Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Problems with removable hdd backup

0 helpful
3 replies

by vcummings

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

In trying to copy the data on the Windows NT 4.0 Server (SP3), I installed a removable hdd rack with a 40 GB Western Digital 7200 rpm hdd in one of the networked computers running Win98SE. I then installed NovaBackup 7.0 so there would be unattended automatic, daily backup and the hdd could then be removed and taken off-site; however, I ran into this problem and am hoping that someone with know the solution or at least point me into a direction that may solve this:

I am unable to simply copy the data files (approx. 1.9 GB of files and folders with lots of .jpg's) by using the mapped network drive (J:\) as the source and the Win98SE removable hdd as the destination drive. The copy process starts and everytime locks the whole computer during the copying of the pictures. I formatted the removable hdd as fat32 and of course, the server data file that I need to copy is ntfs - could this be the problem. I wrote NovaBackup support and told them about this and they told me that they had problems with their software and were working on fixing this; however, I should be able to manually copy these files from the server to this hdd backup and I am unable to do this. Does anyone know why? I have turned off all startup programs and tried the copy, but still unable to accomplish a thorough copy. I am able to copy small bits of folders successfully, but not just the complete data file. Help! TIA for anything. This is driving me nuts and it's been an ongoing problem that I still need to solve.

3 replies

by deadly ernest

Not sure how the NovaBackup works but when you are copying files from one disk to another disk the format of the disk is irrelevant as you are copying the data stream. If you are imaging or ghosting a disk or doing a bit level copy then it can make a difference.

I think your problem is more likely to be related to overloading the capabilities of the Win98SE machine. Either thrashing the cpu with too much work or getting memory leakage to give an out of memory problem.

For any Win98SE machine I always have 128MB RAM and Memturbo (a memory management program) running to automatically clear the memory when down to 10MB left available. Extends the time between re-boots a lot.

NB: Check your number of folder levels and the file name sizes. Win NT will accept a deeper level of file storage and longer total file names than Win98 will. The total file length name includes the folder names \ etc from the root directory location an example being:

c:\images\pictures\animals\cheetahs\fastone.jpg

this would be seen as a 45 character file name

Can't remember the number where Win98 pegs out but anything longer and it can't copy it, I think it is around the 40 mark. This problem is one reason why I switched to Win XP Pro. Too many layers of folders and it gives out as well.

Best answer would be to install a 'hot swappable' removable hdd rack in the server and have the server mirror the data to it. Next best have the server copy the data to a 'hot swappable' hdd removablerack. BTW hot swappable means you can change the drives whilst the system is still turned on.

Third option is to see if you can set up a mirror process across the network to your win98se machine.

Fourth option, try copying/backup to another NTmachine.

If option 4 works it is clearly a Win98 conflict with the NT capabilities, but it wont be the drive format.

This discussion is closed to new replies.