Manual HDM2011 English
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Hard Disk Manager™ 2011 Suite
User Manual
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 8
1.1 What’s New in Hard Disk Manager 2011 ..............................................................................................8
2 Product Components .................................................................................................... 9
3 Features Overview...................................................................................................... 10
3.1 Features.............................................................................................................................................10
3.1.1 User Friendly Fault Minimizing Interface..............................................................................................................10
3.1.2 Backup Facilities....................................................................................................................................................10
3.1.3 Restore Facilities ...................................................................................................................................................11
3.1.4 Copy Facilities .......................................................................................................................................................11
3.1.5 Virtualization Facilities..........................................................................................................................................12
3.1.6 Boot Management Facilities .................................................................................................................................12
3.1.7 Partition/Hard Disk Management Facilities.......................................................................................................... 12
3.1.8 File System Optimization Facilities .......................................................................................................................12
3.1.9 Wipe Facilities.......................................................................................................................................................13
3.1.10 Automatization Facilities ......................................................................................................................................13
3.1.11 Auxiliary Facilities .................................................................................................................................................13
3.2 Supported Technologies ....................................................................................................................14
3.3 Supported Virtual Machines ..............................................................................................................15
3.4 Supported File Systems......................................................................................................................15
3.5 Supported Media...............................................................................................................................15
4 Getting Started ........................................................................................................... 15
4.1 System Requirements ........................................................................................................................16
4.2 Installation ........................................................................................................................................16
4.3 First Start ...........................................................................................................................................18
4.4 Building Recovery Media ...................................................................................................................18
4.5 Booting from the WinPE Recovery Media ..........................................................................................19
4.5.1 Startup ..................................................................................................................................................................19
5 Basic Concepts............................................................................................................ 20
5.1 System and Data Protection...............................................................................................................20
5.1.1 File Backup versus Sector Backup......................................................................................................................... 20
5.1.2 Backup Types ........................................................................................................................................................21
5.1.3 Backup Storage .....................................................................................................................................................23
5.1.4 Adaptive Restore ..................................................................................................................................................23
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5.2 System Virtualization.........................................................................................................................25
5.3 Paragon Hot Processing & Volume Shadow Copy Service...................................................................26
5.3.1 Offline versus Online Data Processing.................................................................................................................. 26
5.3.2 Paragon Hot Processing Technology..................................................................................................................... 26
5.3.3 Volume Shadow Copy Service ..............................................................................................................................26
5.4 Dynamic Disks....................................................................................................................................27
5.5 GPT versus MBR.................................................................................................................................27
5.6 Apple Boot Camp...............................................................................................................................28
5.7 64‐bit Support....................................................................................................................................28
5.8 Copy Operations ................................................................................................................................28
5.9 Drive Partitioning...............................................................................................................................29
5.10 Data Sanitization ...............................................................................................................................29
5.11 Data Security Standards.....................................................................................................................30
5.12 Scheduling .........................................................................................................................................31
6 Windows Components................................................................................................ 31
6.1 Interface Overview ............................................................................................................................31
6.1.1 General Layout......................................................................................................................................................31
6.1.2 Main Menu ...........................................................................................................................................................32
6.1.3 Tool Bar.................................................................................................................................................................36
6.1.4 Virtual Operations Bar ..........................................................................................................................................37
6.1.5 Common Tasks Bar ...............................................................................................................................................38
6.1.6 Disk Map ...............................................................................................................................................................39
6.1.7 Explorer Bar ..........................................................................................................................................................40
6.1.8 Partition List..........................................................................................................................................................41
6.1.9 Properties Bar .......................................................................................................................................................42
6.1.10 Legend Bar ............................................................................................................................................................43
6.1.11 Status Bar..............................................................................................................................................................43
6.2 Settings Overview..............................................................................................................................43
6.2.1 General Options....................................................................................................................................................43
6.2.2 Backup Image Options ..........................................................................................................................................45
6.2.3 General Copy and Backup Options ....................................................................................................................... 46
6.2.4 CD/DVD/BD Recording Options ............................................................................................................................47
6.2.5 Hot Processing Options.........................................................................................................................................48
6.2.6 Run during Backup Options ..................................................................................................................................49
6.2.7 Wipe Options ........................................................................................................................................................50
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6.2.8 Wipe Report Options ............................................................................................................................................51
6.2.9 Partitioning Options..............................................................................................................................................51
6.2.10 E‐Mail Options ......................................................................................................................................................52
6.2.11 Operation Dependency Options ...........................................................................................................................53
6.2.12 Virtual Mode Options ...........................................................................................................................................53
6.2.13 File System Conversion Options ...........................................................................................................................54
6.2.14 Copy/Backup Exclude Options..............................................................................................................................55
6.2.15 File Backup Exclude Options .................................................................................................................................56
6.2.16 File Backup Include Options..................................................................................................................................57
6.2.17 Log Files Options ...................................................................................................................................................58
6.3 Viewing Disk Properties .....................................................................................................................58
6.4 Viewing Image Properties ..................................................................................................................59
6.4.1 Using the Restore Wizard .....................................................................................................................................59
6.4.2 Using the Archive Database..................................................................................................................................63
6.5 Data Backup and Rescue....................................................................................................................64
6.5.1 Creating Backup Images........................................................................................................................................64
6.5.2 Restoring System and Data...................................................................................................................................67
6.6 Copy Tasks .........................................................................................................................................70
6.6.1 Cloning Hard Disks ................................................................................................................................................71
6.6.2 Cloning Partitions..................................................................................................................................................73
6.7 Boot Management.............................................................................................................................74
6.8 Partition Management.......................................................................................................................75
6.8.1 Basic Partitioning Operations ...............................................................................................................................75
6.8.2 Advanced Partitioning Operations........................................................................................................................85
6.8.3 Changing Partition Attributes ...............................................................................................................................97
6.9 Hard Disk Management .....................................................................................................................99
6.9.1 Converting Dynamic MBR to Basic........................................................................................................................ 99
6.9.2 Converting GPT to Basic MBR .............................................................................................................................100
6.9.3 Converting Basic MBR to GPT .............................................................................................................................101
6.9.4 Updating MBR.....................................................................................................................................................101
6.9.5 Changing Primary Slot.........................................................................................................................................102
6.10 Wipe Tasks....................................................................................................................................... 103
6.11 Task Scheduling ............................................................................................................................... 107
6.11.1 Setting a Timetable .............................................................................................................................................107
6.11.2 Managing Tasks...................................................................................................................................................108
6.11.3 Creating a Scheduled Task ..................................................................................................................................109
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6.12 Scripting........................................................................................................................................... 110
6.13 Extra Functionality........................................................................................................................... 111
6.13.1 View Partition/Hard Disk Properties...................................................................................................................112
6.13.2 Volume Explorer .................................................................................................................................................112
6.13.3 File Transfer Wizard ............................................................................................................................................113
6.13.4 Mount Partition ..................................................................................................................................................115
6.13.5 Downgrade NTFS Version ...................................................................................................................................116
6.13.6 Mount Archive ....................................................................................................................................................116
6.13.7 Test Surface ........................................................................................................................................................118
6.13.8 Check File System Integrity.................................................................................................................................118
6.13.9 Check Archive Integrity .......................................................................................................................................119
6.13.10 Edit/View Sectors............................................................................................................................................120
6.13.11 Log Files...........................................................................................................................................................121
6.13.12 View Logs ........................................................................................................................................................122
7 Typical Scenarios ...................................................................................................... 122
7.1 Backup Scenarios ............................................................................................................................. 123
7.1.1 Creating the Backup Capsule ..............................................................................................................................123
7.1.2 Backing up a hard disk or partition to the Backup Capsule ................................................................................124
7.1.3 Backing up a hard disk or partition to external media (CD/DVD).......................................................................126
7.1.4 Backing up a hard disk or partition to a network drive ......................................................................................128
7.1.5 Backing up files to an FTP/SFTP server ...............................................................................................................131
7.1.6 Backing up a dual boot Mac to an external USB drive........................................................................................133
7.1.7 Backing up files to a local mounted/unmounted (without drive letter assigned) partition ..............................135
7.1.8 Creating a differential to a full partition backup ................................................................................................138
7.1.9 Creating an increment to a full partition backup ...............................................................................................141
7.1.10 Creating an increment to a full file backup ........................................................................................................144
7.1.11 Creating a cyclic partition backup....................................................................................................................... 146
7.1.12 Merging a full partition backup with one of its differentials..............................................................................148
7.2 Recovery Scenarios .......................................................................................................................... 151
7.2.1 Fixing MBR after a boot virus attack...................................................................................................................151
7.2.2 Correcting BCD (Boot Configuration Data) .........................................................................................................152
7.2.3 Fixing Windows startup ability ...........................................................................................................................153
7.2.4 Restoring a hard disk from the bootable Backup Capsule..................................................................................156
7.2.5 Restoring a system partition from external media (CD/DVD) ............................................................................158
7.2.6 Restoring a system partition from a network drive............................................................................................161
7.2.7 Restoring a system partition from a local drive..................................................................................................164
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7.2.8 Restoring a dual boot Mac from an external USB drive .....................................................................................167
7.2.9 Restoring a file increment...................................................................................................................................169
7.2.10 Restoring a file increment to a partition backup................................................................................................171
7.2.11 Copying of data from the corrupted system disk to another hard disk .............................................................174
7.2.12 Burning of data from the corrupted system disk to CD/DVD .............................................................................176
7.2.13 Copying of data from a backup to the corrupted system partition....................................................................178
7.2.14 Restoring separate files and folders from a backup ...........................................................................................181
7.3 Resize Scenarios............................................................................................................................... 185
7.3.1 Creating a new partition to detach operating system from the rest of data .....................................................185
7.3.2 Increasing size of a system partition by taking unused space of an adjacent partition .....................................187
7.3.3 Increasing size of a system partition by taking unused space from any other...................................................189
7.3.4 Increasing size of a system partition by taking unused space of an adjacent logical partition..........................193
7.3.5 Merging a system partition with an adjacent logical partition...........................................................................194
7.3.6 Shrinking a system partition to increase size of a data partition .......................................................................196
7.3.7 Resizing partitions of Apple Boot Camp .............................................................................................................198
7.4 Creating Dual Boot Systems ............................................................................................................. 200
7.4.1 For Windows computers.....................................................................................................................................200
7.5 System Migration Scenarios............................................................................................................. 210
7.5.1 Migrating Windows OS to a solid state drive (Migrate OS to SSD).....................................................................210
7.5.2 Migrating system to a new HDD (up to 2.2TB in size) ........................................................................................212
7.5.3 Using 2.2TB+ HDD as internal data storage in Windows XP...............................................................................214
7.5.4 Making system bootable on different hardware (P2P Adjust OS)......................................................................217
7.5.5 Virtualizing the current system (P2V Copy) ........................................................................................................224
7.5.6 Virtualizing system from its backup image (P2V Restore)..................................................................................228
7.5.7 Creating an empty virtual disk (Create VD) ........................................................................................................232
7.5.8 Making Windows Vista/7 backup bootable on virtual hardware (P2V Adjust OS).............................................233
7.5.9 Connecting a virtual disk (Connect VD) .............................................................................................................. 235
7.5.10 Repartitioning a virtual disk................................................................................................................................237
7.5.11 Exchanging data between physical and virtual environments ...........................................................................239
7.5.12 Copying data from a parent virtual disk to one of its snapshots........................................................................241
7.5.13 Migrating from one virtual environment to another (V2V)................................................................................241
7.6 Hard Disk Optimization.................................................................................................................... 241
7.7 Hard Disk Utilization ........................................................................................................................ 243
7.8 Extra Scenarios for WinPE................................................................................................................ 244
7.8.1 Adding specific drivers ........................................................................................................................................244
7.8.2 Configuring network ...........................................................................................................................................245
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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7.8.3 Saving log files.....................................................................................................................................................247
8 Troubleshooter......................................................................................................... 247
9 Glossary.................................................................................................................... 249
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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1 Introduction
Paragon Hard Disk Manager™ 2011 Suite is an integrated set of powerful tools that is specially designed to tackle most
of the problems you might face while using PC. Its functionality covers all aspects of a computer life cycle beginning
from carrying out all the necessary partitioning operations to install the system from scratch and providing its data
reliable protection to secure utilization of an outdated hard disk.
In this manual you will find the answers to many of the technical questions, which might arise while using the program.
Our company is constantly releasing new versions and updates to its software, that's why
images shown in this manual may be different from what you see on your screen.
1.1 What’s New in Hard Disk Manager 2011
Migrate OS to SSD to move any Windows OS since XP from a regular hard disk to a fast SSD (Solid State Drive)
even of a smaller capacity, thanks to advanced data exclusion capabilities.
GPT Loader, a special system driver to allow use of all space of modern ultra high capacity drives (larger than
2.2TB) on systems that don't support it.
The updated P2V Copy/Restore Wizards to migrate a Win2K+ physical system (live or from a Paragon’s backup)
to a virtual environment of one of the supported virtualization software vendors. In the latest version of the
product the wizards enable to:
‐ Create and properly configure virtual machines according to your preferences. Depending on the selected
virtualization vendor you’ve got the option to specify a version of the future virtual machine, its name,
location, RAM to allocate, a disk controller, the guest OS, etc. So when the migration is over, you’ll get not
only a virtual disk that contains an operating system and/or data, but a ready‐to‐use virtual machine.
‐ Convert any combination of hard disks and partitions to migrate your entire computer or certain partitions
in one operation. Complex backups that contain partitions from different hard disks are supported as well.
‐ Employ MS VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service) to synchronously migrate from several hard disks, thus
ensuring data consistency during online migration of a system, which seats on several partitions or hard
disks. This is achieved by taking a point‐in‐time snapshot of the whole disk subsystem.
‐ When migrating from several hard disks, all their signatures will be kept intact, so you’ll get the same drive
letters in a virtual environment.
The updated P2V Adjust OS Wizard allows creation of virtual machines as well, so besides its primary function,
you can now build virtual machines out of supported virtual disks or Windows Vista/7 backup images.
Connect VD to connect a virtual disk as if it’s an ordinary physical disk, thus opening up all functionality available
for physical disks to virtual. You’ve now got the option to:
‐ Mount a virtual disk in the read‐only mode to make sure no data will be changed on the virtual disk during
copy or any other operation on it.
‐ Support for VMware ESX Server’s export format to copy/retrieve data from virtual machines of this vendor.
It’s useful for offline V2V and V2P operations.
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Create VD Wizard to create an empty virtual disk or with specific data of one of the supported virtualization
vendors.
The updated P2P Adjust OS Wizard to successfully start up a Windows physical system on a different hardware
platform (P2P) by allowing injection of all required drivers and the other actions crucial for this type of
migration. Including the third generation of Paragon’s Adaptive Restore™ technology, it now can:
‐ Analyze all installed drivers inside a target system to report on devices without drivers.
‐ Search for and install lacking drivers from the built‐in Windows repository.
‐ Notify the user about boot critical devices without drivers (HDD/RAID controllers, etc.), automatically
prompting to provide a path to a driver repository.
‐ Name all devices according to their model description, not some alphanumeric code, which requires
additional deciphering.
‐ Determine and install drivers not only for boot critical devices, but for physically connected NICs as well.
Automatic partition alignment during partitioning/copy operations to optimize performance of your hard disk.
Check FS Integrity and Data Loss Policies to let you specify the acceptable balance between the operation
performance and the risk of data loss.
Conversion of basic MBR disks to basic GPT to enjoy all benefits of the newest partitioning scheme with
minimal effort.
WinPE 3.0 based bootable environment to enjoy support of a wider range of hardware configurations with the
option to add drivers for specific hardware on‐the‐fly.
The updated Boot Corrector for WinPE that now equals the functionality of the Linux/DOS counterpart.
Backup files or entire disks to an FTP/SFTP server to provide a new level of system and data protection.
Besides US DoD 5220.22‐M and a custom wipe algorithms, there are two more available to use: Russian GOST
and Paragon’s.
Better support for 64‐bit platforms to reboot your computer to one of the three special modes (Windows
native, Linux, or DOS) to automatically complete operations, which cannot be accomplished under 64‐bit
Windows.
AFD (Advanced Format Drive) ready.
Support of 2TB+ and non‐512B sector size drives.
USB 3.0 ready.
2 Product Components
In order to cope with different tasks, the product contains several components:
Windows based set of utilities is the crucial part of the product. With the help of an easy to use launcher you
may find and run tasks of any complexity in the field of data and system protection, hard disk partitioning and
cloning, etc.
WinPE based recovery environment. Especially for keen followers of Windows, our product also offers a WinPE
3.0 based bootable media. Unlike the Linux/DOS recovery environment it can boast an excellent hardware
support and the same interface as the Windows version can. However its system requirements are much
tougher.
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3 Features Overview
This chapter dwells upon key benefits and technical highlights of the product.
3.1 Features
Let us list some of the features:
3.1.1 User Friendly Fault Minimizing Interface
Graphical representation of the data to gain a better understanding.
A handy Launcher to easily find and run the required tasks.
Comprehensive wizards to simplify even the most complex operations.
Resize partitions directly on the Disk Map with the drag‐and‐drop technique.
A context sensitive hint system for all functions of the program.
Previewing the resulting layout of hard disks before actually executing operations (so‐called virtual
operations).
3.1.2 Backup Facilities
Archive Database to help the user easily manage backup images (get properties, add, delete, mount, etc.).
This feature is only available for the Windows installation of the program.
Available location for backup images:
‐ Backup to local mounted partitions.
‐ Backup to local unmounted (without drive letter assigned) partitions.
‐ Backup to an external mounted storage to provide for a higher level of data protection and system
independence.
‐ Backup to a special secured place on the hard disk called the Backup Capsule that has an independent system
layout (e.g. a separate partition) and will stay operable should the active file system be damaged. To avoid an
accidental removing or unauthorized access of the backup data, this partition is hidden and thus cannot be
mounted in the operating system.
‐ Backup to external media (CD/DVD) to guarantee a high level of data protection as long as the backup media is
kept secure.
‐ Backup to a network drive to stand a better chance of success in case of a hard disk failure.
‐ Backup to an FTP/SFTP server to provide a new level of system and data protection.
Smart Backup Wizard to secure system and data with the minimal efforts possible. With a unique intelligent
work algorithm and a highly intuitive user interface, you can easily back up exactly what you need ‐ the whole
system, e‐mail databases (MS Outlook, Express, Windows Mail) media files or office documents of the My
Documents folder, or any other files and folders.
Differential backup to a sector image to only archive changes since the last full sector‐based image, thus
considerably saving the backup storage space. To restore this kind of backup you will require a full image and
one of its differentials.
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Incremental backup to a file image to only archive changes since the last full or incremental file‐based image.
An incremental image is smaller and takes less time to create, but you will require the initial full image and all of
its incrementals to restore the latest point of this kind of backup.
File backup to a sector image. It is a unique technology on the market so far that bridges two principally
different approaches of the data backup: the file‐based backup and the disk imaging backup. With its help you
can now create a sector‐based backup of your system to get it back on track in minutes in case of a virus attack
or a hardware malfunction and then just make file‐based incremental images to the previously created sector‐
based backup to keep updated only information that is critical for you. Thus you will considerably save your
system resources.
Cyclic backup to automate the backup of separate partitions. It is an ideal option if you want to establish a self‐
acting data protection system.
This feature is only available for the Windows installation of the program.
Synthetic backup to change any property (merge a given differential image with its full image, split/un‐split,
compress/de‐compress, etc.) of an existing backup image without carrying out a physical backup operation.
Bootable Backup Capsule to get the choice to launch the Linux or PTS DOS recovery environment every time
you start up the computer. With its help you will be able to run utilities under Linux or PTS DOS, and that way to
get access to your hard disk for maintenance or recovery purposes.
This feature is only available for the Windows installation of the program.
3.1.3 Restore Facilities
Restore an entire disk, separate partitions or only files you need from the previously created backup image.
Restore with Shrink to restore a backup image to a free block of smaller size taking into account only the
amount of actual data of the image.
Adaptive Restore to successfully migrate a Windows physical system to a different hardware platform (P2P) by
allowing automatic injection of all required drivers and the other actions crucial for a migration of this kind.
This feature is only available for the bootable recovery environment.
3.1.4 Copy Facilities
Migrate OS to SSD to move any Windows OS since XP from a regular hard disk to a fast SSD (Solid State Drive)
even of a smaller capacity, thanks to advanced data exclusion capabilities.
Partition/hard disk copy to successfully transfer all on‐disk information including standard bootstrap code and
other system service structures, thus maintaining the operating system’s working capability.
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Copy functionality can also be used as an alternative way of data protection.
3.1.5 Virtualization Facilities
Connect VD to connect a virtual disk as if it’s an ordinary physical disk, thus opening up all functionality available
for physical disks to virtual.
P2V Copy to migrate a Windows physical system to a virtual environment in the online mode.
P2V Restore to migrate a Windows physical system backed up with a Paragon disaster recovery tool to a virtual
environment.
P2V Adjust to recover the startup ability after unsuccessful virtualization with a 3rd party tool.
Create VD to create an empty virtual disk or with specific data of one of the supported virtualization vendors.
Virtualization is the latest trend in the system migration, protection, and evaluation.
3.1.6 Boot Management Facilities
Boot Manager Setup Wizard to easily manage several operating systems on one computer.
3.1.7 Partition/Hard Disk Management Facilities
Basic functions for initializing, partitioning and formatting hard disks (create, format, delete). Instead of the
standard Windows disk tools, the program supports all popular file systems.
Express Create Partition Wizard to create a new partition in the most appropriate place of a hard disk, format it
to NTFS and then make it available in the system by assigning a drive letter.
Merge Partitions Wizard to consolidate the disk space, which originally belongs to two adjacent partitions
(NTFS, FAT16/FAT32), into a single, larger partition.
Redistribute Free Space Wizard to increase free space on one partition by up‐taking the on‐disk unallocated
space and the unused space of other partitions.
Express Resize Partitions Wizard to increase free space on one partition by up‐taking the unused space of an
adjacent partition of a hard disk (including partitions of Apple Boot Camp).
NTFS hot resize upward to enlarge an NTFS partition (system, locked) without rebooting Windows and
interrupting its work.
Convert a file system (FAT16/32, NTFS, Ext2/Ext3) without reformatting.
Mount a partition (assign a drive letter) of any file system type to make it available for your operating system.
Modify file system parameters (make active/inactive, hide/unhide, etc.).
Install New OS Wizard to make a system ready to install a new operating system.
Undelete Partitions Wizard to recover an accidentally deleted partition.
3.1.8 File System Optimization Facilities
27 defragmentation strategies available to defragment FAT and NTFS file systems.
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MFT defragmentation and shrinking to improve performance of NTFS.
Safe Defragmentation Mode to guarantee data loss free defragmentation of any version of NTFS and FAT.
Low free space defragmentation (less than 1% of the free space required) to successfully defragment almost full
disks.
Defragmentation is accomplished with a separate component called Paragon Total Defrag.
To know more on the subject, please consult its help.
3.1.9 Wipe Facilities
Data wiping to successfully destroy all on‐disk information including the standard bootstrap code and other
system service structures.
Free space clearing to destroy any remnants of deleted files/directories left on disk without affecting the used
data.
3.1.10 Automatization Facilities
Task scheduling to automate routine operations. It can be particularly effective when you have to repeat a
sequence of actions on a regular basis.
Scheduling is only available for the Windows installation of the program.
Scripting to make the program create a script of any set of operations you need. Besides support of all
operations available in the interactive mode, the unattended mode provides some additional features, such as
conditional execution, subroutines, repeatable iterations, disk/partition properties analysis, errors
management, etc.
3.1.11 Auxiliary Facilities
GPT Loader is a special system driver to allow use of all space of modern ultra high capacity drives (larger than
2.2TB) on systems that don't support it.
Conversion of basic MBR disks to basic GPT to enjoy all benefits of the newest partitioning scheme with
minimal effort.
File Transfer Wizard to make such operations as transferring of files/directories or burning of them to CD/DVD
as easy and convenient as possible. Providing access to Paragon backups as regular folders, it may also help to
replace corrupted data from a previously created image in case of an operating system failure.
Volume Explorer is a handy tool when you have different file systems on the disk, whether they contain an
operating system or just data. Volume Explorer will let you explore a file system of any type and provide access
to the necessary files and directories regardless of their security attributes.
Recovery Media Builder to create a bootable recovery media on a CD, DVD disc, or flash memory, which can
later be used to boot and recover your computer in case of an operating system failure. Moreover, with its help
you can save data from partitions of your hard disk directly to compact discs or burn ISO‐images. The utility
supports various formats of laser discs: CD‐R/RW, DVD‐R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD‐R, DVD+R double layer, Blu‐ray
and can handle multi‐session burning.
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Network Configuration Wizard to establish a network connection a bootable recovery media either to save a
backup of a partition/hard disk or just several files on a network computer or retrieve a previously made backup
from a network computer for recovery purposes.
Boot Corrector to fix most of the system boot problems that can be a result of a human factor, program error or
a boot virus activity.
Boot Corrector is only available for the bootable recovery environment.
3.2 Supported Technologies
Along with using innovative technologies from outside, Paragon has developed a number of its own original
technologies that make its products unique and attractive for customers:
Paragon Hot Backup™ technology to back up locked partitions and hard disks under Windows NT+ family
operating systems providing both high operating efficiency as well as low hardware requirements.
Paragon Hot Copy™ technology to copy locked partitions and hard disks under Windows NT+ family operating
systems providing both high operating efficiency as well as low hardware requirements.
Paragon Adaptive Restore™ technology to successfully migrate a Windows physical system to a different
hardware platform (P2P).
Paragon Power Shield™ technology to provide data consistency in case of a hardware malfunction, power
outages or an operating system failure.
Paragon UFSD™ technology to browse partitions of any file system including hidden and unmounted, modify
and copy files and folders, etc.
Paragon Hot Resize™ technology to enlarge NTFS partitions (system, locked) without rebooting Windows and
interrupting its work.
Paragon Restore with Shrink™ technology to restore a backup image to a free block of smaller size taking into
account only the amount of actual data of the image.
Paragon Smart Partition™ technology to securely perform hard disk partitioning operations of any complexity.
Paragon BTE™ technology to set tasks for execution during the system restart, thus saving from the need to use
a bootable media when modifying system partitions.
Paragon VIM™ (Virtual Image Management) technology that enables Paragon products work with virtual disks
as though they are physical hard disks.
Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to provide the copy/backup infrastructure for the Microsoft
Windows XP/Vista/7/Server 2003/2008 operating systems. It offers a reliable mechanism to create consistent
point‐in‐time copies of data known as shadow copies. Developed by Microsoft in close cooperation with the
leading copy/backup solution vendors on the market, it is based on a snapshot technology concept.
Microsoft Dynamic Disk (simple, spanned, striped, mirrored, RAID‐5) to offer more management flexibility
without the partition limitation of basic disks. Dynamic storage can be particularly beneficial for large‐scale
businesses when dealing with many physical hard disks involving complex setup.
GUID Partition Table (GPT). It is the next generation of a hard disk partitioning scheme developed to lift
restrictions of the old MBR. GPT disks are now supported by Windows Vista/7, Server 2008, Mac OS X and Linux.
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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3.3 Supported Virtual Machines
Microsoft Virtual PC
Microsoft Virtual Server
Microsoft Hyper‐V
VMware Workstation
VMware Fusion
VMware ESX Server
Oracle VirtualBox
Additionally for Connect VD and P2V Adjust OS only
MS Windows backups (.vhd images)
Additionally for Connect VD only
Parallels Workstation
XenServer (.vhd only)
3.4 Supported File Systems
Full read/write access to FAT16/FAT32/partitions.
Full read/write access to NTFS (Basic Disks) under Windows, Linux and PTS DOS. Compressed NTFS files are also
supported.
Full read/write access to Ext2FS/Ext3FS/Ext4FS partitions.
Limited read/write access to Apple HFS+ partitions.
Unfortunately, support of non‐Roman characters for the HFS+ file system is unavailable at
the moment. The company is about to implement it in the nearest future.
3.5 Supported Media
Support of both MBR and GPT hard disks (2.2TB+ disks included)
IDE, SCSI and SATA hard disks
SSD (Solid State Drive)
AFD (Advanced Format Drive)
Non‐512B sector size drives
CD‐R, CD‐RW, DVD‐R, DVD+R, DVD‐RW, DVD+RW, DVD‐R, DVD+R double layer and also Blu‐ray discs
FireWire (i.e. IEEE1394), USB 1.0, USB 2.0, USB 3.0 hard disks
PC card storage devices (MBR and GPT flash memory, etc.)
4 Getting Started
In this chapter you will find all the information necessary to get the product ready to use.
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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4.1 System Requirements
For the Windows installation package
Operating systems:
‐ Windows XP (32 and 64 bit)
‐ Windows Server 2003 (32 and 64 bit)
‐ Windows Vista (32 and 64 bit)
‐ Windows Server 2008 (32 and 64 bit)
‐ Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit)
‐ Windows Server 2008 R2
‐ Windows Small Business Server 2011
Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher
Intel Pentium CPU or its equivalent, with 300 MHz processor clock speed
128 MB of RAM (256+ recommended)
Hard disk drive with 250 MB of available space
SVGA video adapter and monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
During the installation additional free space (up to 1GB) will be required.
