Another off-topic...but useful? - RollbackRx

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Posted by Cassius
Jun 6, 2007 at 06:08 AM

I’ve used GoBack since it was first introduced by WildFile and have been VERY glad to have it. However, it looks like Symantec, the present owner, will not update it to run on Vista. Some Web sites say Vista has some sort of file restore capability, but I’ve not found any specifics.

A number of people have recommended Rollback Rx by Horizon Data Systems. They claim it is better than GoBack and the current version works with Vista.

If anyone has used Rollback Rx or Vista’s claimed file restore feature, comments on your experience would be most appreciated.

THANKS!

-c

Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Jun 6, 2007 at 09:36 AM

Rollback is either the most brilliant, advanced, maintenance utility, as the developer claim, or it is a complete fraud. At the moment I incline to the latter opinion.

On installing Rollback, I was amazed at its power. A few seconds and a restart is all it took to restore a disk. Backing up took only a few seconds. The storage space was miniscule. The whole backup, restoration process was so quick and easy, one might just do it for amusement.

Here’s why it’s not as good as it seems at first.

1. Be prepared to run DiskCheck—several times a day, because RollBack has a penchant for causing disk errors.
2. Be prepared to go through an unusually length install and uninstall process any time you want to defragment your disk, because defragmentation is incompatible with Rollback being installed.

The disk errors were the killer. Perhaps I could tolerate the defrag procedures. Maybe not.

Why a fraud and not merely a somewhat flawed product? I could be wrong, but I think that the reason no one else can do what Rollback seems at first to be able to do involves such side-effects. To attain its blinding speed, Rollback seems to count on data remaining in the same place on the disk, unlike conventional imaging products like Acronis and Ghost. Having such demanding prerequisites carries costs.

Posted by Cassius
Jun 8, 2007 at 02:17 AM

Thank you, Steve D. for the information on RollbackRx. I sent an inquiry to HorizonDataSys about the problems you described. No answer, at least not yet. Not a good sign.

Thanks again,

Steve

Posted by Cassius
Jun 11, 2007 at 04:30 PM

Based on S.D.‘s experience, I sent HorizonDataSys the following inquiry regarding problems encountered with RollbackRx:

‘I was about to order Rollback Rx when a colleague told me that it seemed to work miraculously, but has the following problems:

‘“Here’s why it’s not as good as it seems at first.

‘“1. Be prepared to run DiskCheck—several times a day, because RollBack has a penchant for causing disk errors.
‘“2. Be prepared to go through an unusually lengthly install and uninstall process any time you want to defragment your disk, because defragmentation is incompatible with Rollback being installed.

‘“The disk errors were the killer. Perhaps I could tolerate the defrag procedures. Maybe not.”

‘Is he correct?

‘Thank you.’

HorizonDataSys sales dept has replied to my inquiry regarding problems with Rollback Rx:

“Your claim [1] is false. RollBack Rx does not cause any disk errors. Please submit a ticket into our support portal for a more clarification.

“With regards to disk defraggers - RollBack Rx see disk defragging as a large change in data; as RollBack Rx works at the physical sector layer of the drive. Therefore, if you were to defrag your drive; and then took a snapshot - the size of that snapshot would be quite large.

“We are working on a temporary suspend feature that will allow defraggers to work without having to uninstall RollBack Rx.

“Meanwhile do submit a support ticket regarding your first issue; as it is unclear to us in sales what you are referring too.

“Thanks.”

I have requested more info on the disk error problem from the support department.

-c

Posted by Cassius
Jun 12, 2007 at 06:19 AM

Here is the tech support reply to the concern about Rollback Rx causing disk errors:

“System run disk check is mostly caused by PC power outage, such as improper shutdown or cold startup…

“My recommendation is that 1. shutdown or start PC by normal way 2. Make sure there’re no viruses on your PC. 3. use the latest build of Rollback which has better system consistence.

“If you haven’t try Rollback yet, you might download Rollback from our website, and have a 15-day free trail.

Thanks”

-c

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