Restore to a Different Computer with BackOn Track 3

[el_abuelo]

I have recently purchased BackOn Track 3. I also have two identical HP a6120n PCs. BOT works fine for B/U & Restore on the same computer. However, when I tried to restore a backup from PC 1 to PC 2, BOT fails after clearing all the files from the target HDD. It states that, "The selected backup file is not valid." Can someone tell me why this happens, and whether there is a workaround available? Thanks.

[d_deweywright]

I have recently purchased BackOn Track 3. I also have two identical HP a6120n PCs. BOT works fine for B/U & Restore on the same computer. However, when I tried to restore a backup from PC 1 to PC 2, BOT fails after clearing all the files from the target HDD. It states that, "The selected backup file is not valid." Can someone tell me why this happens, and whether there is a workaround available? Thanks.

You're saying that you were actually able to restore PC 1, using it's own image, but it wouldn't work on PC 2? I wasn't aware that BOT did anything to determine what drive it was restoring, and that wouldn't necessarily make too much sense, in the case of a drive failure. If you haven't actually tried restoring the image on PC 1, then it's possible that the backup is corrupt.

 

Otherwise, I haven't tried restoring a BOT image to another system.

[tbrewst]

Me neither,that's why I didn't reply.

 

I have made a image of my machine at home but haven't used it yet.

I certainly haven't tried to use it for a different machine.

 

I'd agree with you though Dave.

It would be weird if it would only restore to the drive that was backed up.

 

What seems really weird is that it would start to work enough to erase the drive but not well enough to then restore an image to it.Although I could see it doing that if the image was corrupt.

I could also see problems if the hardware was different but you'd then still expect the image to work but Windows to have problems the first time it boots.

[el_abuelo]

You're saying that you were actually able to restore PC 1, using it's own image, but it wouldn't work on PC 2? I wasn't aware that BOT did anything to determine what drive it was restoring, and that wouldn't necessarily make too much sense, in the case of a drive failure. If you haven't actually tried restoring the image on PC 1, then it's possible that the backup is corrupt.

 

Otherwise, I haven't tried restoring a BOT image to another system.

 

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

 

No, I have not tried to restore PC 1 with it's own backup image. I am a bit shaky about doing so, at this point. PC 1 is my main system and I am not ready to put it in jeopardy. I only recently bought BOT, and backed up PC 1, with no errors. Then just for the experience, and to check out BOT, I tried to restore the PC 1 image to PC 2, and it fails. I then restored PC 2 with the factory image that came with PC 1, (Just so everything was identical between the two PCs.) Then I backed up the PC 2 image, and restored it to PC 2, using BOT, and that worked just fine.

 

I keep an my backups on an external hard drive, and store it offsite. So I wanted to know what would happen if, say, the house burned down, and I had to restore my backup to a new computer, using my BOT backup. I say that it should work, if it was programmed correctly. BTW, I tried the failing restore with "Verify" checked, as well as unchecked, and it fails either way.

 

Thanks folks,

El_Abuelo

 

[d_deweywright]

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

 

No, I have not tried to restore PC 1 with it's own backup image. I am a bit shaky about doing so, at this point. PC 1 is my main system and I am not ready to put it in jeopardy. I only recently bought BOT, and backed up PC 1, with no errors. Then just for the experience, and to check out BOT, I tried to restore the PC 1 image to PC 2, and it fails. I then restored PC 2 with the factory image that came with PC 1, (Just so everything was identical between the two PCs.) Then I backed up the PC 2 image, and restored it to PC 2, using BOT, and that worked just fine.

 

I keep an my backups on an external hard drive, and store it offsite. So I wanted to know what would happen if, say, the house burned down, and I had to restore my backup to a new computer, using my BOT backup. I say that it should work, if it was programmed correctly. BTW, I tried the failing restore with "Verify" checked, as well as unchecked, and it fails either way.

 

Thanks folks,

El_Abuelo

So, it sounds like the original image you made from PC 1 isn't good. My suggestion at this point would be to make a new image of PC 1, if there's an option to verify it first, do so, then if all looks good (and you don't mind experimenting on PC 2) try restoring that image on PC 2.

 

And let us know how you make out.

[el_abuelo]

I thought I had better get back to you on this BOT3 saga. I created another Backup of PC1, using BOT3, and attempted a Restore that Backup to PC2. It ran to within about five minutes of finishing, and died with, "A failure has occurred. Disaster Recovery cannot continue. Please remove any discs and click Finish Button to restart your computer." So much for reliable PC to PC Restoration with BOT3!

