ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

If your tests suggest that the new version of ntbackup is to blame, would

you please send me a copy so that I can run some tests of my own? Here is

what you would need to do:

1. Create a folder c:\temp.

2. Copy c:\windows\system32\ntbackup.exe to c:\temp.

3. Rename c:\temp\ntbackup.exe to ntbackup.txt

4. Send the file c:\temp\ntbackup.txt to pegasus_fnlATyahooDOTcom.

 

Thanks!

[Guest prubin@equilter.com]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

Aha! The old version of ntbackup works fine, whereas the one

distributed with SP3 fails. Here are the differences in filever.exe:

 

version with SP2:

--a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.2180 shp 1,200,128 08-04-2004

ntbackup.exe

 

version with SP3:

--a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.5512 shp 1,200,640 04-13-2008

ntbackupsp3.exe

 

Please let me know if I need to report anything further. For now, I

suppose I just use the SP2 version.

 

On Sep 4, 3:58 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

> I'm glad to see that you're seizing the initiative by running a few tests of

> your own design. Things are now getting interesting. Here are a few

> observations:

> - There are some path length issues in Windows XP (and in previous

> versions). However, they apply to paths > 260 chars. Furthermore,

> ntbackup.exe is not affected by them.

> - Can you readily reproduce the problem for paths of this form:

>   C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application

> Data\Identities\123456789012345678901234567890

>   (i.e. without the curly bracket stuff)?

> - I am very aware of your initial observation that the problem may have

> started with the installation of SP3. What is your version of ntbackup.exe?

> You can find out like so while in a Command Prompt:

>   filever.exe c:\windows\system32\ntbackup.exe

>   My version details are:

>   --a-- W32i   APP ENU   5.1.2600.2180 shp  1,200,128 08-04-2004

> ntbackup.exe

>   You can obtain filever.exe from here:

>    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=49ae8576-9bb...

> - I suggest you run a backup test with the original version of ntbackup.exe.

> You'll find it on your WinXP CD in the i386 folder. To expand it, type this

> command from a Command Prompt:

>   expand X:\i386\ntbackup.ex_ c:\ntbackup.exe

>   Replace X: with the drive letter of your CD drive.

>   When running the test, make sure to run c:\ntbackup.exe, thus forcing the

> original version to be used.

>

> Please report the result here. You might have found a bug!

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

Great! Will you now send me a copy of the new version for further testing?

The address is pegasus_fnlATyahooDOTcom.

 

<prubin@equilter.com> wrote in message

news:d443a568-df8c-43e0-b0d9-aa29ce4ea49f@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

Aha! The old version of ntbackup works fine, whereas the one

distributed with SP3 fails. Here are the differences in filever.exe:

 

version with SP2:

--a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.2180 shp 1,200,128 08-04-2004

ntbackup.exe

 

version with SP3:

--a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.5512 shp 1,200,640 04-13-2008

ntbackupsp3.exe

 

Please let me know if I need to report anything further. For now, I

suppose I just use the SP2 version.

 

On Sep 4, 3:58 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

> I'm glad to see that you're seizing the initiative by running a few tests

> of

> your own design. Things are now getting interesting. Here are a few

> observations:

> - There are some path length issues in Windows XP (and in previous

> versions). However, they apply to paths > 260 chars. Furthermore,

> ntbackup.exe is not affected by them.

> - Can you readily reproduce the problem for paths of this form:

> C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application

> Data\Identities\123456789012345678901234567890

> (i.e. without the curly bracket stuff)?

> - I am very aware of your initial observation that the problem may have

> started with the installation of SP3. What is your version of

> ntbackup.exe?

> You can find out like so while in a Command Prompt:

> filever.exe c:\windows\system32\ntbackup.exe

> My version details are:

> --a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.2180 shp 1,200,128 08-04-2004

> ntbackup.exe

> You can obtain filever.exe from here:

> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=49ae8576-9bb...

> - I suggest you run a backup test with the original version of

> ntbackup.exe.

> You'll find it on your WinXP CD in the i386 folder. To expand it, type

> this

> command from a Command Prompt:

> expand X:\i386\ntbackup.ex_ c:\ntbackup.exe

> Replace X: with the drive letter of your CD drive.

