| Try&Decide is a utility included in Acronis True | | | | simulate this. During the reboot and before Windows |
| Image Home 2009. Acronis claim that you can create | | | | started, I was shown a Try&Decide screen |
| a temporary workspace on your computer and | | | | giving me the option to stop Try&Decide and |
| safely install applications, system updates and drivers, | | | | discard all changes, or to continue working in the |
| without making any permanent changes to your | | | | secure mode. This is a great feature if the new |
| system until you are happy that they will not cause | | | | installation crashes the system. If the computer is |
| any problems. As I use Acronis True Image for all my | | | | unattended at this time, the reboot continues after a |
| backups, this sounded like an easy way of testing | | | | few seconds and Try&Decide keeps running. |
| new applications without having to run virtualization | | | | What I also noticed was that this behaviour will only |
| software, so I decided to give it a go. | | | | occur on a computer restart. Shutting down the |
| Try&Decide uses the Acronis Secure Zone | | | | computer will end the session and discard all changes |
| (ASZ) to create the virtual workspace. The ASZ is a | | | | without any notification. |
| hidden partition on your hard disk that is created by | | | | Now that the program was up and running, I double |
| True Image for use by that program. Opening | | | | clicked the tray icon to open True Image, clicked the |
| Acronis True Image and selecting Try&Decide, I | | | | stop button and selected the option to discard all |
| was presented with a start and stop button, an | | | | changes. After a few seconds the computer |
| elapsed time clock, and a graph of the ASZ showing | | | | rebooted and all changes made by the program were |
| me how much space is available. On clicking start, an | | | | gone. No trace of the installation folder or files, |
| information window popped up warning me not to | | | | nothing in the registry, and no sign of the program in |
| use disk error checking or defragmentation software | | | | add/remove programs. One thing I did notice is that |
| while Try&Decide is active. If you are running | | | | only changes made to the system drive will be |
| defrag in the background, this suggests that now | | | | erased. If you install to a disk or partition other than |
| might be a good time to turn it off. | | | | the system drive, all system changes will be |
| After starting Try&Decide, I shut down True | | | | discarded but the program files will still be there and |
| Image leaving an icon in the system tray letting me | | | | will need to be deleted. |
| know that Try&Decide is running. I then went | | | | I have now added another weapon against malware |
| ahead and installed a new program, in this case a trial | | | | and misbehaved programs. If you install many new |
| RAM optimizer utility. The installation was normal and | | | | programs like I do, Acronis True Image |
| although Acronis suggest that your computer may | | | | Try&Decide is an excellent way of ensuring that |
| slow somewhat I did not notice this. Although the | | | | an unknown software package that you have just |
| trial program did not require a reboot during | | | | downloaded will not damage or trash your system. |
| installation, many do so I restarted the computer to | | | | |