For the WinPE bootable environment
Intel Pentium III CPU or its equivalent, with 1000 MHz processor clock speed
At least 512 MB of RAM
SVGA video adapter and monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Additional requirements
Network card to send/retrieve data to/from a network computer
Recordable CD/DVD drive to burn data to compact discs
External USB hard drive to store data.
4.2 Installation
To install Paragon Hard Disk Manager 2011, please do the following:
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1. Run Setup Application. Click on the *.MSI file. This application will guide you through the process of the
program installation. The setup utility is compiled with the InstallShield SDK, hence it contains the standard user
interface and set of installation steps.
In case there is some previous version of the program installed on the computer, the
program will offer the user to uninstall it first.
2. Starting Setup. The Welcome page informs that the application is being installed. Click the Next button to
continue.
3. Confirm License Agreement. The License Agreement page displays the Paragon License Agreement. Read the
agreement and then select the appropriate option to accept. If you do not agree with any conditions stated
there, the installation process will be interrupted. By clicking the Print button, the License Agreement may also
be printed out.
4. Provide Registration Information. On the Registration page you are to provide your product key and serial
number.
5. Provide Customer Information. On the Customer Information page you are to provide the standard
information, i.e. a user name and an organization. Besides you need to decide whether to make the program
available for all users of this computer (if several) or only for the current one.
6. Select an Installation Folder. The Destination Folder page allows you to choose a folder where the program will
be installed. By default, the installation folder will be created as:
C:\Program Files\Paragon\Paragon Hard Disk Manager 2011. To select another folder, click the Change…
button.
After you have selected the required folder, click the Next button to continue.
Do not install the program on network drives. Do not use Terminal Server sessions to install
and run the program. In both cases, the program functionality will be limited.
7. Confirm Installation. On the Ready to Install the Program page click the Install button to start the installation or
the Back button to return to any of the previous pages and modify the installation settings.
8. Copying Files. The Copying Files page shows the overall progress of the installation. Click the Cancel button to
abort the setup.
9. Finishing the Installation. The Final page reports the end of the setup process. Click the Finish button to
complete the wizard.
To accomplish online operation on locked partitions/hard disks the program uses a kernel
mode hotcore driver, thus the system reboot is required to complete the installation
procedure.
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4.3 First Start
To start Paragon Hard Disk Manager 2011 under Windows, please click the Windows Start button and then select
Programs > Paragon Hard Disk Manager™ 2011 > Paragon Hard Disk Manager™.
The program provides wide opportunities in the field of hard disk structure modification, so
just to be on the safe side, please make a backup of your data before carrying out any
operation.
The first component that will be displayed is called the Express Launcher. Thanks to a well thought‐out categorization
and hint system, it provides quick and easy access to wizards and utilities that we consider worth using on a regular
basis. With its help you can also start up the traditional launcher, the help system or go to the program’s home page.
To know more on how to handle the product’s interface and accomplish typical operations,
please consult the Windows Components chapter.
4.4 Building Recovery Media
Recovery Media Builder can help you accomplish the following operations:
Prepare the Linux/DOS recovery environment (included in the installation package) on external media (CD, DVD,
or flash memory) to boot and run utilities under Linux or PTS DOS, and that way to get access to your hard disk
for maintenance or recovery purposes (strongly recommended);
Prepare a custom Linux/DOS recovery environment by adding any data you like to the standard image;
Prepare a bootable recovery environment from any ISO image, including our WinPE 3.0 image (strongly
recommended);
Create from the master CD the Linux/DOS or WinPE recovery environment on a CD/DVD disc, or flash memory.
Below you can find how to build our WinPE 3.0 based recovery environment on a thumb drive:
1. Plug in a thumb drive of at least 250 MBs in size. Please note all data on that drive will be deleted.
2. In the Main Menu: select Tools > Recovery Media Builder…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
4. Select the Flash Memory option.
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5. Select the User specified CD/DVD image (.iso file) option, then browse for an ISO image of our WinPE 3.0
recovery environment or manually type in a full path to it. By selecting the Typical option you can build our
Linux/DOS recovery environment, which we highly recommend you to do as well.
You can get an ISO image of our WinPE 3.0 recovery environment through the company’s
web service.
6. Select the required thumb drive from the list of flash memory devices available in the system at the moment (if
several).
7. You will have to confirm the operation.
4.5 Booting from the WinPE Recovery Media
The WinPE recovery environment can be a real alternative to the Linux/DOS recovery environment. Providing nearly the
same level of functionality it offers an excellent hardware support and the same interface as the Windows version does.
4.5.1 Startup
To start working with the WinPE recovery environment, please take the following steps:
1. Start up the computer from our WinPE recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
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2. Once it has been loaded, you will see the License Agreement. Read the agreement and then mark the
appropriate checkbox to accept. If you do not agree with any conditions stated there, you won’t be able to use
the program.
3. Once you accept the agreement, you will see the Universal Application Launcher. In general it enables to run
components of the product, load drivers for undefined hardware or establish a network connection.
4. Click on the required operation to start. Hints on the selected at the moment item will help you make the right
choice.
5. Consult the help system by pressing ALT+F1 to know more on the subject.
Our WinPE 3.0 based recovery environment offers excellent hardware support. However in
case it doesn’t have a driver for your disk controller, your hard disks will be unavailable.
Please consult the Adding specific drivers scenario to know how to tackle this issue.
5 Basic Concepts
This chapter explains terms and ideas that show how the program works. To understand these helps to obtain a general
notion of the operation performance and makes it easier for the user to operate the program.
5.1 System and Data Protection
The data protection issue is a growing cause of worrying for more and more people today. Indeed, it is hardly to find a
person who will be particularly happy when all precious information on the hard disk is irreversible lost as a result of its
malfunction. So how this tragedy can be prevented?
5.1.1 File Backup versus Sector Backup
Since the advent of the computer age people were in the search of ways to guarantee data safety. As a result we’ve got
now two principal approaches: the file‐based backup and the sector‐based backup. The main difference between the
two lies in the way data is treated.
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A sector‐based backup operates with an image (or a snapshot) of the whole disk system or its separate partitions. It not
only includes the contents of all user‐made files, but additionally contains the exact structure of directories, information
about file allocation, file attributes and other related data. Thus it enables to successfully process system or encrypted
partitions of any file system type, no matter what kind of information they contain.
In contrast, a file‐based backup takes into account a file system structure and only functions on a file or folder level. So
it is very efficient when archiving separate files or folders, but in no way will help you back up a system partition.
You should understand pretty well that each of the two approaches is only good when properly chosen. In the
comparison table below you can see when this or that approach will suit you at most.
Sector‐Based Backup File‐Based Backup
Merits
It does not dependent on a particular file system. Functioning on a file/folder level, it is ideal for
Thus it can successfully process system or archiving separate files or folders.
encrypted partitions of any file system type, no
matter what kind of information they contain.
It can create an exact image of a partition, It enables to automatically build up contents of
including its service data. Thus it is ideal for a the future backup image by using an advanced
backup/restore of a system partition or a fast system of filters.
deployment to a bunch of identical computers.
It allows archiving data of the same volume with
different backup policies.
It is easy and efficient when creating backup
chains.
Demerits
Resulted backup images may contain a lot of It depends on a file system structure, so you
redundant data. won’t be able to process unknown file systems.
It is ineffective when trying to maintain a backup It cannot be used to back up a system partition.
chain, especially when little amount of data is
being changed.
It is much slower when processing large amount
of data.
5.1.2 Backup Types
At the present moment the market is offering various types of backup imaging to meet the needs of any user. Besides
supporting them all, our program offers a unique backup type, called File Increment to a Sector Backup.
Full and Differential Sector Backups
A full sector‐based backup image includes all contents of a partition or a hard disk at the moment of its creation. If you
roll back your system to the initial state on a regular basis, that’s exactly what you’re looking for. But if you want to have
multiple backup archives of the same partition reflecting certain time stamps, unchanged data will inevitable be
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duplicated in all archives and take additional space on backup media. To tackle this issue there has been developed a
supplementary technique called Differential Sector Backup.
A differential archive only contains data changed since the time of creating a full archive, which forms a base (or a
parental image) in this case, thus considerably saving your system resources. It is realized by the exact bit‐wise
comparison of the previous partition's data (saved in the parental image) with the current data (that is actually the
partition itself). To restore this kind of backup you will require a full image and one of its differentials, what is very
convenient.
This function is only available for single primary and logical partitions.
Full and Incremental File Backups
A full file‐based archive only contains files and folders. It is really efficient when backing up an e‐mail database or
particular documents, as no redundant data is processed. But if you care about maintaining a files history, you can
benefit from one more supplementary technique called Incremental File Backup.
An incremental archive only contains data changed since the time of creating a full or incremental file‐based archive. It
is smaller and takes less time to create, but you will require the initial full image and all of its increments to restore the
latest point of this kind of backup.
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File Increment to a Sector Backup
File Increment to a Sector Backup is a unique technology on the market so far that bridges two principally different
approaches of the data backup: the file‐based backup and the sector‐based backup. With its help you can now create a
sector‐based backup of your system to get it back on track in minutes in case of a virus attack or a hardware malfunction
and then just make file‐based incremental images to the previously created sector‐based backup to keep updated only
information that is critical for you. Thus you will considerably save your system resources.
5.1.3 Backup Storage
Our program supports several techniques of storing backup images. Let’s take a closer look at them all to understand
what kind of storage is able to provide better security:
You can place a backup image to a local partition. Despite the fact that it is the most convenient way, try not to
use it. You can delete your backup just by accident or lose it as a result of a hardware malfunction, or a virus
attack;
You can place a backup image to an external mounted storage to provide for a higher level of data protection
and system independence;
You can place a backup image to a special secured place on the hard disk called the Backup Capsule that has an
independent system layout (e.g. a separate partition) and will stay operable should the active file system be
damaged. To avoid an accidental removing or unauthorized access of the backup data, this partition is hidden
and thus cannot be mounted in the operating system. However it won’t help you in case of a hardware
malfunction;
You can place a backup image to external media (CD/DVD) to guarantee a high level of data protection as long
as the backup media is kept secure;
You can place a backup image to a network drive to stand a better chance of success in case of a hard disk
failure. Moreover, by storing it on a special‐purpose server you may be pretty sure nothing will happen to it;
Finally you can place a backup image to an FTP server to provide a new level of system and data protection.
Known Issues on FTP/SFTP
1. You need to check out yourself Windows Firewall or programs of this kind let our program work with the
required port (21 by default).
2. You cannot restore data selectively (with Restore Wizard) from an FTP/SFTP server.
3. You can browse an FTP server in the passive mode only.
4. Parallel access to several FTP/SFTP servers is limited ‐ only one password for all servers is available.
5.1.4 Adaptive Restore
Technology Background
Windows family operating systems are notorious for their excessive sensibility to hardware, especially when it turns to
replacement of such a crucial device as HDD controller or motherboard – actually Windows will most likely fail to boot
as a result of this operation.
In 2008 our company came with an exclusive technology called Paragon Adaptive Restore™. Initially aimed at restore of
Windows Vista or Server 2008 from a backup to a different hardware configuration, its current realization, available in
the P2P Adjust OS Wizard, enables to make any Windows OS since XP bootable on dissimilar hardware by allowing
automatic injection of all required drivers and the other actions crucial for this type of migration.
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Technology Concept
Let’s take a closer look at how Paragon Adaptive Restore works.
As you see, successful migration of a Windows system to a different hardware platform involves several actions:
1. Change of the Windows kernel settings according to the new configuration. The program detects the given
hardware profile and automatically installs the appropriate Windows HAL and kernel.
2. Installation of drivers for boot critical devices. The program detects those without drivers and automatically
tries to install lacking drivers from the built‐in Windows repository. If there’s no driver in the repository, it
prompts the user to set a path to an additional driver repository, strongly recommending not to proceed until all
drivers for the found boot critical devices are installed. In case drivers for these devices are installed, but
disabled, they will be enabled.
3. Installation of drivers for a PS/2 mouse and keyboard. This action will only be accomplished for Windows
XP/Server 2003.
4. Installation of drivers for network cards. The program detects those without drivers and automatically tries to
install lacking drivers from the built‐in Windows repository. If there’s no driver in the repository, it prompts the
user to set a path to an additional driver repository.
These actions guarantee a Windows system will start up on dissimilar hardware. After the startup, Windows will initiate
reconfiguration of all Plug'n'Play devices. It’s a standard procedure, so please don’t worry and prepare the latest drivers
at this step to get the most out of the system.
Though all Windows systems have built‐in driver repositories, please be prepared to have
additional drivers when dealing with Windows XP/Server 2003, because for these systems
they are very modest.
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Technology Application
Let’s consider a number of situations when the Adaptive Restore technology can help you out:
If you need to migrate to a different hardware platform with minimal effort
If you need to upgrade hardware while keeping all programs and settings intact
If you need to replace failed hardware and cannot find an exact match for original system specifications
Known Issues
1. After transferring Microsoft Vista and later versions to different hardware, you will need to re‐activate license of
the system. It’s normal behavior as these systems keep tracking any change of hardware. Re‐activation is legally
justified in this case, as you transfer your system to another PC.
2. If you’ve installed several operating systems on one partition, we can only add drivers to the latest version of
OS. Microsoft highly recommends that you install an operating system on a separate partition.
3. Please note drivers are not cached during selection. That’s why if you select a driver to add to the system, but
it’s already unavailable during the operation, the program will end the operation with an error.
5.2 System Virtualization
With new powerful x86 computers, system virtualization has become extremely popular. It’s a software technology that
enables to run several virtual machines on one physical machine, providing resources of that single computer are shared
across several environments. As a result one and the same physical computer can have multiple OSs and applications
operating simultaneously, thus opening up enormous opportunities for both, business and home users, exactly:
Avoid underutilization of up‐to‐date powerful computers;
Increase flexibility of a physical infrastructure;
Provide for increased availability of hardware and applications;
Cut expenses on hardware and energy;
Guarantee smooth and cost saving system migration;
Enjoy working with old applications you can’t launch on your current PC;
Take advantage of having multiple operating systems on one Windows PC, including Linux, Mac OS X, etc.;
Forget about hunting for replacement of the failed hardware, and many more…
Known Issues
1. You should install integration services (e.g. VMware Tools) on the virtual system yourself. We only guarantee its
smooth startup.
2. After transferring Microsoft Vista and later versions to a virtual disk, you will need to re‐activate license of the
system. It’s normal behavior as these systems keep tracking any change of hardware. Re‐activation is legally
justified in this case, as you transfer your system to another PC.
3. If your system hosts several Windows OSes, our program will find them all and automatically patch to run in a
virtual environment. However we cannot guarantee smooth startup of all found Windows systems, but the
guest OS, for its configuration parameters may be incompatible with the others.
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5.3 Paragon Hot Processing & Volume Shadow Copy Service
5.3.1 Offline versus Online Data Processing
In the course of time there have been developed various methods of data processing. Despite different work concept,
all of them can be divided into two principal groups: offline (cold) and online (hot) data processing techniques.
As the name infers, offline data processing can only be accomplished when the data is in consistent state (the operating
system and all the applications are completely shut down). Actually it is the most preferable way of image creation or
data cloning, since software can obtain an exclusive right to process data that guaranties high level of operating
efficiency. However, the offline data processing is absolutely out of question when dealing with 24/7 production
environments.
In contrast, online data processing enables to create a consistent snapshot even as the data is currently modified. It is
particularly useful for systems with high availability requirements, but it won’t be accomplished until all active
transactions are complete. The point is to provide a coherent state of all open files and databases involved in a process,
taking into account that applications may still keep writing to disks. As a result an online data processing cannot boast
high operating speed.
Our program supports both offline and online methods of data processing. As far as online method is concerned it offers
its own hot processing algorithm together with the possibility to use snapshot technologies provided by the Microsoft
VSS framework.
5.3.2 Paragon Hot Processing Technology
Paragon Hot Processing is an online copy/backup technology for Windows NT+ family operating systems. Developed
back in 2001, nowadays it is integrated with all copy/backup solutions offered by the company.
Paragon Hot Processing is not exactly a snapshot technology, though it has much in common with it. During an online
copy/backup, the program uses the kernel mode driver HOTCORE.SYS to intercept and control disk write activity of
applications and the operating system. The hotcore driver as an integral part of the program is installed during the setup
procedure (that’s why the system reboot is required to complete the setup procedure). For the most part the driver is in
the idle mode until it is activated with the program. While in this mode it bypasses any calls having no effect on the
overall system performance, but a few kilobytes of the system memory.
Paragon Hot Processing technology offers copy/backup of locked partitions and hard disks under Windows NT+ family
operating systems providing both high operating efficiency as well as low hardware requirements.
It is not recommended to use Paragon Hot Processing with active SQL Server, Exchange or
Oracle databases since the backup image contents may be corrupted.
5.3.3 Volume Shadow Copy Service
Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is designed to provide the copy/backup infrastructure for the Microsoft
Windows XP/Vista/Server 2003/2008 operating systems. It offers a reliable mechanism to create consistent point‐in‐
time copies of data known as shadow copies. Developed by Microsoft in close cooperation with the leading
copy/backup solution vendors on the market, it is based on a snapshot technology concept.
Initiated by a VSS aware copy/backup utility, VSS creates snapshots for the selected volumes and represents them as
virtual read‐only devices, called volume shadow copies. Once the shadow copies are created, the copy/backup utility
starts processing the data while applications keep writing to original volumes.
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Unlike Paragon Hot Processing the VSS technology provides a unique possibility to make a synchronous snapshot of
multiple volumes. This very feature can be particularly beneficial when backing up active SQL Server 2003, Exchange
2003 or Oracle databases located on multiple volumes the way it is recommended by Microsoft to improve the level of
database performance and reliability, thus providing 100‐percent data consistency.
To use VSS it is necessary to have a mounted 300 MB+ NTFS partition.
5.4 Dynamic Disks
As you probably know, MS‐DOS, Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista/Server 2003/2008 support four
primary partitions per physical hard disk, one of which can be extended. Certainly there is the possibility to create
logical drives within the extended partition. Such types of disks are called basic. Windows XP Professional, Windows
2000, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003/2008 follow the same strategy: You can have a maximum of four
primary partitions, one of which can be an extended partition with logical drives. However, these operating systems also
introduce a new disk configuration type ‐ dynamic disk ‐ which must be understood to effectively configure and manage
hard disks.
Dynamic disk is a physical disk that doesn't use partitions or logical drives. Instead, it contains only dynamic volumes.
Regardless of what format you use for the file system, only Win2K computers can access dynamic volumes directly.
However, computers that aren't running Win2K can access the dynamic volumes remotely when connected to the
shared folders over the network.
Dynamic disks can co‐exist on a system with basic disks. The only limitation is that you cannot mix Basic and Dynamic
disks on the same hard drive.
There are five types of dynamic volumes: simple (uses free space from a single disk), spanned (created from free disk
space that is linked together from multiple disks), striped (a volume the data of which is interleaved across two or more
physical disks), mirrored (a fault‐tolerant volume the data of which is duplicated on two physical disks, and RAID‐5
volumes (a fault‐tolerant volume the data of which is striped across an array of three or more disks).
With dynamic storage, you can perform disk and volume management without the need to restart Windows.
Limitations:
Dynamic disks are not supported on portable computers.
Dynamic disks are not supported on Windows XP Home Edition‐based computers.
You cannot create mirrored volumes or RAID‐5 volumes on Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP
Professional, or Windows XP 64‐Bit Edition‐based computers.
Thus, the dynamic disk is a new way of looking at hard disk configuration. Dynamic disks offer you more management
flexibility without the partition limitation of basic disks. Dynamic disks can contain an unlimited number of volumes, but
they cannot contain partitions or logical drives. Dynamic storage can be particularly beneficial for large‐scale businesses
when dealing with many physical hard disks involving complex setup.
5.5 GPT versus MBR
GUID Partition Table (GPT) is the next generation of a hard disk partitioning scheme developed to lift restrictions of the
old MBR. Being a part of the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) standard proposed by Intel to replace the outdated PC
BIOS, it offers a number of crucial benefits:
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Up to 128 primary partitions for the Windows implementation (only 4 in MBR);
The maximum allowed partition size is 18 exabytes (only 2 terabytes in MBR);
More reliable thanks to replication and cyclic redundancy check (CRC) protection of the partition table;
A well defined and fully self‐identifying partition format (data critical to the platform operation is located in
partitions, but not in un‐partitioned or hidden sectors as this is the case with MBR)
5.6 Apple Boot Camp
Boot Camp is a special utility to help you set up a dual boot system (Mac OS X and 32‐bit Windows XP/Vista) on Intel‐
based Macs. It enables to securely re‐partition your hard disk (resize an existing HFS+ partition to create a separate
partition for Windows) and then launch the installation process. With Boot Camp all the necessary drivers will be at your
disposal. Moreover after Windows has been installed it will serve as a boot manager to choose what operating system
to start up.
It is strongly recommended not to modify the hard disk configuration with Windows Disk
Manager. Otherwise it may lead to unexpected consequences, right up to BSOD and
inability to boot in Windows XP/Vista. Please use our program to correctly update both
MBR and GPT.
5.7 64‐bit Support
The bulk of software today is written for a 32‐bit processor. It can meet the requirements of almost any end user.
However that is not the case when dealing with servers processing large amounts of data with complex calculations of
very large numbers. That is where 64‐bit architecture comes into play.
It can boast improved scalability for business applications that enables to support more customer databases and more
simultaneous users on each server. Besides a 64‐bit kernel can access more system resources, such as memory
allocation per user. A 64‐bit processor can handle over 4 billion times more memory addresses than a 32‐bit processor.
With these resources, even a very large database can be cached in memory.
Although many business applications run without problems on 32‐bit systems, others have grown so complex that they
use up the 4 GB memory limitation of a 32‐bit address space. With this large amount of data, fewer memory resources
are available to meet memory needs. On a 64‐bit server, most queries are able to perform in the buffers available to the
database.
Some 32‐bit applications make the transition to the 64‐bit environment seamlessly others do not. For instance, system‐
level utilities and programs that provide direct hardware access are likely to fail. Our program offers a full‐fledged
support of the 64‐bit architecture providing fault‐tolerant work for such system dependent modules as Hot Processing.
5.8 Copy Operations
Hard drive duplication nowadays is becoming highly popular among PC users. That is due to some definite advantages it
can offer. First of all, many people clone hard disks just to back up data for security reasons. The present day copy
utilities enable to successfully transfer all on‐disk information including standard bootstrap code and other system
service structures, thus maintaining the operating system’s working capability. In case of a system malfunction, the user
can get the system back on track in minutes. No additional configuration is required, what is very convenient.
The second possible application is the upgrade of a hard disk to a new one. The capacity of a modern hard drive doubles
every two years, thus opening up new possibilities for software developers. As a result programs become more
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complicated and require considerable amount of free space. One day the user realizes that there is no more free space
left on the hard disk and the only way out is to upgrade. Usually that means that besides purchasing a new hard disk,
the user is to face a large re‐installation procedure spanning several days of tedious work. But all of this can be avoided
just by copying the contents of the old hard disk to a new one proportionally resizing the partitions.
And the last but not least is the copying of hard disks for cloning purposes. It may be of great use when setting up
similar computers. There is no need for a system administrator to install an operating system from scratch on every one
of them. It is enough just to configure one and then clone it to the others.
5.9 Drive Partitioning
As you probably know a hard drive is to be split into one or more partitions, since it cannot hold data until it is carved up
and space is set aside for an operating system. Until recently most PCs used to have just one partition, which filled the
entire hard disk and contained an OS. The situation has changed however, thanks to new cost‐effective high capacity
hard drives, thus opening up numerous possibilities for PC users, such as editing video, archiving music, backing up CD
images, etc. Huge increase in space is great, but it poses a number of problems, most important of which are effective
data organization and speed.
Large drives are always going to take longer to search than smaller volumes, and an operating system is going to have its
work cut out both finding and organizing files. It is for this reason that many people decide to invest in multiple hard
drives, but there is an easy solution – drive partitioning. Partitioning lets you divide a single physical drive into a number
of logical drives, each of which servers as a container with its own drive letter and volume label, thus enabling the
operating system to process data more efficiently. Besides partitioning makes it possible to organize data so that it is
easy to find and manage. You can set aside, for instance, 40 GB of a 160 GB hard drive for the OS, 70 GB for storing
video and another 50 GB for your favorite music collections to provide transparent data storage.
It is also worth mentioning to that with a hard drive properly partitioned, such routine operations as files de‐
fragmentation or consistency check will not be that annoying and time‐consuming any more.
By detaching the OS from the rest of the data you can tackle one more crucial issue – in case of a system malfunction,
you can get the system back on track in minutes by recovering it from a backup image located on the other partition of
the hard drive.
But that is not all drive partitioning may be used for. If you are willing to play games in Windows while browsing the
Internet in Linux, 100‐percent sure that no virus will attack your PC, drive partitioning is a necessity. In order to run
several OSs on a single hard drive you are to create a corresponding number of partitions to effectively delineate the
boundaries of each OS.
5.10 Data Sanitization
Data security is a two‐sided problem. It is to be made clear, that providing confidentiality implies not only information to
be stored properly, but also be destroyed according to certain rules. The first step to protecting yourself is to know
exactly which security precautions work and which do not.
Many people believe the misconception that repartitioning a disk will result in complete destruction of its contents.
Actually that is not quite so. Repartitioning the drive only alters references to partitions in the Partition Table, leaving all
file data intact. In fact, there are a number of programs available to successfully recover previously deleted partitions.
Formatting a drive also does not guarantee data destruction. Formatting procedure implies modification of the Master
File Table (MFT) that keeps track of where file contents are stored on the disk and verification of each sector for
consistency. Even a low‐level format does not actually erase the file contents for good, since they can still be
resurrected from their deleted state with minimal effort by using the popular today Magnetic Force Microscopy
technology.
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The only way to make sure that all the data has been erased from a hard drive is to overwrite all on‐disk sectors with
random patterns of ones and zeros. Although this sounds complex, there is an easy way to do this.
The process of deliberately, irreversibly removing or destroying the data stored on a memory device (magnetic disks,
flash memory drives, etc.) is generally known as Data Sanitization. A device that has been sanitized has no usable
residual data and even advanced forensic tools should not ever be able to recover it, thus providing maximum level of
security.
5.11 Data Security Standards
To irreversibly destroy all on‐disk information there have been developed a number of disk sanitizing standards. They
are distinguished by wiping patterns and number of passes:
1. US DoD 5220.22‐M. US Department of Defense recommends to overwrite all addressable locations with a
character, its complement and then a random character. Finally, the target data area is to be verified;
2. US Navy standards NAVSO P‐5239‐26.
NAVSO P‐5239‐26 for RLL encoded drives. At first to write the fixed value (0xffffffff) to the target data area,
then the fixed value (0x27ffffff), and then random values. Finally, the target data area is to be verified;
NAVSO P‐5239‐26 for MFM encoded drives. At first to write the fixed value (0xffffffff) to the target data
area, then the fixed value (0xbfffffff), and then random values. Finally, the target data area is to be verified;
3. British HMG Infosec Standard No.5. At first to write a single character pattern, then its complement and then a
random character. Finally, the target data area is to be verified;
4. German VSItR Standard. Overwrite the deleted information 7 times, consistently filling it with the following
patterns: 0x00, 0xFF, 0x00, 0xFF, 0x00, 0xFF, 0xAA. Finally, the target data area is to be verified;
5. Australian ASCI 33. Overwrite with a character (C), then verify. Overwrite with –C (the first pass character’s
inverse), then verify again. Overwrite everything with both C and –C once again but without verification. Fill
everything with random characters;
6. Russian GOST R 50739‐95. Destroy information by a single pass with writing random characters into each sector
byte;
7. Peter Gutmann's algorithm. A whopping 35 passes, with 27 random‐order passes using specific patterns
combined with eight passes using random patterns;
8. Bruce Schneier's algorithm. Two passes of specific patterns followed by five passes using a cryptographically
secure pseudo‐random sequence;
9. Paragon's algorithm.
Overwrite each sector with a forcefully randomized 512‐byte string, new for each sector, using CSPRNG
(cryptographically secure pseudo‐random number generator);
Overwrite each erased sector with its complement;
Overwrite each sector with a 512‐byte string (CSPRNG), again forcefully randomized and different from the
first pass, and new for each sector;
Fill each erased sector with 0xAA value. Finally, the target data area is to be verified.
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Military and government standards always require 100 percent residual data verification. It
is necessary to make sure that the operation has been properly accomplished. Besides
corrupted sectors discovered during the operation are to be logged to keep the user
informed, since these sectors may contain classified information.
The list of supported military and government standards may vary for your product.
Anyway you’ve always got the possibility to create a customized algorithm, defining up to 4
wiping patterns, number of passes for each wiping pattern and for the group of patterns,
thus providing the maximum possible security level.
5.12 Scheduling
The automation of operations is particularly effective when you have to repeat a sequence of actions on a regular basis.
For example, developing a specific project on a day‐to‐day basis and having to make a backup every evening so as not to
lose the valuable data, you will really appreciate, when this kind of routine operations will be carried out automatically
without your participation.
Another aspect of any automation process is that it allows an optimization of your computer’s work‐load. This is
especially important when operations require a considerable amount of computer resources – processor time, memory
and more. A number of tasks, which can decrease the performance, can be run during the night or whenever the
computer has the least work‐load to perform.
The program has a special tool for scheduling. You can set out a timetable for any operation and it will start at a
specified time without interrupting your current activity.
