Ghost 9.0 backup stops at 2%.
I am using backup with increments from my laptop C: drive to an external firewire drive partitioned 30/30/20 gb allocated drives G:H:J:
I am using G: as the backup volume and the others for images and music files.
After a power cut, which cut out the external drive but not my laptop, I tried an incremental backup that failed.
I then deleted the backup schedule and files & tried to create a new schedule. Stopped at2%.
I formatted the G: partition as NTFS and recreated a new schedule. Failed again.
I then tried the procedure recommended by Symantec when they last deigned to answer an email, when this happened 6 months ago. i.e.carry out 4-6 CHKDSK procedures on the partition and 4 on other partitions on the disk. I did and all partitions were free of errors.
Then I tried to reschedule again and it still stopped at 2%.
Symantec ceased to support Ghost 9 just after I purchased it and this seems to be charecteristic of their idea of customer support. They just do not respond at all now.
Does anyone have a clue how to get Ghost 9 to start performing backups please.

Howy,

That's very strange. So the power cut didn't shut down the computer but perhaps it has affected the external HD?

A few question. How large is your laptop HD? Any partitions? How large is the C: drive? How much free space on the C: drive?

Have you tried to uninstall and then reinstall Ghost 9? Which compression level are you using? Have you tried a different compression level? Can you do a manual full image backup?

Howy wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2007 at 1:26pm:

I then deleted the backup schedule and files & tried to create a new schedule. Stopped at2%. I formatted the G: partition as NTFS and recreated a new schedule. Failed again.

I've seen problems like with after aborted backups with Ghost 9.  Even after uninstalling Ghost 9, you can have leftover info in the registry which seems to interfere with new attempts.

Here's how I solved several cases like this:

1. Delete all Ghost 9 backup definitions.
2. Create a new folder with new name on your backup device.
3. Start Ghost 9. Define a new full-independent-backup to the new folder.
4. Change the default file name from C_drive to something like C_DriveA so that Ghost 9 uses a different name than before.
5. Check the "verify" option.
6. Don't define a schedule.  set it to manual.
7. Manually start the backup.  Choose Full Independent Backup if prompted.

You should get a file called C_DriveA001 etc in your new folder.

To perform a 'clean' installation of Ghost 9 (or any other Symantec product), first run the Norton Removal Tool.

Pleonasm wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2007 at 7:44am:

To perform a 'clean' installation of Ghost 9 (or any other Symantec product), first run the Norton Removal Tool.

Howy, be careful in using the Norton Removal Tool, if you have any other Symantec software on your pc.  The NRT will kill all Symantec software on your pc.  So if you have NAV 2007 for example, you'll have to install it again, and other Symantec products, as well.

How about the our subscriptions / trial version of Symantec's products after using NRT? Back to the 1st trial again?

rulirahm wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2007 at 10:48pm:

How about the our subscriptions / trial version of Symantec's products after using NRT? Back to the 1st trial again?

The Norton Removal Tool shouldn't (no guarantee) affect your subscription end date.  It definitely won't let you start over by getting another 90 days or one year!  No free gifts from Symantec.    ;D
You might have to re-enter your serial number from your cd or download, but I never had to re-enter it on any pc's that I had to run the NRT.

The best way to run the tool is to:
1.) Go through normal add/remove programs.  Remove ALL Symantec products and Symantec LiveUpdate.
2.) After all the rebooting,
3.) Run the NRT.
4.) I usually manually then open Windows Explorer and look for any leftover folders starting with Symantec ... or Norton ... and delete them.
5.) Reboot
6.) Install your software again.

I've an experienced with the trial version of NAV 2006 (90 days trial).

After completly removed NAV 2006, I opened my Registry Editor and search for word "Symantec" (I don't believe any registry cleaner programs).

But, the search process took ages so I stopped it. But, when I installing NAV again (with the same Windows), I got the 90 days trial back  ;D but I couldn't remember what registry entries I've deleted.

My Laptop built-in Genuine XP Home Edition that Symantec will give the Microsoft customer a 90 days trial of ther products. But I couldn't get a new version of NAV 2007. The NAV 2006 has expired and so does NAV 2007 (if we fresh install it with the same Windows). 90 days is more enough  ;D

After using the Norton Removal Tool (NRT), I have had to activate a product again (e.g., Norton Internet Security 2007) by entering the product key, but my subscription has never changed (either reduced or increased in duration).

