Windows Snapshots are similar to system restore points implemented by third-party software. In this article, we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of snapshots, and also consider how to work with them in RollBack Rx Home Edition.
1. Advantages and disadvantages of snapshots
As well as, snapshots are snapshots of the state of the system, to which you can roll it back, thus traveling in time. Figuratively speaking, of course. The system date and time after the rollback will be immediately synchronized. This means the ability to switch to different branches of Windows development - both successful, where everything works fine, and unsuccessful, the results of unsuccessful experiments with system settings, third-party software, web surfing on dubious sites, etc.
Snapshots have a lot of advantages over the standard functionality of system rollback to restore points. Snapshots are created instantly. And the rollback to them is carried out quickly - as a rule, a few seconds longer than a regular restart of the computer. Whereas the standard functionality requires several minutes (at least 10) to implement the system rollback procedure. All control options for working with snapshots are collected in the interface of their implementing program. It is convenient that in one place you can create snapshots, and launch a system rollback to them, and delete unnecessary ones. But with Windows restore points, it's not so simple. The standard functionality can only offer the removal of all points except the last one. And then, only those who know that the standard disk cleaning utility is responsible for deleting restore points will take advantage of this opportunity. And removing a selective point without third-party software will not work at all.
Separate programs for implementing Windows snapshots may offer convenient schedulers to automate the creation and rollback of snapshots.
For backups using third-party software such as Acronis True Image or AOMEI Backupper, like recovery points, snapshots will win in efficiency. But if the Windows bootloader is damaged, the snapshots will miserably lose to the backup. A reliable tool in this case can only be a backup copy of Windows prepared in advance for a rainy day. So, no matter how tempting the possibilities of programs for implementing snapshots may seem, you still need to have a backup copy of the system and rescue media with its program in a safe place.
2. About RollBack Rx Home Edition
One of the best Windows snapshot programs is RollBack Rx. The program makes changes to the Windows boot loader (both on MBR and on) and sets up its environment, which functions before starting the operating system. This environment provides the ability to rollback to a successful snapshot if Windows cannot be restarted for some reason. Naturally, provided that the bootloader itself is not damaged.
The free edition of the Home Edition is limited by the possibility of simultaneous existence of no more than 7 Windows snapshots and closed access to the scheduler. As you can see, the conditions are not stifling, and the potential of the Home Edition is more than enough for home needs. You can download RollBack Rx Home Edition on the official website of the developer company Horizon Datasys Corporation. In the official version, the program does not support Russian.
3. Create Windows snapshots
The first Windows snapshot is created automatically immediately after installing RollBack Rx. This snapshot is referred to as the baseline of defense and cannot be removed by the user. Its properties can be found in the "Snapshots" section of the program by selecting the "Properties" option in the snapshot context menu.
Creating snapshots
All snapshots following the first one will be created on its basis and contain changes relative to it. This explains the efficiency of the program when creating snapshots, as well as its economy in terms of using disk space. So, in the tested case, after installing the program and creating the first snapshot, only 700 MB of space was occupied on the C drive.
You can create a new snapshot either in the first section of the program "Home" by clicking the button below "New Snapshot", or in the same section "Snapshots", where snapshots are managed. In the latter case, press the "New" button and fill out the form for creating a snapshot - name it, enter a description (optional) and, if necessary, check the options below. The first immediately locks the picture, making it impossible to accidentally delete it. But this can be done at any time later. The second option is responsible for clearing the system cache before taking a snapshot. Click "Next".
Creating snapshots in RollBack Rx In a second or two, the snapshot will be displayed in the list of the "Snapshots" section - the snapshot management environment. Using the options in the context menu, snapshots can be locked from accidental deletion, unlocked, deleted, mounted to a virtual drive, and also used for system rollback.
Taking System Snapshots in RollBack Rx 4. Rollback Windows
Rollback Windows to the state from the snapshot is carried out using the "Rollback" option in it in the context menu or in the first section of the "Home" program by pressing the "Rollback System" button.