6 Windows Components
In the given section you can find all the information necessary to successfully work with the Windows version of the
product.
6.1 Interface Overview
This chapter introduces the graphical interface of the program. The design of the interface precludes any mistake being
made on the part of the user. Most operations are performed through the system of wizards. Buttons and menus are
accompanied by easy understandable icons. Nevertheless, any problems that might occur while managing the program
can be tackled by reading this very chapter.
6.1.1 General Layout
When you start the program, the first component that is displayed is called the Launcher. It enables to run wizards and
dialogs, to specify program settings, to visualize the operating environment and the hard disk configuration.
The Launcher’s window can be conditionally subdivided into several sections that differ in their purpose and
functionality:
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1. Main Menu
2. Tool Bar
3. Virtual Operations Bar
4. Common Tasks Bar
5. Explorer Bar
6. Disk Map
7. Partition List
8. Properties Bar
9. Legend Bar
10. Status Bar
A number of panels offer similar functionality with a synchronized layout. The program enables to conceal some of them
to simplify the interface management.
All panels are separated by vertical and horizontal expandable sliders, allowing the user to customize the screen layout.
6.1.2 Main Menu
The Main Menu provides access to the entire functionality of the program. The available functions are as listed below:
MENU ITEM FUNCTIONALITY
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Tools
View Log Files View logs on the carried out operations
Setup Boot Manager… Manage several operating systems on one computer
Recovery Media Builder… Restore the system even when the current operating system cannot boot
anymore
File Transfer Wizard… Transfer data from any media
Settings... Edit the general settings of the program
Exit Exit the program
Changes
Generate Script… Generate a script for the task
Save to Scheduler… Schedule pending operations
Undo `the last virtual Cancel the last virtual operation on the List of Pending Operations
operation`
Redo `the last virtual Cancel the last undo virtual operation on the List of Pending Operations
operation`
View Changes… Display the List of Pending Operations
Apply Changes Launch the real execution of virtual operations
Discard All Changes Cancel all virtual operations on the List of Pending Operations
Reload Disk Info Refresh the current information about disks
Wizards
Express Create Partition… Create an NTFS partition and make it ready for work
Create Partition… Create a partition of any file system
Format Partition… Format a partition of any file system
Delete Partition… Delete a partition of any file system
Total Defrag Launch Total Defrag to optimize NTFS and FAT file systems
Wipe Hard Disk or Partition... Destroy all on‐disk information or only remnants of deleted files/directories
Express Resize Partitions… Increase free space on one partition by up‐taking the unused space of an
adjacent partition
Undelete Partitions… Recover an accidentally deleted partition
Merge Partitions… Merge adjacent partitions of NTFS, FAT or FAT32 file systems
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Redistribute Free Space… Redistribute available disk space of existed partitions
Install New OS… Make your system ready to install a new operating system
Smart Backup… Back up exactly what you need ‐ the whole system, e‐mail databases (MS
Outlook, Express, Windows Mail) media files or office documents of the My
Documents folder, or any other files and folders
Differential Backup… Create a differential to a partition backup
Create a File Complement… Create an increment to a full partition backup
Create a File Increment… Create an increment to a file backup
Restore… Restore an entire hard disk, separate partitions, or files from the backup image
Manage Backup Capsule… Create and manage the backup capsule
Check Archive Integrity… Perform integrity check for the required backup image
Cyclic Backup… Automate a partition backup
Synthetic Backup… Change any property of an existing archive (splitting, password protection,
compression level, etc.) without accomplishing the backup operation
Create Virtual Disk… Create an empty virtual disk or with specific data of one of the supported
virtualization vendors
P2V Copy… Migrate a live Windows physical system to a virtual environment
P2V Restore… Migrate a Windows physical system backed up with a Paragon disaster
recovery tool to a virtual environment
P2V Adjust OS… Make Windows Vista/7 backups bootable on virtual hardware; recover the
startup ability after unsuccessful virtualization with a 3rd party tool
Migrate OS… Move any Windows OS since XP from a regular hard disk to a fast SSD
Copy Hard Disk… Create a hard disk copy
Schedule Hard Disk Copy… Set a timetable for a hard disk copy
Copy Partition… Create a partition copy
Schedule Partition Copy… Set a timetable for a partition copy
Hard Disk
Back Up Hard Disk… Create a backup archive of the selected hard disk
Burn Hard Disk to CD or DVD… Back up the selected hard disk and burn the resulted image to CD/DVD
Restore Hard Disk… Restore the selected hard disk from a backup image
Convert to Basic… Convert a dynamic MBR disk containing simple volume(s) into a basic MBR disk
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Convert to Basic MBR hard Convert a basic or a dynamic GPT disk containing simple volume(s) into a basic
disk… MBR disk
Convert to GPT hard disk Convert a basic MBR disk into a basic GPT disk
Update MBR Update MBR (Master Boot Record) of the selected hard disk
Change Primary Slots… Modify the primary partitions enumeration for the selected hard disk
Wipe Hard Disk… Irreversibly destroy all on‐disk information
Edit/View Sectors… View/edit sectors of the selected hard disk
Connect a Virtual Disk Connect a virtual disk to work with it as if it’s a physical disk
Disconnect a Virtual Disk Disconnect a virtual disk
Properties… Get in‐depth information on the properties of selected hard disk
Partition
Create Partition… Create a partition
Format Partition… Format a partition
Delete Partition… Delete a partition
Back Up Partition… Create a backup archive of the selected partition
Burn Partition to CD or DVD… Back up the selected partition and burn the resulted image to CD/DVD
Restore Partition… Restore the selected partition from a backup image
Move/Resize… Move/Resize the selected partition
Convert File System… Convert file system of the selected partition
Assign Drive Letter… Assign drive letter to the selected partition
Remove Drive Letter… Remove drive letter for the selected partition
Hide Partition… Make the selected partition unavailable for the operating system
Unhide Partition… Make the selected partition available for the operating system
Mark Partition as Active Make the selected partition bootable by default
Mark Partition as Inactive Make the selected partition non‐bootable by default
Change Volume Label… Change volume label of the selected partition
Change Cluster Size… Change cluster size of the selected partition
Change Serial Number… Change serial number of the selected partition
Downgrade NTFS version… Decrease version of the selected NTFS partition
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Change Partition ID… Change identifier of the selected partition
Make Partition Primary… Make the selected partition Primary
Make Partition Logical… Make the selected partition Logical
Wipe Partition… Irreversibly destroy all on‐partition information
Clear Free Space… Destroy any remnants of deleted files/directories left on disk
Test Surface… Test surface of the selected partition/block of free space
Check File System Integrity… Check the selected partition for possible file system errors
Edit/View Sectors… View/edit sectors of the selected partition
Properties… Get in‐depth information on the properties of selected partition
View
Layouts Manage the Launcher layout with several predefined profiles
Toolbar Manage the Tool Bar representation: show / hide standard and navigation
buttons, text labels and large icons
Status Bar Display the Status Bar
Common Tasks Bar Display the Common Tasks Bar
Disk Map Legend Display the Disk Map legend
Properties and Commands Display the Explorer Bar
Disk Map Location Select whether the Disk Map will be located on the top of the main window or
at the bottom
Help
Help Open the Help system (you can also do it by pressing F1)
About Open the dialog with information about the program
The Main Menu contents available at the moment may vary depending on the selected
object.
6.1.3 Tool Bar
The Toolbar provides fast access to the most frequently used operations:
BUTTON FUNCTIONALITY
Back up exactly what you need with
Smart Backup Wizard
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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Increase free space on one partition
by up‐taking the unused space of an
adjacent partition
Copy a hard disk
Migrate OS to SSD
Defragment the selected partition
Switch to Express launcher
Open the Help system
6.1.4 Virtual Operations Bar
The program supports previewing the resulting layout of hard disks before actually executing operations (so‐called
virtual mode of execution). In fact, when the virtual mode is enabled, the program does not accomplish operations
immediately, but places them on the List of Pending Operations for later execution.
The Virtual Operations Bar enables to manage pending operations.
BUTTON FUNCTIONALITY
Cancel the last virtual operation on the List of Pending Operations
Cancel the last undo virtual operation on the List of Pending
Operations
Display the List of Pending Operations
Launch the real execution of virtual operations
Cancel all virtual operations on the List of Pending Operations
Virtual mode is an effective way of protection from any troubles, since no operations will
be executed until clicking the Apply button for confirmation, thus giving a second chance to
weigh all pros and cons of this or that particular operation. The program politely reminds
the user that there are unsaved changes by showing the following window:
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6.1.5 Common Tasks Bar
The Common Tasks Bar is located on the left side of the main window. It is intended for easy access to the program's
wizards.
The bar contains several tabs. Each tab includes a separate button bar which can be folded by clicking it.
Basic Partitioning Tasks
Starting the Express Create Partition Wizard to create an NTFS partition and make
it ready for work.
Starting the Create Partition Wizard to create a partition of any file system.
Starting the Format Partition Wizard to format an existing partition to one of the
file systems supported by the program.
Starting the Delete Partition Wizard to delete a partition of any file system.
Advanced Partitioning Tasks
Starting Total Defrag to optimize NTFS and FAT file systems.
Starting the Express Resize Partitions Wizard to redistribute free space between
two adjacent partitions.
Starting the Merge Partitions Wizard to merge adjacent partitions of NTFS, FAT,
FAT32 file systems.
Starting the Redistribute Free Space Wizard to redistribute available disk space of
existing partitions.
Starting the Undelete Partitions Wizard to recover accidentally deleted partitions.
Copying Tasks
Starting the Migrate OS to SSD Wizard to migrate Windows OS to a fast SSD.
Starting the Copy Hard Disk Wizard to copy a hard disk.
Starting the Copy Partition Wizard to copy a partition.
Backup Tasks
Starting the Smart Backup Wizard to back up exactly what you need ‐ the whole
system, e‐mail databases (MS Outlook, Express, Windows Mail) media files or
office documents of the My Documents folder, or any other files and folders.
Starting the Manage Backup Capsule Wizard to create, resize or delete the backup
capsule.
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Starting the Restore Wizard to restore a hard disk, separate partition, or files from
the backup image.
Tools
Starting the File Transfer Wizard to transfer data from any media. Besides it
provides access to Paragon backups as regular folders to browse through their
contents or copy required files.
Starting the Boot Manager Setup Wizard to easily manage several operating
systems on one computer.
Starting the Install New OS Wizard to install a new operating system.
Help and Documentation
Launching the help system (you can also do it by pressing F1).
Opening the page which contains information about the program. This page will
be displayed in the Explorer Bar.
Opening a brief review on the Paragon Scripting Language.
6.1.6 Disk Map
The Disk Map is displayed in the Explorer Bar when the Disk View tab is selected. It is located either at the top or at the
bottom of the window, depending on the state of the Disk Map Location option (Main Menu: View > Disk Map
Location).
As the name infers, the Disk Map displays the layout of physical and logical disks. Physical disks are represented with
rectangle bars that contain small‐sized bars. These small‐sized bars represent logical disks. Their color depends on the
file system of the appropriate partition.
Large‐sized bars display the following information about physical disks:
Manufacturer,
Model.
Small‐sized bars display the following information about logical disks:
Serial number,
Drive letter,
Total size,
File system.
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Furthermore, it is possible to estimate the used disk space by looking at the size of the bar’s shaded area. The program
offers to choose from several types of the disk layout scaling. It’s done especially to increase the program usability. For
instance, if you’ve got a high capacity hard drive containing both very large (more than 100 GB) and rather small (less
than 10 GB) partitions, you can select the logarithmic type to make all partitions readable, otherwise (selecting the
linear type) you won’t be able to see small partitions at all, but thing strips. On the other hand, if the proportional disk
layout is critical for you, the linear type is exactly what you need.
Nevertheless there’s a compromise solution – linear scaling with the minimal limit to small partitions. So if a partition is
too small it will remain readable.
Just click on the arrow icon on the top right side of the Disk Map to select the desired scaling type.
Disk Map is synchronized with the Explorer Bar. Thus by selecting a disk on the Disk Map, the Explorer Bar will
automatically display detailed information on it.
The drag‐and‐drop functionality is not available when the logarithmic type of the disk
layout is selected.
6.1.7 Explorer Bar
The Explorer Bar is located in the center of the main window which emphasizes its importance. The bar displays
reference information including:
The help system
General information on the product including its name, version and a list of helpful links
Detailed information about disks selected on the Disk Map
List of scheduled operations
List of archives
Volume Explorer utility
Disk Editor utility
According to these categories the Explorer Bar has several tabs:
Disk View, which offers the user the following options:
‐ Partition List to get a clear‐cut picture of the current state of the system hard disks/partitions
‐ Disk Editor to view/edit sectors of the selected partition/hard disk
‐ Volume Explorer to browse and export contents of the selected partition/hard disk
‐ Properties to view detailed information on the selected partition/hard disk in the bright graphical form
You can switch between these components by clicking tabs on the left side of the Explorer
Bar.
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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Scheduled Tasks, which gives the user the possibility of browsing and editing scheduled operations and the
program scripts.
Archives, which enables to manage the Archive Database.
Help, which contains the program help and general information on the product.
You can access the desired information by clicking on the appropriate tab.
The Explorer Bar is a fully‐functional embedded HTML browser, which offers the possibility to address, for example, the
company's website to look through important technical notes or download the latest updates without having to close
the program.
The program help is also HTML‐oriented. You can read it and follow external links from to get additional information.
To easily navigate through browsed pages, the program provides the following functionality:
BUTTON FUNCTIONALITY
Return to the previously browsed
page
Open the next browsed page
Stop loading the current page
Refresh the contents of the current
page
6.1.8 Partition List
The Partition List is another helpful tool that enables you to get a clear‐cut picture of the current state of the system
hard disks/partitions. Partitions are sorted according to their starting position. For every item of the list there is the
possibility to call the context‐sensitive popup menu with available operations. Besides, the program provides detailed
information on all hard disks/partitions found in the system including the following properties:
‐ Name,
‐ Volume label (if exists),
‐ Partition type (Primary/Extended /Logical),
‐ File system type,
‐ Size,
‐ Amount of used and unused (free) space,
‐ Start/End cylinder,
‐ Start/End head,
‐ Start/End sector
‐ Free size in sectors/bytes
‐ Active/Inactive attribute
‐ Hidden/Unhidden attribute
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You may customize outlook of the Partition List by clicking on the arrow icon on the top right side of the panel.
By marking a checkbox opposite the required item you can choose whether to display it or not. Besides, you can change
its order by pressing the Move up or Move down buttons.
If you don’t need the Disk Map, please click the shown below icon to disable it:
6.1.9 Properties Bar
The Properties Bar provides information on the selected at the moment partition/hard disk:
For a hard disk
Model,
Serial number,
Type of hard disk (basic or dynamic),
Total size (in GB),
Information on geometry of the disk (amount of sectors per track, heads and cylinders).
For a partition
Drive letter assigned to the disk,
Volume label (if available),
Type of the logical disk,
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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File system (represented by the color of the graph and the selected bar),
Total size, used space and free space (in GB or MB).
Besides you can modify practically any partition property by clicking on the required value.
6.1.10 Legend Bar
The Legend Bar explains the color scheme used for disk and partition presentation. You can hide (or show) the bar with
the appropriate Main Menu item: View > Disk Map Legend. When it is activated it can be found at the bottom of the
Explorer Bar.
The program distinguishes between the following types of known file systems:
‐ FAT16/32
‐ NTFS
‐ Linux Ext2/3/4
‐ Linux ReiserFS
‐ Apple HFS
6.1.11 Status Bar
This is the bottom part of the main window. The Status Bar displays menu hints, for each item the cursor points to.
The user can hide (or show) the bar with the appropriate Main Menu item: View > Status Bar.
6.2 Settings Overview
The Settings dialog is available from the Main Menu: Tools > Settings. All the settings are grouped into several sections,
which functions are described in the following paragraphs. The list of sections is placed on the left side of the dialog. By
selecting a section from the list, you can open a set of options.
To get a detailed description to any setting, control, or field of the program just click the
hint button and then the object you need.
6.2.1 General Options
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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This section contains a set of general options that will be taken into account during any operation carried out with the
program:
Partition Alignment mode. There are three options you can choose from:
‐ Legacy. DOS and Windows OSes before Vista required that partitions had to be aligned to the “disk cylinder”
or 63 sectors to address and access sectors correctly. It was OK, until 4K hard drives came into scene. When
partitions are aligned this way on this type of disk, each logical cluster is linked to two physical 4K clusters,
thus resulting in a double read‐write operation.
‐ Vista. Since Windows Vista, operating systems do not use the archaic CHS (cylinder/head/sector) addressing
scheme, but the Logical Block Addressing (LBA), where sectors are addressed continuously over the whole
disk drive. It is optimal for both, 512B and new 4K disk drivers.
‐ Inheritance. Select the option to disable automatic alignment of partitions.
Check FS integrity policy. Accomplishment of any data‐sensitive operation (resize, move, merge, redistribute,
change cluster size, etc.) is potential with data loss. To minimize this risk, it’s recommended to check integrity of
your file system before this type of operations, despite the fact that it’s quite time consuming. We offer you
several options to let you choose, which is best for you:
‐ Always. Maximum protection, but minimal performance. The file system integrity will be checked each time
it’s necessary to guarantee the maximum protection for the on‐disk data.
‐ Once. Standard protection with acceptable performance. The file system integrity will be checked for each
volume only once just before accomplishing data‐sensitive operations.
‐ Never. No protection, but maximum performance. If you’re not 100% sure your disk is rock solid, please do
not use this option.
Data Loss Protection mode. To guarantee safety for your information when a data‐sensitive operation has been
abruptly interrupted as a result of a computer reset, or a power outage, there are several techniques, that
correspond to the options below:
‐ Do not protect. No protection, but maximum performance. If you’re not 100% sure you’re completely safe
from a power outage, or an accidental reset of your computer, please do not use this option.
‐ Reset. Standard protection with acceptable performance. Maintaining a special journal, our program
enables to automatically complete a data‐sensitive operation interrupted by an accidental reset of your
computer from our bootable recovery media, thus reviving the corrupted partition.
‐ Power loss. Maximum protection, but minimal performance. Besides journaling, our program will also
disable cache of your disk when accomplishing data‐sensitive operations to avoid data loss even in case of a
power outage.
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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6.2.2 Backup Image Options
This section contains a set of options that will be taken into account during backup/restore operations:
Control archive integrity. Mark the checkbox to guarantee that all backup images created with the program are
100 percent flawless. If you decided not to control the archive integrity, the backup operation would take about
3‐5% less time.
Set image file names automatically. Mark the checkbox to make the program automatically set a file name for
every volume of a complex backup image. Otherwise you will need to do it manually during the backup
operation.
Compression level. From the pull‐down list you can select the desired compression level for backup images that
will be used by default.
Enable image splitting. Mark the checkbox to automatically split every backup image to volumes of a particular
size.
Splitting images enables to tackle problems caused by a maximum file size limitation of
some file systems.
Maximum split size. With the spinner control you can specify a maximum size for backup volumes.
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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6.2.3 General Copy and Backup Options
This section contains a set of options that will be taken into account during copy and backup operations:
HDD raw processing. Mark the checkbox to copy/back up a hard disk in the sector‐by‐sector mode, thus
ignoring its information structure (e.g. unallocated space or unused sectors of existing partitions will be
processed as well). This can help to avoid problems with hidden data created by certain applications or the
system administrator. However, it will take more time to accomplish the operation.
Partition raw processing. Mark the checkbox to copy a partition in the sector‐by‐sector mode to successfully
process unknown file systems. However it is not recommended to enable this option when working with
supported file systems as it takes more time to accomplish the operation.
Skip OS auxiliary files. Mark the checkbox to skip OS auxiliary files (like pagefile.sys, hiberfil.sys, etc.), thus
reducing the operation time and the resulted size of the backup image.
Skip archive files stored in archive library. Mark the checkbox to skip backup images registered in the archive
database, thus reducing the operation time and the resulted size of the backup image.
By clicking the link at the bottom of the window you can jump to the Copy/Backup Exclude
Options.
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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6.2.4 CD/DVD/BD Recording Options
This section contains a set of options that will be taken into account during CD/DVD/BD burn operations:
Burn every CD/DVD/BD to the end. By default, the program does not create ISO 9660 compliant burning
sessions, as it processes data on‐the‐fly and can only estimate the resulted session size. That’s why no third
party tool will get access to the recorded data. To tackle the issue, mark the checkbox to make the program
create a standard Disk‐at‐Once session. It may slow down the burning process, as every CD/DVD/BD will be
recorded up to the end, no matter how much actual information to contain.
Recording speed. The user may define how fast a CD/DVD/BD will be recorded (minimum, normal and
maximum). Besides there is an automatic mode when the program will set the most appropriate speed for
every CD/DVD/BD.
Bootable ISO image. That’s the image to be placed together with the backup data. By default, the program
offers its own bootable ISO image, which contains a Linux/DOS recovery environment. However, the user is free
to use any bootable ISO image.
CD/DVD/BD boot capability. The program enables to choose whether any recorded CD/DVD/BD will be
bootable, or only the first one for a session, or without that function at all.
Folder where the ISO image is to be placed. When the user decides not to physically burn a CD/DVD/BD, but
create an ISO image file, this very folder will be used to contain these images.
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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6.2.5 Hot Processing Options
In this section you may configure the hot processing mode:
Enable hot processing. Mark the checkbox to enable the so called hot data processing mode that is specially
designed to process data without restarting your operating system.
Hot processing technology. From the pull‐down list you can select the required hot processing technology.
Always use hot processing. Select the option to process partitions without making them locked. Thus you will
be able to keep working with them as usual.
Use hot processing only when partition is locked. Select the option to use the hot processing only when
partitions are locked and cannot be processed without restarting the computer. Please keep in mind, that once
you start any operation on a partition in this mode, it will automatically be locked by the program, thus you
won't be able to keep working with it as usual.
Hot processing temporary drive. Here you can select a disk drive that will be used to store the temporary hot
backup data (by default – C:).
Attempts to start VSS. Here you can set how many attempts to start Microsoft VSS the program is to do before
automatically rebooting the system and accomplishing the operation in a special boot‐up mode.
Timeout between attempts (in seconds). Here you can set a time period between different attempts to start
Microsoft VSS.
Switch between hot processing technologies. Mark the checkbox to automatically switch between Paragon Hot
Processing and Microsoft VSS if one of them is unavailable at the moment.
By clicking the link at the bottom of the window you can jump to the Run during Backup
Options.
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6.2.6 Run during Backup Options
In this section you can specify external applications to execute at various phases of the backup process. It can be
particularly useful when imaging systems with high availability requirements (MS SQL, MS Exchange, etc.), since it
enables to create a consistent snapshot even as the data is currently modified. The point is to provide a coherent state
of all open files and databases involved in a backup, taking into account that applications may still keep writing to disks.
Actually the backup process consists of two phases: the preparation phase (snapshot) and the data‐copying phase.
There are three points of the backup when external commands/programs can be launched:
Execute at the beginning of the backup process before taking a snapshot. Here you can specify an executable
file that will help you to prepare running applications for taking a snapshot. It may contain specific
commands/programs to delete unnecessary files, suspend services, flush transactions or caches, etc. Everything
depends on the used applications.
Execute after taking a snapshot. Here you can specify an executable file that will run just after taking a
snapshot. It may contain specific commands/programs, e.g. to resume the previously suspended services, etc.
Everything depends on the used applications.
Execute after finishing the backup process. Here you can specify an executable file that will run after the
backup process has been accomplished. It may include commands/ programs that will move the backup image
to a particular location, etc.
By clicking the link at the bottom of the window you can jump to the Hot Processing
Options.
By clicking the Browse button you can get into the browser‐like window to choose an executable file.
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The program provides the ability to work with three types of executable files (.exe, .bat, .cmd). It is up to the user to
write batch files to safely prepare applications for backup. There are some certain general requirements for that:
All programs and commands must execute sequentially and finish before the .bat file completes its work.
It is recommended to use external commands/programs in the following format ‐ Start/wait program.exe. The
wait option will help to start an application and wait until it completes its work. This will guarantee that all
included commands/programs complete their execution before the batch file does.
This function is only available when the Hot Processing mode is enabled.
The program enables to set parameters for an executable file directly from the line.
However, if the file path contains word gaps it is necessary to enclose it in quotes in order
to make the program distinguish between the path and the used parameters.
By clicking the link at the bottom of the window you can jump to the Hot Processing
Options.
6.2.7 Wipe Options
Here you can set a specific data erasure algorithm that will be used by default during wipe operations.
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The list of supported military and government standards may vary for your product.
6.2.8 Wipe Report Options
In this section you can specify contents and properties of generated wipe reports:
System information. Mark the option to include a computer name, BIOS version and the used operating system.
Hardware Information. Mark the option to include information on the used processor, disk drivers, network and
USB adapters, etc.
Bad blocks information. Mark the option to include information on the found bad blocks.
Supervisor Approval. Mark the option to add a signature field for an executive or supervisor responsible for
data sanitization procedures in your company.
Font size… Select the most suitable font size from the list (12 pts by default).
6.2.9 Partitioning Options
This section contains a set of options that will be taken into account during partitioning operations:
Enable 64 KB cluster size for FAT16. Mark the checkbox to enable 64KB clusters for FAT16 partitions. Thus you
will be able to create FAT16 partitions up to 4GB in size
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Due to the maximum cluster size of 32KB for Windows 95/98/ME or MS DOS, FAT16
partitions larger than 2GB are not reliably accessible under these operating systems.
Request confirmation before partition deletion. Mark the checkbox to activate an additional security
mechanism. Thus when going to delete a partition you will be automatically requested to enter its label.
Request confirmation when converting FAT16 to FAT32. Mark the checkbox to automatically request
confirmation before converting FAT16 to FAT32. There are a number of situations when this kind of conversion
is the only way out to accomplish the operation. For instance, you are going to migrate your system to a larger
hard disk with the proportional resize of existing partitions, what is very convenient. As a result you can get
original FAT16 partitions go beyond the 4GB limit. Thus without conversion to FAT32, this operation will in no
way be possible to accomplish. The same goes for any copy hard disk/partition or restore hard disk/partition
operation involving an extra upsizing.
6.2.10 E‐Mail Options
This section contains a set of options that will be taken into account during the Send e‐mail notification operations:
Outgoing mail server (SMTP). To send messages by using the built‐in mail client, it is necessary to have access to
a computer running an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server. All outgoing messages are first sent to the
SMTP server, which in its turn delivers them to the required recipients. The address may be represented as a
traditional Internet host name (e.g.: mail.com) or as an IP numeric address (e.g. xxx.xxx.xxx.xx).
User e‐mail address. Specify an e‐mail address that has been assigned by the Internet Service Provider or
organization's e‐mail administrator.
My outgoing server requires authentication. Activate the option to allow the program to make authentication
on the server before sending messages.
‐ User name. Enter the name that will be used to log in to the e‐mail account.
‐ Password. Enter the password that will be used to access the mail server.
Send e‐mail notification on apply. Specify an e‐mail to send notifications on the carried out operations.
‐ Send mail in HTML format. Activate the option to create messages in the HTML format instead of plain text.
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‐ Send complete report after applying operations. Activate the option to create an in‐depth report on the
carried out operations and send it after performing the last operation.
‐ Send graphical view of the disk sub‐system before and after apply. Activate the option to allow the program
to attach two pictures of the disk layout made before and after the operation is completed.
By clicking the link at the bottom of the window you can jump to the Operation
Dependency Options.
6.2.11 Operation Dependency Options
This section contains a set of options that will be taken into account when the Send e‐mail notification on apply function
is enabled. By marking/unmarking a checkbox opposite the required operation you can choose whether to receive an e‐
mail notification on its completion or not.
You won't be notified if an operation requires the system restart.
6.2.12 Virtual Mode Options
In this section you may configure the virtual mode:
Allow virtual mode. Mark the checkbox to enable the virtual mode. It is an effective way of protection from any
troubles, since no operation will be executed until confirmation, thus giving you a second chance to weigh all
pros and cons of this or that particular operation.
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We strongly recommend you to enable this mode.
Close progress dialog automatically. Mark the checkbox to automatically close the progress dialog after
accomplishing operations.
6.2.13 File System Conversion Options
This section contains a set of options that will be taken into account when converting FAT and NTFS file systems. By
default, the program takes locale (regional) settings from the system. Problems might occur however because of
different standards for file names and file time stamps (Created, Modified and Last Access Time) of NTFS and FATxx file
systems.
To tackle problems of that kind you can manually set:
Time zone to use during the convert operation. NTFS keeps file timestamps in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
while FAT uses a fixed local date and time. The program takes proper account of these differences and enables
to adjust timestamp values.
An incorrectly chosen time zone might lead to inability to launch certain software.
Language for file names to use during the convert operation. NTFS stores file names in Unicode while
FAT/FAT32 uses ANSI to save short file names (also called the DOS aliases). The codepage information is
required for the correct conversion of non‐English file names from Unicode to ANSI and vice versa.
An incorrectly chosen codepage will certainly result in corruption of non‐English file
names.
Request confirmation of settings before NTFS < ‐ > FAT/FAT32 conversion. Mark the checkbox to automatically
display the local settings dialog to check and modify (if necessary) the default parameters before launching the
convert file system operation.
