ASR Backup Problem. It Won't Write To The Floopy.

I keep hoping I will do something unintentional that will fix this, but it hasn't happened yet.

The data backup goes fine, then I'm prompted for a blank formatted 1.44 Meg disk in Drive A:.
So I format a floppy and click the OK button. I get an error popup with no explanation on it. So I shell out to DOS and format it that way. Same thing.

To make sure that the drive, and disk are OK. I copied a PDF file to the floppy and opened it. It worked just fine.

What am I missing?

Will XP accept anything besides a 1.44 Meg floppy? If so, where can I set that option?

I don't know how many times I've tried this, and I'm backing up the data to an old HP DLT 4000 tape drive, so it takes about 90 minutes to find out that I have failed again. Frustrating.

 

Using NT Backup (Courtesy of Jose Ibarra)

If you are using/relying on the built in NT Backup to backup your system, that is primitive technology (obviously - since it will ask you for a floppy when it is done). If you have a disaster (even a minor one), you are going to have a big problem trying to recover your stuff if you don't have a floppy drive - and maybe even if you do have a floppy drive you are very likely still to a big problem if you need to restore your stuff.

If you want to make a backup, an image or some kind of clone of your system, it makes sense to use modern technology - and that technology is not built in to XP.

There are lots of popular options for third party XP backup and imaging software(s).

A popular one folks seem to like is from Acronis.

With that (free 30 day trial) you backup, you can make a bootable CD or bootable USB (that's modern, huh?) and use that in the event of a disaster.

They used to have a totally free version - maybe not anymore - just the 30 day trial, then you have to buy it, but it is well respected.

It is so much more robust than the XP backup, it is laughable.

There are many other options if you do a little Googling...

Here are some products that other forum users suggest might be appealing. Use Google to find them and read about their features, and capabilities. Some have free versions or you can purchase them to get more features:

If you have a Western Digital drive, you can get a version of Acronis True Image free from WD:

http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119

Or you can obtain backup and cloning software separately (this is not a comprehensive list and is no particular order; some are free, others not):

Acronis True Image Home
Easeus ToDo Backup Free
Paragon Drive Copy or Partition Manager Personal
Casper
Norton Ghost


Some disk cloning software ideas for you to Google:

XXClone
Marcium Reflect Free
DriveImageXML
Acronis True Image Home 11
Easeus ToDo Backup
Paragon Drive Copy or Partition Manager Personal
Casper
Norton Ghost

Whatever method you choose, it is prudent to test your method from end to end to be sure it works.

You can create a temporary folder somewhere on your system and copy a bunch of files into it, perform your backup, then delete the temporary folder and be sure that you can recover it from your backup.

The day you need your backup/restore process to work is not the day to find out it doesn't work.


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or you can just copy the files above to the floppy manually

from here

 

reply no. 2 you do not have home edition do you??

http://www.ntbackup.us/Articles/automated-system-recovery.htm

above states asr backup is not functional for home edition.

 

No. I have XP Pro SP3.

There are two problems I have with the non-Mickeysoft backup programs.
1. Most don't back up to tape.
2. I don't know of any that have the same functionality as Backup. Specifically, it is my impression that you don't need to re-install the OS in order to use ASR. That may not be a big deal, but it would save a lot of time if it worked. EDIT: Since I've never completed and an ASR backup successfully, I have no idea if it works or not.

The only backup software I've found that is reliable with tape drives, and free, is Z Dat Dump, but the OS and Z Dat Dump itself need to be installed in order to restore from it.

Lately I've only been formatting and re-installing about twice a week, but I'm sure you know how much time that takes.

 

http://www.uranium-backup.com/

above will backup to tape, is free, scroll down to bottom under products and it says the first one listed is free.

http://www.iperiusbackup.com/

also free

http://www.todo-backup.com/backup-resource/tape-backup-software/tape-backup-software.htm

free

several hits from here

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why are you reinstalling so often??

 

If you had a tape drive, you would know. I've tried all of these and the free versions don't support tape drives. No, it doesn't say that anywhere, but, like I said, I've tried them.

The newest language I program in is VB 6. Others include Modula 2, Borland Turbo Prolog 1.0, and Borland Turbo C 2.01. I'm constantly searching for, and trying out, development tools for them. Some of the development tools are well written. Some make my computer unstable. A while back I realized that it saves time to format re-install rather than troubleshoot a problem I don't really want to know anything about.

 

is it possible for you to get a different type of drive??

 

reply 2:

http://www.backupassist.com/education/tapeDriveManagement.html

how about this one??

this is info on asr backup with backupassist:

http://www.backupassist.com/education/bareMetalASR.html