System rollback process In the latter case, accordingly, it is necessary to indicate which of the images should be rolled back to. Next, in the window that opens, select the snapshot. The "Take a snapshot of current ..." option active at the bottom of the window will automatically create a snapshot of the current state before rollback. Click "Next".
Then we will see a warning from the program, where it is recommended to save important files on a non-system disk or in the cloud. Click "Restart".
Then the system will reboot. And when you start it again, it will already be in the state captured in the selected picture.
5. Recovering files after Windows rollback
If the files you want were not saved in a safe place, but a snapshot of the current state was created before the rollback, do not worry. For this case RollBack Rx has a mechanism for extracting files from snapshots. A wizard for this mechanism automatically appears on the screen after Windows rollback.
You can restore unsaved files by entering their exact names with extensions, just extensions or folder names in a special form. If you need to restore files of custom profile folders, the folder names must be specified in English.
The files or folders will be displayed in the scan results window. On the necessary data, call the context menu, click "Recover" and select one of the options - either "Save As" or "Overwrite".
The File Recovery Wizard can be launched at any other time by clicking the “Recover Files” button in the “Instant Recovery” section. In this case, the files will be restored not from the last snapshot, but from the specified one.
Recovering files after rollback The program has another mechanism for recovering individual data.
6. Mounting snapshots into a virtual drive
RollBack Rx's functions include mounting snapshots into a virtual drive. Any of the existing snapshots can be displayed in Explorer as a regular disk partition. And from this disk you can extract all the files you need by finding them where they were before the system rollback. To do this, go to the "Instant Recovery" section of the program and click "Explore Snapshot" at the bottom. Then select the desired snapshot in the window and press the "Explore" button.
Mount a snapshot of the system into a virtual drive 
7. Updating the baseline of defense
As mentioned, the free edition of the Home Edition of the program is limited to the possibility of simultaneous existence of only 7 snapshots, including the first one - the base line of defense. This limit will be quickly reached, since the Home Edition provides for the creation of a new snapshot after each restart of the computer. This is a software scheduler setting and cannot be changed. So at a certain stage of working with the program, before creating a new snapshot, you will have to delete one of the old ones created automatically. As an alternative to creating new snapshots, you can use the program's ability to update the baseline of defense. To do this, in the "Tools & Settings" menu, select "Baseline Manager" and click "Update the Baseline" at the bottom.
Updating the baseline of defense After restarting the computer, the first snapshot taken immediately after installing RollBack Rx will be replaced with the current system state.
8. RollBack Rx Preboot Environment
If a serious failure occurs or a virus has entered the system, and this prevents either the system from starting or performing the necessary operations inside it, you can roll back to a successful snapshot in the RollBack Rx preboot environment. How to get into it? As soon as the program logo appears on the screen when the computer restarts, press the "Home" key. The creators of the program in this environment have provided for the full management of snapshots - and their creation and deletion, and other options, but above all it is designed to be able to restore Windows. To do this, using the navigation keys, mark the item "Restore System" and press Enter.
Preboot environment Then, in a small window, using the same navigation keys, select the desired snapshot and press the Enter key to start the rollback process.
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& nbsp & nbsp RollBack Home Edition- free software for restoring the operating system to a previously created snapshot from Horizon DataSys. Based on the patented technology used in the professional RollBack Rx package. RollBack Home Edition, in comparison with the standard Windows recovery tool, works in a "time machine" mode, restoring the file system to the state that was fully consistent at the time of the snapshot - everything that was changed or deleted is returned, and everything that was added is deleted. Thanks to this, the program has become not only a reliable tool with information recovery, but also a means of combating virus infection of the computer, including ransomware viruses that block the user's desktop or encrypt user files. RollBack Home Edition can be used in Windows XP, 2000, Vista, 7, 8 / 8.1, 10 (32 and 64 bit)
RollBack Rx Home Edition can create up to 7 snapshots of the file system, which are stored at the sector level, regardless of the disk table of contents. Each snapshot is located outside the existing Windows file system and is not available to services and applications using standard tools, which excludes its accidental damage during the operation of the OS. Even if the system is so damaged that it cannot be booted, there is an additional recovery tool - the subconsole, to which you can connect without booting Windows and roll back to the selected snapshot, which will return the system to a working state. System snapshots are managed using a dedicated manager. It is possible to prohibit accidental deletion of a picture by setting an additional flag (Lock), without removing which deletion is impossible.
