Backup FAQ
These answers come from the previous site and have been lightly edited here.
How do I check that everything really was backed up?
The quickest way: back up the drive, mount the image as a virtual drive, and compare both drives with WINDIFF or a similar comparison tool. They should be identical.
You will still see a few differences, because WINDIFF cannot open the page file and the registry on the original drive. That is not caused by Snapshot. For these files you will have to take the developer's word for it; they were tested with somewhat more elaborate setups.
Do I have to close all programs?
No. It is a good idea to save open files before you start, though, otherwise an older version ends up in the image. Once the backup has started, you can keep working as usual. The image reflects the state at the moment the backup started.
Can I install a virus while the backup is running?
Yes. It won't make you happy, but Snapshot doesn't care. The image contains no trace of it and is ready to be restored.
Can I format or partition the disk in the meantime?
No. Programs that access the disk directly will not run while Snapshot is backing up.
Which file systems are supported?
Snapshot relies on the operating system recognizing the drive. All Windows file systems work, plus several Linux file systems. The current list is under Systems. Other file systems are backed up in full, regardless of free space.
Are encryption, permissions, links and streams preserved?
Yes. Snapshot works sector by sector: it backs up every sector the file system uses and writes them back exactly as they were. What the data means is interpreted solely by the file system. The same applies to the image Explorer view.