 

Next, I attenpted to Restore PC2 with its original data, which I had backed up with BOT3, to a different external drive than was used above. I had managed to successfully Restore PC2, to its original state, with this exact backup set on at least two other occasions. This time, it failed right away, stating that, "... the Backup file is not valid." So much for reliably Restoring a single hard drive with BOT3!

 

At this point, I got online and did a bit of research. I found BOT3's top rated competitor, downloaded the trial version, and installed it. I repeated the same Backup and Restore tests that I had used with BOT3, and all tests succeeded in about a third of the time that it took BOT3.

 

I have requested a refund for my copy of BOT3. I gave it a fair try, but I value my data too much to continue using what I deem to be an unreliable product.

 

Thanks for your help,

 

El_Abuelo

 

 

[d_deweywright]

I have requested a refund for my copy of BOT3. I gave it a fair try, but I value my data too much to continue using what I deem to be an unreliable product.

 

Thanks for your help,

 

El_Abuelo

Thanks for your analysis. Personally, I use Acronis True Image. I'm wondering what you wound up buying?

[el_abuelo]

Thanks for your analysis. Personally, I use Acronis True Image. I'm wondering what you wound up buying?

 

Well, I had refrained from stating which image backup program that I bought, because this is the Roxio community, and I did not want to step on anyone's toes too badly. But since you say you use Acronis, you have made my day, because I just paid for my Acronis True Image, with a bargain add-on of the Acronis Plus Package. So far, I really like the Acronis program. One of its main features that I like is the ability to do an incremental backup to a full image backup. I didn't notice any others that had that feature.

 

I gather that you must have taken my posts off of the public board, because I signed in and did a search on my screen name and it did not find my posts. I then went to the link that you sent, and my posts came up.

 

I don't suppose you are an ex-IBMer. I believe you live in that territory; or is it Oswego that is near Endicott? I took my IBM basic training at Endicott.

 

What the heck are you doing providing tech. support for Roxio, when you use other brand-x products? ;^)

 

el_abuelo

[d_deweywright]

Well, I had refrained from stating which image backup program that I bought, because this is the Roxio community, and I did not want to step on anyone's toes too badly. But since you say you use Acronis, you have made my day, because I just paid for my Acronis True Image, with a bargain add-on of the Acronis Plus Package. So far, I really like the Acronis program. One of its main features that I like is the ability to do an incremental backup to a full image backup. I didn't notice any others that had that feature.

 

I gather that you must have taken my posts off of the public board, because I signed in and did a search on my screen name and it did not find my posts. I then went to the link that you sent, and my posts came up.

 

I don't suppose you are an ex-IBMer. I believe you live in that territory; or is it Oswego that is near Endicott? I took my IBM basic training at Endicott.

 

What the heck are you doing providing tech. support for Roxio, when you use other brand-x products? ;^)

 

el_abuelo

No, we're still on the public boards, not sure why it didn't find you're screen name. Anyway, my primary use of Roxio's products is for data, audio and video. I'm simply a user like everyone else here who doesn't have a Roxio logo by their name. System backup seems to be a very secondary market for Sonic/Roxio.

 

Other backup programs have been mentioned. At one point, Roxio/Adaptec (prior to Sonic's involvement) offered Take Two, which was a great program. Very user friendly and easy to use. Unfortunately, that went away when Windows XP came out (you can see how long I've been around here). BOT has more of the old back-up tape cartridge feel to it in many ways. It's never come across as being as user friendly as other utilities, and True Image has much the same utility as the old Take Two did, with an explorer type interface to access the image files from within Windows, as well as a recovery mode from optical media. It's also nice to be able to schedule automatic incremental backups. (Made even more useful if you have multiple physical hard drives, so you can backup from one drive to the other.)

 

Actually, yes, I did work for IBM in Endicott until it was sold to EIT. I voluntarily left for another job about 4 years after that. Yes, Owego is near Endicott. You're familiar with the area?

[el_abuelo]

No, we're still on the public boards, not sure why it didn't find you're screen name. Anyway, my primary use of Roxio's products is for data, audio and video. I'm simply a user like everyone else here who doesn't have a Roxio logo by their name. System backup seems to be a very secondary market for Sonic/Roxio.

