Windows NT4 backup restoration prob

[matt_richards]

Hello there,

I am having a problem with an NT4 server machine. They have been using a tape streamer with the inbuilt NT backup software. This is not a configuration I have much experience of, so I would be grateful for some pointers. Sorry if this is a bit sprawling, by I am a bit shakey with NT - so I have included as much info. as posssible.

Some deleted files needed to be restored, so I inserted the previous day's backup tape and selected catalog from the operations menu. The usual mechanical sounds ensued and after a few minutes I got the catalog successful message.

This brought up a window split into two with tape on the left and backup set on the right. According to the help files, I should double click on the backup set on the right to expand a menu listing of all the files and directories in the backup set. When I do this, I get the message: "catalog warning: this set is not completely cataloged" - even though to the best of my knowledge I have just cataloged it.

The resultant files list that appears is incomplete with just a fraction of the required files present.

The weird thing is that I have checked the backup log, and it appears that everything is being backed up without error.

Please advise me on how to proceed as it is really important that I get this data back,

Thanks in advance,

Matt.

[KHT]

It may depend on what type of back up program you are using. For instance, a common program would be to do a full back up on Monday, which would back up all files on the server, and then incremental or differential back ups the remainder of the week which would only back up files since the previous full or incremental back up, depending on which one you`re using.

If this is the case and you are trying to restore from an incremental back up tape, then possibly the files you are trying to restore may not be there or could be on an earlier tape depending on what your rotation schedule is.

[matt_richards]

Good thought, but I don't think that's what's causing it. I checked the log and it appeared that all the files had been backed up - not just selected ones. Also, the files which did appear in the backup set where not ones that had been used recently - in fact none of the regularly or recently used files were present, and lots had been changed since the last backup.

On each of the daily backup tapes the same files were there in the backup set. I initially thought the backup program had not been properly set up, then I saw that on every day the log reflected that all the files had been successfully backed up.

I don't know if I am missing something really basic, but this has got me baffled.

[KHT]

I`m wondering if whoever setup the back might have selected back up everything but then in advanced selected "back up recently changed or created files only" (or something to that effect)

This can be misleading as it will give the impression that all files are being backed up but only those that were recently changed or created are backed up instead.

When you catalog the back up set and click on folders to select files to restore, do you sometimes find empty folders? If so, this *MAY* be the problem.

[matt_richards]

I do definitely need to have a closer look at the advanced settings. But the thing is, none of the the recently used files have been backed up either - so I don't see how it could be an incremental backup system.

The ones that appeared in the backup set seemed more like a random collection of system files and folders.

I wish there was a way to just explore what is on the cassette like you can any other removable medium. Every time I click on catalog I have to wait for another 3 minutes while it whirrs and clicks away - its very frustrating.

[andyms18a]

just checking the deleated files have thay bean deleated from the recycle bin ?

[KHT]

Another scenario which could account for this could be that incremental or differential backups could be set to overwrite the media instead of append to it.

This would also give an illusion of being a successful back up but in actuality only back up a small percentage of files which could appear to be random.

As a last resort, don`t discount trying one of the freeware disk recovery programs. I`ve used a few and they work well but the longer you use the server the better chance you have of overwriting the deleted files.

[matt_richards]

Because the files were on a mapped network drive they bypassed the recycle bin. I did attempt data recovery, but I only got fragments back.

I will have to have a closer look at the advanced settings when I go down there today.

Any suggestions on the best freeware disk recovery programs that will run on NTFS partitions.

[KHT]

Restoration 2.5.14 is a small restoration tool (193k) that I`ve used and works well with NTFS.

[andyms18a]

have you checked the bin on the local computer the drives on by going to that work station and opening the bin ?

[matt_richards]

I have indeed mate. Unfortunately because the information was on a mapped network drive it bypasses the recycle bin on both machines.

[andyms18a]

i use this prog to recover data GetDataBack for NTFS you can down load the trial from http://www.runtime.org/gdb.htm and instal it on a computer with access to the network hdd and it shod find the missing files and recover them

[matt_richards]

Cheers mate - I'll check that out.