Comodo Time Machine Review

Written by: Jeremy Bost • Edited by: Michele McDonough
Updated May 22, 2011 • Related Guides: Graphical User Interface | Hard Drive | Operating System

The new, free Comodo Time Machine says it can restore your computer to an earlier point in time with a click of a button. Can it really do this, and will it be helpful?

Introduction

Comodo Time Machine, the final version released early January 2010, is a free program made to help you restore your data from an earlier point-in-time. For example, you installed a new, cool program. Now your computer is very slow, even when you tried to remove that program from your computer. What can you do?

With Comodo Time Machine (CTM), you can go back to a previous "snapshot" that you scheduled it to make. Now that program is gone, and you are back to when your computer was okay. There are, of course, some problems with this model that will be discussed later.

Installation
Rating

After downloading CTM, I eagerly installed it on a virtual machine (a VM is a "computer" or operating system inside another operating system; see how to set a VM up here) running Windows 7. The first part of the installation finished in under 5 minutes. Then I had to restart, and a second installation ran before Windows booted up. This took about 3 minutes.

Because a picture is worth a thousand words, especially when you are figuring out whether to get a program, I shall be posting pictures throughout this review. So let's go through the installation:

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

Now we will decide where to install CTM.

click to enlarge

This is the interesting part, not usually in installers:

Installer - Protected Partition Selection

click to enlarge

Here you decide which drives/partitions to protect with your snapshots. Since I only have one partition, I don't have much choice.

click to enlarge

So now we wait a bit. Soon we will get a screen asking us whether we should restart now or later. After partly restarting (Windows had shutdown so far but not booted up yet), we get a "pre-boot" screen from CTM:

click to enlarge

It seems it has to install some files before Windows starts.

Soon Windows boots up, and it is time to examine Comodo Time Machine itself (see the next section).

Ease-of-Use and GUI
Rating

Comodo Time Machine is installed and ready to go. When you double-click on the tray icon, you get this nice, simple screen:

click to enlarge

If you want something with more options, click "Advanced."

click to enlarge

(Note that you don't get the Quick Operation screen when using the desktop shortcut to open CTM.)

After exploring/playing with CTM, I feel like the GUI (Graphical User Interface: the appearance) looks quite clean. It doesn't have the Easy and Normal Modes Genie Backup Manager Pro has, but the Quick Operation screen is similar. Of course, often users have different ideas about how the programs should look.

Features
Rating

Whenever I'm thinking about downloading a program, I always want to know its features first. Comodo Time Machine has the features I expected, and a few more.

Take a snapshot. Taking a snapshot of your computer is as easy as 1-2-3. After a few minutes or less, it is done.

click to enlarge
Restore a snapshot. Restoring snapshot is just as easy. Though there are many ways to do it, I'll use the tab called "Restore System."

click to enlarge
click to enlarge
Now CTM has to reboot your computer to restore. Before Windows starts up, you see this:
click to enlarge
Pre-boot console. Before Windows boots, you have an option to enter a "console" where you can restore your system, in case something you did made Windows not start.
Restore files. Say you want a previous version of a file, and you don't want to restore everything to get it. You can do that with the "Restore Files" tab.

click to enlarge
Upon clicking next, it will search for files with that name. I personally don't care much for this method, so that is why I like this next feature.
Mount snapshots. To "mount" a snapshot is to "pretend" that it is a separate hard drive, so you can browse through it and copy the files you want. To do this, go to the "View Snapshots" tab and right-click a file, then click "Mount." It will then show up in a list of your drives (Start > [My] Computer).

click to enlarge
Schedule tasks. You can schedule a snapshot to be made or restored at a certain time.

click to enlarge
Synchonize folders/files between restores. This is a very important part, because you don't want your important files to be lost after a restore, do you? With this option, the files or folders you select will not be changed after a restore. In my opinion, this is important and shouldn't have been "buried" in the other settings:

click to enlarge
click to enlarge

There are a some less important features not mentioned here, including right-click context menu buttons, but I believe the main ones have been covered.

Conclusion
Rating

Before we close, I want to mention something you need to know: Comodo Time Machine will not protect you if your hard drive crashes. It isn't that type of program. (Programs that make "images" of your computer, and put them on another hard drive, can protect you if your drive crashes. Acronis True Image and Comodo Backup do these. But the images can take much longer to make than a snapshot, so there are advantages with each.)

In addition, CTM currently may not work when an image is restored ("currently" is January 9th, 2010).

But even with these two issues, I believe Comodo Time Machine is a great program, especially because it is free.