As Ghost4me wisely warned, the NRT will remove all Symantec products on the PC.  If you have more than one, be sure that you install them in chronological order (e.g., install Norton SystemWorks 2006 before Norton Internet Security 2007).

Thank you for all your inputs to my issue. I've tried the suggestions but still can't achieve a backup of any sort.
Steps taken:-
Delete Ghost backups, create new backup folder, rename c_drive as C_driveK, set to manual back up, chkdsk G,H,J, partitions of external disk 6 times.
Reformat G: partition and repeat.
Carry out NRT to remove Ghost 9 and AV2006. Check Add/Remove programs and remove residual folder, check windows explorer for Symantec files and delete.
Reinstall both Symantec progs.
Liberate 2 GB disk space on C: drive by deleting old files and performing diskcleanup.
Ghost 9 still refuses to proceed past 2%.
During CHKDSK get message "Cannot run because volume is in use by another process" "CHKDSK may run if the volume is dimounted all opened handles to this volume would then be invalid" Y/N.
CHKDSK runs OK but then am still getting error message on J: partition (not the backup partition)  in the CHKDSK report
"Readable file record segment 5 is not writeable" and I don't know what that may mean.
Partitions H & J still fully operational and R/W ok. :P

Howy wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2007 at 1:26pm:

I am using backup with increments from my laptop C: drive to an external firewire drive partitioned 30/30/20 gb allocated drives G:H:J: I am using G: as the backup volume and the others for images and music files.

Is your firewire formatted NTFS?  It should be for best error correction and integrity.

Since you are still having partition errors after your power failure, I would recommend cleaning up your firewire drive into one partition only.
1. Copy your images and music files to your internal hard drive, if that is possible.
2. Delete all partitions on the external hard drive (g, h, and j)
3. Use the Windows XP Disk Management tools to format one NTFS partition on the firewire drive.  Be sure NOT to do a quick format.  Do a full format.  (My Computer/right click/manage/disk management for the tool).  Be careful when deleting the partitions to be sure you don't make a mistake.  It is not recoverable.

With your newly formatted external NTFS firewire drive, create 3 folders, such as g:\Images and g:\Music and g:\Backup.

Another option is to download the Partition Table Doctor free demo software and have it check each partition on your firewire device and see if there are any partition errors.

http://www.ptdd.com/download.htm

Maybe the problem is with your Windows (OS):

• Try to run program Registry Mechanic after removing Ghost.

• A Repair Installation of your OS maybe?

• Do System File Checker: Start > Run > sfc /scannow <enter>

• Any System Restore point available before you meet the problem?

Howy wrote on Feb 25^th, 2007 at 5:30am:

During CHKDSK get message "Cannot run because volume is in use by another process" "CHKDSK may run if the volume is dimounted all opened handles to this volume would then be invalid" Y/N. CHKDSK runs OK but then am still getting error message on J: partition (not the backup partition)  in the CHKDSK report "Readable file record segment 5 is not writeable" and I don't know what that may mean. Partitions H & J still fully operational and R/W ok.

Have you run  CHKDSK C: /R yet?  The /R will cause it to try to read each sector of c: during the next reboot.  Run the same command for all partition letters.

Also, see:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Readable+file+record+segment+xp

CHKDSK has been run on all partitions except C:
Partition doctor has found errors on J: but this is not the partition being used for backups.
I performed system restore immediately after the power cut originally.
Firewire is formatted as NTFS.

Howy wrote on Feb 25^th, 2007 at 12:39pm:

CHKDSK has been run on all partitions except C: Partition doctor has found errors on J: but this is not the partition being used for backups. I performed system restore immediately after the power cut originally. Firewire is formatted as NTFS.

C is the important drive because that is the one Ghost is trying to read to backup.

Did you use the /f or /r switch?  The /f doesn't read/repair bad sectors, so run with /r and say no to dismounting, then yes to running when you restart.  Then shut down and restart, and chkdsk c: /r should run on your c drive.

Brian wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2007 at 2:45pm:

A few question. How large is your laptop HD? Any partitions? How large is the C: drive? How much free space on the C: drive?

I suggest you try creating an image on your internal HD to see if the external HD is the problem.