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6.2.14 Copy/Backup Exclude Options
In this section the program enables to specify what data should be automatically ignored during copy and sector‐based
backup operations. You can filter certain files or folders either by the manual selection or by creating masks, what is
more preferable. Thus you will be able to effectively manage contents of your backup images or partition/hard disk
copies.
By default, there are no available filters. To create a filter, please click the Add Category… button.
In the opened dialog the program allows the user to define the following parameters:
Name. Give to the filter any name you like, but try to use an informative one;
Filter. Press the Browse button to select files or folders you would like to be excluded or specify a filter mask by
using * or ? wildcards;
Description. Add a short description to the filter not to miss it up later.
Click the OK button and you will get a new item on the list of filters. By marking/unmarking a checkbox opposite its
name you can choose whether to use it or not.
By clicking the link at the bottom of the window you can jump to the General Copy and
Backup Options.
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6.2.15 File Backup Exclude Options
In this section you can find a lot of ready‐made exclude filters to effectively control contents of your file‐based backup
images. Please note, by selecting certain filters you specify what data will be ignored during file‐based backup
operations, thus you specify the data you’d like not to be added to the resulted archives.
Anyway you’ve got the option to create your own filter by clicking the Add category… button.
In the opened dialog the program allows the user to define the following parameters:
Name. Give to the filter any name you like, but try to use an informative one;
Filter. Press the Browse button to select files or folders you would like to be excluded or specify a filter mask by
using * or ? wildcards;
Description. Add a short description to the filter not to miss it up later.
Click the OK button and you will get a new item on the list of filters. By marking/unmarking a checkbox opposite its
name you can choose whether to use it or not.
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6.2.16 File Backup Include Options
In this section you can find a lot of ready‐made include filters to effectively control contents of your file‐based backup
images. Please note, by selecting certain filters you specify what data will be processed during file‐based backup
operations, thus you automatically ignore files that do not match, so they won’t be added to the resulted archives.
Anyway you’ve got the option to create your own filter by clicking the Add category… button.
In the opened dialog the program allows the user to define the following parameters:
Name. Give to the filter any name you like, but try to use an informative one;
Filter. Press the Browse button to select files or folders you would like to be excluded or specify a filter mask by
using * or ? wildcards;
Description. Add a short description to the filter not to miss it up later.
Click the OK button and you will get a new item on the list of filters. By marking/unmarking a checkbox opposite its
name you can choose whether to use it or not.
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6.2.17 Log Files Options
In this section you can specify a storage life span for the stubact.log file:
Infinite not to empty the file ever;
Minimal to have the file emptied all the time;
Custom to set a certain storage life span for the file. Please note, once the defined period has been expired, the
file will be emptied.
We strongly recommend you not to choose the Minimal option, as in case of having
problems with the program, our Support Team won’t be able to study operation logs, thus
help you out.
6.3 Viewing Disk Properties
The main tool to view in‐depth information on the properties of hard disks is the Disk Map. It represents the actual state
of the computer’s hard disks.
Generally the hard disks are represented on the map by rectangular bars, which also contain small‐sized bars. The small‐
sized bars represent logical disks (partitions). When you select a large‐sized bar, the Explorer Bar displays information
about the disk in a bright, graphical form.
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The model and serial number of the disk serve as the title of the browsed page. The disk layout is shown in form of a
circular graph, where the color of a sector corresponds to a file system of an appropriate partition. On the right you may
see a table, which contains the following information:
Type of hard disk (basic or dynamic),
Total size (in GB),
Information on geometry of the disk (amount of sectors per track, heads and cylinders).
Below there is a list of available wizards. If you click a corresponding record the appropriate wizard will be started. All
default values for the operation parameters will correspond to the disk’s settings. The list of wizards contains a detailed
description of tasks that can be performed by the wizard. This nullifies the possibility of selecting the wrong wizard.
When you select a small‐sized bar (i.e. corresponding to a logical disk) the Explorer Bar will display information on it as
well. The page title will contain a drive letter, which is assigned to the disk. The disk layout graph will be colored in
accordance with the volume ratio of the used space to the free space (the light colored sector). The table on the right
will contain the following information:
Volume label (if available),
Type of the logical disk,
File system (represented by the color of the graph and the selected bar),
Total size, used space and free space (in GB or MB).
Below there is a list of wizards, which may be called for this disk. All default values of parameters will correspond to the
disk settings.
6.4 Viewing Image Properties
General information on backup archives can be obtained either with the following tools:
6.4.1 Using the Restore Wizard
In the Main menu: select Wizards > Restore…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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At first, the wizard displays the Welcome page – simply click the Next button at the foot of the dialog window.
The next page refers to Browse for Archive. By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images
contained in the Archive Database (if any).
To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e. Archive File
Details) display a short description, including:
Information on a type of the archive contents (whether it is sector‐based or file‐based),
Whether the archive is compressed or not,
Whether the archive is password protected or not,
The date, when the archive was created.
In addition, there are some special graphical flags to indicate crucial properties:
FLAG FUNCTIONALITY
Disk archive
Partition archive
File archive
MBR archive
System archive
Encrypted archive
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Compressed archive
Complex archive
Filtered archive
Differential archive
Incremental archive
File increment to a partition
archive
To easily manage images in the Archive Database, the program provides the following functionality:
BUTTON FUNCTIONALITY
Refresh the contents of the database
Show only existing archives
Add the selected archive to the database
Delete the selected archive from the
database
Besides you may filter backup archives to decide whether to show only file, partition or hard disk archives. To do that,
please select the required filter in the left top corner of the page.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window.
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The section below (i.e. Archive File Details) displays a short description of the selected image, including:
Information on a type of the archive contents (whether it is sector‐based or file‐based),
Whether the archive is compressed or not,
Whether the archive is password protected or not,
The date, when the archive was created.
Moreover, on this page you’ve got the possibility to create new folders, delete existing files/folders or map network
drives by clicking the appropriate buttons.
The next page (i.e. What to restore) displays detailed information about the contents of the archive.
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If you want to restore the image contents, click the Next button. In order to cancel, click the Cancel button.
6.4.2 Using the Archive Database
To open the Archive Database, click the appropriate tab in the Explorer Bar. The database window can be conditionally
subdivided into several sections that differ in their purpose and functionality:
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1. Explorer Bar that displays properties of the selected image.
2. Volume Explorer that enables to access the selected image as a regular folder to
explorer its contents or to retrieve certain files.
3. Archive List that displays a list of images contained in the Archive Database (if any).
Besides the program provides all the necessary functionality to manage backup images in
the database (add, delete, mount, refresh, etc.)
All panels offer a synchronized layout and are separated by vertical and horizontal
expandable sliders, allowing the user to customize the screen layout.
6.5 Data Backup and Rescue
In this chapter you will find all the information necessary to establish a reliable data protection system.
6.5.1 Creating Backup Images
Depending on a type of information you need to protect and the way this information should be processed, the program
offers a number of handy backup wizards. To make your job with the program as easy and convenient as possible, all
backup wizards share similar work algorithm. By going through steps of the wizard, you configure all the necessary
settings to launch the backup operation. To minimize the possibility of making any mistake, the wizard provides auxiliary
information on every single option. Moreover you can get an in‐depth description to any setting, control, or field of the
wizard just by clicking the hint button and then the object you need.
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Smart Backup Wizard Startup
In the Main Menu: select Wizards > Smart Backup
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Smart Backup Wizard Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the backup operation:
The object to back up. Click on a section you find answering to your task.
‐ Disk or Partitions to create a sector‐based backup of the whole disk system, or only separate partitions;
‐ E‐mail to create a file‐based backup of e‐mail databases, accounts and address books of MS Outlook, MS
Express, and Windows Mail;
‐ Media Files to create a file‐based backup of all media files (photo, video, music, etc) stored in the My
Documents folder;
‐ Documents to create a file‐based backup of all office documents stored in the My Documents folder;
‐ Other Files and Folders to create a file‐based backup of any files and folders.
If selecting Disk or Partitions or Other Files and Folders you will need to specify more
exactly the object of operation. To know more on the subject, please consult the Backup
Scenarios chapter.
Name and location of the resulted image. Provide a file name for the new image and its exact location. The
program automatically offers an easy to understand name containing the date and the time of the archive
creation, which can anyway be modified.
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The program automatically calculates size of the future archive and informs the user about
space available on the selected destination.
Archive Comment. You can add some additional description to the archive that will later help to distinguish it
from the others.
Result
After the backup operation is completed you receive an image of the selected object. This image is placed into the
specified destination, its features defined by the wizard.
Available operation scenarios:
Backing up a hard disk or partition to the Backup Capsule
Backing up a hard disk or partition to external media (CD/DVD)
Backing up a hard disk or partition to a network drive
Backing up files to an FTP/SFTP server
Backing up a dual boot Mac to an external USB drive
Backing up files to a local mounted/unmounted (without drive letter assigned) partition
Creating a differential to a full partition backup
Creating an increment to a full partition backup
Creating an increment to a full file backup
Creating a cyclic partition backup
Merging a full partition backup with one of its differentials
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6.5.2 Restoring System and Data
The program includes a convenient and reliable restore wizard. With its help you can restore all types of backup images
created with the program. It provides easy to understand instructions to configure and perform all the necessary
settings. Moreover you can get an in‐depth description to any setting, control, or field of the wizard just by clicking the
hint button and then the object you need.
Startup
In the Main Menu: select Wizards > Restore…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the restore operation:
A backup image to be restored. The Browse for Archive page enables to find a backup image you need.
By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images contained in the Archive Database (if
any).
To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e.
Archive File Details) display a short description.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window. The section
below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short description of the selected image.
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Moreover, on this page you’ve got the possibility to create new folders, delete existing files/folders or map
network drives by clicking the appropriate buttons.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
File Backup Restore
Data to restore. You’ve got the option to restore not only the entire archive, but separate items of it (the so
called selective restore functionality) by marking checkboxes next to the data items you need.
A place to restore. From the pull‐down list you can choose whether to restore contents of the backup image to
its original location or specify some other one.
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Besides if you select the Original location option, you can additionally define whether to replace already existing
files during the restore operation (good for recovering presumably corrupted files) or leave them intact (good
for recovering accidentally deleted files).
Sector Backup Restore
Data to restore. You’ve got the option to restore not only the entire archive, but separate items of it (the so
called selective restore functionality) by marking checkboxes next to the data items you need.
If you select separate files or folders to restore, the wizard will continue working as though
you’ve got to do with a file backup.
A place to restore. Selecting the destination, please note ‐ all contents on the disk selected for restoring
purposes will be deleted during the operation.
To help you get a clear‐cut picture of the operation outcome, the program allows inspecting the resulted disk
layout.
Restoring Partition:
Size of the restored volume and free space before and after it on the disk.
Drive letter assignment after restore. The pull‐down list contains vacant drive letters that can be associated
with the restored partition.
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Restoring Hard Disk:
Copy data and resize partitions proportionally. If this option is activated, the program proportionally changes
the size of partitions keeping their relative order intact. The option can be useful when restoring to a larger hard
disk.
Perform surface test. Define whether the surface test will be accomplished during the operation or not.
All contents on the disk selected for restoring purposes will be deleted during the
operation.
Result
The wizard will restore the archived data, and make it available to use in the operating system.
To make Windows bootable on different hardware, please additionally complete the P2P
Adjust OS Wizard.
Available operation scenarios:
Restoring a hard disk from the bootable Backup Capsule
Restoring a system partition from external media (CD/DVD)
Restoring a system partition from a network drive
Restoring a system partition from a local drive
Restoring a dual boot Mac from an external USB drive
Restoring a file increment
Restoring a file increment to a partition backup
Restoring separate files and folders from a backup
6.6 Copy Tasks
In this chapter you will find all the information necessary to make a copy of a hard disk or a separate partition.
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6.6.1 Cloning Hard Disks
You can clone a hard disk of any file system. During the hard disk copying process, the program moves controlling
records of used partitioning scheme, the bootstrap code and on‐disk partitions. That’s why this operation cannot be
substituted by simply copying all on‐disk partitions.
Copy Hard Disk Wizard
The Copy Hard Disk Wizard is a traditional‐like wizard. By going through its steps, you configure all the necessary
settings to launch the copy operation. To minimize the possibility of making any mistake, the wizard provides auxiliary
information on every single option. Moreover you can get an in‐depth description to any setting, control, or field of the
wizard just by clicking the hint button and then the object you need.
You need at least two hard disks to carry out this operation.
Startup
In the Main Menu: select Wizards > Copy Hard Disk…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the copy hard disk operation:
The hard disk to copy. Select a hard disk you want to copy.
The target hard disk. Select a hard disk (if several) where all data of the source disk will be copied to.
Copy parameters. The wizard enables to specify the following options:
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Copy options
‐ HDD raw copy to copy the hard disk in the sector‐by‐sector mode, thus ignoring its information structure (e.g.
unallocated space or unused sectors of existing partitions will be processed as well). This can help to avoid
problems with hidden data created by certain applications or the system administrator. However, it will take
more time to accomplish the operation.
‐ Partition raw copy to copy the on‐disk partitions in the sector‐by‐sector mode to successfully process
unknown file systems. However it is not recommended to enable this option when working with supported file
systems as it takes more time to accomplish the operation.
‐ Change masks for files to exclude from copy to manage contents of the resulted duplicate. By default the
program will take into account exclude filters set in the Settings dialog. If you need to change them, please mark
the checkbox and specify additional filters on the next page of the wizard.
Resize options
‐ Remove free blocks between partitions not to keep blocks of free space between partitions on the targeted
hard disk.
‐ Copy data and resize partitions proportionally to make the program proportionally change the size of
partitions keeping their relative order intact. The option can be useful when upgrading the hard disk to a larger
one.
Verification options
This section allows you to define whether the Surface and/or the Writing verification tests will be accomplished
during the operation.
Result
After the operation is completed, you receive a fully functional duplicate of the existing hard disk.
To make Windows bootable on different hardware, please additionally complete the P2P
Adjust OS Wizard.
Available operation scenarios:
Migrating system to a new HDD (up to 2.2TB in size)
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6.6.2 Cloning Partitions
You can duplicate partitions to protect oneself from downtime in case of a system malfunction or for cloning sample
partitions. The program enables to duplicate all partition data including files, the exact structure of directories and file
system metadata (location of files, security information, access quotas, etc.).
The Copy Partition Wizard will help you copy a partition of any file system. To minimize the possibility of making any
mistake, the wizard provides auxiliary information on every single option. Moreover you can get an in‐depth description
to any setting, control, or field of the wizard just by clicking the hint button and then the object you need.
Startup
In the Main Menu: select Wizards > Copy Partition…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the copy partition operation:
The partition to copy. Select a partition you want to copy.
Destination disk. Select a hard disk with enough unallocated space to perform the operation.
The program enables to copy a partition to a block of free space, which is smaller than the
partition itself, taking into account only actual amount of data.
Copy parameters. The wizard enables to specify the following options:
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‐ Partition size. Define the size (in Mb) of the copied partition.
‐ Free space before. Define the position (in Mb) of the copied partition relative to the beginning of the available
range of disk space.
‐ Free space after. Define the amount of trailing free space (in Mb) at the end of the available range of disk
space.
Partition size and position may also be defined by using the drag‐and‐drop technique. To do
that, just carry out the required operation on the Disk Map.
Result
After the operation is completed you receive a fully functional duplicate of the existing partition.
To make Windows bootable on different hardware, please additionally complete the P2P
Adjust OS Wizard.
6.7 Boot Management
Our program enables to easily manage several operating systems on one computer with the help of the Boot Manager
Setup Wizard. Among the key features of the wizard the following should be mentioned:
Up to 16 operating systems on one PC;
Secure adding/removing of the Boot Manager startup record to/from the MBR;
Auto Boot option to automatically start up the previously chosen OS after a certain time period;
Hiding of any primary partition except selected at the moment.
Startup
In the Main menu: select Tools > Setup Boot Manager…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
Boot menu options. In this section you can switch between the following modes:
‐ Normal mode. Choose this mode to display the boot menu every time the computer starts up and define a
timeout on the expiry of which the program will automatically select the previously chosen item of the menu.
‐ Hidden mode. Choose this mode not to display the boot menu until pressing a hot key. For this mode you
should define a hot key used to enable the Boot Manager and a time period in seconds the startup message will
be displayed.
Deactivating/Configuring the Boot Manager. These two options will only be available once the wizard has been
completed and launched again. Select the Deactivate option to remove the Boot Manager from the MBR
(Master Boot Record) or Configure to modify the previously set parameters of the startup process.
Result
After the Boot Manager Setup Wizard is completed the program updates the original record in the MBR to get control of
the booting process and to be able to display the boot menu.
Available operation scenarios:
Creating Dual Boot Systems
6.8 Partition Management
In this chapter you will find all the information necessary to carry out partitioning operations supported by the program.
6.8.1 Basic Partitioning Operations
Here you can learn how to accomplish basic partitioning operations (create, format, delete).
Creating Partitions
The program provides the ability to create a new partition within a block of un‐partitioned space.
Restrictions
1. Do not use the Create Partition function in order to undelete the last deleted partition.
2. The program allows creating new partitions only within blocks of un‐partitioned space. It cannot convert a free
space on an existing partition to a new partition.
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3. The program cannot create new partitions on Dynamic Disks.
Express Create Partition Wizard Startup
In the Main menu: select Wizards > Express Create Partition…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Create Partition Wizard Startup
In the Main menu: select Wizards > Create Partition…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Dialog Startup
1. Select a block of free space on the Disk Map;
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Create Partition.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Express Create Partition Wizard Setup
Thanks to a highly intelligent work algorithm, the wizard requires minimal involvement in the operation, thus you only
need to choose a method you find the most suitable to create the partition (if several available), which actually differ in
the amount of space to allocate. For easy perception, you can see the resulted disk layout on the disk map by selecting
this or that mode.
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The number of available methods depends on your disk layout.
To learn more on the way the wizard works, please click the corresponding link on the first
page of the wizard.
Create Partition Wizard Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
Partition destination. Select a hard disk (if the computer has several hard disks) and then choose position for
the future partition on the disk: at the end (preferable), at the beginning or somewhere in the middle between
other partitions.
By default, the program allows you to create a new partition only as the last primary or as
the last logical drive within the extended partition. However, by activating the advance
mode on the first page of the wizard you can remove this restriction that in its turn might
result in some boot problems.
Partition size. There is no restriction on size of the future partition, merely depending on space available on the
hard disk.
If there is not enough free space in one block, the wizard enables to redistribute free space, joining all free
space blocks together into one united block and moving partitions when necessary. If the total amount of free
space is still not enough, it is possible to split a fragment of space from one of the existing partitions, thus
resizing it.
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If a partition to resize is locked and cannot be processed, the wizard makes the system
reboot to create the partition and then automatically boots the system again. (The
rebooting mechanism is different for different versions of Windows.)
You can also choose whether the future partition will be primary or logical by marking the appropriate
checkbox.
Partition properties. On the next page of the wizard you can set a number of additional parameters:
‐ Partition type. From the pull‐down list select a file system the newly created partition will be formatted to,
otherwise the partition will remain unformatted (so that it will not be ready to use).
‐ Volume label. Enter a label for the selected partition in this textual field. It is an irrelevant parameter usually
used for drive identification.
‐ Surface test level. Define the level of the surface check to make the program find bad and unstable sectors and
mark them unusable in the file system metadata.
Dialog Setup
Initially the program suggests some consistent values for all parameters. In most cases, you can just press the Yes
button to confirm the operation.
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Define whether the partition will be Primary, Extended or Logical. You can choose the desired partition type
from the pull‐down list. As a matter of fact, the available alternatives fundamentally depend on the selected
block of free space ‐ within the Logical free space, only Logical partitions can be created; Within the Primary free
space, both Primary partitions or the Extended Partition can be created.
Partition Size. Define the size (in Mb) of the new partition.
Free space before. Define the position (in Mb) of the new partition relative to the beginning of the block of free
space.
Free space after. Define the amount of trailing free space (in Mb) at the end of the new partition.
Partition size and position may also be defined by using the drag‐and‐drop technique. To do
that, just carry out the required operation on the Disk Map. The virtual operations are to be
available.
File system for new partition. From the pull‐down list select a file system the newly created partition will be
formatted to, otherwise the partition will remain unformatted (so that it will not be ready to use).
Volume label. Enter a label for the selected partition in this textual field. It is an irrelevant parameter usually
used for drive identification.
Drive letter assignment. The pull‐down list contains vacant drive letters that can be associated with the newly
formatted partition.
In addition, there is the possibility to make further detailed settings (although the default values will do in most cases).
To activate the advance mode, you need to click the More options button at the foot of the dialog page. Depending on
the chosen file system, the following options become available:
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Use OS built‐in routine. Mark the option to restrict the available values according to the used OS.
Whether the surface test will be performed. Define the level of the surface check to make the program find bad
and unstable sectors and mark them unusable in the file system metadata.
The amount of sectors per boot. This parameter is available exclusively for FAT16 and FAT32 file systems. Set
the number of sectors to be reserved for the boot area on the partition with this spinner control.
The amount of root entries. This parameter is available exclusively for FAT16 file system. Set the maximum
amount of files/directories to be placed in the Root Directory on the FAT16 partition.
The amount of sectors per cluster. Define the Cluster Size for the formatted partition with this spinner control.
Number of available options depends on the selected file system type.
Result
After the operation is completed you receive a fully functional partition.
Available operation scenarios:
Creating a new partition to detach operating system from the rest of data
Formatting Partitions
Any partition should contain some file system to be used for keeping data. The process of installing a file system is
commonly known as formatting. A huge variety of file systems have been developed these days.
Supported File Systems
The program provides the ability to format partitions of the following file systems:
‐ FAT12 & FAT16
‐ FAT32
‐ HFS+
‐ NTFS
‐ Ext2
‐ Ext3
‐ Ext4
‐ Linux Swap v. 2
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Wizard Startup
In the Main menu: select Wizards > Format Partition…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Dialog Startup
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map;
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Format Partition.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Wizard Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
Partition to format. Select a hard disk (if the computer has several hard disks) and then the required partition to
format.
As a result of this operation contents of the selected partition will be lost.
Partition properties. On the next page of the wizard you can set the following partition parameters:
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‐ Partition type. From the pull‐down list select the desired file system type. In fact, the program displays only
those file systems that can correctly be placed to the selected partition, taking its capacity into account.
‐ Volume label. Enter a label for the selected partition in this textual field. It is an irrelevant parameter usually
used for drive identification.
‐ Drive letter assignment. The pull‐down list contains vacant drive letters that can be associated with the newly
formatted partition.
In addition, there is the possibility to make further detailed settings (although the default values will do in most cases).
To activate the advance mode, you need to mark the appropriate option at the foot of the page. When it is marked, the
next page enables to define:
Use OS built‐in routine. Mark the checkbox to restrict the available values according to the used OS.
Whether the surface test will be performed. Define the level of the surface check to make the program find bad
and unstable sectors and mark them unusable in the file system metadata.
The amount of sectors per boot. This parameter is available exclusively for FAT16 and FAT32 file systems. Set
the number of sectors to be reserved for the boot area on the partition with this spinner control.
The amount of root entries. This parameter is available exclusively for FAT16 file system. Set the maximum
amount of files/directories to be placed in the Root Directory on the FAT16 partition.
The amount of sectors per cluster. Define the Cluster Size for the formatted partition with this spinner control.
Number of available options depends on the selected file system type.
Dialog Setup
Initially the program suggests some consistent values for all parameters. In most cases, you can just press the Format
button to confirm the operation.
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File system. From the pull‐down list select the desired file system type. In fact, the program displays only those
file systems that can correctly be placed to the selected partition, taking its capacity into account.
Volume label. Enter a label for the selected partition in this textual field. It is an irrelevant parameter usually
used for drive identification.
In addition, there is the possibility to make further detailed settings (although the default values will do in most cases).
To activate the advance mode, you need to click the More options button at the foot of the dialog page. Depending on
the chosen file system, the following options become available:
Use OS built‐in routine. Mark the checkbox to restrict the available values according to the used OS.
Whether the surface test will be performed. Define the level of the surface check to make the program find bad
and unstable sectors and mark them unusable in the file system metadata.
The amount of sectors per boot. This parameter is available exclusively for FAT16 and FAT32 file systems. Set
the number of sectors to be reserved for the boot area on the partition with this spinner control.
The amount of root entries. This parameter is available exclusively for FAT16 file system. Set the maximum
amount of files/directories to be placed in the Root Directory on the FAT16 partition.
The amount of sectors per cluster. Define the Cluster Size for the formatted partition with this spinner control.
Number of available options depends on the selected file system type.
Result
After the operation is completed you receive a fully functional partition formatted to the specified file system.
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Deleting Partitions
Wizard Startup
In the Main menu: select Wizards > Delete Partition…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Dialog Startup
In order to start the operation you should take the following steps:
Launcher
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map;
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Delete Partition.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Wizard Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
Partition to delete. Select a hard disk (if the computer has several hard disks) and then the required partition to
delete.
As a result of this operation contents of the selected partition will be lost.
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Merge free blocks. As a result of the operation you may get several blocks of the unallocated space on the hard
disk. So choose whether to merge them all and place at the beginning of the disk or at the end by selecting the
required operation from the pull‐down list.
Dialog Setup
Initially the program suggests you just to remove references to the selected partition from the Partition Table.
Enter the volume label to confirm deleting. To confirm deletion of the selected partition, enter its Volume
Label. The current volume label is displayed above.
Do not ask volume label next time. Mark the option to inhibit confirmation next time you start the dialog.
Result
By default, the operation takes only a fraction of a second. However, the program waits until Windows completes the
modification of the disk layout.
6.8.2 Advanced Partitioning Operations
Here you can learn how to accomplish advanced partitioning operations.
Merging Partitions
The Merge Partitions Wizard enables to consolidate the disk space, which originally belongs to two adjacent partitions,
into a single, larger partition. The order, in which two partitions have been chosen, is important since all contents of the
second selected partition will be placed in a folder on the resulted joined partition.
The program provides the ability to merge only NTFS, FAT16 or FAT32 partitions.
Startup
In the Main menu: select Wizards > Merge Partitions…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
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The partition to expand. Select a partition, the size of which you need to increase by up‐taking contents of an
adjacent partition.
The partition to merge with. Choose the second partition for the merge operation, the contents of which will be
placed in a folder on the resulted joined partition. By default, the program offers an easy‐to‐understand folder
name to store files of the second partition, which however can be customized.
Be particularly careful when selecting system partitions to process, since the incorrect
order, in which two partitions have been chosen, will result in inability to boot the
operating system.
Result
After the operation is completed the disk space of the two adjacent partitions will be consolidated.
Redistributing Unused Space between Partitions
Express Resize Partitions Wizard
The Express Resize Partitions Wizard enables to easily increase free space on one partition by up‐taking the unused
space of an adjacent partition of your hard disk.
Startup
In the Main menu: select Wizards > Express Resize Partitions…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
Adjacent partitions to resize. Click on the left partition of the pair of partitions you need to redistribute the
unused space between, as the right one will be selected automatically.
Resulted size of partitions. Redistribute the unused space between the partitions with the slider or manually by
entering the required value.
Result
After the operation is completed the unused space between the specified partitions will be redistributed according to
your needs.
Available operation scenarios:
Increasing size of a system partition by taking unused space of an adjacent logical partition
Resizing partitions of Apple Boot Camp
Redistribute Free Space Wizard
The Redistribute Free Space Wizard helps to increase free space on one partition by up‐taking the on‐disk unallocated
space and the unused space of other partitions. By default, the wizard adds to the target partition all existing blocks of
the free space. Besides you can specify partitions to act as a space donor. The wizard will automatically recalculate
positions of the partitions and move their contents to new locations.
Startup
In the Main menu: select Wizards > Redistribute Free Space…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
Partition to enlarge. Select a partition, the size of which will be increased at the expense of other partitions.
Blocks of the free space (if any) will be automatically added to the target partition.
Partition to donate. Choose any partition(s) (not only adjacent) to donate free space.
Partition size. By default, the program leaves 50% of the unused space on a partition and removes another 50%
to add it to the target partition. However, the size to take can be customized by moving the slider or by
manually entering the exact value.
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Result
After the operation is completed free space of the specified partition will be increased by up‐taking the on‐disk
unallocated space and the unused space of other partitions.
Undeleting Partitions
When simply deleting a partition (without additional wiping) disk management software only removes references to it in
the Partition Table, thus leaving the possibility to recover it later.
The program enables to find and recover these partitions. A restored partition will be fully functional, as long as other
partitions were not created, moved or exceeded the disk space occupied by that partition. That is why the program
offers this function only for blocks of free space.
The operation can be accomplished with the Undelete Partition Wizard.
Startup
In the Main Menu: select Wizards > Undelete Partitions…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the undelete partition operation:
Free blocks to scan for lost partitions. Choose a free block from a tree‐like list of available hard disks.
Search method. By default, the wizard selects the fastest search method for your operating system. In most
cases that will do to find any accidentally deleted partition. However if you're under Windows XP for instance
(the Conventional Search option is selected), but the deleted partition you're looking for has been created with
the Disk Management utility under Vista, the wizard won't be able to find this partition, unless you manually
select the appropriate option (Quick Search for Partitions Created by Vista or Later OS). Moreover if the wizard
still fails to find the partition you need, you can select the Thorough Search option to scan every single sector in
the specified search area to get the most accurate results.
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To know more on the available search methods, please use the context sensitive hint
system.