> When running the test, make sure to run c:\ntbackup.exe, thus forcing the

> original version to be used.

>

> Please report the result here. You might have found a bug!

[Guest prubin@equilter.com]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

Yes, I did indeed send the file to you yesterday. Did you receive it

OK?

 

On Sep 4, 11:55 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

> Great! Will you now send me a copy of the new version for further testing?

> The address is pegasus_fnlATyahooDOTcom.

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

No, no message received. My mail box works and it will accept a file of this

size. As I said, you may have to rename it to ntbacku.txt in order to get

around the Yahoo virus and spam filters. Here is the address again:

pegasus_fnl AT yahoo DOT com.

 

<prubin@equilter.com> wrote in message

news:fc051b9a-6072-43ec-bc98-7bee46df77d3@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

Yes, I did indeed send the file to you yesterday. Did you receive it

OK?

 

On Sep 4, 11:55 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

> Great! Will you now send me a copy of the new version for further testing?

> The address is pegasus_fnlATyahooDOTcom.

[Guest prubin@equilter.com]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

On Sep 5, 9:47 am, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

> No, no message received. My mail box works and it will accept a file of this

> size. As I said, you may have to rename it to ntbacku.txt in order to get

> around the Yahoo virus and spam filters. Here is the address again:

> pegasus_fnl AT yahoo DOT com.

>

> <pru...@equilter.com> wrote in message

>

I just sent it again, this time as ntbackupSP3.zip

Please confirm.

> news:fc051b9a-6072-43ec-bc98-7bee46df77d3@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

> Yes, I did indeed send the file to you yesterday. Did you receive it

> OK?

>

> On Sep 4, 11:55 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

>

>

>

> > Great! Will you now send me a copy of the new version for further testing?

> > The address is pegasus_fnlATyahooDOTcom.- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

 

<prubin@equilter.com> wrote in message

news:ade84c82-ec62-444d-b10e-487d91eb3166@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...

On Sep 5, 9:47 am, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

> No, no message received. My mail box works and it will accept a file of

> this

> size. As I said, you may have to rename it to ntbacku.txt in order to get

> around the Yahoo virus and spam filters. Here is the address again:

> pegasus_fnl AT yahoo DOT com.

>

> <pru...@equilter.com> wrote in message

>

I just sent it again, this time as ntbackupSP3.zip

Please confirm.

=============

OK, it's here now, thanks. I'll do some further research into this issue.

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

I just sent it again, this time as ntbackupSP3.zip

Please confirm.

 

=================

 

I ran some tests with your version of ntbackup.exe but was unable to

reproduce the phenomenon you observed. This could be due to a couple of

reasons:

- It only happens on a machine that is fully SP3. Mine is SP2.

- There is something else that plays a role in this issue.

I shall revisit the issue after putting my machine on SP3.

By the way, while it's a good idea to back up your OE data regularly, you're

depriving yourself of much of the benefit of the backup because you're

backing up your data to the same partition on the same disk that you use for

the original files. By doing this you protect yourself against accidental

loss of OE data but you're exposed to the following risks:

- File system corruption

- Crashed disk

- Theft, fire, water damage, electrical damage

- User error (e.g. re-installing Windows - which happens all the time!)

 

A good backup scheme requires at least one external backup medium (but

preferably two) that is normally disconnected from your PC and stored in a

different place. A single medium is still risky: If you damage your OE file

while exiting, then back it up then you're history because you have just

overwritten the only good copy you had . . .

[Guest prubin@equilter.com]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

Thanks for your reply, and please do let me know what you find when

SP3 is fully loaded. I have reproduced the problem on three separate

machines. All behave the same.

 

Also, with regard to external backups, we do full system backups daily

to external devices, so we have it covered.

 

On Sep 6, 7:16 am, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

> I just sent it again, this time as ntbackupSP3.zip

> Please confirm.

>

> =================

>

> I ran some tests with your version of ntbackup.exe but was unable to

> reproduce the phenomenon you observed. This could be due to a couple of

> reasons:

> - It only happens on a machine that is fully SP3. Mine is SP2.

