Protection system: Shadow system Powershadow trial

When I first heard of Powershadow, I thought it was a foreign software, but when the real touch it found that this is a pure domestic software, according to the author, the reason to sell the English version first, because this is engaged in the core software development Programmer's habit, the second is the domestic share software sales market bleak result. See this can not help but feel the same, IT168 software channel has been committed to promote the development of domestic share software, to this end also launched and held a number of shareware activities, for each excellent domestic shareware, we would certainly like to introduce to our readers, Powershadow nature is no exception.

Most netizens often call Powershadow the shadow system, from the name we can see, through it can give their existing operating system to create a virtual shadow, it and the real system exactly the same, the user into the shadow mode, all the operations are virtual, do not have an impact on the real system, This feature allows us to face today's difficult Internet network environment, like wearing a bullet-proof clothing, or to find a stand-in, because viruses, trojans or rogue software changes are only our system shadow. Also for friends who often try new software like the author, Powershadow is a very good software.

Software small File

Software Name: Virtual operating system construction software Powershadow

Software version: V2.6.0511

Software classification: Security related (System security)

Support language: English/Traditional Chinese

Software Size: 3.62MB

Licensing Mode: Shared edition

Operating system: Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP

Software Home: powershadow.com

Evaluation environment:

Cpu	P4 2.41G
Motherboard	Intel Original 845G
Memory	1G DDR RAM
Hard disk	160G
Internet	Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2

Recently, Powershadow has been issued to the Chinese users for free, the registration information is as follows: User name: Powershadow serial Number: VVR29E-R4WCK2-K4T111-V1YHTP-4JYJDD

Powershadow Principle Small Knowledge:

When the hardware system starts, a copy of the disk allocation table for the protected disk is established before Windows loads, and the original allocated area in the replica allocation table is read-only, the shadow system Powershadow all disk operations from Windows to the replica allocation table, and only the copy of the allocation table is refreshed. Once the system restarts, the allocated area data for the original allocation table and the original allocation table tag is unchanged to achieve complete protection of the original disk operating system data (valid disk data for the Windows system) without adding any additional disk reads or writes. The operating system that runs on the basis of the replica allocation table is called the Shadow system Powershadow.

In principle, the software level of the shadow system Powershadow is equivalent to a BIOS extension rather than a part of Windows, and if the shadow system Powershadow itself with no bugs and bug, the hardware has no faults and bugs, Once the shadow system Powershadow protection is started, no Windows program can penetrate the shadow system Powershadow disk protection.

Second, installation and program interface

The Powershadow software is only 3.70M in size and currently only available in English and traditional Chinese, according to the official web page, the Simplified Chinese version is about to be launched. This article will take the traditional Chinese version as an example and we understand this software.

Software installation is very simple, all the way click Next, in the installation process we will see prompts: After the installation is complete, restart Windows will have the option to enter Shadow mode.

Access to the shadow subsystem

When the installation is complete, double-click the Powershadow Master icon on the desktop to start the shadow system main interface. We see that the shadow system currently offers two startup modes: One is a single shadow mode, only the partition of the system is protected, and the other is full shadow mode, which protects all local hard disk partitions.

Startup mode

From the boot menu, you can set the display options for startup. The author proposes to choose both modes to display, so that when the system starts, it chooses the mode of entry according to the specific circumstances.

Startup options (click to view larger image)

Note that if you choose a single shadow mode, you want to save the document will be stored in the partition outside the system partition, and choose the full shadow mode, there will be like U disk, MP3 and other mobile storage devices.

From the software layout and feature settings, you can see that the software's author is a careful person, in addition to the start of the Help prompt pop-up window, in the navigation bar we can see "teaching", click to enter, the author through the way to the user to introduce a single shadow mode and complete Shadow mode of the difference. Let the novice have a better understanding of the software.

Teaching (click to see the big picture)

Once we understand the basic functions of the shadow system, we can reboot the computer into shadow mode.

Comments:

It should be said that the shadow system Powershadow installation and interface are relatively friendly, I used to protect the system is generally using Norton Ghost to the system disk to do a mirror, once an accident, and then choose to load the original mirror, compared with the shadow subsystem, this way there are some shortcomings: first, the operation of Trouble, Occupy a long time, and the second is to occupy hard disk space.

However, when the author uses the traditional Chinese version, click on "description" to start the Help file, there is no normal display of the situation, the reason is of course, the author's machine did not install Traditional Chinese library, but for ordinary users, this phenomenon is estimated to be more, I hope the official can launch the Simplified Chinese version as soon as possible.

Third, the actual combat experience let the system shadow

When you restart your computer, choose to enter a single shadow mode. After logging into the system, it was found that in addition to displaying the word "single shadow Mode" on the desktop and the system tray with an icon for the shadow system, there was no difference between the other and the real operating system.

Shadow mode hint (click to see larger image)

Due to the needs of the work, I often install some well-known or unknown software, and sometimes install a bundle of software with rogue plug-ins, light will need to constantly close pop-up windows, heavy cause system chaos and even system crashes, often install a new software before is frightening. Now let's see if we can use the shadow system to create the double as the author's test site.

The author conveniently downloaded a new version of MSN, installation process found that will let you choose to install the Windows Live Login Assistant or Windows Live Search Toolbar, in the past I usually do not choose these, this time in order to do an experiment are all loaded on.

Install the Login assistant

After installation, it is found that the Windows Live Search Toolbar is installed in IE Explorer.

Windows Live Search Toolbar (click to view larger image)

If you find the bundle of Windows Live Search Toolbar, feel bad, do not want to use this software, very simple, restart the machine after the normal system to see the system, like nothing happened, fully restored to the installation of the software does not.

Of course, if you feel good, you can install it in the normal system again.

In the same way, the software can also be used to view the security of the e-mail attachment, once found that the e-mail or attachment to the system has impact, the direct introduction of Shadow Mode, reboot can be.

Comments:

The shadow system is indeed a good helper for those of us who are constantly trying to test the software, which can be used to protect the system safely and avoid the presence of rogue software. And for the Internet Café Machine, this is also a feasible protection method, but for most people, if you want to use it in the daily work, the operation is slightly troublesome, because you have to keep in mind to save your new creation or modification of the useful documents.

Iv. Summary of the trial

After the trial of the Powershadow, the author feels that the design is very ingenious, and the current network environment needs are very adaptable, if it can be applied properly, can effectively reduce the risk factor of the system. Generally speaking, for the following situations Shadow system Powershadow can be more easily play its advantage.

1, test the new software.

2. Open email with security risks.

3, protect personal privacy, do not keep traces of the Internet.

4, to prevent the unknown virus, working in shadow mode, once the machine was found to be poisoned, exit Shadow mode can restore the state of intoxication.

At the same time, I also see that there are some areas of the software need to be improved to become more outstanding.

1, the English version and traditional Chinese version of the world to face the domestic user is still a slight inconvenience, I hope the Simplified Chinese version as soon as possible.

2, exit Shadow mode, if you can provide an option to save this change, it is better. In addition, it is not recommended to edit the document in shadow mode, and so on, because once the shutdown or reboot caused by an accident, your work is tantamount to white.

3, after entering shadow mode, it is best to specify which program updates can not be restored, so more humane and rationalization.

4, exit Shadow mode should be added security, such as password, to prevent other people wrong operation caused data loss.