Contents:

Backup

Q. How the typical Backup works?

A. After booting from the PSR Windows PE CD Backup Wizard is started. You should select the source to backup (single partition or entire Hard Disk) and destination CD/DVD-ROM Drive or ISO image. You can change default options (compression level and so on…) also. It is possible to perform the backup operation in automatic mode. You can use other working Windows system instead of Windows PE. In this case it is required to connect the hard disk to backup as second one.

Q. Where can I backup onto?

A. PSR CD Based Solution is intended to create recovery CDs/DVDs only. IDE, SCSI, USB CD/DVD drives are being supported. Consider PSR Pro Edition solutions and other Paragon products if you want to backup to the local or network drive.

Q. What can I backup?

A. It is possible to backup any single Partition or entire Hard Disk.

Q. Will MBR be also backed up?

A. It is optional. It is possible to skip MBR area backing up Hard Disk.

Q. Can I create an ISO image instead of immediate burning of recovery CD/DVD?

A. Yes. It is possible to create ISO images of Recovery CDs/DVDs.

Q. Can I make unattended, automated backup?

A. Yes. It is possible to generate script instead of backing up and then this script can be executed in auto mode. Default script to backup first partition under WinPE is supplied.

Q. Can I create a master recovery CD/DVD and duplicate it?

A. Yes. It is possible to create Recovery CD/DVD (or ISO image of Recovery CD/DVD) for the master computer and then duplicate the CD/DVD (or multiple burn the ISO image). These Recovery CDs/DVDs can be supplied with computers of same configuration (Hard Disk size of the master computer should be lesser then any from the production line).

Q. Where should I boot from to perform a backup?

A. There are several ways to boot:

1. from Windows PE CD - you can backup any local attached drive
2. from special bootable Windows CD created by BartPE or other PE Builders - you can backup any local attached drive
3. just attach the hard disk you want to backup as a secondary hard drive, boot from your primary hard disk and perform a backup under Windows.

Q. Are there any issues if I backup the Windows system from the secondary hard drive?

A. The both Windows should be installed independently. It is not recommended to connect the second hard disk with Windows cloned from first one.

Q. Which Windows PE version should I use? Where can I obtain Windows PE?

A. Is it possible to use any Windows XP PE version, but we strong recommend using of Windows XP PE SP2. You can receive WinPE with OPK (OEM Preinstallation Kit) from Microsoft.

Q. How can I build a bootable CD with PSR using Windows PE?

A. We supply PSR WinPE Builder Package to built bootable WinPE CD with PSR. You should change default example batch file (set letter of CD-ROM Drive, path to Temp folder and name of ISO Image to built) and then run it. During the process you will be messaged to insert the bootable Windows PE CD.

Q. Can I use Hot Backup to create recovery CD?

A. Technically - yes, legally - not according to the PSR CD Based Solution license agreement. It implies you can backup the system partition with PSR Pro Edition or with full version of Drive Backup.

Q. Can I backup Linux?

A. Yes, you can backup partitions with any file systems. In the case of Linux with Lilo or GRUB installed you should backup entire hard disk.

Q. Can I backup multiple partitions?

A. With PSR CD Based Solution it is possible to backup any single partition or entire Hard Disk only.

Q. have Bootmanager or Lilo or GRUB installed. Will be Bootmanager backed up?

A. Yes, is it possible. To backup Bootmanager, Lilo or GRAB it is need to backup entire Hard Disk.

Q. What is the compression rate for the regular system partition?

A. It is available three compression levels: 'Fast', 'Normal' and 'Best'. Typical Windows XP system partition of size 1.5 Gb can be backed up onto one CD-ROM (700Mb).

Q. Do you backup Windows OS auxiliary files (page file, hyberfill…)?

A. It is optional; you can backup or skip these files.

Q. Can I omit specific files and directories during backup?

A. You can omit only Windows OS auxiliary files (page file, hyberfill…) during backup. Arbitrary files or folders are not possible to omit.

Q. Can I backup to the multiple CDs and DVDs?

A. Yes, if the image size is too big to be placed on one single CD/DVD the image will be splitted between several CDs/DVDs.

Q. Can I backup to the CD and DVD?

A. Yes, you can create recovery CD or DVD.

Q. What is the structure of such a recovery CD/DVD?

A. Recovery CD includes 'bootable part' (unavailable under Windows) and available under Windows 'ISO part'. The archive is located on 'ISO part'.

Q. Can I restrict recovery CD for usage with specific computers only?

A. Yes, it is possible to check BIOS vendor signature to avoid Recovery CD booting on computers from other OEM-Builders.

Q. How the restoration works?

A. After booting from Recovery CD it is required to select restore environment. After confirmation to erase current data the restore process begins. In the case of entire hard disk restoring all partitions on the first hard disk are erased; so the entire hard disk will be exactly in the initial state. In the case of single partition restoring - only one partition (usually system partition) will be set in the initial state, it can be useful because other partitions with user data are not changed.

