FAQs

Can I restore a running system?

The system cannot be restored while it is running (online) since running processes can overwrite restored files. Restore must be done offline by booting from a Live-USB.

Can I restore using the command-line version?

The restore process is currently GUI driven. You need to use the ChronShield GUI to restore a snapshot after booting from a Live USB system.

What’s the difference between Aptik, Baqpaq, Homi, and ChronShield?

Aptik is for taking one-time backups before re-installing your system. It will restore your data, installed software, and settings on the newly installed system. Designed to be easy to use. No configuration needed.

Baqpaq is for taking daily backups of your personal data. You need to specify which folders you want to backup, where to save backups, and how often to create snapshots of the data. It requires some configuration but offers more flexibility to experienced users.

Homi is the same as Baqpaq but requires less configuration and is easier to use. It will backup the data in your home directory every hour.

ChronShield and Timeshift are for system restore (to reset your system to a previous date). Strictly speaking these are not backup tools, but a way to reset your system to a previous date. They won’t help you if your drive fails, or if you need to move your data and settings to a newly installed system.

What should I use to recover my system from hardware failure or a dead SSD?

The only thing that can recover your system after a hardware failure is a full-disk image created with disk imaging tools like Clonezilla, Rescuezilla, Foxclone, etc. These tools create a complete image of your system disk that can be restored to a new drive or SSD.

Full-disk imaging tools have some disadvantages:

  • You need to shutdown your system and boot into a Live USB to create a backup image.

  • Creating the backup image can take hours

  • Each backup requires a lot of disk space

ChronShield can create snapshots while the system is running, uses little disk space, and creates a new snapshot in minutes, but cannot recover the system after a hardware failure.

Note

You can use ChronShield and Homi/Baqpaq in combination with a full-disk imaging tool like Clonezilla. Create a full-disk image of your system once a month using Clonezilla, so that you can restore it to a new SSD after a drive failure. After the disk image is restored to the new SSD, use ChronShield to reset the system to the latest recovery point, and use Homi/Baqpaq to restore any personal data that is missing. Take care to save the ChronShield and Homi/Baqpaq backups to any other drive (other than system drive) so that the recovery data is not lost.

What type of licence do I need?

You need a Business License if:

  • If you are purchasing licenses on behalf of a company

  • If you are running a business and purchasing licenses for your own machine, or for machines owned by your business

  • Any other commercial use

The Personal License is meant for home and personal use.