File system filter. By default, the wizard will search for all known file systems. However, by clicking on the
appropriate option on the second page of the wizard, you can specify only those file systems you need.
A partition to undelete (if several). By default, the program searches records of any deleted partition ever
existed on the selected block of free space. So you can get several partitions to choose from.
Most likely the required partition will be found first. If so, you may abort the search operation by pressing the
Stop search button.
Result
After the operation is completed you receive a fully functional partition.
Installing a New Operating System
Getting your computer ready to install a new operating system, especially when it is going to be an additional OS in the
system, is a rather complicated task that implies quite a number of operations, from allocating space to create a new
partition (resize, redistribution of free space) to formatting of the newly created partition to a particular file system and
checking its surface for bad sectors to avoid possible data loss. Operating systems today are being supplied with basic
tools of partitioning that only enable to create a partition (in case there is enough unallocated space on the disk) and
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then format it to the specified file system type. Our program offers a handy Install New OS Wizard to easily carry out all
the necessary operations to install a new operating system.
Startup
In the Main menu: select Wizards > Install New OS…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
Partition to install a new operating system. The program offers two ways of installing a new OS, i.e. to create a
new primary partition for it or use an existing one.
Only primary partitions can be used to install an operating system.
‐ In case the first option has been marked, the wizard enables to specify:
A hard disk (if several) where a new partition will be created. Thanks to an advanced program engine it is
possible to use unallocated space of the disk (if any) and unused space of existing partitions to create a new
partition;
To avoid any possible problems, the new partition will in no way be created as the first
partition of the disk which already contains at least one partition.
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And its size. If there are blocks of the free space on the disk, the wizard will merge them all and allocate the
resulted space for a new partition in the first place. If not, it will take 50% of the unused space of an adjacent
partition. However, the size to take can be customized by moving the slider.
‐ In case the second option has been marked, the wizard enables to choose an existing primary partition to
install a new operating system.
Your computer may fail if any other OS has already been installed on the selected partition.
Partition properties.
‐ Partition type. From the pull‐down list select the desired file system type. In fact, the program displays only file
systems that can be correctly placed to the selected partition, taking its capacity into account.
‐ Drive letter assignment. The pull‐down list contains vacant drive letters that can be associated with the newly
formatted partition.
‐ Surface test level. Define the level of the surface check to make the program find bad and unstable sectors and
mark them unusable in the file system metadata.
OS Label. Enter a label for the selected partition in the textual field. It will later be used for the drive
identification.
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Result
As the final step the wizard will offer you to insert a distributive CD/DVD of the new operating system and restart the
computer to launch the installation procedure.
The program will update your MBR, so most likely you won’t be able to start up any of the
previously installed operating systems. Please launch the Boot Manager Setup Wizard after
the installation has been completed to fix this issue.
Available operation scenarios:
Creating Dual Boot Systems
Moving/Resizing Partition
The Move/Resize Partition function allows you to resize or change location of any partition without destroying its data.
In order to move/resize a partition you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main menu: Partition > Move/Resize Partition…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. Define parameters of the operation.
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Volume size. Define size (in Mb) of the modified partition.
Free space before. Define the partition position (in Mb) relative to the beginning of the available range of
disk space.
Free space after. Define the amount of trailing free space (in Mb) at the end of the available range of disk
space.
Sector to sector move. Mark the checkbox to move the partition in the sector‐by‐sector mode to process its
unused space as well. This can help to avoid problems with hidden data created by certain applications or
the system administrator. However, it will take more time to accomplish the operation.
Partition size and position may also be defined by using the drag‐and‐drop technique. To do
that, just carry out the required operation on the Disk Map. The virtual operations are to be
available.
When resizing a FAT16 partition beyond the 2GB limit (maximum file system size), the
partition will automatically be converted to FAT32.
The program enables to enlarge NTFS partitions (system, locked) without rebooting
Windows and interrupting its work, providing 100 percent guarantee that your data is kept
intact.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
Available operation scenarios:
Increasing size of a system partition by taking unused space from any other
Shrinking a system partition to increase size of a data partition
Converting File System
With our program you can change type of the used file system without destroying its data. While performing the
operation, it first checks the current file system for consistency and then verifies whether the on‐partition data meet the
requirements of the desired file system or not. After having passed the testing, the program re‐organizes the file system
metadata and user files.
The program enables to convert the following file system types:
‐ FAT16 > NTFS, FAT32
‐ FAT32 > NTFS, FAT16
‐ NTFS > FAT16, FAT32
‐ Ext2 > Ext3
In order to convert a file system you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main menu: Partition > Convert file system…
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There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. Initially the program suggests some consistent values for all parameters. In most cases, you can just press the
Convert button to confirm the operation.
New file system. From the pull‐down list choose a file system you would like to convert to. Actually the
program only displays variants available for the operation, taking into account the current parameters of the
selected partition and limitations of the used file system.
New cluster size. Define the cluster size for the partition. This parameter can have a profound effect on the
overall performance. In a nutshell, larger clusters waste more space, but generally provide for slightly better
performance, because of less fragmentation. So be particularly careful with it.
The cluster size value is expressed in sectors per cluster. To get it in Kbytes, please divide it
into half.
You may only decrease the current cluster size.
Surface test level. Define the level of the surface check to make the program find bad and unstable sectors
and mark them unusable in the file system metadata.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
Changing Cluster Size
Cluster size is one of the crucial parameters of any file system. Its value implicitly affects the performance of the files
input‐output activity since it defines the size of the file system metadata. Besides, the so‐called waste space factor also
depends on the cluster size.
In order to change the cluster size of a partition you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main menu: Partition > Modify > Change Cluster Size…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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3. Define the cluster size for the partition. This parameter can have a profound effect on the overall performance.
In a nutshell, larger clusters waste more space, but generally provide for slightly better performance, because of
less fragmentation. So be particularly careful with it.
The Cluster Size value is expressed in Sectors Per Cluster. To get the Cluster Size in Kbytes,
divide it into half.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
Making Logical/Primary
The program allows you to include a primary partition in the extended partition, or exclude a logical partition from the
extended partition, without partition duplication.
In order to change a partition type you should take the following steps:
1. Select a primary or logical partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main menu: Partition > Modify > Make Partition Logical/Primary.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
The Make Primary > Logical option is only available when the selected partition is adjacent
to the extended partition and vice versa.
The Make Primary > Logical option of the system partition will result in inability to boot the
operating system.
3. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
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6.8.3 Changing Partition Attributes
This chapter explains how you can change partition attributes (Active flag, Hidden flag, Volume Label, etc.).
Mark Partition Active/Inactive
The program enables to set an active/inactive flag for primary partitions of a hard disk. By default, an operating system
will boot only if its partition is active or bootable.
In order to mark a partition active/inactive you should take the following steps:
1. Select a primary partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Mark Partition as Active/Inactive.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
There can only be one active partition on a hard disk, otherwise your operating system will
fail to boot.
Hide/Unhide Partition
The program allows you to hide/unhide primary and logical partitions. By default, an operating system does not mount
hidden partitions, thus preventing access to their contents.
In order to hide/unhide a partition you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Hide/Unhide Partition.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
It is strongly recommended not to hide the system partition. Otherwise your operating
system will fail to boot.
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Set Label of a Partition
The Partition Label is a small textual field (up to 11 characters) that is located in the partition's boot sector. It is
detectable by any partitioning tool and is used for notification purposes only.
In order to change a partition label you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Modify > Change Volume Label.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. Enter a label for the selected partition.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
Change Partition ID
Partition ID is a file system identifier. It is saved in the Partition Table and is used to quickly detect a partition of the
supported type. By manually changing its value, you can manipulate accessibility of partitions.
In order to change a partition ID you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Modify > Change Partition ID…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. Set a new ID for the selected partition.
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Predefined ID. Select from the pull‐down list the required ID.
Enter ID manually. With the spinner control set the required ID value. It has to be a 1‐2 digit hexadecimal
number.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
Change Serial Number of a Partition
FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS file systems include the Serial Number parameter. A partition's serial number is saved in the
boot sector. Its value is generated while formatting.
The program enables to modify the serial number parameter for FAT16, FAT32, or NTFS partitions without re‐
formatting.
In order to change a serial number you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Modify > Change Serial Number.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. Enter a new serial number for the selected partition. It should contain 8 hexadecimal figures (0..9 or A..F). The
operation cannot proceed until you enter all 8 symbols.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
6.9 Hard Disk Management
In this chapter you will find all the information necessary to carry hard disk operations supported by the program.
6.9.1 Converting Dynamic MBR to Basic
The program allows you to convert a dynamic MBR disk containing simple volumes into a basic one while keeping its
contents intact.
In order to convert a dynamic MBR disk into basic you should take the following steps:
1. Select a dynamic MBR disk containing simple volumes on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Hard Disk > Convert to Basic…
3. Set the required number of primary partitions if necessary. According to the DOS partitioning scheme a hard
disk can have up to four Primary partitions. If there is an Extended partition on the disk, only three primary
partitions are allowed. That is why if a dynamic disk contains several simple volumes the program enables to
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choose the number of primary partitions. The rest of them if any will automatically be converted to logical disks
within the Extended partition.
The program can only process dynamic disks containing solid simple volumes (without
extension).
6.9.2 Converting GPT to Basic MBR
The program allows you to convert a basic or a dynamic GPT disk containing simple volumes into a basic MBR disk while
keeping its contents intact.
In order to convert a basic or a dynamic GPT disk into a basic MBR disk you should take the following steps:
1. Select a basic or a dynamic GPT disk containing simple volumes on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Hard Disk > Convert to Basic MBR Hard Disk…
3. Set the required number of primary partitions if necessary. According to the DOS partitioning scheme a hard
disk can have up to four Primary partitions. If there is an Extended partition on the disk, only three primary
partitions are allowed. That is why if a GPT disk contains several volumes the program enables to choose the
number of primary partitions. The rest of them if any will automatically be converted to logical disks within the
Extended partition.
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The program can only process dynamic GPT disks containing solid simple volumes (without
extension).
6.9.3 Converting Basic MBR to GPT
The program allows you to easily convert a basic MBR disk into a basic GPT disk while keeping its contents intact. The
operation is quite safe for the on‐disk data, but you should know that only 64‐bit Windows OSes since Vista are able to
boot from this type of disks. So if you’ve got a 32‐bit Windows OS accommodated on a disk you’d like to convert to GPT,
it won’t start up after the operation is over.
In order to convert a basic MBR disk to a basic GPT you should take the following steps:
1. Select a basic MBR hard disk on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Hard Disk > Convert to GPT hard disk.
3. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
The program can only convert basic MBR disks.
6.9.4 Updating MBR
The program enables to overwrite the current bootable code in the MBR (Master Boot Record) by the standard
bootstrap code. This can help to repair a corrupted bootable code of a hard disk resulted from a boot virus attack or a
malfunction of boot management software.
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In order to update MBR of a hard disk you should take the following steps:
Launcher
1. Select a hard disk on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Hard Disk > Update MBR.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
6.9.5 Changing Primary Slot
Different operating systems apply different approaches to enumeration of the primary partitions.
In Linux:
In Linux, every partition has a special symbolic name that encodes a hard disk containing a partition, and a partition
itself. Partitions are addressed and accessed by using their symbolic names. Symbolic names are automatically
generated by Linux in accordance with the order of hard disks in BIOS and the order of partition records in the Partition
Table. Thus changing enumeration of the primary partitions can lead to changing of paths to some important resources.
In DOS:
The last versions of MS‐DOS use a rather sophisticated algorithm for a drive letter assignment. A drive letter, which is
assigned to a partition, depends on the order of records in the Partition Table. Thus changing enumeration of the
primary partitions affects the drive letters assignment. In early versions of MS‐DOS, it could even lead to the
unavailability of a partition.
The program provides the ability to change enumeration of the primary partitions. This feature will allow you to fix
problems concerning an inappropriate order of partitions.
In order to modify enumeration of the primary partitions you should take the following steps:
1. Select a hard disk on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Hard Disk > Change Primary Slot.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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3. In the opened dialog you can see the current enumeration of the primary partitions of the selected hard disk in
the Partition Table. To help you distinguish partitions from one another, the program provides the following
parameters for every partition:
‐ Slot
‐ Volume
‐ Partition type
‐ File system
‐ Partition size
‐ Volume label
There are two buttons on the right to move the selected partition up and down within the primary part of the
Partition Table.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
6.10 Wipe Tasks
In this chapter you will find all the information necessary to wipe a hard disk/partition of any file system or only destroy
any remnants of deleted files/directories left on disk without affecting the used data, thus providing high level of
security.
The operation can be accomplished with the Wipe Wizard or corresponding dialogs.
Wizard Startup
In the Main Menu: select Wizards > Wipe Hard Disk or Partition…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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Wizard Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
The hard disk/partition to wipe. Select a hard disk/partition the data of which you want to destroy.
Wipe mode. This section enables to switch between two options:
‐ Wipe out all data. Select the option to irreversibly destroy all on‐disk data of the selected object.
‐ Clear (wipe) free space. Select the option to destroy any remnants of deleted files/directories left on disk
without affecting the used data.
The Clear Free Space operation is available only for Logical and Primary partitions of known
file systems.
Wipe method. Here you can select a specific data erasure algorithm or create a customized method by marking
the appropriate option.
‐ In case you preferred to use a specific algorithm, the next page of the wizard enables to get detailed
information on the selected algorithm, choose whether to carry out residual data verification or not specifying
the percentage of sectors to check and estimate the time required to accomplish the operation.
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The list of supported military and government standards may vary for your product.
‐ In case you preferred to create a customized algorithm, the next page of the wizard enables to define up to 4
wiping patterns, number of passes for each wiping pattern and for the group of patterns. The Mask spinner
control allows you to set a two‐figure hexadecimal character value ("00" by default). The available range is from
"00" to "FF". You can also choose whether to carry out residual data verification or not specifying the
percentage of sectors to check.
Revise your changes. This page informs on all the actions to be made in the wizard in a bright, graphical form.
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Wizard Result
After the operation is completed you can see a well informative summary page, providing structurally divided in‐depth
information on all the actions made in the wizard.
The program also enables to store the resulted report. To do that, just press the Save button and choose the exact
location in the opened dialog.
To make sure that all on‐disk data is irreversibly destroyed call the Disk Viewer dialog by clicking the appropriate tab and
see it for yourself.
The Summary page will be available only when the Virtual operations are disabled.
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Available operation scenarios:
Hard Disk Utilization
6.11 Task Scheduling
Automation of operations can really help you out when you’ve got to accomplish certain routine operations on a regular
basis as it enables to execute them without your involvement while optimizing your computer’s work‐load.
6.11.1 Setting a Timetable
Thanks to the embedded Scheduler, you can set a timetable for execution of any operation. It has two categories for
time settings (these correspond to appropriate items in the Schedule type menu):
Initiating the operation by an event:
‐ One time only (i.e. the Once item)
‐ When the system starts (i.e. the At System Startup item)
‐ When the user logs on (i.e. the At Logon item).
Initiating the operation periodically (i.e. Daily, Weekly, Monthly).
You need to select one of the variants. Depending on your choice, the scheduler displays a form that enables to set a
timetable.
To run the task in the log‐off mode, please specify administering login info by following the
appropriate link in the left lower corner of the page.
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The Shutdown System on Complete option enables to automatically switch off the
computer on the successful accomplishment of the operation.
6.11.2 Managing Tasks
All scheduled tasks are placed in a separate list, which can be retrieved by clicking the Scheduled Tasks tab in the
Explorer Bar:
On every task you can get in‐depth information, including:
The task name
The full path to the generated script of the task
Scheduled time of launch
Statistics on the last launch
Scheduled time of the next launch
Used account information
Comments to the task
To easily manage tasks, the program enables to arrange them according to a certain characteristic just by clicking on the
required property.
This feature can be particularly beneficial when the Scheduled Tasks list contains too many
items.
You can also enable/disable, rename, delete, refresh or modify properties of the selected task.
Task Editor
With the Task Editor you can easily modify properties of scheduled tasks. To do that, you should take the following
steps:
1. Select a task on the Scheduled Tasks list.
2. Click the Properties button on the Scheduled Tasks list.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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3. In the opened dialog window you can see two tabs ‐ General and Schedule. Click the General tab to modify:
Full path to the macro‐command program‐interpreter, which describes the scheduled task;
Command line for starting the interpreter (i.e. the task described in macro‐language)
Comments referring to the task
The option of enabling/disabling the task.
By clicking the Schedule tab you can modify the task timetable.
In order to apply the changes, you need to click the Apply button at the foot of the dialog.
6.11.3 Creating a Scheduled Task
You can set a timetable for execution of any operation. For backup and copy operations the program offers handy
wizards, while all the others can be scheduled with the Save to Scheduler dialog.
To create a scheduled task you should take the following steps:
1. Make sure the virtual mode of execution is enabled;
2. Carry out with the program all operations you need to schedule;
3. Call the Save to Scheduler dialog in the Main Menu: Tools > Save to Scheduler…;
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4. In the opened dialog enter the required task name and specify the task timetable;
5. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
This command is unavailable if there are no operations on the List of Pending Operations.
6.12 Scripting
The program actions can also be represented in form of a script. The script describes the appropriate operation with
macro‐language commands. There is an interpreter utility ‐ SCRIPTS.exe, which is included in the program installation
package. This utility works in the unattended mode, which enables to automate operations.
Startup
You have no need to write a script since the program has a convenient interface for such a task. In order to generate a
script on the base of the entered parameters of the required operation, you should take the following steps:
1. Make sure the virtual mode of execution is enabled;
2. Carry out with the program all operations you need to be scripted;
3. Call the Generate Script dialog in the Main Menu: Tools > Generate Script….
Setup
Initially the program suggests some consistent values for all parameters. In most cases, you can just press the Generate
button to confirm the operation.
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Script file name and location. By default, the program offers to add the script to the Task List with a name
containing its creation date and time. Unmark the Add to Task List checkbox to define an exact location and a
filename for the script file. The default file extension that is reserved for scripting files is .psl, which however can
be modified.
In addition, there is the possibility to make further detailed settings (although the default values will do in most cases).
To activate the advance mode, you need to click the More options button at the foot of the dialog page, so you will be
able to define:
Interaction with the user. Mark the option to pause the script interpreter during the execution to prompt the
user’s confirmation or other input. Otherwise the program will not stop using default values for parameters if
needed.
Commit after each operation. Mark the option to commit changes after each operation.
Check for errors after each operation. Mark the option to insert a special code in script, which checks the status
of the last executed operation and stops the script processing if there are errors of any kind.
Discard all operations on close. Mark the option to empty the List of Pending Operations after generating the
script.
Result
After the operation is completed you receive a new script file. It is placed into the specified destination, its features
defined in the dialog.
This command is unavailable if there are no operations on the List of Pending Operations.
To learn more about scripts please consult the Paragon Scripting Language manual.
6.13 Extra Functionality
This chapter describes the supplementary functionality available in the program.
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6.13.1 View Partition/Hard Disk Properties
The program enables to obtain in‐depth information on the properties of hard disks and partitions. Besides the general
information, such as capacity, used space or file system type it provides the possibility to get info on hard disk geometry,
cluster size, exact partition location, etc.
To get properties on a partition/hard disk, please do the following:
1. Choose a partition/hard disk on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition/Hard Disk > Properties…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
In the opened dialog information will be grouped according to its properties, thus by clicking tabs you can get
information you need.
6.13.2 Volume Explorer
Volume Explorer is a special tool to browse and export contents of the local mounted/unmounted volumes formatted to
FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, Ext2FS, Ext3FS, ReiserFS file systems. Besides it enables to access Paragon backups as regular
folders to explorer their contents or to retrieve certain files.
To launch the Volume Explorer you should click Disk View tab in the Explorer Bar and then choose Volume Explorer:
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Call the popup menu for the selected file/folder (right click of the mouse button) to export it to some other location
(local or network drive, etc.).
Available operation scenarios:
Restoring separate files and folders from a backup
6.13.3 File Transfer Wizard
File Transfer Wizard is designed to make such operations as copying of separate files/directories or burning of them to
CD/DVD as easy and convenient as possible. It may be of particular use in case of a system malfunction, caused either by
a virus attack or files corruption, in order to get the system back on track again. Besides it provides access to Paragon
backups as regular folders to browse through their contents or copy required files.
Startup
Select in the Main Menu: Tools > File Transfer Wizard.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the transfer operation:
Place to look for files/directories. Select a source disk from the pull‐down list in the left pane of the page. The
program enables to process both mounted and unmounted (without drive letter assigned) partitions. Besides it
is possible to map a network drive.
Object(s) of operation. Choose files/directories you want to copy and place them to Clipboard by pressing the
Add button. To delete a file/directory from the Clipboard, select it in the Clipboard pane and press the Remove
button. You can also create a new folder, rename or irreversibly delete existing files/directories of the left pane
by pressing the appropriate buttons.
Files/directories deleted from the Clipboard remain intact on source disks.
Destination to store the object(s). The File Transfer Wizard allows copying data to local or network drives, to
physical partitions (without drive letters assigned), or burning them to CD/DVDs. Choose the way the data will
be stored.
Revision of changes. The Transfer Summary page provides structurally divided information on all the actions
made in the wizard. Check the changes and come back to any step of the wizard (if necessary) by following the
required hyperlink.
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Result
After the operation is completed the required data will be placed into the specified destination.
Available operation scenarios:
Copying of data from the corrupted system disk to another hard disk
Burning of data from the corrupted system disk to CD/DVD
Copying of data from a backup to the corrupted system partition
Restoring separate files and folders from a backup
6.13.4 Mount Partition
The program enables to assign or remove drive letters of existing formatted partitions.
Assign Drive Letter
In order to mount a partition you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Assign Drive Letter…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. Specify a drive letter for the selected partition. Initially the program suggests some consistent value for this
parameter. So you may just press the Yes button to confirm the operation.
However you can manually define the required letter by selecting it from the pull‐down list of available drive
letters.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
Remove Drive Letter
In order to un‐mount a partition you should take the following steps:
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1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Remove Drive Letter.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
Modifying drive letter of the system partition will result in inability to boot the operating
system.
After having processed partitions with installed software, some programs may not run
properly.
6.13.5 Downgrade NTFS Version
With our program you can decrease version of an existing NTFS partition. This feature can be particularly useful when,
for instance, dealing with different versions of the Windows NT family operating systems.
In order to start the operation you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main menu: Partition > Modify > Downgrade NTFS Version…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. Decrease version of the selected NTFS partition by selecting the one you need from the pull‐down list.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
6.13.6 Mount Archive
The program provides the ability to assign a drive letter to a partition backup image. As a result of the operation you will
get a new read‐only partition in the system to easily browse through its contents and copy the required information
even with the standard Windows tools.
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Assign Drive Letter
In order to mount an archive you should take the following steps:
1. Select a backup image in the Archive Database.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Archives > Mount the Selected Archive.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. Specify a drive letter for the selected backup image. Initially the program suggests some consistent value for this
parameter. So you may just press the Yes button to confirm the operation.
However you can manually define the required letter by selecting it from the pull‐down list of available drive
letters.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
The current version of the program allows the user to mount archives of separate partitions
only.
There is no possibility to mount archives located on physical (unmounted) partitions or in
the bootable capsule.
Archives will only be mounted for the current session and won’t be available after the
system restart.
It is strongly recommended not to un‐mount backup images with Windows Disk Manager
or other third side software.
Remove Drive Letter
In order to un‐mount a backup image you should take the following steps:
1. Select a backup image in the Archive Database.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Archives > Unmount the Selected Archive.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
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6.13.7 Test Surface
The program enables to test surface of existing partitions and blocks of free space for bad or unstable sectors. If found
any it automatically marks them unusable in the file system metadata, thus minimizing the risk of data loss.
In order to start the surface test you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition or a block of free space on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Test Surface…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. From the pull‐down list choose the level of the surface check.
4. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
6.13.8 Check File System Integrity
The program allows you to check integrity of a file system. It can be used to detect possible file system errors before
performing any operation on a partition.
To start the system integrity check you should take the following steps:
1. Select a partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition > Check File System Integrity
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. The operation will be performed immediately after confirmation.
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6.13.9 Check Archive Integrity
The program provides the ability to check integrity of a backup image. The function allows distinguishing between valid
and corrupted images before using them. The Check Archive Integrity Wizard will help you do that.
Startup
In the Main Menu: select Wizards > Backup Utilities > Check Archive Integrity…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
Setup
The wizard offers the following steps to accomplish the operation:
An archive to verify. The Browse for Archive page enables to find a backup image you need.
By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images contained in the Archive Database (if
any).
To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e.
Archive File Details) display a short description.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window. The section
below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short description of the selected image.
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Moreover, on this page you’ve got the possibility to create new folders, delete existing files/folders or map
network drives by clicking the appropriate buttons.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
Result
After the operation is completed you can see results of the check.
6.13.10 Edit/View Sectors
With the built‐in Edit/View Sectors tool the program enables to view/edit sectors on existing partitions/hard disks
providing the possibility to directly access and modify sectors, save and restore sectors from specified files, navigate
through the system metadata, etc.
In order to edit/view sectors of a hard disk/partition you should take the following steps:
1. Select a hard disk/partition on the Disk Map.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Partition/Hard Disk > Edit/View Sectors.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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Careless use of the Edit Sectors function may result in the irreversible data corruption.
6.13.11 Log Files
Log files are simple textual files that can be opened by any text editor. There are several log files automatically
generated by the program:
Stubact.log Contains in‐depth information on parameters and performance of all operations
carried out by the program
Pwlog.txt Besides brief overview on operations it also contains detailed information about the
state of all hard disks
Cdb.log Contains low‐level information on the CD/DVD devices used in the system
BioNTlog.txt It is an OS‐dependent supplementary log file derived from Bioxx.dll. It may contain
valuable information on Windows family operating systems
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Log files do not contain any confidential information on the operating system settings or
the user documents.
6.13.12 View Logs
With a handy dialog you can study logs on any operation carried by the program. To make this job as easy as possible, all
the information is structurally divided, besides there is the possibility to see the disk layout before and after an
operation, what is very convenient.
In order to view logs on carried out operations select in the Main Menu: Tools > View Log Files
7 Typical Scenarios
This chapter lists a number of the most frequently used scenarios that may be accomplished with the program. You can
find here useful recommendations and descriptions of operations.
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7.1 Backup Scenarios
7.1.1 Creating the Backup Capsule
Let us take a computer of a rank and file user who is most likely to have only one hard disk with only one partition (the
only partition is always system). Suppose that there is enough free space on the hard disk to create the backup capsule
as well. It can be created with the Manage Backup Capsule Wizard:
1. Click the Manage Backup Capsule item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. Select a place on the disk where the backup capsule will be created. It can be created as a primary partition or
as a logical drive within an extended partition. It can be inserted into any place on the hard disk: at the end
(preferable), at the beginning or somewhere in the middle between other partitions.
By default, the program allows the user to create the backup capsule only as the last
primary or as the last logical drive within the extended partition. However, by activating
the advance mode on the first page of the wizard you can remove this restriction that in its
turn might result in some boot problems.
4. Set the size for the backup capsule. It will be created at the expense of free space of the selected disk.
There is no restriction on the size of the backup capsule, merely depending on the available space of the hard
disk and the capacity needed for the backup.
If the wizard cannot find enough free space in one block, it will redistribute free space, joining all free space
blocks together into one united block and moving partitions if necessary. If the total amount of free space is still
not enough, it is possible to split a fragment of space from one of the existing partitions, thus resizing it.
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If the partition is locked and cannot be resized, the wizard makes the system reboot to
create the backup capsule and automatically boots the system again. (The rebooting
mechanism is different for different versions of Windows).
5. Activate the bootable recovery environment if needed. With its help you will get the choice to boot directly
from the backup capsule for maintenance or recovery purposes every time you start up the computer.
This operation will result in overwriting of the current MBR, thus in case of having a third
side boot manager, it will be removed. To avoid that you can save the current MBR with the
help of the Edit/View Sectors tool.
The backup capsule can only be bootable if it is located on the bootable device (assigned in
the BIOS).
6. Start the operation (by clicking the Next button) or return to correct the settings.
After the operation is completed you can place backup archives into the created backup capsule.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.1.2 Backing up a hard disk or partition to the Backup Capsule
To back up an entire hard disk or a separate partition and then place the resulted image into the backup capsule, please
do the following:
1. Create the backup capsule with the Manage Backup Capsule Wizard.
2. Click the Smart Backup item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
3. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
4. On the What to back up page, select Disk or Partitions to create a sector‐based backup of the whole disk
system, or only separate partitions.
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5. On the next page, mark the appropriate option opposite a hard disk’s name or a partition’s name depending on
the chosen task.
You’ve got the option to modify the default backup settings by marking the appropriate
checkbox on this page.
By default the program will take into account exclude filters set in the Settings dialog.
6. On the Backup Destination page, select the Save data to the Backup Capsule option.
7. Edit the archive name if necessary.
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Please take into account values of the parameters Estimated archive size and Space
available on backup destination ‐ if the archive size exceeds the available space, delete
outdated backups from the Backup Capsule or resize it with the Manage Backup Capsule
Wizard.
8. Add comments to your backup describing its contents.
9. On the Backup Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.1.3 Backing up a hard disk or partition to external media (CD/DVD)
To back up an entire hard disk or a separate partition and then burn the resulted image to CD/DVD, please do the
following:
1. Click the Smart Backup item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the What to back up page, select Disk or Partitions to create a sector‐based backup of the whole disk
system, or only separate partitions.