 

Other backup programs have been mentioned. At one point, Roxio/Adaptec (prior to Sonic's involvement) offered Take Two, which was a great program. Very user friendly and easy to use. Unfortunately, that went away when Windows XP came out (you can see how long I've been around here). BOT has more of the old back-up tape cartridge feel to it in many ways. It's never come across as being as user friendly as other utilities, and True Image has much the same utility as the old Take Two did, with an explorer type interface to access the image files from within Windows, as well as a recovery mode from optical media. It's also nice to be able to schedule automatic incremental backups. (Made even more useful if you have multiple physical hard drives, so you can backup from one drive to the other.)

 

Actually, yes, I did work for IBM in Endicott until it was sold to EIT. I voluntarily left for another job about 4 years after that. Yes, Owego is near Endicott. You're familiar with the area?

 

OK, Dave, the search worked today. Yes, I thought backup programs were a secondary product for Roxio. I have used BackUp My PC for years, and I think it changed ownership three times since I started using it. I still have BUMP 7, which came on my HP Pocket Media Drive, and it is a pretty good file backup program. HP now uses HP SureStore backup on their Pocket Media Drives, and of course, it is a file backup program.

 

One of my reasons for wanting a good image backup program is that my Vista OS on PC1 has become corrupted. Unfortunately the HP Recovery package does not have the capability of just doing a refresh of the operating system, without destroying the installed programs and user data. So my plan is to rebuild my volume C: on PC2, (using a fresh copy of the OS), install my programs on it, migrate the user data from PC1 to it, back it up and restore it to PC1. That is the only way I see to do this. Perhaps you may have some suggestions or words of wisdom?

 

Well, how about that? I just had a gut feel that you were an IBMer. I went to Poughkeepsie in 1965 and worked in System Test on the 360/50 system. I was there for 18 months, then went to Endicott, for a month, to get my Basic Training. We lived in a 36 ft. trailer, in Melvin Whistle's trailer court, up in the Nanticoke "Nannie Goat" Valley. So, yes, I am a bit familiar with the area. What did you do at IBM?

 

El_Abuelo

[d_deweywright]

OK, Dave, the search worked today. Yes, I thought backup programs were a secondary product for Roxio. I have used BackUp My PC for years, and I think it changed ownership three times since I started using it. I still have BUMP 7, which came on my HP Pocket Media Drive, and it is a pretty good file backup program. HP now uses HP SureStore backup on their Pocket Media Drives, and of course, it is a file backup program.

 

One of my reasons for wanting a good image backup program is that my Vista OS on PC1 has become corrupted. Unfortunately the HP Recovery package does not have the capability of just doing a refresh of the operating system, without destroying the installed programs and user data. So my plan is to rebuild my volume C: on PC2, (using a fresh copy of the OS), install my programs on it, migrate the user data from PC1 to it, back it up and restore it to PC1. That is the only way I see to do this. Perhaps you may have some suggestions or words of wisdom?

 

Well, how about that? I just had a gut feel that you were an IBMer. I went to Poughkeepsie in 1965 and worked in System Test on the 360/50 system. I was there for 18 months, then went to Endicott, for a month, to get my Basic Training. We lived in a 36 ft. trailer, in Melvin Whistle's trailer court, up in the Nanticoke "Nannie Goat" Valley. So, yes, I am a bit familiar with the area. What did you do at IBM?

 

El_Abuelo

Actually, I started in Poughkeepsie too, in 1981, worked there for 3 years in a group that helped generate wiring info for the big (at that time) water cooled modules that Fishkill built.

 

Then I transferred up to Endicott (at my request) and wound up in a group that did the programming for the custom manufactured production equipment that Endicott used. Great job since you got to interface with lots of hardware, motors, vision systems, pneumatics, electronics, etc. So, we got to work on all the different process lines for boards, substrates and cards. After EIT bought the place, they were definitely going the route of buying all off-the-shelf equipment, so that's when I started looking elsewhere, and after a couple years working on hybrid electric vehicles at BAE Systems, I'm now back in a support group that does Test Equipment support, so not too far from what I used to do at IBM.

 

One other backup utility I've used (which isn't available anymore, and might not run with Vista) is GoBack. It looks like the new version of Acronis has a similar function that does "continuous backups"? GoBack monitored all file changes pretty much as they were made, and tracked them to a backup file it kept. I think it supported up to a 4GB file space. So, depending on how much data you were changing on the monitored drive(s), I found it usually held about a weeks worth of changes, and you "Go Back" to any point in that week to restore your system, or just individual files. (You created a virtual drive at that point in time to recover files.) I need to update to the latest version of True Image yet.

