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Message started by ZebHood on Apr 30th, 2005 at 4:36pm

Title: Unmounted Drives
Post by ZebHood on Apr 30th, 2005 at 4:36pm
Hi,
     I have a question that I cannot resolve through Symantec or a Google search.  I have an XP system.  I installed Ghost 9.0 through NSW 2005.  I followed the directions on the Symantec site to mod the boot file prior to installation.  All went reasonably well.  I was able to create a full backup image on a partitioned second drive.  I went to make an incremental backup job and when the C_system drive partition was selected as the source, the following prompt appeard.
“Although baseline backups will be created for unmounted drives, incremental backups cannot be created.  Would you like to continue anyway? “
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by RJ on Apr 30th, 2005 at 5:51pm
What  directions on the Symantec site to mod the boot file prior to installation are you talking about? Do you have a link?

Title: Link to boot file
Post by ZebHood on Apr 30th, 2005 at 6:14pm
Here’s the link:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/powerquest.nsf/643c9edb8e8f93b788256ee00056a108/b424ef724f0b431788256f2d0060e03d?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam
Thanks for the response


Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by RJ on Apr 30th, 2005 at 8:31pm
It seems the problem is that Ghost thinks your drive is unmounted. Any idea why it would think that?

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by ZebHood on Apr 30th, 2005 at 9:17pm
I really don't know what an unmounted drive is.  I'm already in way too deep for what I intended.  I just wanted to insure my operating system drive was backed up.  After reading all the horror stories about the installation of Ghost 9, I did as much research as I could and did more than I was comfortable with changing the operating system, hoping not to have as many problems.  I went ahead and installed 9 instead of 2003 for the incremental backups that could run in the background. If I could get it to work, I couldn't let it run in the background because it taxes my system too much.  Thanks again.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by Radministrator on Apr 30th, 2005 at 11:08pm
Wish I could help, but I have no experience with Ghost9.

I did however, update the guide to include the Symantec fix for using Ghost9 with WXP SP2.  Last paragraph here:

http://ghost.radified.com/norton_ghost_90.htm

I was wondering what Symantec said.

.. and , how did you learn of the requirement to edit the boot files. I mean, does a dialogue box pop up during the install, or did you read about it online?

R.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by ZebHood on Apr 30th, 2005 at 11:53pm
I did a lot of Googling prior to installing Ghost 9.  All kinds of boards and sites with comments about Ghost and SP2 problems.  I’m not sure where I found the link to the boot modification fix.  Of all the sites I visited, yours was by far the most informative.  Thanks for taking the time to do this.  I wish I had a do-over and could install 2003 instead of 9 as you seem to suggest in your Guide.   I’m busy Googling unmounted drives now, it just keeps getting deeper.

Just to clarify, when I refeered to "through Symantec" in my original post, I did not mean customer support.  I searched through their Knowledge Base files.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by Brian on May 1st, 2005 at 1:56am
I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you but I'd like to make a comment about

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/powerquest.nsf/643c9edb8e8f93b788256ee00056a108/b424ef724f0b431788256f2d0060e03d?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

I have Ghost 9 running on 3 computers (Win XP SP2) and I've not done the above, mainly because I only heard about it today. I'm glad I didn't know as Ghost runs without a hitch.

Can you undo the boot.ini and DEP changes and uninstall Ghost. I (maybe not you) would then reinstall Ghost and see if it works. Sorry you are having these problems.

Brian

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by ZebHood on May 1st, 2005 at 2:33am
I appreciate the suggestion Brian.  I would, however, I pretty much just followed the line by line instructions to make the changes on the boot file and would not know where to begin.  I can make a full backup and have done so several times.   I would be apprehensive about another installation.  If I could trust the restore feature of the ghost files I have, I would be much braver.  I have a backup in place for all my data and would not use Ghost for those.  I just needed the system partition backed up so I could feel more secure in attempting to do more without the constant fear factor.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by Brian on May 1st, 2005 at 4:10am
I understand your apprehension. It's best to learn restoring on a computer where it doesn't matter if you make a mistake or things go wrong.

Brian

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by Radministrator on May 1st, 2005 at 4:54am
You could always uninstall Ghost 9 and install v2003.

Brian, are you saying Ghost 9 works for you without implementing the SP2 fix they said is required?

.. and you use WXP SP2?

R.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by Brian on May 1st, 2005 at 6:20am
That's correct Rad. First I heard of the fix was today and I obviously don't need it. I checked my boot.ini and DEP and I have the default settings that Symantec said to change.

Two Dells and one Gateway, each with WinXP Pro SP2. I used PQ v2i Protector Desktop prior to Ghost 9 and I think it was the Ghost 9 precursor rather than DI 7. DI 7 didn't have incremental backups. v2i software has been kind to me and I've certainly given it a workout.

Brian

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by NightOwl on May 1st, 2005 at 11:31am
ZebHood

I am not a Ghost 9.x user, and like previous Ghost versions--Ghost 9.x's user manual is clear as 'mud', but here's my two cents worth...