System snapshots can be created both automatically and manually. They are created very quickly (in a few seconds) and take up relatively little space on your hard drive. The first, Baseline snapshot, is created during program installation and takes up the largest amount of disk space. All subsequent snapshots are created at a much smaller size and contain only changes relative to the base snapshot. Program RollBack Rx Home Edition allows not only to restore the state of the file system, but also to "mount" the saved snapshot in the form of a virtual removable disk. Thus, the user can, without performing a rollback, view the contents of the snapshot, extract individual files from it, compare the contents of the snapshot and the current state of the file system, etc.
The program has a built-in Task Scheduler that is configured to take a snapshot on first boot every day, as well as when new software is installed (when running a program named "Setup.exe").
The program has support for a large number of national languages, including Russian.
Free version limitations RollBack Rx Home Edition compared with RollBack Rx Professional
Only 1 disk is supported.
No more than 7 pictures can be present at the same time.
There is no way to create your own tasks for the scheduler (Task Scheduler)
No access control and no encryption of snapshot data.
No remote control via LAN or Internet.
There is no hidden mode of operation without showing any windows and icons.
No command line controls.
There is no way to create filters to exclude files and folders.
There are no deployment tools or unattended installations.
Installation of the program is quick and easy using a special wizard. By default, the program's working folder is C: \ Program Files \ Shield... Upon completion of the installation, Windows restarts and the first backup of the file system is created, or, the so-called baseline snapshot.
Control Rollback rx home performed by double-clicking on the tray icon, or by launching the RollBack Rx application from the standard Windows menu.
Home page- information about existing backups and shortcuts for performing rollback operations and creating a backup system snapshot.
Fast recovery- shortcuts for performing a rollback, restoring files from snapshots and connecting the selected snapshot as a virtual disk (examining the snapshot).
System snapshots- a list of system snapshots with brief characteristics and controls for performing operations on snapshots.
Task Manager- built-in task scheduler. The free version of RollBack Rx Home has a single task named [email protected] configured to create backups on first boot daily and when running a program named Setup.exe... It is not possible to edit an existing task or create a new one in the free version.
The event log- program event log.
The drop-down menu at the top of the screen allows you to manage your backup and recovery tools. Keyboard shortcuts used in the program:
CTRL + B- system rollback.
CTRL + F- recover files.
CTRL + E- examine files.
CTRL + N- create a snapshot.
CTRL + S- system security. Security settings are not available in the free version.
CTRL + L- baseline snapshot management.
CTRL + D- defragmentation of images.
CTRL + O- Parameters. In the free version, you can only change the language used in the program.
Taking a snapshot of the system.
The first system snapshot is created automatically on the first reboot after installation RollBack Rx Home Edition... It has a name Installation and is a complete snapshot of the system.
In the picture below, the first snapshot takes up 14.5 GB. The following manual snapshot named ”Oracle installed” is only 101MB because it only reflects the changes that have occurred in the file system in relation to the base snapshot. In a collumn A type picture type is displayed:
Base- the baseline snapshot of the system against which all other snapshots are created.
User- a snapshot created by the user in manual mode.
To take a picture in manual mode, use the menu Common Tasks - New Snapshot or key combination CTRL + N.
The name of the snapshot is indicated, and, if desired, a short commentary. Checkbox Block snapshot from deletion is used to protect this picture from accidental deletion. Until the check box is cleared, the delete operation is not performed. The lock status is displayed in the column condition window System snapshots... After pressing the button Further a new snapshot will be created and information about it will be displayed in the window System snapshots.
You can perform operations on images using the context menu invoked by the right mouse button:
Block- enable the mode to protect the picture from deletion. For a snapshot with “Lock” status, the delete mode is not available.