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4. On the next page, mark the appropriate option opposite a hard disk’s name or a partition’s name depending on
the chosen task.
You’ve got the option to modify the default backup settings by marking the appropriate
checkbox on this page.
By default the program will take into account exclude filters set in the Settings dialog.
5. On the Backup Destination page, select the Burn the data to CD or DVD option.
6. Select a recordable device on the list of available CD/DVD devices and edit the archive name, if necessary.
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Please take into account the Estimated archive size value. It can give you a hint about the
number of CD/DVD discs required for the operation.
7. Add comments to your backup describing its contents.
8. On the Backup Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.1.4 Backing up a hard disk or partition to a network drive
To back up an entire hard disk or a separate partition and then place the resulted image to a network share, please do
the following:
1. Click the Smart Backup item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the What to back up page, select Disk or Partitions to create a sector‐based backup of the whole disk
system, or only separate partitions.
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4. On the next page, mark the appropriate option opposite a hard disk’s name or a partition’s name depending on
the chosen task.
You’ve got the option to modify the default backup settings by marking the appropriate
checkbox on this page.
By default the program will take into account exclude filters set in the Settings dialog.
5. On the Backup Destination page, select the Save data to local/network drives option.
6. Map a network disk to place your backup image to:
- Call the Map Network Drive dialog by clicking the appropriate button;
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- Click the standard browse button [...] to browse for the required network share or manually enter a path to
it;
- Define a letter from the pull‐down list of available drive letters;
- Mark the checkbox to make this connection permanent. Otherwise it will only be available for the current
Windows session;
- Click the Connect as user button at the foot of the dialog page to specify a user name and password to
access the selected network share if necessary.
7. Edit the archive name if necessary.
Please take into account values of the parameters Estimated archive size and Space
available on backup destination ‐ if the archive size exceeds the available space, another
network drive needs to be selected.
8. Add comments to your backup describing its contents.
9. On the Backup Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
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7.1.5 Backing up files to an FTP/SFTP server
With our program you can protect the entire system, separate partitions, or particular files by backing up directly to
online storages located on FTP or SFTP servers. Please note however, that due to certain limitations of the network
bandwidth, the use of FTP/SFTP locations for storing many GBs of data (OS together with all on‐disk data) isn’t the best
choice, but it’s great for personal data, like your documents, email databases, photos, etc.
So let’s see how to back up all office documents of the My Documents folder to an SFTP server:
1. Click the Smart Backup item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the What to back up page, select Documents to protect all office documents inside the My Documents
folder.
4. On the next page, choose FTP Servers as backup storage.
5. Click on the Create an FPT Location button to set up parameters for the required SFTP location.
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‐ Use SFTP connection. Mark the option to connect to the desired SFTP server;
‐ Address. Type in its address;
‐ Port. Specify the required port (22 by default);
‐ Anonymous login. Mark the option to set up anonymous connection. Typical username for this type of login is
“anonymous”;
‐ Allow Open SSH key‐based authentication. If your SFTP provider requires this type of authentication, mark the
option to specify public and private keys and a passphrase;
‐ Login. Enter a login;
‐ Password. Enter a password. Click Remember password to save it next time you back up to this location;
‐ Name. By default, the program uses the provided address as the connection name, which can be modified
however.
You need to check out yourself Windows Firewall or programs of this kind let our program
work with the required port (21 for FTP and 22 for SFTP by default).
6. When ready, click the Connect button to check out you’ve got access to the provided location. If yes, you’ll get a
new item on the list named after this location. By clicking the + icon you can browse it to specify a more exact
location for your backup. At this stage you can also edit the default archive name if necessary.
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7. Add comments to your backup describing its contents.
8. On the Backup Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.1.6 Backing up a dual boot Mac to an external USB drive
To back up a dual boot Mac (Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista/7) and then place the resulted image to an external USB
drive, please do the following:
1. Start up the computer from our Linux/DOS recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. Connect an external USB drive to the computer.
3. Restart the computer. It will be automatically started up into the Linux recovery environment (Normal Mode),
since it’s the only mode that provides support for Mac computers.
4. In the Linux launch menu select Hard Disk Manager.
5. Launch the Backup Wizard by selecting in the Main Menu of the program: Wizards > Backup Wizard.
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6. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
7. On the What to back up page, select your Mac hard disk.
8. On the Backup Destination page, select the Save data to any local drive or a network share option.
9. Select an external USB drive as a backup destination.
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10. Edit the archive name if necessary.
Please take into account values of the parameters Estimated archive size and Space
available on backup destination ‐ if the archive size exceeds the available space, another
drive needs to be selected.
11. Add comments to your backup describing its contents.
12. On the Backup Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
This operation can also be accomplished under Windows.
7.1.7 Backing up files to a local mounted/unmounted (without drive letter assigned) partition
To back up required files or folders and then place the resulted image to a local mounted/unmounted drive, please do
the following:
1. Click the Smart Backup item of the Wizards menu.
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There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the What to back up page, first take a look at the ready‐made backup templates. If none of the options
meets you needs (just our case), then select Other Files and Folders to create a file‐based backup of certain
data.
4. On the What folders and files to back up page you can see a list of all partitions (both mounted and unmounted)
available in the system. Mark a checkbox opposite a file, folder or even a whole partition to build up contents of
the future backup image.
5. On the Backup Destination page, select a local mounted/unmounted (without drive letter assigned) disk as a
backup destination.
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6. Edit the archive name if necessary.
7. Specify include masks. The program includes a lot of ready‐made filters to effectively control contents of your
backup images.
You can also create your own filter by clicking the Add category… button.
Name. Give to the filter any name you like, but try to use an informative one;
Filter. Press the Browse button to select files or folders you would like to be included or specify a filter
mask by using * or ? wildcards;
Description. Add a short description to the filter not to miss it up later.
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Click the OK button and you will get a new item on the list of filters. By marking/unmarking a checkbox opposite
its name you can choose whether to use it or not.
By setting an include mask, you automatically ignore files that do not match to it, thus they
won’t be added to the backup image.
8. Specify exclude masks. The program includes a lot of ready‐made filters to effectively control contents of your
backup images.
9. Add comments to your backup describing its contents.
10. On the Backup Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.1.8 Creating a differential to a full partition backup
To update an image of the selected partition, please do the following:
1. Click the Differential Partition Backup item of the Wizards menu.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the Browse for Archive page, specify the required full (base) partition archive:
By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images contained in the Archive
Database (if any).
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To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e.
Archive File Details) display a short description.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window. The
section below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short description of the selected image.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
4. The Archive Content page displays detailed information about the contents of the archive. It includes a full
description of properties about the partition. In addition, there is the possibility to modify backup settings. To
activate the advance mode, you need to mark the appropriate option at the foot of the page.
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5. On the Backup Destination page, select where you want to place your backup image.
6. Edit the archive name if necessary.
Please take into account values of the parameters Estimated archive size and Space
available on backup destination ‐ if the archive size exceeds the available space, another
drive needs to be selected.
7. Add comments to your backup describing its contents;
8. On the Backup Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
After the operation is completed you receive a differential backup of the selected partition. It is placed into the specified
destination (a local or network disk, the Backup Capsule or a CD/DVD disc), its features defined by the wizard.
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This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.1.9 Creating an increment to a full partition backup
To update only files you need since the last full partition backup, please do the following:
1. Click the Create File Complement item of the Wizards menu.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the Browse for Archive page, specify the required full (base) partition archive:
By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images contained in the Archive
Database (if any).
To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e.
Archive File Details) display a short description.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window. The
section below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short description of the selected image.
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To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
4. On the What folders and files to back up page you can see contents of the selected partition archive. Mark a
checkbox opposite a file or folder to build up contents of the future incremental image.
5. Specify include masks. The program includes a lot of ready‐made filters to effectively control contents of your
backup images.
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You can also create your own filter by clicking the Add category… button.
Name. Give to the filter any name you like, but try to use an informative one;
Filter. Press the Browse button to select files or folders you would like to be included or specify a filter mask
by using * or ? wildcards;
Description. Add a short description to the filter not to miss it up later.
Click the OK button and you will get a new item on the list of filters. By marking/unmarking a checkbox opposite
its name you can choose whether to use it or not.
By setting an include mask, you automatically ignore files that do not match to it, thus they
won’t be added to the backup image.
6. Specify exclude masks. The program includes a lot of ready‐made filters to effectively control contents of your
backup images.
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7. Add comments to your backup describing its contents.
8. On the Backup Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
After the operation is completed you receive an incremental backup of the selected partition archive containing
information specified in the wizard. It is placed into the same destination as the base image.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.1.10 Creating an increment to a full file backup
To update a file backup, please do the following:
1. Click the Incremental File Backup item of the Wizards menu.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the Browse for Archive page, specify the required full (base) file archive:
By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images contained in the Archive
Database (if any).
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To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e.
Archive File Details) display a short description.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window. The
section below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short description of the selected image.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
After the operation is completed you receive an incremental backup of the selected file archive. It is placed into the
same destination as the base image.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
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7.1.11 Creating a cyclic partition backup
To automate the partition backup process, please do the following:
1. Select in the Main Menu: Wizards > Backup Utilities > Cyclic Backup...
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button;
3. On the What to back up page, select a partition you want to make a cyclic backup of;
The current version of the program enables to make a cyclic backup of only one partition at
a time.
4. On the Backup Destination page, select a mounted/unmounted partition, a network share, or an FTP server to
place backup images to.
5. Edit the archive name if necessary.
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Please take into account values of the parameters Estimated archive size and Space
available on backup destination ‐ if the archive size exceeds the available space, another
drive needs to be selected.
6. Add comments to your backup describing its contents.
7. Set a timetable for the operation.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Task Scheduling chapter.
8. On the Cyclic backup type page, choose the way of creating a cyclic backup:
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Base type. Every image created during the operation will be made as a full archive.
Differential type. Every first image will be made as a full (base) archive and all the others will be
differentiated from it. This operation requires much less space, thus considerably saving your system
resources.
By setting the Maximum disk space to store images and the Maximum number of images to store parameters
you may define when the operation will be cycled. That means that on exceeding these two parameters the
oldest archives will be automatically overwritten (if choosing the Differential type only differential images will
be overwritten).
9. On the Backup Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
The operation will run according to the set timetable. The resulted backup images will be placed into the specified
destination (a local or a network disk), its features defined by the wizard.
7.1.12 Merging a full partition backup with one of its differentials
To merge a full partition backup with one of its differentials, thus getting a new full partition archive, please do the
following:
1. Click the Synthetic Backup item of the Wizards menu.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the Browse for Archive page, you only need to specify the required differential archive. The program then
will automatically find its base image:
By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images contained in the Archive
Database (if any).
To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e.
Archive File Details) display a short description.
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To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window. The
section below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short description of the selected image.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
4. On the Synthesis Settings page you can additionally modify any property of the selected backup image if
necessary. To accomplish our task we have no need to change anything at all.
5. On the Synthetic Archive Destination page, select where you want to place the resulted backup image.
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6. Edit the archive name if necessary.
Please take into account values of the parameters Estimated archive size and Space
available on backup destination ‐ if the archive size exceeds the available space, another
drive needs to be selected.
7. Add comments to your backup describing its contents;
8. On the Synthesis Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary. Click the
Next button to start the backup process.
After the operation is completed you receive a new full partition archive. It is placed into the specified destination (a
local or network disk, or a CD/DVD disc), its features defined by the wizard.
This function is currently unavailable for modification of entire hard disk backups.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
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7.2 Recovery Scenarios
7.2.1 Fixing MBR after a boot virus attack
Let’s assume that the MBR (Master Boot Record) of your hard disk has been corrupted as a result of a boot virus attack,
thus your system fails to boot.
To fix the MBR of your hard disk, please do the following:
1. Start up the computer from our Linux/DOS recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. In the boot menu select Normal Mode to use the Linux recovery environment (more preferable) or Safe Mode
to use the PTS DOS recovery environment (in case you’ve got problems with Linux). Moreover you’ve got the
option to boot into the Low‐Graphics Safe Mode (PTS DOS safe mode) to cope with a serious hardware
incompatibility. In this case, only the minimal set of drivers will be included, like hard disk, monitor, and
keyboard drivers. This mode has simple graphics and a simple menu.
By default the Normal Mode will be automatically initiated after a 10 second idle period.
3. In the Linux launch menu select Boot Corrector. You can find it in PTS DOS as well.
4. On the Wizard's Welcome page, select the Correct the Master Boot Record (MBR) option.
5. On the next page choose the required hard disk from the pull‐down list (if several) and then select the Update
the MBR executable code option.
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6. Confirm the operation.
7. After the operation is completed click the Report button to see a well informative summary page. The program
also enables to store the resulted report. To do that, just press the Save button and choose the exact location in
the opened dialog.
8. Click the Finish button to close Boot Corrector.
9. Reboot the computer.
7.2.2 Correcting BCD (Boot Configuration Data)
To automatically correct Windows BCD, please do the following:
1. Start up the computer from our WinPE recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. Launch Boot Corrector.
3. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
4. Select Correct boot parameters… to let the wizard fix BCD in all found Windows installations.
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5. The wizard will ask you to confirm the operation. Apply the changes to complete.
After completing the operation close the wizard, and then reboot the computer.
7.2.3 Fixing Windows startup ability
Let’s assume that due to an unknown reason your Windows fails to complete the startup procedure. At first everything
seems quite OK, you can see the standard startup messages on the screen, but at some moment it hangs up.
To fix your Windows startup ability, please do the following:
1. Start up the computer from our Linux/DOS recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. In the boot menu select Normal Mode to use the Linux recovery environment (more preferable) or Safe Mode
to use the PTS DOS recovery environment (in case you’ve got problems with Linux). Moreover you’ve got the
option to boot into the Low‐Graphics Safe Mode (PTS DOS safe mode) to cope with a serious hardware
incompatibility. In this case, only the minimal set of drivers will be included, like hard disk, monitor, and
keyboard drivers. This mode has simple graphics and a simple menu.
By default the Normal Mode will be automatically initiated after a 10 second idle period.
3. In the Linux launch menu select Boot Corrector. You can find it in PTS DOS as well.
4. On the Wizard's Welcome page, select the Search for Windows installations to correct option.
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5. On the next page choose the required Windows installation from the list of found installations (if several), then
select the Edit the Boot.ini file option. If you’re not sure which installation you need, please use the Properties
button to get more info on the selected item.
6. Examine the file – maybe that’s where the problem is. If it contains a mistake, correct it by using the appropriate
buttons.
7. If the Boot.ini file does not contain any mistake, please return to the Correct Windows Installations page to
correct drive letters in the Windows System Registry.
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8. On the next page choose a hard disk from the pull‐down list (if several), then the required partition. If you’re not
sure which installation you need, please use the Properties button to get more info on the selected item.
9. Click the Edit Letters button to correct an existing drive letter or assign a new one in the Windows System
Registry.
10. Once you’ve assigned the appropriate drive letter, close the dialog, then click the Apply button.
11. Confirm the operation.
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12. After the operation is completed click the Report button to see a well informative summary page. The program
also enables to store the resulted report. To do that, just press the Save button and choose the exact location in
the opened dialog.
13. Click the Finish button to close Boot Corrector.
14. Reboot the computer.
7.2.4 Restoring a hard disk from the bootable Backup Capsule
Let’s assume that your computer fails to boot because of a virus attack or corruption of some system critical files. But
you’ve got the bootable backup capsule containing a backup of your hard disk. That’s just enough to easily get your
system back on track again.
To restore your hard disk from a backup image contained in the backup capsule when the current OS is down, please do
the following:
1. Start up the computer from the bootable backup capsule. By default, the program offers to use the F1 hot key to
boot from it.
This scenario implies that the backup capsule is bootable.
2. In the boot menu select Normal Mode to use the Linux recovery environment (more preferable) or Safe Mode
to use the PTS DOS recovery environment (in case you’ve got problems with Linux).
By default the Normal Mode will be automatically initiated after a 10 second idle period.
3. In the Linux launch menu select the Simple Restore Wizard. You can find the same wizard in PTS DOS as well.
4. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
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5. On the What to Restore page, you can see a list of available images (if several). Most likely the required archive
will be there too. If not, click the standard browse button [...] to find it. When you find your image, double click
on it to proceed.
6. On the Image Properties page, make sure that you select the correct image by viewing the provided information
about the archive.
7. On the next page specify a hard disk to restore the image to (if several in your computer). By default, the
program offers to restore the archive exactly where it belongs. That’s what we actually need.
You can also make the program resize the on‐disk partitions proportionally if necessary by marking the
appropriate checkbox.
All contents on the disk selected for restoring purposes will be deleted during the
operation.
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8. On the Restore Summary page you can see your hard disk layout before and after the operation. Click the Next
button to initiate the restore process.
9. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
10. After completing the operation close the wizard and reboot the computer.
To make Windows bootable on different hardware, please additionally complete the P2P
Adjust OS Wizard.
7.2.5 Restoring a system partition from external media (CD/DVD)
Let’s assume that your computer fails to boot because of a virus attack or corruption of some system critical files. But
you’ve got a backup of your system partition on a bootable DVD disc. That’s just enough to easily get your system back
on track again.
To restore your system partition from a backup image located on CD/DVD when the current OS is down, please do the
following:
1. Insert a CD/DVD disc containing the previously prepared backup image into a CD/DVD drive (the BIOS must be
enabled to boot the system from the CD/DVD device).
This scenario implies that you have got a bootable archive on your CD/DVD.
In case the backup image is stored on several CD/DVD disks, please insert the first one.
2. Restart the computer.
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3. In the boot menu select Normal Mode to use the Linux recovery environment (more preferable) or Safe Mode
to use the PTS DOS recovery environment (in case you’ve got problems with Linux). Moreover you’ve got the
option to boot into the Low‐Graphics Safe Mode (PTS DOS safe mode) to cope with a serious hardware
incompatibility. In this case, only the minimal set of drivers will be included, like hard disk, monitor, and
keyboard drivers. This mode has simple graphics and a simple menu.
By default the Normal Mode will be automatically initiated after a 10 second idle period.
4. In the PTS DOS launch menu select the Simple Restore Wizard. You can find the same wizard in Linux as well.
5. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
6. On the What to Restore page, you can see a list of available images (if several). Most likely the required archive
will be there too. If not, click the standard browse button [...] to find it. When you find your image, double click
on it to proceed.
7. On the Image Properties page, make sure that you select the correct image by viewing the provided information
about the archive.
8. On the next page specify a hard disk, then one of its partitions to restore the image to (if several in your
computer). By default, the program offers to restore the archive exactly where it belongs. That’s what we
actually need.
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All contents on the partition selected for restoring purposes will be deleted during the
operation.
9. On the Partition Start and Size page you can change size of the partition and its location if necessary.
10. On the Restore Summary page you can see your hard disk layout before and after the operation. Click the Next
button to initiate the restore process.
11. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
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12. After completing the operation close the wizard, and then reboot the computer.
To make Windows bootable on different hardware, please additionally complete the P2P
Adjust OS Wizard.
7.2.6 Restoring a system partition from a network drive
Let’s assume that your computer fails to boot because of a virus attack or corruption of some system critical files. But
you’ve got a backup of your hard disk on a remote backup server. That’s just enough to easily get your system back on
track again.
To restore your system partition from a backup image located on a network drive, please do the following:
1. Start up the computer from our WinPE recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. Once you accept the agreement, you will see the Universal Application Launcher. Select the Restore Wizard.
3. On the Restore Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
4. On the Browse for Archive page you need to specify the required backup image. So you should take the
following steps to do that:
Select Network as a backup destination;
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Map a network disk where your archives are placed:
‐ Call the Map Network Drive dialog by clicking the appropriate button;
‐ Click the standard browse button [...] to browse for the required network share or manually enter a path
to it;
‐ Define a letter from the pull‐down list of available drive letters;
‐ Click the Connect as user button at the foot of the dialog page to specify a user name and password to
access the selected network share if necessary.
You can also map a network disk with Network Configurator.
Choose the required archive in the browser‐like window. The Archive File Details section displays a short
description of the selected image.
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5. The What to Restore page displays detailed information about the contents of the archive. Select the required
item to restore. In our case it is the first partition of the disk.
6. On the Where to Restore page specify a hard disk, then one of its partitions to restore the image to (if several in
your computer). By default, the program offers to restore the archive exactly where it belongs. That’s what we
actually need.
All contents on the partition selected for restoring purposes will be deleted during the
operation.
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7. On the Restore Results page you can see the resulted disk layout. Besides there’s the possibility to change size
of the partition and its location if necessary as well as assign a particular drive letter.
8. On the next page of the wizard confirm the operation by selecting the appropriate option.
9. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
Mark the checkbox at the bottom of the window to automatically switch off the computer on the successful
accomplishment of the restore operation.
10. After completing the operation close the wizard, and then reboot the computer.
To make Windows bootable on different hardware, please additionally complete the P2P
Adjust OS Wizard.
7.2.7 Restoring a system partition from a local drive
Let’s assume that your operating system gives trouble after having installed brand new software. But you’ve got a
backup of the system partition on a local disk. That’s just enough to easily roll it back to the point when run smoothly.
To restore your system partition from a backup image located on a local disk, please do the following:
1. Click the Restore item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Restore Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the Browse for Archive page, specify the required archive:
By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images contained in the Archive
Database (if any).
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To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e.
Archive File Details) display a short description.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window. The
section below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short description of the selected image.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
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4. On the Where to Restore page specify a hard disk, then one of its partitions to restore the image to (if several in
your computer). By default, the program offers to restore the archive exactly where it belongs. That’s what we
actually need.
All contents on the partition selected for restoring purposes will be deleted during the
operation.
5. On the Restore Results page you can see the resulted disk layout. Besides there’s the possibility to change size
of the partition and its location if necessary as well as assign a particular drive letter.
6. Complete the wizard and then apply the pending changes.
7. The program will require the system restart to accomplish the operation in a special boot‐up mode. Click the
appropriate button to agree.
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8. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
After completing the operation the program will automatically reboot the computer.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
To make Windows bootable on different hardware, please additionally complete the P2P
Adjust OS Wizard.
7.2.8 Restoring a dual boot Mac from an external USB drive
Let’s assume that your Mac fails to boot because of a hard disk malfunction. But you’ve got a backup of your hard disk
on an external USB drive. Just replace the failed disk with a new one and carry out a bare metal restore.
To restore a dual boot Mac from a backup image located on an external USB drive, please do the following:
1. Start up the computer from our Linux/DOS recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. Connect an external USB drive to the computer.
3. Restart the computer.
4. In the boot menu select Normal Mode to use the Linux recovery environment, since it’s the only mode that
enables to work with USB devices.
By default the Normal Mode will be automatically initiated after a 10 second idle period.
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5. In the Linux launch menu select the Simple Restore Wizard.
6. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
7. On the What to Restore page, click the standard browse button [...] to find the required archive. When done,
double click on it to select.
8. On the Image Properties page, make sure that you select the correct image by viewing the provided information
about the archive.
9. On the next page specify a hard disk to restore the image to.
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All contents on disk selected for restoring purposes will be deleted during the operation.
10. On the Restore Summary page you can see your hard disk layout before and after the operation. Click the Next
button to initiate the restore process.
11. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
12. After completing the operation close the wizard, and then reboot the computer.
7.2.9 Restoring a file increment
Let’s assume that you’re busy with developing some project and you make file increments of it on a day‐to‐day basis not
to lose valuable information. So you’ve got a file backup chain. One day you understand that the job of the last three
days is a complete and utter failure. Don’t give up – recover your project to the state when everything’s ok.
To restore a file increment, please do the following:
1. Click the Restore item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Restore Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
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3. On the Browse for Archive page, specify the required file increment:
By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images contained in the Archive
Database (if any).
To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e.
Archive File Details) display a short description.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window. The
section below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short description of the selected image.
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To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
4. On the How to Restore page specify the way your archive will be restored. In our case we’d rather restore
contents of the backup to its original location with replacing existing files as well.
5. Complete the wizard and then apply the pending changes.
6. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.2.10 Restoring a file increment to a partition backup
Let’s assume that your operating system gives trouble because of a virus attack. But you’ve got a backup of your system
partition on a local disk. Besides you make file increments of your documents and e‐mail database to that backup on a
regular basis. That’s just enough to easily roll everything back to the point when run smoothly.
To restore your system partition with a file increment from a backup image located on a local disk, please do the
following:
1. Click the Restore item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Restore Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. On the Browse for Archive page, specify the required file increment archive to your system partition backup:
By clicking the Switch to Archive List View link, you can see a list of images contained in the Archive
Database (if any).
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To get a clear‐cut picture on properties of the required image, just click on it and the section below will (i.e.
Archive File Details) display a short description.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
By clicking the Switch to File View link, you can find the required image in the browser‐like window. The
section below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short description of the selected image.
To know more on the subject, please consult the Viewing Image Properties chapter.
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4. On the How to Restore File Complement page select whether you want to restore both, the partition archive
and the desired file increment or just the file increment. In our case we choose the first option.
5. On the Where to Restore page specify a hard disk, then one of its partitions to restore the image to (if several in
your computer). By default, the program offers to restore the archive exactly where it belongs. That’s what we
actually need.
All contents on the partition selected for restoring purposes will be deleted during the
operation.
6. On the Restore Results page you can see the resulted disk layout. Besides there’s the possibility to change size
of the partition and its location if necessary as well as assign a particular drive letter.
7. Complete the wizard and then apply the pending changes.
8. The program will require the system restart to accomplish the operation in a special boot‐up mode. Click the
appropriate button to agree.
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9. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
After completing the operation the program will automatically reboot the computer.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.2.11 Copying of data from the corrupted system disk to another hard disk
To retrieve valuable information from your hard disk and copy it to another hard disk when the system fails to boot,
please do the following:
1. Connect the second hard disk to the computer.
2. Start up the computer from our Linux/DOS recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
3. In the boot menu select Normal Mode to use the Linux recovery environment (more preferable) or Safe Mode
to use the PTS DOS recovery environment (in case you’ve got problems with Linux). Moreover you’ve got the
option to boot into the Low‐Graphics Safe Mode (PTS DOS safe mode) to cope with a serious hardware
incompatibility. In this case, only the minimal set of drivers will be included, like hard disk, monitor, and
keyboard drivers. This mode has simple graphics and a simple menu.
By default the Normal Mode will be automatically initiated after a 10 second idle period.
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4. In the Linux launch menu select the File Transfer Wizard. You can find the same wizard in PTS DOS as well.
5. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
6. Select a disk where the files you need are stored from the pull‐down list in the right pane of the page.
7. Select files you want to copy and place them to Clipboard by pressing the left arrow‐button.
Click the Calc button to estimate the resulted data size.
8. On the Select Destination Type, choose the way the data will be stored. Select the Save data to any local drive
or a network share item.
9. On the Select Destination Path page, select a hard disk to copy the data to by pressing the standard browse
button [...].
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10. On the Transfer Summary page check all parameters of the operation. Click the Next button to accomplish the
operation.
11. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
12. After the operation is completed, close the wizard by pressing the appropriate button.
13. Turn off the computer.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.2.12 Burning of data from the corrupted system disk to CD/DVD
To retrieve valuable information from your hard disk and burn it to CD/DVD when the system fails to boot, please do the
following:
1. Start up the computer from our Linux/DOS recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. In the boot menu select Normal Mode to use the Linux recovery environment, since it’s the only mode that
enables to burn CD/DVD discs.
By default the Normal Mode will be automatically initiated after a 10 second idle period.
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3. In the Linux launch menu select the File Transfer Wizard. You can find the same wizard in PTS DOS as well.
4. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
5. Select a disk where the files you need are stored from the pull‐down list in the right pane of the page.
6. Select files you want to copy and place them to Clipboard by pressing the left arrow‐button.
Click the Calc button to estimate the resulted data size.
7. On the Select Destination Type, choose the way the data will be stored. Select the Burn data to CD/DVD item.
8. On the Choose a Recorder page, select a recorder from the list of available devices and then set a volume label
by entering it in the appropriate field.
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9. On the Transfer Summary page check all parameters of the operation. Click the Next button to accomplish the
operation.
10. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
11. After the operation is completed, close the wizard by pressing the appropriate button.
12. Turn off the computer.
This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.2.13 Copying of data from a backup to the corrupted system partition
The system fails to boot since some files are damaged. If you have a backup of the system partition, you can recopy
these files to make the system be operable again:
1. Start up the computer from our Linux/DOS recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. In the boot menu select Normal Mode to use the Linux recovery environment (more preferable) or Safe Mode
to use the PTS DOS recovery environment (in case you’ve got problems with Linux). Moreover you’ve got the
option to boot into the Low‐Graphics Safe Mode (PTS DOS safe mode) to cope with a serious hardware
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incompatibility. In this case, only the minimal set of drivers will be included, like hard disk, monitor, and
keyboard drivers. This mode has simple graphics and a simple menu.
By default the Normal Mode will be automatically initiated after a 10 second idle period.
3. In the Linux launch menu select the File Transfer Wizard. You can find the same wizard in PTS DOS as well.
4. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
5. Select a disk where the system backup is stored from the pull‐down list in the right pane of the page.
6. Double click on the required backup to open.
7. Select files you want to copy and place them to Clipboard by pressing the left arrow‐button.
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Click the Calc button to estimate the resulted data size.