Q. How can I restore from recovery DVD if I have a problem to boot recovery DVD, but I can boot from CD?

A. In this case you can boot from Recovery CD for other Paragon products Drive Backup or Hard Disk Manager, select the image on PSR Recovery DVD and restore it manually.

Q. What happens if I perform restoring to the brand-new none-formatted hard disk?

A. It is a normal situation for PSR Recovery CD/DVD and the partition(s) will be restored. If the archive doesn't include original MBR (for example, single partition has been backed up) - the standard MBR will be written onto the new hard disk.

Q. What happens if I perform restore onto the hard disk which has different size (entire hard disk was backed up)?

A. If the target hard disk is grater than original - last partition will be enlarged up to end of the hard disk. If the target hard disk is lesser - partitions will be restored thus many as possible.

Q. Which environment is better for restoring - Linux or DOS?

A. DOS is univeral environment for restoring. Almost for all computer configurations it is possible to restore under DOS. Performance under Linux is optimal but Linux can require a customization for specific hardware.

Q. How can I boot from Recovery CD/DVD?

A. You should set booting from CD/DVD-ROM in your BIOS. To boot from SCSI or USB CD/DVD-ROM your BIOS should support such booting.

Q. Can I restore from the recovery CD/DVD other than via booting?

A. An archive located on the PSR Recovery CD/DVD is compatible with other Paragon products Drive Backup or Hard Disk Manager. So, it is possible to use these products to restore the archive by others ways. For example, you can restore the archive over the network using of the PSR Recovery CD/DVD as image storage.

Q. How can I perform the restoration on a PC WITHOUT keyboard or mouse attached (i.e. industrial PC)?

A. We can send special version to perform restoration process automatically. But be careful to use the version! You can lose your data after booting from this recovery CD/DVD on arbitrary computer.

Q. How can I restore from multispanned CDs/DVDs?

A. All CDs/DVDs created with PSR are bootable. But after booting from any incorrect CD/DVD you will be messaged to insert main CD/DVD. In the case of partition archive the main CD/DVD is FIRST one, but in the case of HDD archive the main CD/DVD is LAST one. During the restoration you will be messaged to insert necessary CDs/DVDs.

Q. Can I perform restoration without mouse support?

A. Yes, all operations you can perform with keyboard.

Q. What happens if a hard disk to be restored onto has different hard disk geometry then original?

A. We can guarantee restoring onto hard disk with same geometry as original. Size of the HDD can be different only. In the case if amount of heads differ from original one (for example, 240 and 256) some problems can arise. In any case, such situation may be if the computer essential differs from original one (for example, IBM laptop and Dell workstation).

Q. Can I use recovery process to deploy PCs with new OS or just clone PCs?

A. Yes. PSR can be considered as mobile deploy system. It can be useful quick and without network restoration of the system to any (including empty) HDD.

Q. Can I use Remote Boot via PEXE for restoration?

A. Restoration with Remote Booting via PEXE is possible with Drive Backup Enterprise. PSR CD Based Solution is not designed for such purpose but DB Enterprise can restore the archive created with PSR.

Q. Hardware compatibility Test. How you make sure our hardware is compatible with your software?

A. To be sure our software is compatible with your computer configuration there is 'Recovery CD Checked Build'. You can boot from this CD-ROM and your configuration will be checked. If some problems persist you will be messaged about it.

Q. Hard Disks being supported?

A. PSR Supports IDE, SCSI and SATA hard disks. For RAID attached drives see further FAQs.

Q. Can I change the Logo for the restoration environment?

A. Yes, it is possible to set your Logo. You should create the Logo in specific format and then we can prepare special version for you.

Q. Can I use customized Linux restoration environment?

A. Yes, it is possible to prepare customized Linux restoration environment special for your computer configuration.

Q. Can I add my programs onto recovery CD?

A. We can prepare special version with your programs on the Recovery CD/DVD.

Q. Can I change recovery scenario?

A. Is it possible to prepare special version with starting your customizable scripts before and after restoration process.

Q. Can I add specific device drives to the DOS restoration environment?

A. Yes, it is possible to prepare customized DOS restoration environment special for your computer configuration.

Q. Can I add specific device drives to the Linux restoration environment?

A. Yes, it is possible to prepare customized Linux restoration environment special for your computer configuration.

Q. Can I add specific device drivers to the bootable WinPE-based CD?

A. Yes, we can prepare customized WinPE-based CD special for your computer configuration or you can build any WinPE-based CD with our build scripts yourself.

Q. Can I change default video mode?

A. Yes, it is possible to change video mode special for you.

Q. I have multiple OEM partners or customers, can I perform customization myself?

A. You can built customized WinPE-based CD for your partners. Also it is possible to prepare special version of Recovery CD/DVD for you that can be customizable partly.

Q. Can we add own recovery tools onto recovery CD?

A. We can prepare special version with your programs on the Recovery CD/DVD.

Q. Which additional recovery tools from Paragon are available for Recovery CD?

A. It is possible to implement special Recovery CD with additional recovery tools: Drive Backup, Hard Disk Manager, Exact Image, NTFS for DOS, NTFS for Linux, Boot Corrector, Easy CD/DVD Recorder.