I have run CHKDSK with /f & /r but with dismounting. So will try saying no and restarting before running the CHKDSK. Bootfix found errors on both C: and J:(which is a copy of C:). This was a copy taken 4 months ago as an insurance should I have a total C: drive failure  so it's not surprising the volume has the same errors as C:.
I can't try creating an image on C: because of insufficient free space (5.5 gb)
I am getting concerned at the failure of Ghost to abort a backup that has failed and stopped at 2%. Hitting <close or cancel>,  crashes the computer and alt/ctrl/del will not allow the task amnager to open so the only option is to physically shut down which can't be good for the operating system's welfare.

Howy,

Can you remove the external HD from the enclosure and install it as a second internal HD?


PS Sorry, just remembered it's a laptop.

First CHKDSK on C took 1 1/4 hrs so will take all day to perform 4-6. Will contact you all later.

Brian wrote on Feb 26^th, 2007 at 4:19am:

Can you remove the external HD from the enclosure and install it as a second internal HD? PS Sorry, just remembered it's a laptop.

Brian, one of the easiest ways to upgrade a laptop hard drive is:
1. Purchase an IDE 2.5 to 3.5 adapter like this CompUsa one.

http://image.compusa.com/prodimages/19/9bcb35ae-efb4-11d6-a108-00805fbbb715.gif

2. Remove the laptop drive.
3. Install with adapter in desktop pc.
4. Take backup-image with Ghost 9/10/S&R.
5. Remove old laptop drive, and put new laptop drive in adapter.
6. Restore backup-image.
7. Put new laptop drive back in laptop.

Using a desktop pc provides more options for where to create and store the backup-image, but run utilities, etc.

Ghost4me,

I still remember Dan's answer in...

http://radified.com/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi?board=general;action=display;num=1128609708;start=

There is a thread in the Acronis TI group where restoring an image to a laptop HD installed in a desktop computer produced this geometry problem. Have you been successful with IBM and Compaq laptops?

Brian wrote on Feb 26^th, 2007 at 1:33pm:

There is a thread in the Acronis TI group where restoring an image to a laptop HD installed in a desktop computer produced this geometry problem. Have you been successful with IBM and Compaq laptops?

I never ran into that issue.  One laptop I upgraded was a Dell and the other was a HP/Compaq.  I never used the "clone" operation on the laptop drives.  I used Ghost 9 or 10 backup and restore; maybe that is the reason I didn't have any problems mentioned in the other thread.

I performed CHKDSK /f /r on C:, followed by a reboot 6 times and the backup then went to 4% before stopping. I must assume the problem is with errors in C:. How do you abort a backup without hanging the Ghost 9 prog, please?

Howy,

Were any errors reported at the end of the chkdsk. If you missed the report you can find it (relevant time) in Event Viewer, Application, winlogon.

Any chance you can try a different external HD?

Howy wrote on Feb 27^th, 2007 at 2:43am:

I performed CHKDSK /f /r on C:, followed by a reboot 6 times and the backup then went to 4% before stopping. I must assume the problem is with errors in C:. How do you abort a backup without hanging the Ghost 9 prog, please?

Mostly, if I've a disk utility program running in the background like O&O Defrag or any process that took huge memory, the backup will hang at 1% but the job finished (hourly if I remember right).

In ghost 10, to perform an abort backup: right click the Ghost icon on SysTray > Progress and Performance > Cancel operation.

CHKDSK on C: 6 times reported only minor cleaning of inconsistencies. System Restored in Safe Mode, to earliest available 23/1/07 but drive free space dropped to 1.1gb. Reverted to 27/2/07 free space <0.5 gb. Carried out Disk Clean and returned to 9.88 gb free. On 28/2/07 removed all symantec applns with NTR again and reinstalled from CD.CHKDSK C: again no errors.
Tried Ghost 9 manual backup which stopped at 2%. Cannot now see anything wrong with the C: drive is version 10 any better?

Howy wrote on Mar 1^st, 2007 at 5:27am:

is version 10 any better?

Worth a try ::)
Just try the trial version. It can do backup.

Sounds like a job for SpinRite
http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm
Not cheap, but well worth it. I've fixed numerous drives with this same type problem.

