Problems with Lifeguard

[dncanny]

Anybody got anything good to say about Tenebril Lifeguard.

I used it to back uo my Outlook Express data prior to an enforced format of my C:Drive. Appeals to Tenebril technical support for help have yielded nothing but empty promises that they will help to reccover the data.

Very low opinion of Tenebril as a consequence of this experience. IMHO the Lifeguard program is worthless. Would like to hear opinion from other users.

[glc]

There is no need to use 3rd party tools to back up Outlook Express. Windows has everything you need to do that job easily. I know this is closing the barn door after the horse got out, but for your future info I have to throw that out.

[dncanny]

There is no need to use 3rd party tools to back up Outlook Express. Windows has everything you need to do that job easily. I know this is closing the barn door after the horse got out, but for your future info I have to throw that out.


OK! Please tell me where I went wrong.

Will XP back up incrementally? Because that is what I had been trying to do with the Lifeguard program.

My data was not backed up when the reformat became necessary and I simply copied everything I could to the D:drive (which is the same size as C). However my Outlook Express files would not copy using that method and I had to resort to the Lifeguard program which hadn't worked before and perhaps it was my stupid fault for believing it might on this occasion.

I now have the data encrypted (I think that is the right expression) on my D:drive but Lifeguard is unable to restore it and the company's tech support engineers either can't or wont help me.

If anybody has any ideas on how I can recover the data please go ahead and tell me. If you want to tell me I'm stupid before you do so then go ahead.

[glc]

The first thing you do is export your accounts to .iaf files. Then CLOSE Outlook Express. Then you find your .wab files (address books) and copy them someplace safe. Then you find the set of .dbx files (mail folders) for each identity and copy them someplace safe. All this can be imported back in to the new installation using the builtin OE import wizards.

[EzyStvy]

OLEXP: How to Back Up the Outlook Express Address Book and Mail Folders (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q188/8/54.ASP)

OLEXP: How to Backup and Restore Outlook Express Blocked Senders List and Other Mail Rules (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q276/5/11.ASP)

[dncanny]

Thanks to you both. The instructions are going to be difficult for me to follow, despite your descriptions of "easy." Unfortunately I don't have a 12 year old grandchild to do this for me.

What you gave me in both cases was a method for backing up data in the future. When I used the word "incrementally" in my previous post I was referring to a situation where the first time a backup is performed, all data is copied and on subsequent occasions the backup is only of the data generated since the previous backup was done. The ideal result is that there is only one set of data in the backup and nothing is duplicated. I have an additional hard drive on my computer to which I attempt to send all the data I want to save. Using Tenebril's "Lifeguard I have never been able to do this I have a series of folders (is this the right word?) on my hard drive which are named D:/MYCDRIVEBACKUP_1 thru' D:?MYBACKUP_6. Obviously ( to me anyway) the program has backed up everything each time instead of only adding the new data to that previously backed up.

Apart from any other advice what I would like is a set of instructions that will enable me to recover the data stored in the folder that ends "_6" because IMHO that is where it all is. The Lifeguard Technical Support people who are obviously domiciled somewhere in Asia are either unwilling or incapable of giving the correct advice. The owner of the company who has offices in Boston, Masachussets has chosen to ignore a (very polite) letter I sent to him about 10 days ago. So I am in a situation where I have the data I need on my computer but cannot figure out how to get to it. That is where I am asking for immediate help. If I can get the current problem sorted I will set about saving my data in the manner that you both prescribe. If either or both of you are of the opinion that the data cannot be recovered other than by the same program that "saved" it, please say so.

And for the record, Tenebril has ceased to offer Lifeguard as a product. And also for the record I personally will never again purchase any material produced by Tenebril. I suppose that last staement is self-evident but I hope readers of this thread take note.

[EzyStvy]

Open OE and click on File->Import
Point the import function to your folder 6 or other folders. If it finds backed up copies of your *.dbx files, it should be able to imprt them...

[glc]

If either or both of you are of the opinion that the data cannot be recovered other than by the same program that "saved" it, please say so.

That IS my opinion. This is normal with ANY 3rd party backup solution - it's even the case with the built-in Windows Backup. You have to install your backup program on your "new" drive, then use its restore process.

[dncanny]

That IS my opinion. This is normal with ANY 3rd party backup solution - it's even the case with the built-in Windows Backup. You have to install your backup program on your "new" drive, then use its restore process.

And since Tenebril are not honoring their own warranty the data is lost.

If Tenebril's duplicity is recognised by potential purchasers of any of their products, at least some good will have resulted from my experience.

Thanks for trying guys!

[glc]

Have you TRIED installing it and using its restore process?

http://data-backup-software-review.toptenreviews.com/lifeguard-review.html

Did you in fact back up what you wanted to?

[dncanny]

Have you TRIED installing it and using its restore process?

http://data-backup-software-review.toptenreviews.com/lifeguard-review.html

Did you in fact back up what you wanted to?

Do you mean "Have I tried reinstalling it?"

If so yes! But without erasing everything related to it (including the backups) I cannot uninstall it

The review pretty much supports what I am claiming. Lifeguard is really not a good product and should never have been sold as one.

I backed up all data on my C-Drive. Before the reformat I simply copied everything I could fropm Cto D and was able to recover that without problems. However I could not use that approach with my OE data and had(?) to use Lifeguard. So my OE data is in Limbo and Tenebril couldn't care less about my problem.

[glc]

Perhaps you misunderstood me. Have you reinstalled Lifeguard on your C drive - then opened it and tried to restore its backups - which the way I read what you are saying, reside on your D drive?

[dncanny]

Perhaps you misunderstood me. Have you reinstalled Lifeguard on your C drive - then opened it and tried to restore its backups - which the way I read what you are saying, reside on your D drive?

Yes, on numerous occasions! I have also (many times) installed a patch sent to me by Tenebril which was (I think) supposed to correct the problems. It didn't!

And just now I opened an e-mail from one of Tenebril's Asian "technologists" which once again (in response to my pleas for help in recovering the backed up data) tells me how to backup my data program in great detail. Nothing in the e-mail message indicates that this guy understands the problem or what it is I am requesting.

I know where the data is and have told them repeatedly where the data is. I have offered to let them share my computer in order to restore the lost data but they have not at any time referred to this offer.