KidsIT Jan 4, 2012 8:28 AM

RE: Comodo Time Machine Review

Hello everyone, I´m responsable for the IT in a elementary school. Till now we used Laptops with WIndows XP and locked them with Windows SteadyState. The harddisk protection made every changes made by the kids undone by rebooting. I did a base configuration with one Laptop and cloned it to the other ones by using CloneZilla. That works perfectly...almost no supporting time for this computers. Now we have 25 new Laptops with Windows 7. Windows SteadyState is not supported by Windows 7. So I found Comodo Time Machine as raplacement application. But if I want to play back the image on the other 24 laptops I get strange problems. 1. Comodo Time Machine application don´t starts if I open by double click on the icon 2. The system is not the cloned system. It is a earlyer snapshot version. 3. I can´t enter the pre-boot or subsystem of Comodo Time Machine if I boot up a laptop Is ist possible to clone a system with Comodo Time Machine installed to provide a image that can be played back on other laptops (same hardware)? Thanks for your help in advance. KidsIT

Jeremy Bost Sep 11, 2011 12:15 PM

Re: Nightware story

CTM does have bugs, like any program (and maybe more than some). Its bugs cause worse problems, as it operates with more important part of your system.

Anyway, that review is pretty old....I think many bugs have been fixed since then.

son0fhobs Sep 11, 2011 11:49 AM

A nightmare story. Warning!

Along with the other comments, don't do it! It looks great, and is great at first. But it seems to be a bit of a sitting time bomb, or at least a problem waiting to happen. Read this review:

lockergnome.com/shadowmyth/2010/04/07/nightmares-of-comodo-time-machine/

Phil Apr 5, 2011 8:56 AM

DO NOT LOAD COMODO TIME MACHINE!

I have loaded ctm on a number of pc's. Approximately 50% of them end up showing "Delayed Write Errors" saying the hard drive is out of space when it has tons of space free, you cannot use the pc at this point because the dw errors pop up all the time. So, then you try and remove it. On two pc's now that I have removed it on ctm steps all over the data and erases every bit of data on the hard drive going back to the day it was installed! This is the WORST piece of junk software I have ever seen. Last night I had a client's pc lose all data from 7-2010 through 3-2011 because of ctm!! If you attempt to use it, just make sure you keep a good backup of your data, because you'll probably see delayed write errors after a few months, then good luck removing it. Oh, and when I removed it I chose to leave the system at it's current state, so it should have just removed the app without touching the data but it steps all over everything! TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Jeremy Bost Mar 4, 2011 8:49 PM

Re: Sbruce

I'm sure TrueCrypt uses some system resource, though maybe not a lot.

I value data backup over encryption. I would be upset if some of my files were lost, but not much if my files were stolen.

Besides, about the only time someone might get my computer is if I leave it unattended...and then, disk encryption wouldn't matter much if the thief immediately takes my data.

Sbruce Mar 4, 2011 5:17 PM

using True Crypt doesn't slow down the system a bit, and if it make sense, one has to have it. Another tricky question. What's more important, data backup or data encryption?

Jeremy Bost Mar 3, 2011 8:59 PM

Re: RE: Comodo Time Machine Review

Sbruce, CTM can be used with the portable version of TrueCrypt apparently. https://forums.comodo.com/empty-t58263.0.html

(Note: encrypting partitions protected by CTM is possibly dangerous.)

There is also a technical explanation of why CTM doesn't work well with disk encryption software.

Rollback Rx might work better than CTM, but since I haven't tried it, I don't know.

BTW...despite your claim that everyone should use TrueCrypt, many people (and myself) don't (not because they don't know about it, but because they don't need it). I have barely any sensitive documents on my computer. And I don't really want the added inconvenience and risk of a disk encryption program on my PC.

Sbruce Mar 3, 2011 7:45 PM

just to add up, CTM doesn't work with TrueCrypt - a free encryption software that all of us should have installed in case you lose your laptop. So I use TrueCrypt for data encryption and Rollback Rx in case something goes wrong

Jeremy Bost Feb 27, 2011 5:57 PM

Re: Anonymous

I understand that. However...probably any "deep" program that works like CTM has a chance of causing data loss.

As I've said before, many people don't have problems. You have to decide if the benefits of CTM outweigh the potential cost.

The reports you hear are a bit unbalanced: happy users stay contented with their software and mostly think about it only when they need it. However, unhappy users want to share their bad experiences to warn others away.

Personally, I don't use CTM. The fact is, I would not need it much. The free Wuala has less chance of ruining everything, and has more backup and restoring options.

I'm just defending CTM because someone should present both sides.

BTW...everyone needs more than one backup system. If you will lose everything in a hard drive/CTM crash, then add another backup layer...maybe online.

Anonymous Feb 27, 2011 1:39 PM

"Jeremy Bost
Just like with any software, there are bugs. If you want to pay, however, feel free to do pay for other programs."

Sorry Jeremy, I do accept there are bugs. However, I cannot accept to use a program that loses all my data - reported by many users and not some rare cases.