Unblock- enable delete mode for this snapshot.
Delete- delete this snapshot. Unable to delete baseline, current and locked snapshot.
Explore- mount the given snapshot in the current file system.
Rollback- roll back to the selected snapshot. Executed on system reboot.
Properties- display the properties of the snapshot. General information and information about the size of the disk area occupied by this snapshot are displayed.
For group operations on snapshots, you can use the menu Instruments("Lock all", "Unlock all", etc.)
Defragmentation- perform defragmentation. You can delete obsolete snapshots before defragmentation. The defragmentation operation is performed automatically when the system is rebooted, if a snapshot is deleted or taken.
Using the subconsole when loading RollBack Restore Rx Home
RollBack Rx Home Edition when installed on the system, it modifies the master boot record and installs its own boot loader, which takes control before the Windows boot process begins. The program provides the ability to perform basic operations for creating snapshots and rollback using a special subconsole, which can be connected by pressing a button. Home on keyboard.
Recovery- System Restore
New snapshot- creating a backup snapshot.
Additionally- defragmentation.
Deleting- removal of the program. When deleting RollBack Rx Home Edition, the system state is brought to the form specified by the selected snapshot.
In subconsole mode, the mouse is not supported and the arrow and arrow keys are used to navigate. Tab.
Using files from a snapshot in RollBack Rx Home Edition
The program provides the ability to connect an existing snapshot of the system as a virtual disk, accessible through standard tools for working with files and directories. To do this, you need to press the key combination CTRL + E or select item Explore the context menu invoked by the right mouse button.
The mounted snapshot will look like a removable disk, the contents of which correspond to the state of the file system at the time of the backup.
Some features of using RollBack Rx Home Edition
As already mentioned, in the free version it is impossible to use the built-in task scheduler to automate the management of snapshots and the total number of simultaneously existing snapshots cannot exceed 7. Snapshots are not automatically deleted, and after reaching the threshold number, they will not be created during daily reboot or in manual mode. The program has settings that can be used to set the automatic deletion of pictures that are older than a certain number of days, however, in the free version (Rollback Rx Home 10.3), changing these settings does not have any effect on the program's behavior. You have to delete outdated snapshots manually.
The “Baseline” is the starting point for all system snapshots that you create. Therefore, in case of significant changes in the file system, it makes sense to recreate the base snapshot again. To do this, use the menu Tools and settings - Baseline snapshot management - Refresh baseline snapshot or key combination CTRL + L... This will create a new full snapshot of the current system state, and all previous ones will be deleted. All subsequent snapshots will take into account changes in the file system only relative to the newly created one. From this point in time, the system cannot be rolled back to the state prior to the new baseline snapshot.
Alternatively to the program Rollback rx home you can use
Version: 10.2
Developer: Horizon Data Sys.
Compatibility: for Windows 7, 8, XP, Vista, 2000
Interface: RUS (in Russian)
License: Treatment: performed
File: RollBack.Rx.v10.2.zip
The size: 6MB
Description of Rollback Rx Professional in Russian
Rollback Rx Professional - the program is designed to create so-called "snapshots" of the system, which, if necessary, can be used to rollback and restore accidentally lost data in the event of a virus hitting the computer and changes made to the system by recently installed programs, etc. RollBack Rx restores not only files, but also system settings, including registry settings, desktop, security, user management, etc. With the program, you can go back hours, days, weeks, and even months ago, looking for the desired system state. "Snapshots" can be created at the user's request or automatically, according to a predefined schedule.RollBack Rx is the leading PC security utility. This program uses advanced, previously unused technology to protect computers from viruses or system problems.
RollBack Rx enables computer users, regardless of their skill level, to quickly and easily solve problems with their computers within seconds. Using this program, both ordinary users and professionals in the field of information technology will be able to save their time and money. Regardless of whether you are an administrator, MIS (management information system) specialist, technical coordinator, secretary, teacher, program evaluator, librarian or novice home user, with the help of the proposed program you can save time and money and solve your computer problem. RollBack Rx allows users of any level to restore their computer to work.
