GoBack
Encyclopedia
Norton GoBack is a Microsoft Windows
based disk utility that can record up to 8 GB of disk changes. When the filesystem is idle for a few seconds, it marks these as "safe points". The product allows the disk drive to be reverted to any point within the available history. It also allows older versions of files to be restored, and previous versions of the whole disk to be browsed. Depending on disk activity, the typical history might cover a few hours to a few days.
, and also replaces the partition table
with a single partition. This allows a hard drive to be reverted even in the event that the Operating System
is unable to boot, while also protecting the filesystem from alteration so that the revert information remains correct.
GoBack is compatible with hardware RAID drives.
. It is possible to retain dual-boot compatibility, but can involve saving the partition table before enabling GoBack, and after enabling GoBack, re-writing the partition table back to the disk (after booting from a different device, such as a Live CD
).
It may also be necessary to disable GoBack prior to using certain low level disk utilities, such as formatting software. Such low level utilities which do not first check for the presence of GoBack can (in combination with GoBack) cause data to become corrupted. Another example of an incompatible program is the Windows version of Acronis Image For Windows. GoBack is also incompatible with products such as Drive Vaccine PC Restore and RollBack Rx - as these products require access to the MBR (Master Boot Record).
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
based disk utility that can record up to 8 GB of disk changes. When the filesystem is idle for a few seconds, it marks these as "safe points". The product allows the disk drive to be reverted to any point within the available history. It also allows older versions of files to be restored, and previous versions of the whole disk to be browsed. Depending on disk activity, the typical history might cover a few hours to a few days.
How it works
GoBack replaces the Master Boot RecordMaster boot record
A master boot record is a type of boot sector popularized by the IBM Personal Computer. It consists of a sequence of 512 bytes located at the first sector of a data storage device such as a hard disk...
, and also replaces the partition table
Partition table
The term partition table is most commonly associated with partition table but it may be used generically to refer to other "formats" that divide a disk drive into partitions, such as: GUID Partition Table, Apple partition map, or BSD disklabel.An alternative term to generically refer to partition...
with a single partition. This allows a hard drive to be reverted even in the event that the Operating System
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
is unable to boot, while also protecting the filesystem from alteration so that the revert information remains correct.
GoBack is compatible with hardware RAID drives.
Incompatible products
Due to the changes made to the partition table, this can cause problems when dual booting other operating systems on the same hard diskHard disk
A hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...
. It is possible to retain dual-boot compatibility, but can involve saving the partition table before enabling GoBack, and after enabling GoBack, re-writing the partition table back to the disk (after booting from a different device, such as a Live CD
Live CD
A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...
).
It may also be necessary to disable GoBack prior to using certain low level disk utilities, such as formatting software. Such low level utilities which do not first check for the presence of GoBack can (in combination with GoBack) cause data to become corrupted. Another example of an incompatible program is the Windows version of Acronis Image For Windows. GoBack is also incompatible with products such as Drive Vaccine PC Restore and RollBack Rx - as these products require access to the MBR (Master Boot Record).
Usage precaution
- Several users at CNETCNETCNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
Reviews have reported data loss after installing this product. CNET gave Norton GoBack 4.0 an editors' rating of 3.5 out of five stars, but the average user rating was only 1.5 stars.
- Norton GoBack 4.0 does not support hard drive partitions of 1 TB or higher.
- As per Symantec, Norton GoBack 4.0 is not compatible with Windows VistaWindows VistaWindows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
.
Product history
- GoBack was designed by Wild File, Inc., a company located in Plymouth, MinnesotaPlymouth, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 65,894 people, 24,820 households, and 17,647 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,002.0 persons per square mile . There were 25,258 housing units at an average density of 767.4 per square mile...
. The software was shown at COMDEXCOMDEXCOMDEX was a computer expo held in Las Vegas, Nevada, each November from 1979 to 2003. It was one of the largest computer trade shows in the world, usually second only to the German CeBIT, and by many accounts one of the largest trade shows in any industry sector...
in November 1998 and released in December 1998. A patent for the technology was issued in January 2000.
- March 2000: AdaptecAdaptecAdaptec is a computer hardware brand owned by PMC-Sierra that is used on some of its host adapters for connecting storage devices to computers. The production line of Adaptec is in Indonesia. Products are made to interface with SCSI, Serial ATA, and Serial attached SCSI. Some of its host adapters...
, Inc., acquires Wild File for approximately $29 million.
- April 2001: Adaptec creates spin-off company, RoxioRoxioRoxio is a division and brand of Sonic Solutions . Roxio branded products are sold online, through over 15,000 retail outlets, to organizations through volume license agreements and pre-loaded onto OEM PC's and devices...
, Inc., which retains the GoBack product.
- May 2001: Roxio GoBack 3 Deluxe is released, this time also supporting the NTFSNTFSNTFS is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7....
filesystem, which by now was being used more widely since the release of Windows XPWindows XPWindows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
.
- August 2001: SymantecSymantecSymantec Corporation is the largest maker of security software for computers. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 stock market index.-History:...
Corp. announces Norton SystemWorksNorton SystemWorksNorton SystemWorks is a discontinued system utility suite by Symantec. It expanded the tools found in Norton Utilities, and added other Symantec software titles, primarily anti-virus, and later backup software for the high-end versions.-Norton NT Tools:...
2002 which includes GoBack 3 Personal Edition by Roxio.
- April 2003: Roxio sells GoBack to SymantecSymantecSymantec Corporation is the largest maker of security software for computers. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 stock market index.-History:...
for $13 million.
- September 2004: Norton GoBack 4.0 is released by Symantec and included in Norton SystemWorks 2005.
- November 2007: Symantec releases a Vista-compatible version of Norton SystemWorks for 2008 (11.0) which no longer contains GoBack, but the Premier Edition of SystemWorks now includes Norton Save & Restore 2.0.
- March 2009: As per Symantec, Norton GoBack has been replaced by Norton Ghost 14 (Norton Ghost however is missing some functions that Norton Goback had).
Awards
- May 2000: Adaptec GoBack 2.1 receives PC MagazinePC MagazinePC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
Editors' Choice Award.
- June 2003: GoBack 3 Deluxe receives PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award.
- June 2004: Norton GoBack 3.0 receives PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award.
- August 2005: Norton GoBack 4.0 receives PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award.
Competing products
- Deep Freeze (software)Deep Freeze (software)Deep Freeze, by Faronics, is an application available for the Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and SUSE Linux operating systems which allows system administrators to protect the core operating system and configuration files on a workstation or server by restoring a computer back to its original...
- RollBack RxRollback RxRollBack Rx is a third party disk utility for Microsoft Windows, that uses a sector mapping algorithm and incremental sector redirection to capture and manage its snapshots...
- Windows SteadyStateWindows SteadyStateWindows SteadyState is a discontinued freeware tool developed by Microsoft that gives administrators enhanced options for configuring shared computers, such as hard drive protection and advanced user management...
- Discontinued