> - There is something else that plays a role in this issue.

> I shall revisit the issue after putting my machine on SP3.

> By the way, while it's a good idea to back up your OE data regularly, you're

> depriving yourself of much of the benefit of the backup because you're

> backing up your data to the same partition on the same disk that you use for

> the original files. By doing this you protect yourself against accidental

> loss of OE data but you're exposed to the following risks:

> - File system corruption

> - Crashed disk

> - Theft, fire, water damage, electrical damage

> - User error (e.g. re-installing Windows - which happens all the time!)

>

> A good backup scheme requires at least one external backup medium (but

> preferably two) that is normally disconnected from your PC and stored in a

> different place. A single medium is still risky: If you damage your OE file

> while exiting, then back it up then you're history because you have just

> overwritten the only good copy you had . . .

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

 

<prubin@equilter.com> wrote in message

news:856c08bf-d205-4eaa-85be-c9aa3ae32c81@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...

Thanks for your reply, and please do let me know what you find when

SP3 is fully loaded. I have reproduced the problem on three separate

machines. All behave the same.

 

Also, with regard to external backups, we do full system backups daily

to external devices, so we have it covered.

 

=================

 

SP3 has now happened on my system. I ran the exact command you ran (except,

of course, for the user name) and I created a selection file that pointed to

"C:\Documents and Settings\Pegasus\Local Settings\Application

Data\Identities". After changing your switch of "/m daily" to "/m normal", I

obtained a full backup each and every time, even when backing up a 1.5 GByte

file.

 

I am therefore unable to duplicate the phenomenon you experienced.

[Guest prubin@equilter.com]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

Hi there. At the level of Identities, everything is OK. It is BELOW

the level of all the Registry Stuff that fails. Try your Outlook

Express folders.

 

On Sep 7, 3:27 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

> <pru...@equilter.com> wrote in message

>

> news:856c08bf-d205-4eaa-85be-c9aa3ae32c81@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...

> Thanks for your reply, and please do let me know what you find when

> SP3 is fully loaded. I have reproduced the problem on three separate

> machines. All behave the same.

>

> Also, with regard to external backups, we do full system backups daily

> to external devices, so we have it covered.

>

> =================

>

> SP3 has now happened on my system. I ran the exact command you ran (except,

> of course, for the user name) and I created a selection file that pointed to

> "C:\Documents and Settings\Pegasus\Local Settings\Application

> Data\Identities". After changing your switch of "/m daily" to "/m normal", I

> obtained a full backup each and every time, even when backing up a 1.5 GByte

> file.

>

> I am therefore unable to duplicate the phenomenon you experienced.

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

 

<prubin@equilter.com> wrote in message

news:70c6eb00-4ccd-46c2-b4ae-9c12b39fdd84@d1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

Hi there. At the level of Identities, everything is OK. It is BELOW

the level of all the Registry Stuff that fails. Try your Outlook

Express folders.

 

================

 

I have now been able to duplicate your problem and will discuss it with

Microsoft. It will probably take some time for it to be resolved, seeing

that it is not a big issue and that it will need to undergo the usual

regression testing. If you wish then I'll send an update directly to the

EMail address quoted above. Thank you for your patience.

[Guest prubin@equilter.com]

Re: ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

 

Excellent, I'm pleased that you were able to duplicate the problem.

For now, I'm simply using the SP2 version of ntbackup, which works

fine. And yes, I would appreciate an email to equilter AT equilter DOT

com when it is resolved.

 

Thank you!

 

On Sep 8, 8:28 am, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com.oz> wrote:

> <pru...@equilter.com> wrote in message

>

> news:70c6eb00-4ccd-46c2-b4ae-9c12b39fdd84@d1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

> Hi there. At the level of Identities, everything is OK. It is BELOW

> the level of all the Registry Stuff that fails. Try your Outlook

> Express folders.

>

> ================

>

> I have now been able to duplicate your problem and will discuss it with

> Microsoft. It will probably take some time for it to be resolved, seeing

> that it is not a big issue and that it will need to undergo the usual

> regression testing. If you wish then I'll send an update directly to the

> EMail address quoted above. Thank you for your patience.