RollBack Rx is powerful and easy to use. This program removes the need to create backup copies or save duplicate images from your hard drive. With the help of the proposed program, users and / or administrators will be able to take a snapshot of the entire system at a specific time. You can create as many pictures as you like.
RollBack Rx does not affect performance
Can be managed remotely and deployed (Enterprise version)
RollBack Rx ™ takes up only 0.1% of the total hard disk space.
Support for virtually unlimited snapshots.
Takes less than 3 seconds to create a new picture.
Creates a complete system snapshot without restarting the system.
Creation of new snapshots manually, automatically or when executing the file.
Recovers damaged or deleted files from any snapshots quickly and easily.
Recover file history in any of 60,000 snapshots.
Recovers the entire system in any of 60,000 snapshots.
Configures the system to automatically recover to a snapshot of your choice.
Highly customizable interface - the program interface can be hidden from end users.
Includes dynamic disk space management. Releases unused disk space on deleting snapshots.
Contains intelligent monitoring of disk space, informing users about the disk space usage of each snapshot.
Offers flexible and powerful access control.
Support for multiple operating systems.
Consists of several sections of the choice of protection.
Combines quick reset system baseline.
Supports all standard deployment options.
Includes configurations during installation. Allows you to customize the program during installation and much more ...
Version: 10.2
Developer: Horizon Data Sys.
Compatibility: for Windows 7, 8, XP, Vista, 2000
Interface: RUS (in Russian)
License: Treatment: performed
File: RollBack.Rx.v10.2.zip
The size: 6MB
Description of Rollback Rx Professional in Russian
Rollback Rx Professional - the program is designed to create so-called "snapshots" of the system, which, if necessary, can be used to rollback and restore accidentally lost data in the event of a virus hitting the computer and changes made to the system by recently installed programs, etc. RollBack Rx restores not only files, but also system settings, including registry settings, desktop, security, user management, etc. With the program, you can go back hours, days, weeks, and even months ago, looking for the desired system state. "Snapshots" can be created at the user's request or automatically, according to a predefined schedule.RollBack Rx is the leading PC security utility. This program uses advanced, previously unused technology to protect computers from viruses or system problems.
RollBack Rx enables computer users, regardless of their skill level, to quickly and easily solve problems with their computers within seconds. Using this program, both ordinary users and professionals in the field of information technology will be able to save their time and money. Regardless of whether you are an administrator, MIS (management information system) specialist, technical coordinator, secretary, teacher, program evaluator, librarian or novice home user, with the help of the proposed program you can save time and money and solve your computer problem. RollBack Rx allows users of any level to restore their computer to work.
RollBack Rx is powerful and easy to use. This program removes the need to create backup copies or save duplicate images from your hard drive. With the help of the proposed program, users and / or administrators will be able to take a snapshot of the entire system at a specific time. You can create as many pictures as you like.
RollBack Rx does not affect performance
Can be managed remotely and deployed (Enterprise version)
RollBack Rx ™ takes up only 0.1% of the total hard disk space.
Support for virtually unlimited snapshots.
Takes less than 3 seconds to create a new picture.
Creates a complete system snapshot without restarting the system.
Creation of new snapshots manually, automatically or when executing the file.
Recovers damaged or deleted files from any snapshots quickly and easily.
Recover file history in any of 60,000 snapshots.
Recovers the entire system in any of 60,000 snapshots.
Configures the system to automatically recover to a snapshot of your choice.
Highly customizable interface - the program interface can be hidden from end users.
Includes dynamic disk space management. Releases unused disk space on deleting snapshots.
Contains intelligent monitoring of disk space, informing users about the disk space usage of each snapshot.
Offers flexible and powerful access control.
Support for multiple operating systems.
Consists of several sections of the choice of protection.
Combines quick reset system baseline.
Supports all standard deployment options.
Includes configurations during installation. Allows you to customize the program during installation and much more ...