8. On the Select Destination Type, choose the way the data will be stored. Select the Save data to any local drive
or a network share item.
9. On the Select Destination Path page, select your system disk to copy the data to by pressing the standard
browse button [...].
10. On the Transfer Summary page check all parameters of the operation. Click the Next button to accomplish the
operation.
11. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
12. After the operation is completed, close the wizard by pressing the appropriate button.
13. Turn off the computer.
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This operation can also be accomplished with our recovery media.
7.2.14 Restoring separate files and folders from a backup
The program provides a very convenient option to access backup archives and restore only data you need (the so called
selective restore functionality).
Restore Wizard
To restore separate files and folders from a backup image with the Restore Wizard, please do the following:
1. Start up the computer from our WinPE recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. Once you accept the agreement, you will see the Universal Application Launcher. Select the Restore Wizard.
3. On the Restore Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
4. On the Browse for Archive page choose the required archive in the browser‐like window. The Archive File
Details section displays a short description of the selected image.
5. On the next page specify what you need to extract from the backup by marking checkboxes next to the required
data items. At the right lower corner of the window you can see the resulted amount of the selected data.
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6. On the How to Restore page specify the way the selected data will be restored. In our case we’d rather restore
contents of the backup to its original location with replacing existing files as well.
7. On the Restore Summary page review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary.
8. On the next page of the wizard confirm the operation by selecting the appropriate option.
9. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
10. After completing the operation close the wizard, and then reboot the computer.
This operation can also be accomplished under Windows.
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File Transfer Wizard
To restore separate files and folders from a backup image with the File Transfer Wizard, please do the following:
1. Call the popup menu for the required backup image (right click of the mouse button) in the Archive Database
and then select the menu item: Restore File from Archive. Thus you automatically open it with the File Transfer
Wizard.
2. Select files you want to copy and place them to Clipboard by pressing the left arrow‐button.
3. On the Select Destination Type, choose the way the data will be stored. Select the Save data to any local drive
or a network share item.
4. On the Select Destination Path page, specify the exact place to copy the data to.
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5. On the Transfer Summary page check all parameters of the operation. Click the Next button to accomplish the
operation.
6. After the operation is completed, close the wizard by pressing the appropriate button.
Volume Explorer
To restore separate files and folders from a backup image with Volume Explorer, please do the following:
1. Click the Disk View tab and then choose Volume Explorer;
2. Browse for the required archive and then open it by double click of the left mouse button.
3. Call the popup menu (right click of the mouse button) for a file/folder you need and then select the Export item.
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4. Select a place on the disk where the file/folder will be extracted to.
5. Click the OK button to accomplish the operation.
The current version of the program does not enable to access file archives with Volume
Explorer.
7.3 Resize Scenarios
7.3.1 Creating a new partition to detach operating system from the rest of data
Let’s assume that you’re a rank and file user who is most likely to have only one hard disk with only one partition (the
only partition is always system). To secure yourself against a system malfunction or a virus attack you’ve got nothing to
do, but make a backup of the whole partition, which besides the operating system itself contains all your family photos,
favorite films and music, program distributives, whatever. As a result you’ll get a very huge backup image. You can easily
tackle this issue however by detaching your operating system from the rest of data.
To create a new partition on your hard disk, please do the following:
1. Click the Express Create Partition item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
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2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. Choose a method you find the most suitable to create the partition. The wizard is especially designed to
minimize your participation in finding an appropriate place for it and its resulted size. The only thing you’re to
do is to choose between several modes. The most relevant thing here is the amount of space that will be
allocated for that partition. For easy perception, you can see the resulted disk layout on the disk map by
selecting this or that mode.
The number of available methods depends on your disk layout.
To learn more on the way the wizard works, please click the corresponding link on the first
page of the wizard.
4. That’s basically it. By clicking the Next button the wizard will start modifying your disk layout. If you’ve got to do
with the system partition resize, like we do in our case, you will be asked to restart your computer in a special
boot‐up mode to accomplish the operation. So click the appropriate button to agree.
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5. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out at the moment.
After completing the operation your computer will be automatically restarted back to Windows where you can see the
newly created NTFS partition. Now you’ve got a place to keep your stuff apart from Windows.
7.3.2 Increasing size of a system partition by taking unused space of an adjacent partition
Let’s assume you’ve got several partitions on your hard disk. After installing a number of resource‐consuming
applications and system updates your system partition has started to suffer from the lack of free space. But an adjacent
partition has a plenty of redundant space. That’s just enough to make your system partition suffer no more.
To increase size of a system partition by taking unused space from an adjacent partition, please do the following:
1. Click the Express Resize Partitions item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. Click on your system partition. By doing that, the wizard will automatically select an adjacent partition as well.
This partition will later act as a space donor.
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If you’ve got more than two partitions on your hard disk and a partition you need to
increase is surrounded by other partitions, you’ve got the choice to choose which partition
will act as a space donor. Just click on the left partition of the pair, as the right one will be
selected automatically.
4. Increase size of the system partition with the slider or manually by entering the required value. Please note,
when you change size of one partition the size of the other will be changed as well, thus redistributing the
unused space between the partitions.
5. On the next page of the wizard you need to confirm the operation by selecting the appropriate option.
6. That’s basically it. By clicking the Next button the wizard will start modifying your disk layout. If you’ve got to do
with the system partition resize, like we do in our case, you will be asked to restart your computer in a special
boot‐up mode to accomplish the operation. So click the appropriate button to agree.
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7. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out at the moment.
After completing the operation your computer will be automatically restarted back to Windows where you can see that
your system partition is bigger now.
7.3.3 Increasing size of a system partition by taking unused space from any other
Let’s assume you’ve got several partitions on your hard disk. After installing a number of resource‐consuming
applications and system updates your system partition has started to suffer from the lack of free space. But one of your
partitions has a plenty of redundant space. That’s just enough to make your system partition suffer no more.
To increase size of a system partition by taking unused space from any other on‐disk partition, please do the following:
1. Click Switch to Full Scale Launcher in the Express Launcher.
2. In the main window select the required hard disk (if several) on the Disk Map.
3. Choose a space donor partition and then call the context menu for it (right click of the mouse button) to launch
the Move/Resize dialog.
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4. In the opened dialog shift the edge of the partition to the right by the drag‐and‐drop technique. While doing
this, free space from the partition will be released (displayed in aqua‐green). You can also do it manually by
entering the exact size of free space. Click the Yes button to continue.
5. Now you’ve got a block of free space to add to the system partition. You cannot do it directly however, but by
carrying out a number of extra move/resize operations.
6. Since the block of free space is within the extended partition, you need to take it out first. The program enables
to resize the extended partition only when there’s a block of free space adjoining its borders. In our case it’s
between two logical disks. So we need to move it. To do that, please select the first logical partition and then
call the context menu for it (right click of the mouse button) to launch the Move/Resize dialog.
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7. At first shift the right edge of the partition to the right, then do the same with the left edge. Make sure the
partition size has been left unchanged.
8. Now you can resize the extended partition to take the block of free space out of it. Call the context menu for it
(right click of the mouse button) to launch the Move/Resize dialog.
Call a context menu for the extended partition (with the blue border), not the logical one.
9. In the opened dialog shift the edge of the extended partition to the right.
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10. The block of free space has been released.
11. Now you need to move the second primary partition just the way we did it with the logical partition to make the
block of free space adjoin the system partition.
12. Finally increase size of the system partition. Call the context menu for it (right click of the mouse button) to
launch the Move/Resize dialog.
13. In the opened dialog shift the edge of the partition to the right, thus increasing its size.
14. Apply all introduced changes. By default, our program works in the virtual mode of execution, so you have to
confirm all operations to let the program accomplish them. To do that, just click the Apply button on the Virtual
Operations Bar.
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15. The program will require the system restart to accomplish the operation in a special boot‐up mode. Click the
appropriate button to agree.
7.3.4 Increasing size of a system partition by taking unused space of an adjacent logical partition
Let’s assume you’ve got several partitions on your hard disk. After installing a number of resource‐consuming
applications and system updates your system partition has started to suffer from the lack of free space. But an adjacent
logical partition has a plenty of redundant space. That’s just enough to make your system partition suffer no more.
To increase size of a system partition by taking unused space from an adjacent partition, please do the following:
1. Click the Redistribute Free Space item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. Select a volume you want to expand, i.e. the system one.
4. Select a volume to take the space from, i.e. the logical one.
5. On the next page of the wizard you can specify size of the resulted system volume. Drag the slider or type in the
exact value to set the volume size.
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6. Apply all introduced changes. By default, our program works in the virtual mode of execution, so you have to
confirm all operations to let the program accomplish them. To do that, just click the Apply button on the Virtual
Operations Bar.
7.3.5 Merging a system partition with an adjacent logical partition
Let’s assume you’ve got several partitions on your hard disk. After installing a number of resource‐consuming
applications and system updates your system partition has started to suffer from the lack of free space. But an adjacent
logical partition has a plenty of redundant space. That’s just enough to make your system partition suffer no more.
To merge a system partition with an adjacent partition, please do the following:
1. Click Switch to Full Scale Launcher in the Express Launcher.
2. In the main window select the required logical volume on the Disk Map.
3. Call the context menu for it (right click of the mouse button) to launch the Make Partition Primary dialog.
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4. Confirm the operation by clicking the Yes button. By default, our program works in the virtual mode of
execution, so you can either confirm all operations to let the program accomplish them or continue work in the
virtual mode.
5. Click the Merge Partitions item of the Wizards menu (any of the ways described earlier can also be used here).
6. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
7. Select a volume you want to expand, i.e. the system one.
8. Select a volume you’d like the first volume to merge with. Please note that all contents of the selected partition
will be placed into a specific folder after the merge operation is over.
9. Review the changes and complete the wizard.
10. Apply all introduced changes. By default, our program works in the virtual mode of execution, so you have to
confirm all operations to let the program accomplish them. To do that, just click the Apply button on the Virtual
Operations Bar.
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11. If you’ve got to do with the system partition resize, like we do in our case, you will be asked to restart your
computer in a special boot‐up mode to accomplish the operation. So click the appropriate button to agree.
12. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out at the moment.
After completing the operation your computer will be automatically restarted back to Windows where you can see that
you have the merged volume now.
7.3.6 Shrinking a system partition to increase size of a data partition
Let’s assume you’ve got two partitions on your hard disk, the first one takes about 40% of all the disk space and is
exclusively used for Vista 64‐bit, while the second servers as a data storage. One day you realize that your system
partition doesn’t need so much disk space, that’s what your data partition really requires at the moment. You can easily
tackle this problem with Paragon Linux/DOS recovery environment.
To increase size of a data partition by taking unused space from a system partition, please do the following:
1. Start up the computer from our Linux/DOS recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. In the boot menu select Normal Mode to use the Linux recovery environment (more preferable) or Safe Mode
to use the PTS DOS recovery environment (in case you’ve got problems with Linux). Moreover you’ve got the
option to boot into the Low‐Graphics Safe Mode (PTS DOS safe mode) to cope with a serious hardware
incompatibility. In this case, only the minimal set of drivers will be included, like hard disk, monitor, and
keyboard drivers. This mode has simple graphics and a simple menu.
By default the Normal Mode will be automatically initiated after a 10 second idle period.
3. In the Linux launch menu select Hard Disk Manager. You can find it in PTS DOS as well.
4. In the main window select the required hard disk (if several) on the Disk Map.
5. Choose your system partition and then call the context menu for it (right click of the mouse button) to launch
the Move/Resize dialog.
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6. In the opened dialog set a new size for the partition by moving the slider or by entering the exact value in the
appropriate field. While doing this, free space from the partition will be released (displayed in aqua‐green). Click
OK to continue.
7. Now you’ve got a block of free space to add to your data partition.
8. Choose the data partition and then call the context menu for it (right click of the mouse button) to launch the
Move/Resize dialog.
9. Move the slider to the right to increase size of the partition. Click OK to continue.
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10. Apply the pending changes.
11. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out by the program.
7.3.7 Resizing partitions of Apple Boot Camp
Let’s assume you’re a Boot Camp user who’s got Windows XP as the second operating system. Initially allocated space
for the Windows partition has turned out to be insufficient for your current needs. The only way out is to take some
space from your Mac partition, thus redistributing the unused space between the partitions.
To increase size of the Windows partition by taking unused space from the Mac partition, please do the following:
1. Click the Express Resize Partitions item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. The wizard will automatically select Windows (the NTFS file system) and Mac (the Apple HFS file system)
partitions of your Boot Camp configuration.
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On the disk map you can also see the GPT service partition (called EFI) as well as a 128‐
megabyte free block between Mac and Windows partitions made with Boot Camp. It’s just
for your information.
4. Increase size of your Windows partition with the slider or manually by entering the required value. Please note,
when you change size of one partition the size of the other will be changed as well, thus redistributing the
unused space between the partitions.
5. On the next page of the wizard you need to confirm the operation by selecting the appropriate option.
6. That’s basically it. By clicking the Next button the wizard will start modifying your disk layout. If you’ve got to do
with the system partition resize, like we do in our case, you will be asked to restart your computer in a special
boot‐up mode to accomplish the operation. So click the appropriate button to agree.
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7. In the Progress window you can see in real‐time a detailed report on all actions carried out at the moment.
After completing the operation your computer will be automatically restarted back to Windows where you can see that
your system partition is bigger now.
7.4 Creating Dual Boot Systems
7.4.1 For Windows computers
Release of Windows Vista has given a new impetus to the problem of establishing a dual boot system. In this connection
we decided to consider two the most frequently used situations a rank and file user may face, i.e. Windows Vista +
Windows XP and Windows XP + Windows Vista. Please note that for reasons of better security and system
independence these operating systems will be installed on different partitions. That is why we need to hide the first
system partition before installation of the second OS.
Windows Vista + Windows XP
Suppose you have got Windows Vista coming with your brand new computer. Everything is great except one thing –
your favourite applications simply reject to work correctly on it. Software updates are expected to release in the near
future, but you cannot wait any more. Thus the best way out is to leave Windows Vista intact and install the time‐
proved Windows XP.
Most likely you have only one hard disk with only one partition (the only partition is always system). To install the
second operating system you need to repartition your drive first, as it requires a separate primary partition.
Install New OS Wizard
This scenario implies that operating systems will be installed on different partitions to
provide better security and system independence.
1. Click the Install New OS item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
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3. Select the appropriate option to create a new primary partition on your hard disk.
4. On the next page of the wizard, define size of the new partition. If the selected hard disk contains blocks of free
space, the wizard will automatically merge them all and allocate the resulted space to create the partition. If
not, it will take 50% of the unused space of an adjacent partition, thus resizing it.
5. The next page enables to specify a file system and a number of additional parameters. Since we are going to
install Windows XP, the most preferable file systems are NTFS and FAT32. Click the Yes button to continue.
On this page you can specify a number of additional parameters that can also be of help.
However here we pay attention to the most relevant to fulfill our task.
6. Enter a label for the future partition in the textual field. It will later be used for the drive identification.
7. The program will carry out all the necessary operations and then automatically restart the computer to initiate
the installation process.
If you’ve changed your mind on installing a new operating system, don’t insert its
distributive CD but press ESC when the following message appears:
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All the mentioned above operations can also be accomplished with the WinPE recovery
environment.
8. Install Windows XP on the newly created partition. We won’t go into details as for its installation, as you can find
all the necessary information in documentation that comes with the product. However to avoid any problems,
we consider it necessary to draw your attention on the following issues:
‐ You need a bootable distributive CD of Windows XP to install it;
‐ To automatically start your computer from this CD, make sure the on‐board BIOS is set up to boot from CD first
or press F12 during startup to select a bootable device;
‐ Do not forget to select the newly created partition as destination.
9. So if everything is OK, you’ve got to have by this moment Windows XP successfully installed. Your Windows
Vista however is still non‐bootable. To fix this issue you need to launch the Boot Manager Setup wizard. To do
that, please install our program once again, but this time in Windows XP to activate Boot Manager.
To avoid double installation, please use our recovery media to activate Boot Manager.
10. Click Boot Management and then select Boot Manager in the Express Launcher.
11. Set up the Boot Manager wizard. The parameters offered by default will do in our case, so just complete the
wizard and it will automatically find the two operating systems and update the MBR.
12. Now restart the computer to make sure you have got a dual boot system.
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Traditional way
This scenario implies that operating systems will be installed on different partitions to
provide better security and system independence.
1. Click Switch to Full Scale Launcher in the Express Launcher.
2. In the main window select your hard disk on the Disk Map to make a block of free space on it.
3. Release some free space (not less than 10 GB to install Windows XP) from the partition. To do that, please call
the context menu for the selected partition (right click of the mouse button) and launch the Move/Resize dialog.
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4. In the opened dialog shift the edge of the partition to the left by the drag‐and‐drop technique. While doing this,
free space from the partition will be released (displayed in aqua‐green). You can also do it manually by entering
the exact size of free space. Click the Yes button to continue.
The Move/Resize dialog offers a number of additional parameters that can also be of help.
However here we pay attention to the most relevant to fulfill our task.
5. Now you have a block of free space sufficient in size to hold a new partition.
6. Create a new partition to install Windows XP. To do that, please call the context menu for a newly created block
of free space (right click of the mouse button) and launch the Create Partition dialog.
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7. Define parameters of the future partition. By all means it has to be primary and since we are going to install
Windows XP, the most preferable file systems are NTFS and FAT32. Click the Yes button to continue.
The Create Partition dialog offers a number of additional parameters that can also be of
help. However here we pay attention to the most relevant to fulfill our task.
8. As a result of the operation we have got a newly created FAT32 partition just enough in size to comfortably
work with Windows XP.
9. Hide the Windows Vista partition to avoid writing any data on it during the Windows XP installation, as it is the
best way to provide system independence. To do that, please call the context menu for it (right click of the
mouse button) and launch the Hide Partition dialog. Click the Yes button to continue.
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Hiding of the system partition will make OS non‐bootable, what is quite normal.
10. Apply all introduced changes. By default, our program works in the virtual mode of execution, so you have to
confirm all operations to let the program accomplish them. To do that, just click the Apply button on the Virtual
Operations Bar.
11. The program will require the system restart to accomplish the operation in a special boot‐up mode. Click the
appropriate button to agree.
After all the operations are completed you will not be able to restart the system, what is
quite normal. Nevertheless if you do try it, the following error will occur:
All the mentioned above operations can also be accomplished with the WinPE recovery
environment.
12. Install Windows XP on the newly created partition. We won’t go into details as for its installation, as you can find
all the necessary information in documentation that comes with the product. However to avoid any problems,
we consider it necessary to draw your attention on the following issues:
‐ You need a bootable distributive CD of Windows XP to install it;
‐ To automatically start your computer from this CD, make sure the on‐board BIOS is set up to boot from CD first
or press F12 during startup to select a bootable device;
‐ Do not forget to select the newly created partition as destination.
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Installation of Windows XP will make Windows Vista non‐bootable.
13. Launch the Boot Manager Setup wizard. As your Windows Vista is non‐bootable any more, you need to install
our program once again, but this time in Windows XP to activate Boot Manager.
To avoid double installation, please use our recovery media to activate Boot Manager.
14. Click Boot Management and then select Boot Manager in the Express Launcher.
15. Set up the Boot Manager wizard. The parameters offered by default will do in our case, so just complete the
wizard and it will automatically find the two operating systems and update the MBR.
16. Now restart the computer to make sure you have got a dual boot system.
Windows XP + Windows Vista
If you’ve got Windows XP and are willing to try the latest Windows Vista but not sure your favorite applications will
flawlessly work on it, the best way out is to leave the time‐proved Windows XP intact and install Windows Vista for
studying purposes.
As this very situation is very close to the previous one, please use the Windows Vista + Windows XP scenario. However
please take into consideration one more step you need to accomplish if you decide to use the traditional scenario:
1. Besides hiding of the system partition before installation of the second OS you need to make it inactive as well.
To do that, please call the context menu for it (right click of the mouse button) and launch the corresponding
dialog. Click the Yes button to continue;
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Reviving the system partition
In case you are not able or not willing to complete the mentioned above scenarios, but have already reached the point
when all changes are applied and everything is ready to install the second OS, please do the following to make your
system bootable once again (only relevant for the traditional scenario):
1. Start up the computer from our Linux/DOS recovery media.
Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. In the Linux launch menu select Hard Disk Manager.
3. In the main window select your non‐bootable Windows partition on the Disk Map.
4. Unhide the partition by calling the context menu for it (right click of the mouse button) and then selecting
Unhide.
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5. Only for the Windows XP + Windows Vista scenario you need to make the system partition active as well by
calling the context menu for it (right click of the mouse button) and then selecting Set Active.
6. You will be notified after the operations are completed.
7. Restart the computer.
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7.5 System Migration Scenarios
7.5.1 Migrating Windows OS to a solid state drive (Migrate OS to SSD)
The latest SSDs do not boast high capacity, but rather smaller size and faster processing speeds over regular hard drives.
Plus, they are completely indifferent to mechanical impact, a feature crucial for mobile computers. These benefits are
leading more and more users to consider migrating at least OS to SSDs to get the most out of their systems.
So, how do you migrate a Windows OS and hundreds of gigabytes of data on one huge volume to an SSD drive of 80‐
128GB? Our Migrate OS to SSD Wizard can help you do that with minimal effort.
To migrate any Windows OS since XP from a regular hard disk to a fast SSD, please do the following:
1. Connect an SSD drive to the computer.
2. Turn on the computer.
3. Click the <Migration> button and then select Migrate OS to SSD.
4. The first page of the wizard informs the user on the upcoming operation. Please read all notes carefully before
you proceed. To get additional information on the subject, click the Learn more about migrating OS link at the
bottom of the window (highly recommended). Once you’re done with that, click Next to continue.
All data stored on the destination disk will be lost during the operation. Please save it to
another location beforehand.
5. The wizard will scan your computer for system partitions that accommodate any of the supported Windows
OSes. If several are found, it will let you specify which operating system you'd like to migrate.
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6. Depending on your choice, it will then automatically pick one or two on‐disk partitions (Windows 7 may have
Microsoft System Reserved, a special hidden partition that contains boot critical files) and prompt you to select
a destination disk (if there are more than two drives besides the source). If the selected disk is enough in
capacity to hold your OS, it will prompt you to start the migration. If not (just our case), click on the link below
the warning note to additionally exclude some data from the partition.
7. Unmark checkboxes opposite unnecessary files or folders to try to fit into the destination disk. We do not
recommend you to exclude system files, but those that could take plenty of disk space, like video, music,
photos, etc. Once you’re ready with the exclusion, click OK to let the wizard calculate the resulted size of the
partition.
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8. If a success, you’ll see a note that everything’s ready to start the migration. Since we’re going to use our SSD
drive exclusively for Windows OS, we additionally mark the appropriate checkbox to let the wizard expand the
resulted partition across all on‐disk space. Click Copy to initiate the migration process.
That’s actually it. After the migration is over, you will need to configure the destination disk as the first boot device in
BIOS to automatically start up the system from it. If a success, delete the Windows OS partition from the source disk,
then re‐partition the disk according to your needs.
7.5.2 Migrating system to a new HDD (up to 2.2TB in size)
Let’s assume that you’ve bought a new hard disk that is up to 2.2TB in capacity. It’s faster and of much higher capacity
than your current system disk, so it’s quite natural you start thinking about system migration. We can help you do that.
If the target hard disk exceeds the 2.2TB capacity limit, please consult the Migrating system
to a 2.2TB+ HDD scenario.
To migrate your system to a hard disk that doesn’t exceed the 2.2TB capacity limit, please do the following:
1. Connect both source and destination disks to the computer.
2. Turn on the computer.
3. Click the Copy Disk item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
4. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
5. On the Select Hard Disk to Copy page, select a source disk (a hard disk you want to copy).
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6. On the Select Target Hard Disk page, select a destination disk (a hard disk to copy contents of the source disk).
During the operation all contents of the destination disk will be deleted.
7. On the next page of the wizard, define the copy options. In our case we’d rather copy data with a proportional
resize to occupy the entire disk.
8. On the Revise Copy Results page review all parameters of the operation.
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9. Complete the wizard and then apply the pending changes.
10. When copying is completed, shut down the computer.
11. Disconnect (physically) the source hard disk.
12. Boot the computer from the destination hard disk.
To make Windows bootable on different hardware, please additionally complete the P2P
Adjust OS Wizard.
7.5.3 Using 2.2TB+ HDD as internal data storage in Windows XP
As you know 2.2TB+ drives are out of the supported size range for the popular Windows XP system. Though two new
Windows versions have been released since XP, it's still utilized on 51% of computers worldwide. Meaning, roughly half
of PC users simply cannot use the new hard disk drives.
We can help you augment Windows XP by adding support for GPT (GUID Partition Table) disks, thus you will be able to
use all disk space on ultra high capacity drives:
GPT Loader enables to use all disk space of modern 2.2TB+ drives under Windows XP, but
only for storing data, not for the Windows XP accommodation.
Only internally connected single 2.2TB+ drives are supported, not external storages, or
those combined into RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks).
1. As an example we’ve taken a new 3TB hard disk (Disk 1 in the system). As you see Windows XP detects it as a
750GB disk. It’s due to the fact that this operating system works only with MBR (Master Boot Record) disks, so it
cannot address disk space beyond 2.2TB limit. If a drive exceeds this limit, OS detects the remaining slice of
space (750GB in our case) only, thus making the bulk of the disk space unavailable to the user.
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2. First we need to add support for GPT disks to the operating system. To do that, install Paragon GPT Loader. It’s
included to the product’s installation package, but it’s not allowed to install by default, so please take it into
account.
Windows OSes since Vista do not need functionality of Paragon GPT Loader, so it’s only
available to install under Windows XP 32/64‐bit.
3. Restart the system when the installation is over.
4. If you launch Windows Disk Management (WDM) now, it will show the same 750GB, since the hard disk is still
treated as MBR in the operating system. If you launch our program, you will see that the entire disk space is
now correctly detected. Being MBR though, there are two unallocated slices: the maximum available for MBR
2.2TB and 750GB.
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5. To get access to the entire disk space, we need to convert the disk to GPT. To do that, select in the Main Menu:
Hard Disk > Convert to GPT hard disk.
6. Confirm the operation and then apply the pending changes.
7. Now you’ve got access to the entire disk space and are able to perform functions such as creating a volume
using our program or Windows Disk Management.
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When trying to create a volume in WDM just after the conversion to GPT, you will be asked
to restart the computer first. The system restart is not required for our program.
When partitioning in WDM, it additionally creates an MSR (Microsoft Reserved) partition,
which size may vary from 32MB (for disks up to 16GB in size) to 128MB (for all the others).
It’s a service partition, which reserves space for particular needs of Microsoft. You won’t
see it in WDM, but it’s available in our program. You’re free to delete it.
7.5.4 Making system bootable on different hardware (P2P Adjust OS)
Let’s assume you had to migrate to a new hardware platform. You connected your system hard disk to the brand new
PC and tried to start up the operating system ‐ you do know for sure now that this operation had been doomed to
failure from the very beginning. With our program you can easily tackle this naughty problem.
Before you start, please make sure the following conditions are met:
You’ve got drivers for the new hardware ready to use, not zipped or in .exe files.
Your OS is unrolled on the new computer, not in a backup image.
To make a Windows physical system bootable on different hardware, please do the following:
1. Start up the computer from our WinPE recovery media.
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Recovery Media Builder can help you prepare our recovery environment either on a
CD/DVD disc or a thumb drive.
To automatically boot from the recovery media please make sure the on‐board BIOS is set
up to boot from CD/USB first.
2. Launch the P2P Adjust OS Wizard.
Our WinPE 3.0 based environment offers excellent hardware support. However in case it
doesn’t have a driver for your disk controller, your hard disks will be unavailable. Please
consult the Adding specific drivers scenario to know how to tackle this issue.
3. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
4. From the list of all found Windows systems (if several) select one you need to adjust to the new hardware. If
you’re willing to adjust them all, just re‐launch this wizard for each.
5. There are two execution modes to choose from: fully automatic and advance. Below we will go set‐by‐step
through the automatic scenario to show the whole process, and then take a closer look at specifics of the
advance scenario.
6. Select Adjust the OS to the new hardware automatically.
7. The wizard will automatically accomplish all the necessary actions.
8. The only action that might be required from your side is to set a path to an additional driver repository in case
the wizard has failed to find drivers for some boot critical devices in the built‐in Windows repository. Generally
together with new hardware you get its drivers for different operating systems on removable media (mostly CD
or DVD). By collecting all these drivers in one folder you can let the wizard automatically pick and install only
those required for your OS. Select Search for drivers in a specific folder.
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Click on the link at the bottom of the page to see what boot critical devices have no drivers.
The wizard names all devices according to their model description, not some alphanumeric
code, which is very convenient.
9. Though you’ve got the option to continue without injecting missing drivers for boot critical devices (The Ignore
all missing drivers option), we strongly recommend you not to do it. Otherwise we cannot guarantee your
Windows will start up on the new hardware.
10. The wizard can search for drivers on a local disk or a mapped network share. In our case it’s on a network share,
this is why we need to map it first.
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11. When done, we can select it as target.
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The wizard enables to specify several driver repositories.
12. If the wizard has found all missing drivers, it will ask you to confirm the operation. Apply the changes to
complete.