Jeremy Bost Feb 27, 2011 12:17 PM

Re: Tony Crook

Plenty of people have installed CTM and have not encountered problems. Just like with any software, there are bugs. If you want to pay, however, feel free to do pay for other programs.

Tony Crook Feb 27, 2011 4:39 AM

Comodo Time Machine

As Sbruce says, buy Rollback Rx. Its not free but a brilliant item of software with superb after sales service unlike Comodo. More importantly it doesn't screw up your PC.

Ernesto Rivera Feb 26, 2011 2:25 PM

Installing

Guys and Girls dint install time machine on and operating system that has been running for some time.Use Comodo time machine after a new install that install Comodo/drivers/updates/ Wella you have a bullet proof machine!!

Sbruce Feb 18, 2011 1:33 PM

Comodo Time Machine, as any other programs of this kind, will enter in conflict with similar programs installed on your system. Just make sure to keep only one installed at any time.

And you probably want to go for a better software. Try Rollback Rx

Ernesto Rivera/ A+ Net+ Security+ Jan 19, 2011 9:33 PM

Install it after a fresh OS Install

Install comodo time machine after a fresh copy of windows installed. Not on an exciting older copy.
It is a great product if used only after installing a new partitioned fresh install.'
Don,t install it on an older running windows OS.

Trust me on this

Heather aka BipolarBraniac Oct 13, 2010 8:25 AM

I am a big fan of Comodo products, but I was not happy with the Time Machine. Like others who commented, the program would not uninstall for me and then would not let my machine boot. I had a Time Machine "red screen of death". Had to reinstall windows to get over this issue. Comodo Time Machine needs some more work before it will be as good as their other products are.

Jeremy Bost Aug 24, 2010 4:28 PM

Potentially dangerous

I'll just note that, yes, CTM can cause problems. Often, it may conflict with another "deep level" program. However, many people are satisfied with it. (You just only see the unhappy here, as most of the people with success stories don't say anything or post on Comodo's forums.)

~JB

Tony Crook Aug 24, 2010 1:51 PM

Commodo Time Machine

Medion Desktop,Intel Core2 Duo, 500Gb HD, 2Gb Ram.After initial install requires re-boot. Software gets to 78% and then stalls. Commodo contacted but referred me to forum. Said they would look into problem but, NOTHING. Fan of Commodo progs but, CTM similar to Rollback Rx by Horizon Data Systems. I know you pay for the software but their support is first class and well worth the cost!
TC

Toah Jun 2, 2010 5:04 AM

personal

opinion about this software...
I installed it on my laptop (Vista Home Premium) ..
It ran OK for an week,then it started to tell me there is not enough disk space on the partition to store the snapshots (there was 20Gb+ free space... 10Gb is required) and suggested me to delete some old snapshots and try again..
I deleted some snapshots,defragged them all within the program itself,and tried again..
Still the same... Could not take anymore new snapshots..
I uninstalled it.. after that my OS wouldn't boot at all..
Luckily,I got Acronis True Image installed on my computer,and have frequent backups of my system,so
complete system restore was easy to do.
As for this experience,I can not recommend this software to anyone at it's current stage with all the bugs+flaws it has atm..
If Comodo ever manages to fix these bugs,I'll surely give it another shot.
Just be cautious when you install this on your machine,I suggest you take first a FULL SECTOR-BY-SECTOR image of your OS to another partition prior to installing this software.
It has to be sector-by-sector image so the MBR (Master Boot Record) gets saved into the image aswell..

Jeremy Bost Mar 9, 2010 8:49 PM

Re: Disaster

"Jeremy Bost...are you in any way associated with Comodo.
You seem extraordinarily defensive of a product that trashes computers."

No, I am not associated with Comodo (unless you count talking on their forum as associated....). First, I do like most Comodo products. They have protected me for a long time. But I also know that comments here can often be once-sided.
You see, someone may like a program, but doesn't bother to go and comment places showing his like of it. On the other hand, someone else may get trashed by a program. He wants to tell everyone and their pet that you shouldn't use that program: It crashed him, it may crash you.

So I wanted to help balance this out, and show the other side.

Sometimes fixes take time....we are just used to speedy things. After all, there are probably many bugs in this fairly new software. I do think it should probably still be in beta for all the problems people have reported, but still.

CTM doesn't always trash the MBR. I have seen many people have no problem with it, including me. You have more chance of it working right on a fairly new installation.

"End story most people do not expect / anticipate that a company charged with protecting your computer would be the one to trash it."

People don't expect that, but it happens. Sometimes more than others.

"As for the free nonsense, this is a marketing approach to publicise the product and entice an upgrade to the commercial version...which almost worked in my case."