[el_abuelo]

Actually, I started in Poughkeepsie too, in 1981, worked there for 3 years in a group that helped generate wiring info for the big (at that time) water cooled modules that Fishkill built.

 

Then I transferred up to Endicott (at my request) and wound up in a group that did the programming for the custom manufactured production equipment that Endicott used. Great job since you got to interface with lots of hardware, motors, vision systems, pneumatics, electronics, etc. So, we got to work on all the different process lines for boards, substrates and cards. After EIT bought the place, they were definitely going the route of buying all off-the-shelf equipment, so that's when I started looking elsewhere, and after a couple years working on hybrid electric vehicles at BAE Systems, I'm now back in a support group that does Test Equipment support, so not too far from what I used to do at IBM.

 

One other backup utility I've used (which isn't available anymore, and might not run with Vista) is GoBack. It looks like the new version of Acronis has a similar function that does "continuous backups"? GoBack monitored all file changes pretty much as they were made, and tracked them to a backup file it kept. I think it supported up to a 4GB file space. So, depending on how much data you were changing on the monitored drive(s), I found it usually held about a weeks worth of changes, and you "Go Back" to any point in that week to restore your system, or just individual files. (You created a virtual drive at that point in time to recover files.) I need to update to the latest version of True Image yet.

 

Yes, Dave, you must have been working on the TCMs that were used in the 308X and 309X water cooled CPUs that I serviced in Field Engineering. I spent 26 years in the FE Division, in Denver, as a Customer Engineer. After retiring from IBM in 1993, I went to work for Bell Atlantic Business Systems Services, which later became DecisionOne Corporation. I spent about four years servicing the same type equipment that I did for IBM, plus some STC robotic tape libraries (SILO). I completely retired in 1998. Now I wonder how I ever found time to work when I had a job. ;^)

 

Yes, I've heard of GoBack, but never used it. I totally gave up on Norton's programs. They bury themselves too deeply into the operating system, and are always in your face about something or other. It has to tell you something, when they have to write their own special Norton Removal Tool to get all the hooks, from their software, out of your operating system!!

 

Later,

El_Abuelo

 

[d_deweywright]

Yes, Dave, you must have been working on the TCMs that were used in the 308X and 309X water cooled CPUs that I serviced in Field Engineering. I spent 26 years in the FE Division, in Denver, as a Customer Engineer. After retiring from IBM in 1993, I went to work for Bell Atlantic Business Systems Services, which later became DecisionOne Corporation. I spent about four years servicing the same type equipment that I did for IBM, plus some STC robotic tape libraries (SILO). I completely retired in 1998. Now I wonder how I ever found time to work when I had a job. ;^)

 

Yes, I've heard of GoBack, but never used it. I totally gave up on Norton's programs. They bury themselves too deeply into the operating system, and are always in your face about something or other. It has to tell you something, when they have to write their own special Norton Removal Tool to get all the hooks, from their software, out of your operating system!!

 

Later,

El_Abuelo

Indeed, the TCM's were what I worked on in Poughkeepsie. The robotic tape libraries were fun to see in action. I know with our girls activities, and things I'd like to do, that work definitely gets in the way of doing the stuff I want to do. But, I couldn't do those things without a paycheck!

 

I don't know who originally created GoBack, I think it was purchased by Adaptec, who sold it for a few years before passing it on to Norton/Symantec, who only sold it for another couple years. I'm not sure if they did too much with it after purchasing it. One of the interesting things about GoBack is that it actually started up before Windows, so it's almost like Windows ran "on top" of GoBack. The bad thing about GoBack is that it modified the boot record so that if it was installed and "active", if you booted with a diskette or CD, the GoBack drive wasn't visible. But it was good about letting you disable it (losing the current history) for doing other work, if needed. I don't have it installed currently, but I've thought about reinstalling it. Just another layer of security.

 

I assume the "continuous protection" part of True Image is running on your system now? Have you looked at it at all? Can you configure it for what drives/partitions to back-up?

[el_abuelo]

Hi, Dave,

 

No, I have not tried the "continuous protection" part of True Image yet. I sort of thought it would be overkill for me, since I don't make frequent changes that need backing up. A once a week incremental backup is probably sufficient for me.

 

El_Abuelo