There appears to be two different 'types' of backup options.  Quoting from the user manual:


Quote:
Full backups

A full backup image is not associated with incremental backup images in any way. Full backups stand on their own, so using full backups is a less complicated backup method than using a base with incrementals.



Quote:
Base with incrementals

A baseline image differs from a full backup image in that incremental tracking is turned on for the selected drive.


From your post:


Quote:
I was able to create a full backup image on a partitioned second drive.  I went to make an incremental backup job and when the C_system drive partition was selected as the source, the following prompt appeard.

“Although baseline backups will be created for unmounted drives, incremental backups cannot be created.  Would you like to continue anyway? “


So, what the above error message is saying is you have not created a backup type that includes creating incremental files associated with it (i.e.--a 'full backup').  Your full back-up is a stand alone backup that will remain unchanged.

If you want to be able to create incrementals, you have to create a backup that is designated for addition of incremental files that will be associated with that particular base backup.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by ZebHood on May 1st, 2005 at 12:59pm
Brian,

     Thanks again.

     Here is a copy of the boot file.  

The only other thing I changed were the DEP settings which I can change back. I have already removed the \noexecute=optout line under {operating systems} that were in Symantec instructions.

boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut


Is there anything in here that you see that would cause the unmounted prompt.  I don’t understand how changing the boot file would have caused the unmounted problem from what I have read about unmounted drives

Rad,

     I did contact Symantec via email at about 1am today expecting about a 4 day wait.

I was surprised to have gotten a response  at 3:12am.  Here it is:

Thank you for contacting Symantec Online Technical Support.

I understand from your message that you are encountering error message "Although baseline backups will be created for any unmounted drives, incremental backups cannot be created. "

This situation may happen when a drive volume is not mounted correctly. To fix the issue, configure the drive to any mounted volume and then schedule the backup operation. For information on how to mount a drive, please refer to the Microsoft  document provided below:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307889


For assistance in scheduling incremental backup, please refer to the document provided below:

Title: 'How to schedule an incremental backup'
Document ID: 2004072913550362
> Web URL: http://service1.symantec.com/Support/powerquest.nsf/docid/2004072913550362?Open&src=con_ols_nam  

If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

This would move my C_drive into a primary folder from what I understand.  

Would that not cause problems with my operating system?

I have checked for errors on the C_drive with NSW and PartMagic. None were found.

I am seriously considering uninstalling 9 and reinstalling 2003 as you suggested.
Do you know if you can install 2003 without NSW 2005 installing with it?
NSW is eating my system resources up.

Thank you.  Great Site



Night Owl,
     I moved the full backup files from the destination drive and reformatted in NTFS to insure no Ghost system files remained.  

I attempted again to copy the C_drive with incremental backups with the same resulting unmounted drive prompt when I selected the source drive.  

I get the same result with all the partitions not just the C_drive.

Thank you for the suggestion.



I really appreciate all the help you guys have been.  

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by NightOwl on May 1st, 2005 at 1:58pm
ZebHood

Just to be clear:


Quote:
I attempted again to copy the C_drive with incremental backups


You should be selecting a command to create a type of backup file, and not a 'copy' command--that is a different function.

From the FAQ:


Quote:
To schedule a backup image

1.  In the main Norton Ghost interface, click Tools > Schedule Incremental Backups.

2.  Click Next.

3.  In the Backup Type window, select the type of backup images you want to create


Could you outline the steps you are using dialog-by-dialog box and items you are clicking to select your options?


Quote:
This would move my C_drive into a primary folder from what I understand.


Not sure what you're saying here--I think there is some misunderstanding of the terminology or outlined steps--please explain in more detail.  There's no 'moving' involved in making a backup image of a HDD.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by ZebHood on May 1st, 2005 at 2:23pm
Night Owl,

     I selected Tools>Schedule incremental backups Base with incrementals button >select source drive and get the unmounted drive prompt.  I shouldn’t have used the word copy in my post.

The moving C drive dealt with remounting the drive not ghosting the image.

Moving is the wrong word. The operating system drive pointer being correct after these changes is what concerns me.

My impression of mounted drives came from this link provided by Symantec.


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307889

This portion:
A mounted drive is a drive that is mapped to an empty folder on a volume that uses the NTFS file system. Mounted drives function as any other drives, but they are assigned drive paths instead of drive letters. When you view a mounted drive in Windows Explorer, it appears as a drive icon in the path in which it is mounted. Because mounted drives are not subject to the 26-drive-letter limit for local drives and mapped network connections, use mounted drives when you want to gain access to more than 26 drives on your computer. For example, if you have a CD-ROM drive with the drive letter E, and an NTFS volume with the drive letter F, mount the CD-ROM drive as F:\CD-ROM. You can then free the drive letter E, and gain access to your CD-ROM drive directly by using F:\CD-ROM.

Odds are my interpretation of this is completely incorrect.

Thanks for helping.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by NightOwl on May 1st, 2005 at 2:57pm
ZebHood

Okay, that sounds like you are doing the proper steps.

