Problems With Shadowprotect

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by rwinegar, Jul 4, 2008.

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  1. rwinegar

    rwinegar Registered Member

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    I am very letdown following all the glowing recommendations I received by members of this forum.

    I think I just wasted $80 on this program. I installed it on a new Dell T5400. I created an image of my boot drive (C) to local drive (D). Just like I did hundreds of times with TI. However when I try to restore an image all I get is errors - cannot lock the target volume, forcing it's dismount - cannot do forced dismount - final error, access is denied. I repeated this creation/restoration process six times. It is the same everytime.

    Storagecraft's help file is as worthless as it's extremely limited FAQ's and forum in which almost no one ever posts or responds. I sent tech support an email, but I don't expect much help during or immediately following a three day holiday weekend.

    Every minute this computer runs unprotected worries me.

    Anyone here have any suggestions?
     
  2. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Are you trying to do a restore from Windows. If so that is your problem. Boot to the recovery disk and do the restore from there. SP doesn't have a restore from windows option like TI, although TI isn't really restoring from Windows either as it has to reboot.

    Pete

    PS If you want PM me and we can go over some stuff step by step.
     
  3. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    Restoring with SP under Windows ? That is impossible. You can only do this with the Recovery CD, which is the RIGHT way.
    Uninstall ATI under Windows first BEFORE you start using SP under Windows for backup, if not SP won't work properly. ATI and SP don't like eachother.
    SP backup/restores partition per partition, so you can't backup/restore a complete disk with several partitions like in ATI.
    Put ATI out of your mind and start all over again with SP in mind, it will become alot easier. :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2008
  4. Defenestration

    Defenestration Registered Member

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    SP can restore to a non system partition from within Windows, but cannot restore to the system partition (you need to use the recovery CD for that).

    I haven't tried restoring the system partition from within Windows, but I'm surprised SP doesn't realize what you're doing and give a nice error message like "You cannot resotre to the system partition from within Windows. Please boot using the recovery CD and restore from there."
     
  5. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    I'm not. The target market for SP is for a more advanced user, who normally would know this.

    Besides we haven't yet really heard back to know that's what the user did. I just asked incase.


    Pete
     
  6. rwinegar

    rwinegar Registered Member

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    Thanks everybody.

    One really important question. SP has a wizard that operates in Windows. While in Windows it goes through all the steps to create an image and to restore the image. WITHIN WINDOWS! I downloaded and read the entire users manual. It says nothing about using the disk to restore an image. It is all done using the GUI in Windows.

    The program appears to want to work like TI which locks the drive and runs after a reboot. Note the errors I posted. One of them is "cannot lock the target volume". I think it wants to lock the drive to reboot, but for some reason is unable.

    Have any of you guys ever used Desktop Edition 3.2 or read that user manual?
     
  7. sukarof

    sukarof Registered Member

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    That is so true. Even though I dont consider my self as specially advanced.

    I use the DE all the time, tbh I have not read the manual more than occasional quick glance. Most of the stuff you do is pretty obvious so I have not seen the need to do that.
     
  8. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    I use Desktop Edition 2 and I never read the manual. I try to understand a software by using my logical mind.
    <snip>
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 4, 2008
  9. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Hi Rwinegar

    I use 3.2 all the time, and must confess no I've not read the manual in detail.

    Let me first say, that SP absolutely does not work the way TI works. No program can restore the system partition from the system. What TI does is set up the restore and then boot to a pseudo dos type configuration. To me, more prone to trouble than not.

    Having purchased SP you should have downloaded the ISO file. Burn that file to CD. That is your recovery disk. You can image, verify and restore from it. In fact you can also explore the image from it.

    From the desktop, again assuming we are talking about the system, you can image, verify, explore, but you can not restore.

    Note that many users don't ever install to the Desktop, they just use the recovery CD.

    So to restore you need the recovery CD. Your next step is to make that. Then check back here, and we can go forward.

    Pete
     
  10. rwinegar

    rwinegar Registered Member

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    Thanks Peter2150. I appreciate your response.

    I burned the iso to a CD and made the boot CD. I went into the bios on my computer and changed the boot order to the CDROM drive. It took me a while to figure out how to do this and I made several mistakes. I booted to the disk where I now had to figure out that I had to select "Legacy Recovery Environment" and was able to successfully restore the image of my boot drive. Just before creating the image I made a few empty folders on my desktop as a means to test whether restore worked. The folders were there after the restore.

    This program works and I appreciate everyone's help here. Even those who were less than helpful.

    I read a number of reviews of this program before deciding to buy it. They all said the program worked, but most commented that they disliked the manner in which it works. I must agree. This is one hell of a program to try to figure out. Even the users manual is not very clear. What I don't understand is since the image cannot be restored in Windows, why does the program allow one to go through all the steps only to find out it can't be done? That part of the program really sucks. I would much rather be using TI, but it will not work on this particular computer. It cannot find any drives when attempting a restore.

    Thanks again.
     
