tick in Enable USB 1.1 (UHCI), next
tick in Align partitions on 2048 Sectors
ignore Additional bootitbm.ini Options, next
select your CD burner drive letter (you can use a CD-RW or a CD-R disc)
Finish


Boot from the CD with the USB HD connected

your BootIt CD boots to the Work with Partitions window
in the Bus field, choose USB and wait 10 seconds
click View MBR
can you let us know the LBA number (or numbers)
For a partition to be 2048 sector aligned this number must be divisible by 2048. The answer must be an integer. If the alignment isn't correct we can fix it. It's easy to do this if there is no data on the HD.

If you have trouble booting BIBM with the USB HD connected, try connecting the HD after BIBM has loaded.

WinXP Disk Management can't create 2048 sector aligned partitions. These partitions have to be created with other software.

Brian

Phoned WD support again because I found something about *4k Advanced Format* + tools on WD site (as I know now - for internal drives, only).

Support can't tell if *Digital Elements 2TB external 3.5" usb 2.0*
series actually is 4k advanced format or not.

They don't have any data (!). 

"As a matter of fact:
external usb drive has its own controller. Conforming the alignment is NOT possible. Will most certainly

destroy

the usb drive.
Apart from that - usb drive would not be recognized by any software trying to *conform the alignment*.

It is possible only with INTERNAL SATA drives.

It doesn't make any sense to conform the alignment.
usb drive runs fine as is."

Support staff agreed to the above. 

I know, there are supports and *supports*.
Why don't we leave it as is, Brian ?

You may want to explain it to me > pros & cons < 
Is it 'just' for the performance ? How will the difference show between 512 and 2048 in 'practice' ? 

henriette 

henriette

I found this which indicates WD has been selling Advanced Format external HDs for almost 3 years. Strange that WD Support didn't know. I was amused by the comment that alignment would destroy the USB HD particularly as the HD probably sells with a 2048 sector aligned partition. I must have a lot of destroyed HDs!

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3876

henriette

henriette wrote on Aug 8^th, 2012 at 5:12am:


You will only need the CD for one day. After 30 days you start to get warnings if you are still using the CD.

henriette wrote on Aug 8^th, 2012 at 5:12am:

Just follow my instructions. You can't miss the LBA. Actually you can try the BIBM CD before the external HD arrives. Have a look at your internal HD LBA.

There is a good chance the alignment is correct. If not it can be fixed in a few minutes. Don't worry as it is easy.