Rollback and disk wiping

[orian]

Is it safe to use a hard disk free space wiper while Rollback is installed? I heard that you can damage your PC doing so. Before I installed Rollback, I used to use a disk cleaner regularly for security reasons, but don’t know if I should now.

[HDS-Jacob]

Hi orian,

Thanks for stopping by the forum. I'll flag this one for Nick and see if we can get an answer here. Support can also be reached at http://support.horizondatasys.com

Best,
Jacob

[carfal]

Orian, DO NOT use disk wiping SW while Rollback is installed as it will use up all your free HD space quickly and give you "Low disk space" problems.

Rollback perceives any writes to your HD as change in data and will protect all the cleaned sectors when you take your snapshot resulting in a very large snapshot. This will possibly be followed by "Low disk space" message at which point Rollback will probably cause you much grief if you dont know what your doing in regards to recovering your free space again.

[orian]

Thanks Carfal.

I wonder if in future Rollback will be able to work around this. It is an excellent program but its major drawbacks are the defragging situation and this one.

[carfal]

Orian, the only way around the defragging (and disk wiping) problem is to go to a file based architecture. As you may or may not know Rollback currently employs a sector based architecture which is the reason it cannot be simply disabled or switched off ( as asked for by many people over the years). The sector based architecture is a brilliant method IMHO in terms of security and efficiency but obviously has its drawbacks from a defrag or disk wipe point of view.

I wonder if Horizon will consider creating 2 architecture versions of Rollback and we the consumer can choose which one we want to implement?

Could this be a solution Horizon will be willing to entertain?

It would definitely win you (Horizon) many more customers I'm sure and answer the prayers of many of us as far as defragging and disk wiping is concerned!

[Pavel]

Man Number One and Guru of HDS Andrew said, that implementation visible sector structure for defrag utilities etc. is not a big technological problem. Problem(s) = inexperience and inquisitiveness of users. It is maybe true. Sometimes I was trying together Rollback Rx (v. 7.2.1 and v. 8), alleged chkdsk issue and a lot of disk defrag and wiping programs. Results: PC crash, re-installing Windows, programs... I think that limitation in Rollback Rx is not bad idea. :-)
Of course, I want personally change and visible (sector? / file?) structure. I want a direct backup Rollback Rx snapshot(s) to external HDD etc. Maybe will be Sandbox Rx first step on this good way...
P.

[orian]

Carfal, that may be the way to go. Rollback would certainly get more customers that way, especially those who were security minded, as most are nowadays. The popularity of disk cleaners etc bears this out.

[Nick10]

Carfal is correct... We have to understand that there is a trade off between working at the sector level as opposed to the Windows File level. Sure, if we work at the file level we could integrate with other applications etc. However, a majority of our clients prefer RollBack Rx working below the OS at the sector level... This is the only way we can deliver better protection of Windows and your PC even if Windows or its applications are corrupted.

Thanks.

[carfal]

Hi Nick10. What about my suggestion of offering the choice between a sector level install or a file level install?

Have you asked the powers that be if they would consider this? Some of us might not be concerned about having an iron clad product from a security perspective. A file level setup would suffice some people....starting with me.