What commercial version? There is no paid CTM program. Nor Comodo Internet Security, either. The CIS "Pro" is really just other nice programs jammed in the package, at a discount.

hwka Mar 9, 2010 8:26 PM

Re Disaster

Jeremy Bost...are you in any way associated with Comodo.
You seem extraordinarily defensive of a product that trashes computers.
As to your comment :
What? Reply to what?
Comodo are the supposed experts.
The request for a possible fix was placed because whilst the general opinion is that it may have . or did..trash the MBR I cannot be certain of that.
It may not be so.
The development people at Comodo are in the best position to determine that.
I do not want to reformat and lose years of files if there is a fix.
For e.g. my laptop has 19 Gb of iTunes and my daughters wedding photos.
End story most people do not expect / anticipate that a company charged with protecting your computer would be the one to trash it.
As for the free nonsense, this is a marketing approach to publicise the product and entice an upgrade to the commercial version...which almost worked in my case.

Jeremy Bost Mar 9, 2010 7:24 PM

Still, no two systems (as in OS installations) are exactly the same.

"BTW, Comodo did not bother to reply re a possible fix."

What? Reply to what?

It does use the MBR, and if CTM fails, yes, it could trash the MBR. Anything that modifies the MBR probably has potential to trash it.

Jeremy Bost Mar 9, 2010 7:02 PM

Re: free ?

I wasn't saying that because it was free, forget about the bugs. I was just replying to this statement:
"Will NEVER purchase a Comodo product ."

hwka Mar 9, 2010 5:37 PM

.."they all have a big potential for disaster...usually only because of other software, though."
Not in my case.
My laptop and desktop both have exactly the same software, and are auto-updated.
BTW, Comodo did not bother to reply re a possible fix.
More than likely because of:
1. Arrogance
2. Stupidity (No?, well the program is still on their website !)
3. the fact it seems to trash the MBR, in which case there is no fix.

costin gusa Mar 9, 2010 10:28 AM

free ?

free is not an argument. does it matter that it's free but does not work ? or is more important to pay few bucks for something that actually works? (/me thinking some random backup program name which uses vss api)

Jeremy Bost Mar 9, 2010 10:24 AM

Re: Comodo Time Machine

I'm sorry to here of your trouble with this product. Just for your information, though, most of Comodo's products are all free. The only ones you have to purchase are remote PC support, and TrustConnect, something that protects and encrypts your internet connection. Comodo Internet Security and Comodo Time Machine are free.

hwka Mar 9, 2010 8:30 AM

This product harms your computer.
Trashed my laptop Master Boot Record.
Restarted in Safe Mode Last Good Config, but computer programs will not run.
Message "failed to initialize properly".
Then screen fragments.
Finally achieved Windows System Restore screen but would not restore to any date marked as a restore point.
"dll failed to initialize" message prior to Restore shutdown.
Just got BSOD.
This laptop has performed flawlessly for 8 years.
I also attempted to install CTM on my desktop but it woulD not install ..."disk id" message, so thankfully my desktop is OK, which is how I am typing this message.
Not happy.
Will NEVER purchase a Comodo product .

Jeremy Bost Mar 8, 2010 9:38 AM

Re: A disaster!

I have seen similar comments about "time machines." Yes, I do think they all have a big potential for disaster...usually only because of other software, though.

Heinz Iten Mar 8, 2010 3:46 AM

A disaster!

This is a terribly unreliable program. Installing it screwed up my whole system. I could not boot up anymore (MBR, Partition Table, Boot sector, Boot.ini etc. - all gone). Fortunately I use Paragon Drive Backup, which got me quickly out of trouble. Windows System Restore works well, and got me out of a tight spot a few times. But I rather not rely on this one!
By the way, a few years ago I tried 'Norton GoBack', with similar disastrous results, although it worked well for a few weeks, and then decided to screw up my computer.

Maybe we are not ready for time machines!!

Jeremy Bost Feb 4, 2010 4:26 PM

Re: i think it's too early

I must admit, it is a bit buggy. Things can really get messed up when something this low-level "goes mad."

costinel Feb 4, 2010 3:56 PM

i think it's too early

running chkdsk manually "fixes" a lot of errors
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=33xyaoi&s=6
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=qn8zkx&s=6
http://clip2net.com/page/m0/3794505

The file system structure on the disk is corrupt and unusable. Please run the chkdsk utility on the volume C:.

also procmon says c:\windows\system32 is corrupt
Application popup: Procmon.exe - Corrupt File : The file or directory C:\SYSTEM\system32 is corrupt and unreadable. Please run the Chkdsk utility.

too bad this product doesn't use the VSS standard API which i was expecting, it's doing some very nasty intimate NTFS things... what happens when it breaks ?

Comodo Time Machine Review

Introduction

InstallationRating

Ease-of-Use and GUIRating

FeaturesRating

ConclusionRating

Comments

Installation
Rating

Ease-of-Use and GUI
Rating

Features
Rating

Conclusion
Rating