After the operation is completed the system will be bootable on the new hardware. After the startup, Windows will
initiate reconfiguration of all Plug'n'Play devices. It’s a standard procedure, so please don’t worry and prepare the latest
drivers at this step to get the most out of the system.
Advance scenario specifics
1. To launch the advance mode, select Set parameters for the OS adjustment.
2. When setting additional driver repositories, you can specify how to process drivers for found hardware.
Inject all necessary drivers… Mark the checkbox to force injection of all drivers for your devices from the
given driver repository(s), even if there are already installed drivers for some hardware. Please use this
option if you suspect any of the installed drivers of not matching your hardware.
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Keep the latest driver version. Mark the checkbox to keep the latest version of drivers during the forced re‐
injection. You can use this option only when the above option is active.
3. Just before the OS adjustment, you can additionally:
View all found hardware devices and their driver status by clicking . The wizard names all devices
according to their model description, not some alphanumeric code, which is very convenient. So you can
compare the listed devices with the given hardware to make sure the wizard has analyzed your system
correctly.
Filter devices without drivers by clicking . Unlike the automatic mode, where only boot critical devices
(storage controllers) without drivers are being reported, here you can view and inject drivers for network
cards as well.
Add a driver for each device that lacks it by clicking on the device, then browsing for the required location.
The wizard will then match the device with drivers inside the given location and pick the right one.
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Manually add a driver for a device that has not been found by our wizard by clicking , then specifying
the required .INF file.
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When selecting an .INF file that contains several driver records for hardware you both, have
in the system and don’t have, you can filter the list by marking the appropriate checkbox.
Remove a driver for a device, which has not been found in the system.
7.5.5 Virtualizing the current system (P2V Copy)
Let’s assume that you’re about to migrate to a brand‐new hardware platform with the latest operating system available
for it. Your current system is quite obsolete, but you still need access to some of its software. You don’t want to waste
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time re‐installing the old software to the new system, and you do know for sure that the bulk of it won’t work anyway.
The best way out is to virtualize your old system.
But before you start, please make sure the following conditions are met:
Your hard disk has enough free space to store a virtual image of your Windows (depends on the system).
You’ve got one of the supported virtualization software.
To make a virtual disk out of your current system, please do the following:
1. Click the P2V Copy item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. Select objects you need to virtualize. You’re allowed to select any combination of hard disks and partitions, but
don’t forget to choose your system partition (Local Disk C: in our case) to use it as guest. Otherwise the resulted
virtual machine won’t start up.
4. Specify the guest OS and a virtualization software vendor. If your system hosts several Windows OSes, our
wizard will find them all and automatically patch to run in a virtual environment. However we cannot guarantee
smooth startup of all found Windows systems for their configuration parameters may be incompatible with
each other. This is why we additionally prompt you to specify what operating system you’d like to use as guest
to configure the virtual machine for that particular system.
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Not all vendors may be available to choose. If capacity of one of the selected objects
exceeds the maximum virtual disk capacity of any vendor, this vendor will be shadowed.
5. Set properties of the future virtual machine:
Virtual machine version. Please make sure you choose a version which is supported by your virtualization
software, otherwise you won’t be able to work with the newly created machine.
Virtual machine name. By default the wizard picks the name of your guest OS, which can be modified
however.
CPU number. If your computer supports multiprocessing, select how many CPUs you’d like to allocate for
the virtual machine.
Memory amount. Depending on the guest OS the wizard calculates the recommended size of RAM, which
can be modified however.
6. Set properties of the resulted virtual disk(s):
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Virtual disk interface. By default the wizard sets the most appropriate interface for each disk. Anyway
you’ve got the option to change it to one of the supported by your guest OS. Just click on a disk, and then
select the required interface from the pull‐down list. But be ready to provide drivers for it on the next page.
Our program supports injection of drivers delivered in .iso or .flp images, so you can for
instance download and inject drivers for the BusLogic controller from the VMware website.
Additional properties that depending on the selected virtualization vendor may include:
‐ Size of the virtual disk. By default the wizard offers to create a virtual disk exactly the size of the selected
object(s), which you can resize however (available for all);
‐ Resize partitions proportionally. If you upsize the resulted virtual disk, you can make the wizard
proportionally change the size of partitions keeping their relative order intact (available for all);
‐ Create a split disk. You can choose whether to automatically cut the resulted virtual image to files of 2
GBs or not (available for VMware only);
‐ Pre‐allocate all disk space. You can choose whether to pre‐allocate all space of the future virtual disk, or
do it dynamically (not available for VMware ESX and Oracle VirtualBox).
The maximum limit you can downsize the virtual disk is the capacity of its first partition.
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7. Specify a file name for the virtual machine and its location. By default the wizard scans all your local disks for
available free space and picks the most appropriate location taking into account the total capacity of all virtual
disks inside the virtual machine.
8. Complete the wizard and then apply the pending changes.
7.5.6 Virtualizing system from its backup image (P2V Restore)
Let’s assume that your system has been corrupted as a result of a hardware failure. You realize it’s quite obsolete and
it’s next to impossible to replace the damaged hardware devices. Migration to a new hardware platform seems the best
way out, if not for one thing – you still need access to your software, but you do know for sure that the bulk of it won’t
work on the new platform. Luckily you’ve got a backup image of your old system made with Paragon software – that’s
just enough for its virtualization.
Before you start, please make sure the following conditions are met:
You’ve got a backup image of your old system.
You’ve got enough free space to store a virtual image of your old system (depends on the system).
You’ve got one of the supported virtualization software.
To restore a Windows system from a Paragon’s backup directly to a virtual environment, please do the following:
1. Click the P2V Restore item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. Browse for the required backup image. The section below (i.e. Archive File Details) will also display a short
description of the selected image.
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4. Select objects you need to virtualize. You’re allowed to select any combination of hard disks and partitions, but
don’t forget to choose your system partition (Local Disk C: in our case) to use it as guest. Otherwise the resulted
virtual machine won’t start up.
5. Specify the guest OS and a virtualization software vendor. If the selected backup contains several Windows
OSes, our wizard will find them all and automatically patch to run in a virtual environment. However we cannot
guarantee smooth startup of all found Windows systems for their configuration parameters may be
incompatible with each other. This is why we additionally prompt you to specify what operating system you’d
like to use as guest to configure the virtual machine for that particular system.
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When using old Paragon’s backup images (prior to Backup & Recovery 10), please be ready
to manually specify the guest OS.
Not all vendors may be available to choose. If capacity of one of the selected objects
exceeds the maximum virtual disk capacity of any vendor, this vendor will be shadowed.
6. Set properties of the future virtual machine:
Virtual machine version. Please make sure you choose a version which is supported by your virtualization
software, otherwise you won’t be able to work with the newly created machine.
Virtual machine name. By default the wizard picks the name of your guest OS, which can be modified
however.
CPU number. If your computer supports multiprocessing, select how many CPUs you’d like to allocate for
the virtual machine.
Memory amount. Depending on the guest OS the wizard calculates the recommended size of RAM, which
can be modified however.
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If the selected version does not officially support the guest OS, you will be notified and
prompted to select another one.
7. Set properties of the resulted virtual disk(s):
Virtual disk interface. By default the wizard sets the most appropriate interface for each disk. Anyway
you’ve got the option to change it to one of the supported by your guest OS. Just click on a disk, and then
select the required interface from the pull‐down list. But be ready to provide drivers for it on the next page.
Our program supports injection of drivers delivered in .iso or .flp images, so you can for
instance download and inject drivers for the BusLogic controller from the VMware website.
Additional properties that depending on the selected virtualization vendor may include:
‐ Size of the virtual disk. By default the wizard offers to create a virtual disk exactly the size of the selected
object(s), which you can resize however (available for all);
‐ Resize partitions proportionally. If you upsize the resulted virtual disk, you can make the wizard
proportionally change the size of partitions keeping their relative order intact (available for all);
‐ Create a split disk. You can choose whether to automatically cut the resulted virtual image to files of 2
GBs or not (available for VMware only);
‐ Pre‐allocate all disk space. You can choose whether to pre‐allocate all space of the future virtual disk, or
do it dynamically (not available for VMware ESX and Oracle VirtualBox).
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The maximum limit you can downsize the virtual disk is the capacity of its first partition.
8. Specify a file name for the virtual machine and its location. By default the wizard scans all your local disks for
available free space and picks the most appropriate location taking into account the total capacity of all virtual
disks inside the virtual machine.
9. Complete the wizard and then apply the pending changes.
7.5.7 Creating an empty virtual disk (Create VD)
To create an empty virtual disk, please do the following:
1. Click the Create Virtual Disk item of the Wizards menu.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. Select Create an empty virtual disk.
4. Specify a virtualization software vendor and a number of additional parameters, including:
Type of the virtual disk. You can either create an IDE or a SCSI virtual disk (relevant for VMware only);
Create a split disk. You can choose whether to automatically cut the resulted virtual image to files of 2 GBs
or not (available for VMware only);
Pre‐allocate all disk space. You can choose whether to pre‐allocate all space of the future virtual disk, or do
it dynamically (not available for VMware ESX and Oracle VirtualBox);
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5. Specify a file name for the resulted virtual disk and its location.
6. Complete the wizard and then apply the pending changes.
7.5.8 Making Windows Vista/7 backup bootable on virtual hardware (P2V Adjust OS)
As you probably know, Windows Vista and later operating systems from Microsoft include a built‐in disaster recovery
tool, which enables to create backup images of Windows OS in a .vhd (Virtual Hard Disk) format, used now by Microsoft
Virtual PC/Server/Hyper‐V, and Oracle VirtualBox. Unfortunately you cannot just take this type of backup to run
Windows OS in a virtual environment – it won’t start up. We can help you out with this naughty problem. Our P2V
Adjust OS Wizard can patch Windows OS inside a .vhd backup image according to the specified virtualization vendor to
let you start up and work with your Windows on virtual hardware.
To make a Windows .vhd backup image start up in a virtual environment, please do the following:
1. Click the P2V Adjust OS item of the Wizards menu.
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. Browse for the required .vhd backup image of your Windows.
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4. Our wizard will detect a version of Windows OS inside the image and offer to specify a virtualization software
vendor. At the present moment the .vhd format is supported by Microsoft Virtual PC/Server/Hyper‐V, and
Oracle VirtualBox. We choose the last one.
5. Set properties of the future virtual machine:
Virtual machine version. Please make sure you choose a version which is supported by your virtualization
software, otherwise you won’t be able to work with the newly created machine.
Virtual machine name. By default the wizard picks the name of your guest OS, which can be modified
however.
CPU number. If your computer supports multiprocessing, select how many CPUs you’d like to allocate for
the virtual machine.
Memory amount. Depending on the guest OS the wizard calculates the recommended size of RAM, which
can be modified however.
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If the selected version does not officially support the guest OS, you will be notified and
prompted to select another one.
6. Complete the wizard and then apply the pending changes.
7.5.9 Connecting a virtual disk (Connect VD)
You’ve got the option to connect a virtual disk of one of the supported types directly to our program as if it’s an ordinary
physical disk, so opening up enormous possibilities:
Exchange data between your physical environment and the virtual one through Volume Explorer (data import
only) or File Transfer Wizard (data import and export). The way we offer is much easier and faster, as you don’t
need a VM shared folder, the network, or the slow‐goer drag‐and‐drop;
Import data from a parent virtual disk to one of its snapshots;
Accomplish drive partitioning (create, format, delete, move, resize, etc.);
Modify partition attributes (Active flag, Hidden flag, Volume Label, etc.);
Clone a partition or an entire hard disk;
Edit/View sectors, and many more.
To connect a virtual disk (snapshot) to our program, please do the following:
1. Click the Connect a Virtual Disk item of the Hard Disk menu.
2. In the opened dialog browse for the required virtual disk, then click Connect to accomplish the operation.
You’ve also got the option to connect this disk in the read‐only mode or/and have it connected automatically at
every program startup by marking appropriate checkboxes.
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Click the “Show recently used disks” link to select and connect one of the disks you’ve
already worked with.
3. That’s all. The selected virtual disk will be available on the disk map, as if it’s an ordinary physical disk.
Limitations:
A virtual disk opened for writing with a 3rd party tool (e.g. being used by a virtual machine) won’t be connected,
as asynchronous parallel writing to the disk file will most likely result in data corruption;
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A virtual disk opened for reading with a 3rd party tool (e.g. it’s a parent VMware disk, which snapshot is being
used by a virtual machine) will be opened for reading only with the corresponding notification;
A double disk connection is prohibited.
7.5.10 Repartitioning a virtual disk
Let’s assume you’ve got several partitions on a virtual disk. After installing a number of resource‐consuming applications
and system updates the system partition has started to suffer from the lack of free space. But an adjacent partition has
a plenty of redundant space. That’s just enough to make the system partition suffer no more.
To increase size of a system partition by taking unused space from an adjacent partition, please do the following:
1. Connect the required virtual disk to our program.
2. Select it on the disk map.
3. Right click on the space donor partition, then select Move/Resize Partition…
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In case you’ve got more than two partitions on the disk, and the required space donor is
not adjacent to the system partition, you can still use this scenario by consecutively
redistributing free space between all partitions involved in the operation.
4. In the opened dialog drag‐and‐drop the left edge of the partition to the right to release the required amount of
the free space (displayed in aqua‐green). You can also do it manually by entering the exact size of free space.
5. Now you’ve got a block of free space to add to the system partition.
6. Right click on the system partition, then select Move/Resize Partition…
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7. In the opened dialog shift the right edge of the partition to the right end, thus increasing its size.
8. Apply all introduced changes. By default, the program works in the virtual mode of execution, so you have to
confirm all operations to let the program accomplish them. To do that, just click the Apply button on the Virtual
Operations Bar.
9. When done, either disconnect the virtual disk or close our program.
7.5.11 Exchanging data between physical and virtual environments
Let’s assume you need to import a lot of data from one of your virtual disks. The best way out is to use our program, as
it can help you do that without starting up the virtual environment and the other actions typical for this task.
To import data from a virtual environment, please do the following:
1. Connect the required virtual disk to our program.
2. Select in the Main Menu: Tools > File Transfer Wizard (any of the ways described earlier can also be used here).
3. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
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4. Select a disk where the required data is stored from the pull‐down list in the right pane of the window. You can
find it among physical partitions, as a connected virtual disk cannot have an assigned drive letter either.
To easily find the required disk, please use its volume label or sequence number as a check
point.
5. Select files you want to copy and place them to Clipboard by pressing the left arrow‐button. Click Next to
continue.
6. Select the Save data to local/network drives item. Click Next to continue.
7. Specify the exact place to copy the data to.
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8. Finish the wizard to accomplish the operation.
7.5.12 Copying data from a parent virtual disk to one of its snapshots
Let’s assume you’ve got a virtual machine with several snapshots. You need to copy some data from a parent image to
one of its snapshots. You can’t just roll back to the parent image, as you don’t want to lose the latest data of the
snapshot, so the best way out is to copy the required data from the parent image to the snapshot.
To copy data from a parent image to one of its snapshots, please do the following:
1. Connect the required snapshot disk to our program.
2. Connect its parent disk to our program. It’ll be connected for reading only.
3. Copy the required data from the parent disk to the snapshot.
4. Disconnect the virtual disks or close the program.
7.5.13 Migrating from one virtual environment to another (V2V)
Let’s assume you’re willing to shift to another virtualization software vendor (e.g. from Microsoft Virtual PC to VMware
Workstation). The only thing that holds you back from it is a lot of virtual machines of MS Virtual PC, which are not fully
compatible with VMware Workstation. Don’t worry, we can help you out.
Before you start, please make sure you’ve got enough free space to accomplish the
operation.
To make a virtual machine of one vendor out of an existing virtual machine of another vendor, please do the following:
1. Connect all virtual disks of the required virtual machine to our program.
2. Complete the P2V Copy Wizard. Do not forget to select all virtual disks as objects of virtualization.
As a result you’ll get two virtual machines containing the same virtual environment, but of different vendors. You can
now delete the original to release some free space.
7.6 Hard Disk Optimization
To defragment an NTFS or FAT partition, please do the following:
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You must have administrator’s privileges to accomplish defragmentation of the system
partition.
1. Click the <Security and Optimization> button and then select Defragment Partition.
2. In the main window, select a partition you want to defragment on the Disk Map.
3. Launch the Defragment Partition dialog by calling the popup menu for the selected partition (right click of the
mouse button) and then selecting the menu item: Defragment Partition…
4. In the opened dialog define settings of the operation. To improve the performance we recommend you to mark
the Do not save content of the Pagefile.sys or (and) Hiberfile.sys checkbox as these files are only needed for
the current Windows session.
The Defragment Partition dialog offers a number of additional parameters that can also be
of help. However here we pay attention to the most relevant to fulfill our task.
5. Start the operation by clicking the Yes button.
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7.7 Hard Disk Utilization
To irreversibly destroy all on‐disk information without any possibility to recover and that way providing the maximum
level of security, please do the following:
1. In the Main Menu: select Wizards > Wipe Hard Disk or Partition…
There are other ways to start up this function, please consult the Interface Overview
chapter to know more on the subject.
2. On the Wizard's Welcome page, click the Next button.
3. Select a hard disk, the data of which you want to wipe out.
4. On the Wipe Mode page, select the wipe out all the data to irreversible destroy all on‐disk information.
5. On the Wipe Method page select a specific data erasure algorithm or choose to create a customized one (in our
case we prefer to use a certified military standard).
The list of supported military and government standards may vary for your product.
6. The next page of the wizard enables to get detailed information on the selected algorithm, choose whether to
carry out residual data verification or not specifying the percentage of sectors to check and estimate the time
required to accomplish the operation.
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7. Review all parameters of the operation and modify them if necessary.
8. Complete the wizard and then apply the pending changes.
7.8 Extra Scenarios for WinPE
7.8.1 Adding specific drivers
Our WinPE 3.0 based recovery environment offers excellent hardware support. Anyway you’ve got the option to add
drivers for specific hardware with a handy dialog.
To add drivers for specific hardware, please do the following:
1. Once you accept the agreement, you will see the Universal Application Launcher. Click Load Drivers.
2. In the opened dialog browse for an .INF file of the required driver package located on a floppy disk, local disk,
CD/DVD or a network share. Then click the Open button to initiate the operation
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To know how to map a network share, please consult the Configuring network scenario.
3. You will be notified on the successful accomplishment of the operation. Click Yes to load another driver or No to
close the dialog.
Our WinPE 3.0 recovery environment is 32‐based, thus you need to use 32‐bit drivers for
injection.
7.8.2 Configuring network
If your local network has a DHCP server, a network connection will be automatically configured once our WinPE
recovery environment has been started up. Otherwise you will need to do it manually with a handy dialog by providing
an IP address, a network mask, default gateway, etc. Besides with its help you can easily map network shares.
To manually set up a network connection and map a network share, please do the following:
1. Once you accept the agreement, you will see the Universal Application Launcher. Click Configure Network.
2. In the opened dialog provide an IP address, a network mask, default gateway, etc. for your network device.
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3. Click the Network drivers tab to map a network share.
4. Click Map Network Drive and provide all the necessary information to map a network share in the opened
dialog:
Click the standard browse button [...] to browse for the required network share or manually enter a path to
it;
Define a letter from the pull‐down list of available drive letters;
Click the Connect as user button at the foot of the dialog page to specify a user name and password to
access the selected network share if necessary.
By clicking Disconnect Drive… you can delete an existing network share if necessary.
5. Click the Network identification tab to change a network name of your computer (generated automatically) and
a workgroup name.
6. By default, the wizard saves all network settings in the netconf.ini file located on the WinPE RAM drive, thus it
will only be available until you restart the computer. However, you can just once configure your network device
and then save this file to some other destination, for instance a local drive, and this way avoid constant re‐
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configuration, just by providing a path to it. So Click Save to file to save the netconfig.ini file to the required
destination.
7.8.3 Saving log files
The program enables to simplify the procedure of sending support requests to the Paragon Support Team. In case of
having difficulties with handling the program, you, with the help of this very function, can address the company support
engineers and provide them with all the information they need such as the disk layout, performed operations, etc. in
order to tackle the encountered problem. Information of that kind is stored in log files.
To prepare a log files package, please do the following:
1. Once you accept the agreement, you will see the Universal Application Launcher. Click Log Saver.
2. In the opened dialog browse for the required location of the log files package or manually provide a full path to
it. Click Collect to initiate the operation.
Log files do not contain any confidential information on the operating system settings or
the user documents.
8 Troubleshooter
Here you can find answers to the most frequently asked questions that might arise while using the program.
1. I try to run an operation, but the program claims my partition is in use and suggests restarting the computer.
There are a number of operations that cannot be performed while your partition is in use (or locked in other
words). Please agree to reboot your machine to make the program accomplish the operation in a special boot‐
up mode.
2. I run an operation and restart the machine as required, but it just boots back into Windows without
accomplishing the operation.
Please run 'chkdsk /f' for the partition in question.
3. I cannot create a new partition on the disk.
There can be a number of reasons for that:
The program cannot create a new partition on a dynamic disk.
The program allows creating new partitions only within blocks of un‐partitioned space. It cannot convert
a free space on an existing partition to a new partition.
4. I cannot copy a partition.
There can be a number of reasons for that:
‐ The source or target disk you select is a dynamic disk;
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‐ 4 primary partitions (or three primary partitions and an extended one) already exist on the target disk.
5. I need to copy a partition. But when selecting a place where to make a copy, I always get a crossed circle sign no
matter which partition is selected.
The program enables to copy a partition only to a block of un‐partitioned space. If you don’t have a block of free
space on your hard disk, please delete or reduce an existing partition to accomplish the operation.
6. I cannot do anything with my USB flash drive. I get a crossed circle sign when trying to select any area on it.
Some USB flash drives don't have the MBR (Master Boot Record), that’s the cause of your problem. To fix the
issue please use the Update MBR function of our program or 'fixmbr' of the Windows installation disc to write a
standard code to your flash drive.
7. When trying to back up my system the program asks to restart the computer.
Most likely the Hot Processing mode is disabled. Please make it active in the program settings.
8. When backing up a partition with the VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service) mode, the program throws "VSS could
not be started for processed volume".
Most likely you try to back up a FAT32 partition, which is not supported by VSS. Please use the Paragon Hot
Processing mode instead.
9. I cannot back up my hard disk to an external hard drive. Once started, the operation is aborted with the
following error: Hard Disk management, Error Code 0x1100a. What is wrong here?
The problem is that the Microsoft VSS service is set as the default Hot Processing mode in the program. But this
service has not been started in your WindowsXP/Windows2003/Vista. Please start this service (right click on My
Computer > Manage > Services > find Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service and make it active. Set also to
start it automatically).
10. When running a backup operation with the Paragon Hot Processing mode enabled, I get an error: error code
0x1200e "Internal error during Hot Backup"
Most likely your hard disk contains bad blocks. Please fix the issue with your HDD manufacturer's tool.
You can find a name of the tool you need here: https://support.automation.siemens.com
11. When running a backup operation with the Microsoft VSS mode enabled, I get the following error: error code
0x12016 "VSS: can't read volume data”
Most likely your hard disk contains bad blocks. Please fix the issue with your HDD manufacturer's tool.
You can find a name of the tool you need here: https://support.automation.siemens.com
12. When trying to back up to a network share, I get the following error: "i/o error" or "can't open/create file"
Please check whether you’ve got a permission to write to the selected destination or not.
13. When trying to restore a backup archive, I get the following error: "Can't restore to current selection" or
"Archive does not fit"
Most likely you’re trying to restore a backup of the whole hard disk to a partition or vice versa.
14. I set up a timetable for a task, but it fails to execute.
There can be a number of reasons for that:
‐ Windows Task Scheduler does not work properly. Check whether it is so or not by scheduling a simple task (call
Notepad through scheduling);
‐ You don’t have permission to write to the selected backup destination.
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9 Glossary
Active Partition is a partition from which an x86‐based computer starts up. The active partition must be a primary
partition on a basic disk. If you use Windows exclusively, the active partition can be the same as the system volume.
In the DOS partitioning scheme, only primary partitions can be active due to limitations of the standard bootstrap.
The term backup originates from the time when the best way to protect valuable information was to store it in form of
archives on external media. It’s become now a general notion to mean making duplications of data for protection
purposes.
Bootable Archive is created by adding a special bootable section when backing up the data to CD/DVDs. Thus you will
be able to restore the data from these archives without having to run the program, but by simply booting from these
CD/DVDs.
Cluster is the smallest amount of disk space that can be allocated to hold a file. All file systems used by Windows
organize hard disks based on clusters, which consist of one or more contiguous sectors. The smaller the cluster size, the
more efficiently a disk stores information. If no cluster size is specified during formatting, Windows picks defaults based
on the size of the volume. These defaults are selected to reduce the amount of space that is lost and the amount of
fragmentation on the volume. A cluster is also called an allocation unit.
Extended Partition is a partition type you create only on a basic MBR (Master Boot Record) disk. Extended partition is
used if you want to create more than four volumes on a disk, since it may contain multiple logical drives.
File System Metadata. The servicing structures of a file system, which contain information about allocating files and
directories, security information etc, are named the file system metadata. It is invisible for users and regular
applications because its accidental modification usually makes a partition unusable.
Hard Disk Geometry. Traditionally, the usable space of a hard disk is logically divided into cylinders, cylinders are
divided into tracks (or heads), and tracks are divided into sectors.
The triad of values {[Sectors‐per‐Track], [Tracks‐per‐Cylinder], [Amount‐of‐Cylinders]} is usually named the Hard Disk
Geometry or C/H/S geometry.
Tracks and cylinders are enumerated from "0", while sectors are enumerated from "1". These disk parameters play an
essential role in the DOS Partitioning scheme.
Modern hardware uses an advanced scheme for the linear addressing of sectors, which assumes that all on‐disk sectors
are continuously enumerated from “0”. To allow backward compatibility with older standards, modern hard disks can
additionally emulate the C/H/S geometry.
Hidden Partition. The concept of a "hidden" partition was introduced in the IBM OS/2 Boot Manager. By default, an
operating system does not mount a hidden partition, thus preventing access to its contents.
A method of hiding a partition consists in changing the partition ID value saved in the Partition Table. This is achieved by
XOR‐ing the partition ID with a 0x10 hexadecimal value.
Master File Table (MFT) is a relational database that consists of rows of file records and columns of file attributes. It
contains at least one entry for every file on an NTFS volume, including the MFT itself. MFT is similar to a FAT table in a
FAT file system.
MBR & 1st track of the hard disk is the 0th sector of the disk. MBR (Master Boot Record) contains important
information about the disk layout:
‐ The used partitioning scheme;
‐ The starting records of the Partition Table;
‐ The standard bootstrap code (or the initial code of boot managers, disk overlay software or boot viruses).
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Generally, the 0th sector is used for similar purposes in all existing partitioning schemes.
The MBR capacity is not sufficient to contain sophisticated boot programs. That’s why the on‐boot software is allowed
to use the entire 0th track of the disk. For example, boot managing utilities such as LILO, GRUB and Paragon Boot
Manager are located in the 0th track.
Partition ID (or File system ID) is a file system identifier that is placed in the partition. It is used to quickly detect
partitions of supported types. A number of operating systems completely rely on it to distinguish supported partitions.
Partition ID is saved in appropriate entries of the Partition Table and takes only 1 byte of space.
Partition Label (or Volume Label) is a small textual field (up to 11 characters) that is located in the partition's boot
sector. This value is used for notification purposes only. It is detectable by any partitioning tool including the DOS FDISK
utility.
Modern operating systems save it within a file system, e.g. as a special hidden file. Thus it is able to contain a relatively
large amount of text in multiple languages.
Partitioning Scheme is a set of rules, constraints and format of the on‐disk structures to keep information on partitions
located on a hard disk.
There are known several partitioning schemes. The most popular of them is the so‐called DOS partitioning scheme. It
was introduced by IBM and Microsoft to use multiple partitions in the disk subsystems on IBM PC compatible
computers.
Another popular partitioning scheme is the so‐called Logical Disks Model (LDM) that originates from the UNIX
mainframe systems. Veritas Executive accommodates a simplified version of LDM to the Windows 2000 operating
system.
Windows 2000 and XP support two quite different partitioning schemes: the old DOS partitioning scheme and the new
Dynamic Disk Management (DDM). The problem is that earlier versions of Windows do not support DDM. In addition,
most hard disk utilities do not support it as well.
Recovery Media is a CD/DVD disc, a USB flash card or even a floppy disk from which you can boot for maintenance or
recovery purposes.
Root Directory is the top‐level directory of a formatted logical drive to include other files and directories. In modern file
systems (Ext2/Ext3, NTFS and even FAT32) it does not differ from other directories. This is not the case for old FAT12
and FAT16 file systems.
Serial Number. In the DOS partitioning scheme, every hard disk and every partition has a 32‐bit serial number
represented by an 8‐figure hexadecimal value. It is stored in the MBR and its value is assigned when the MBR sector is
initialized by Microsoft standard disk managing tools, such as Windows Disk Administrator and the FDISK utility.
In fact, a hard disk's serial number is not important for most operating systems and software. It is known that Windows
NT, 2000 and XP store its value in the database of assigned drive letters.
A partition's serial number is stored in its boot sector (in FAT16, FAT32 and NFTS file systems). Its value is assigned when
the partition is formatted. It does not play an important role for most operating systems and software as well.
Copyright© 1994‐2011 Paragon Software Group. All rights reserved.
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