XXCLONE

[Malone]

I've noticed that when I clone my Windows XP system volume using XXCLONE (I'm using the freeware version), all the system restore points are removed from the source volume. Should I be expecting this to happen? I would prefer it not to.

The source volume is 54GB total size with 33GB free space and I am cloning it into 30GB partition on a different hard drive. Examining the event log it appears that during the clone process for some reason the source volume is becoming so full that the system restore facility is turned off which results in all the restore points being lost. Once the cloning is finished system restore is turned on again.

Can anyone shed any light on this? I've had no response to my query directly to the XXCLONE home page...

 

[Dan]

all the system restore points are removed from the source volume. Should I be expecting this to happen? I would prefer it not to.

I don't know if you should expect this to happen with xxclone, but you
might reconsider whether you really need all the restore points you
have.

Most people don't need old restore points. If your system is stable
for a reasonable period of time after you make the restore point, you
can safely remove it.

The restore points have a cache reserved for them. The default cache
is often larger than needed. Reduce the size of the cache. You will
gain disk space, and Windows will remove the older restore points.

Go to control panel/system/system restore/settings. Use the slider to
make the cache smaller. Then go to System Restore and see how many old
restore points were remove. If you then want to remove more points, go
back to settings and make the cache even smaller. (I have mine set so
that it keeps about two weeks of restore points.)

 

[Malone]

I don't know if you should expect this to happen with xxclone, but you
might reconsider whether you really need all the restore points you
have.

Most people don't need old restore points. If your system is stable
for a reasonable period of time after you make the restore point, you
can safely remove it.

The restore points have a cache reserved for them. The default cache
is often larger than needed. Reduce the size of the cache. You will
gain disk space, and Windows will remove the older restore points.

Go to control panel/system/system restore/settings. Use the slider to
make the cache smaller. Then go to System Restore and see how many old
restore points were remove. If you then want to remove more points, go
back to settings and make the cache even smaller. (I have mine set so
that it keeps about two weeks of restore points.)

Thanks Dan; yes, I have my system restore settings set appropriately.

My concern is that if something goes wrong during the XXCLONE process, I will then have *NO* system restore points. And I don't understand why it is necessary for the system restore to be stopped during XXCLONE operation so I am inclined towards considering this behaviour as a bug rather than a feature. Until, of course, someone explains what is going on.

 

[Dan]

Thanks Dan; yes, I have my system restore settings set appropriately.
My concern is that if something goes wrong during the XXCLONE process, I will then have *NO* system restore points. And I don't understand why it is necessary for the system restore to be stopped during XXCLONE operation so I am inclined towards considering this behaviour as a bug rather than a feature. Until, of course, someone explains what is going on.

I hear your quandry!

In the absence of knowing anything about xxclone, I took a peek at
their website. They clearly state that they give preference on their
Technical Support page to paying customers, but they imply that they
give support (albeit slow) for the freeware version.

Who knows, you may have even discovered a bug, or an opportunity for
them to improve an operation.

 

[burris]

I hear your quandry!

In the absence of knowing anything about xxclone, I took a peek at
their website. They clearly state that they give preference on their
Technical Support page to paying customers, but they imply that they
give support (albeit slow) for the freeware version.

Who knows, you may have even discovered a bug, or an opportunity for
them to improve an operation.

-- Regards, Dan

Best bet would be to log on to

http://groups.google.com/group/Xxclone

Forum just for xxclone. You can ask your questions there and there are a
number of people including the developer who will jump in to answer
them. If you are not yet registered with Google groups, do so. It is free.