  11. appster

    appster Registered Member

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    Not that it really matters to essence of your reply, but actually ATI automatically reboots into Linux when one attempts to restore the system partition from within Windows.


    No disk-imaging program can restore the system volume from within Windows (including ATI, as described above). However, all of them can restore a non-system partition/drive from within Windows. I'm not an SP user, but if SP actually allows you to believe that's possible, only to result in errors, than that's definitely a design-flaw.

    ...and speaking of recovery CD's, do make sure that the one you are relying upon (regardless of which particular software) can actually 'see' each of your internal & external drives!
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2008
  12. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Hi Rwinegar

    You may well be able to use the recommended environment as it is quicker. Only real need for legacy is if you are using a raid setup with nvidia drivers.

    Once you get a bit familiar with SP you will find you can do stuff without even thinking about it.

    Again keep asking as you move along. We are here.

    Pete

    Hi Appster

    Thanks for the correction. I didn't realize it was linux.

    Not sure the issue with SP is a design flaw. It can do windows restores of non system partitions, so thats why it can head down that path. As to not warning, again remember it's targeted audience is IT types, and they wouldn't bother trying.

    Pete
     
  13. prius04

    prius04 Registered Member

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    IMHO, the only design flaw in SPD is that the difference between a system volume and a data volume is not explained. Otherwise, the following language is clearly printed below "Restore" in the wizard:

    Select this wizard to restore entire data volumes from existing backup image files. To restore the system volume you must restore by booting the ShadowProtect Recovery Environment CD.

    Similar language also appears in a dialog box if one selects "Restore" under "Tasks".
     
  14. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Again to the target audience that would be "common knowledge"

    Pete
     
  15. rwinegar

    rwinegar Registered Member

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    What is the recommended environment? I will be sure to do it right the next time.
     
  16. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    When you first boot the CD, it offers you both environments. There really is no "right" choice. But recommended is vistaPe based and legacy is winpe based. Vistape is much faster, but I for example have to use legacy because of the nvidia raid driver issue.

    You should be able to use "recommended"

    Pete
     
  17. Hairy Coo

    Hairy Coo Registered Member

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    For future reference at a more advanced level;

    You need to use the Legacy Environment if loading drivers using the F6 function at the same time as a restore-an extremely useful feature.

    For a Hardware Independent Restore,also use this one.

    Otherwise use VistaPE,much faster.
     
  18. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Actually although the F6 function isn't available under VistaPE, in the SP recommended environment you can load drivers once fully booted. Just won't take new drivers if one is already there.
     
  19. Hairy Coo

    Hairy Coo Registered Member

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    Could you explain this please.

    You can of course install or reinstall most drivers in Windows at anytime without involving SP at all and it would be a waste of time using it-except those drivers that can only be loaded with F6 during the Windows installation process .

    No other procedure will normally manage to install them.

    A good and troublesome example, is the Intel Matrix storage Controller for RAID.

    The SP F6 mimics the Windows installation F6 and does manage to install the Controller,during a restore, thereby saving a complete reinstallation of Windows.

    You just do a current backup,load the drivers on the floppy -hit F6 and restore the lot.

    Brilliant :thumb:
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2008
  20. Huupi

    Huupi Registered Member

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    Because SP mainly targed the proff. market,and as you can see in their Q/A forums,issues are quite complicated but then its about server environments and raid config. at large companies.For us as a home user to get SP work is quite easy as confirmed here by most members.I can't barely imagine why still some defend ATI and others despite so much knowledge and experience with SP is available here on wilders. Offcourse to be fair SP is not the cheapest.
     
  21. rwinegar

    rwinegar Registered Member

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    Just for claification - the VistaPE environment - has it anything to do with the Vista OS? I am quite sure it doesn't. I am running XP on both my home computers.

    So what you guys are saying is that I can use EITHER the VistaPE or Legacy environments. Is that right?

    Thanks everybody for helping this dummy learn this new program. It looks like the only way to learn how to use this program is by asking someone else.
     
  22. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    VistaPE is the Vista OS. Doesn't matter what you run on your computer. You can use either environment, and the Recommended is preferable, as long has you don't have a nvidia raid configuration.

    Nothing wrong by learning by asking. It's a good way to learn. In fact I recommend asking first rather than getting into trouble first.

    Pete
     
  23. Hairy Coo

    Hairy Coo Registered Member

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    What we are saying is just use the SP recommended VistaPE,which loads better and is faster,irrespective of which OS you are using -doesnt matter.


    Later on you may need the Legacy environment,but this is for specialised use as per my previous post.
     
  24. rwinegar

    rwinegar Registered Member

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    Thanks everybody. I appreciate your help.
     
  25. msmasuta

    msmasuta Registered Member

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    Hi Hairy Coo,

    I am a newbie and trying to learn about this program by reading the posts. You mentioned about loading the drivers on the floppy.

    My question is: "How do you do that? Where are the drivers stored in the system?" Can you please provide step by step instructions. I have Windows XP Home edition on my machine.

    Thanks,
    MSM
     
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