So, the 'error' message is troubling--your internal HDD's with their assigned partitions should be 'mounted' already--the stuff about 'mounting' an additional drive seems to be regarding a 'virtural' HDD in RAM or almost like a 'swap file' on the HDD--but that should not have anything to do with your internal HDD's that have already been partitioned and assigned drive letters.

Sometimes the 'error' message a software program reports is 'inappropriate'--the software 'sees' an error situation, but does not understand what the error is--but it reports the 'inappropriate' error message because it knows there is an error--but really doesn't have the correct relationship to that error.

Is there anything you have set up that is 'different' or 'unusual' on your system?

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by Brian on May 1st, 2005 at 8:17pm
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307889

is an interesting article but I'm sure you didn't create a mounted drive. Perhaps someone on the WinXP newsgroups could explain what is going on.

Brian

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by ZebHood on May 1st, 2005 at 11:44pm
Sorry about the late response.  I had some things I had to take care of.


NightOwl wrote on May 1st, 2005 at 2:57pm:
Is there anything you have set up that 'different' or 'unusual' on your system?


I have obviously been thinking about this a lot.  Could this be my problem?

Does Ghost use a drive letter for incremental backups?

In reading the link to Microsoft, I read where 26 partitions is the max for drive letters.  I have 3 separate drives with partitions assigned through the letter (Y).

If ghost assigns drive letters, could it possibly be taking me beyond the limit of letter assignment and doesn’t know how to handle the necessity for a letter beyond (Z).  

Just a shot in the dark.  

Brian,
I certainly didn’t create a mounted drive.  I didn’t know what they were until this problem.

Thanks for everyone's help

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by NightOwl on May 2nd, 2005 at 12:02am
ZebHood


Quote:
In reading the link to Microsoft, I read where 26 partitions is the max for drive letters.  I have 3 separate drives with partitions assigned through the letter (Y).

If ghost assigns drive letters, could it possibly be taking me beyond the limit of letter assignment and doesn’t know how to handle the necessity for a letter beyond (Z).


I would definitely explore that as a possibility!  You might have to figure out a way to reduce the number of partitions.  Let us know what happens.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by Brian on May 2nd, 2005 at 1:07am

ZebHood wrote on May 1st, 2005 at 11:44pm:
Does Ghost use a drive letter for incremental backups?

I


There is no drive letter for incremental backups. Incrementals go into the same folder as the Baseline backup. You make that folder choice when you create the backup job.

Incrementals are great. The are only a few percent of the size of the Baseline backup image and take around 15 seconds to create. I hope you get Ghost 9 working.

Brian



Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by ZebHood on May 2nd, 2005 at 1:26am

I am in the process of reformatting a third drive to reduce the number of partitions with the hope that this is the problem.

I am leaving the mount the drive suggestion from Symantec alone due to NightOwl's response.

I really appreciate the help from you guys.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by ZebHood on May 2nd, 2005 at 11:37pm
At this point, I am about to uninstall NSW 2005 (that should go well) and reinstall Ghost 2003 since I don’t have incremental capability anyway.  

I realize it may be possible to uninstall 9 and install 2003 without removing the suite, but if I am going to do this,  I would prefer to have NSW off my computer.  It’s not my intent to be critical of Symantec.  It’s just NSW has been taxing to my computer and myself.

I would like to insure that I didn’t hose things with the changes and attempted undo of Symantec’s preinstallation suggests for Ghost 9 so if I have a problem with 2003, it will not be due to changes I screwed up to the following.

All of these changes (Symantec’s suggestion)

1.      c:
cd\
attrib -r -s -h boot.ini
2.      Without closing the DOS window, click Start > Run.
3.      In the Open box, type the following:

notepad c:\boot.ini
4.      Click OK.
5.      In Notepad, add the following line under the [operating systems] heading:

/NOEXECUTE=OPTOUT .......(I know I got this deleted)
6.      If you see any other lines under the [operating systems] heading that start with "/NOEXECUTE," delete them.
7.      On the file menu, click Save.
8.      Exit Notepad.
9.      In the DOS window, at the command prompt, type the following:

attrib +r +s +h boot.ini
10.      Press Enter.

Would it not show up in other applications if I made incorrect changes to the boot.ini file that causes the C drive to appear unmounted to Ghost?  
My concern here is the same thing happening with Gho 2003.

Is there a way to look at the file attributes of the boot.ini file within windows?
Maybe I screwed that up.

I tried show hidden files>C:boot.ini properties.

Title: Re: Unmounted Drives
Post by Pleonasm on Sep 6th, 2005 at 2:22pm
Brian, I too am using the default Windows XP SP2 Data Execution Prevention (DEP) settings, and have observed no difficultities in running Ghost 9.0.

Therefore, I have chosen not to 'fix' what's not 'broken,' and have ignored the recommendations in the Symantec Knowledge Base document "Norton Ghost 9.0 compatibility with Windows XP Service Pack 2".

Anyone else experiencing the absence of a DEP issue with Ghost 9.0 under Windows XP SP2?

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