For an alternative (and critical but thoughtful) perspective on SpinRite…


Quote:

Here are the facts: As I recall my first encounter with Steve Gibson was when I was managing development for a principal disk technology manufacturer and he was promoting an earlier version of SpinRite. At that time I had about 15 years of experience in disk technology. My sincere efforts to help Steve correct some of the more serious errors in what he was saying proved to be a complete waste of time. His subsequent "hard disks die!" campaign only compounded the problem. He was spreading hysteria then (for his own apparent gain), and he is doing it again now with Shields UP! The assertion that "hard disk die!" was based on a claim that magnetic patterns "weaken" over time, and that SpinRite could somehow "refresh" them.If this were true, then IDE drives, which cannot be "refreshed," would be dying all over the place, not to mention all the old mainframe drives that had already been running steadily for years. Furthermore, the embedded magnetic servo (used in virtually all reasonably current disk drives) can only be written at the factory. If it "weakened" then the drive would fail permanently -- SpinRite could not possibly help. The fact that IDE disks have not been failing all over the place due to "weakening" and lack of "refreshing" by SpinRite is clear evidence that the claims were false. (Most problems with older MFM/RLL drives that SpinRite claimed to fix were the result of drives not being properly low-level formatted at working temperature on the actual controller in the end user's computer. This problem was easily solved by using the standard low-level format in the actual controller. That SpinRite could also correct the problem meant nothing, since all it was doing was using the same controller. Worse, Steve encouraged people to use SpinRite to "recover" areas that had been detected and marked as defective at the factory, a bad idea that leads to more failures in the long run, since end user controllers are not as sensitive as factory test equipment -- they are simply incapable of the kind of thorough testing done at the factory. Then of course SpinRite would be "needed" again to "fix" those failures, a self-fulfilling prophecy. As for the people that swear by SpinRite, there are lots of people that believe in astrology, but that doesn't make it any more valid. I suggest that those with a technical bent visit the SpinRite website and see they can swallow such things as: "prevents mass storage systems from crashing" (nothing can do that) "sophisticated magnetodynamic physics models" (pseudo science) "weakest possible magnetic signals" (not real) "we doubt whether anyone but Steve and a handful of aliens would even know what all this is" (no argument there) "Weak Bits" (no such thing) "gradual evolution of the drive's storage surfaces through physical and magnetic stresses" (mumbo jumbo) "SpinRite is actually able to lower the amplification of the drive's internal read-amplifier" (impossible, and after all this time Steve apparently still does not know that data is recorded on magnetic disks with flux reversals, not "amplitude") "mass storage systems need periodic preventive maintenance" (nonsense) "yeah, we know, Steve's a magician with his code" (how modest) As for all the "exclusive" SpinRite features, many if not all of them are anything but exclusive; for example, testing disk surfaces with worst-case data patterns goes back many years before Steve ever thought of SpinRite. SpinRite is 80% hype, 10% dangerous, and 10% real substance.

Source:  SpinRite

I agree that SpinRite may not be all Steve claims it to be... what software is? But I do know... from personal experience... that it works wonders on drives where all else fails. I have had drives that would fail to run scandisk, format or even be seen by Windows, or even fail to zero fill. After using SpinRite they are once again useable without problems. I have fixed enough drives to more than offset the cost of SpinRite. And yes there have been lots of drives that could not be fixed also. There may be other alternatives that I'm not aware of... I'm far from an expert... but it works for me without problems.

"hard disks die!"

I agree with that statement... but will regular use of Spinrite prevent that from happening? I don't know. Not even sure if I even believe that. I only use it to on problem drives.
Thats what I use Ghost for. If my drive dies, my data is safe. The drive can be replaced... my data can't!

Pleonasm

In the interest of *full disclosure*


Quote:

Source:  SpinRite

Your actual link to the above resource is:  http://www.grcsucks.com/spinrite.htm

I think we can assume this (grcsucks.com) is not an *unbiased* source!  Somebody has an *axe* to grind with Steve Gibson!

I've never used SpinRite--so I have no personal knowledge, but I have read some of Steve Gibson's information about system security on his website, and have used his ShieldsUP program and have found it to be of value and believable (press the *Proceed* button to get to the *ShieldUP* page--then press *All Service Ports* under the *ShieldsUP Services* to scan you system for any open ports)!

This is what you hope will be the results of the scan:


Quote:

Your system has achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single packet — solicited or otherwise — was received from your system as a result of our security probing tests. Your system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing probes of any hacker, this machine does not exist on the Internet. Some questionable personal security systems expose their users by attempting to "counter-probe the prober", thus revealing themselves. But your system wisely remained silent in every way. Very nice.

NightOwl, I have no affiliation with GRC (or with its critics), nor have I used SpinRite – and thus cannot comment on the tool itself.

The information quoted in Reply #29, however, might appropriately cause a potential buyer of SpinRite to do a bit a ‘due diligence’ before making a purchase — and that was my only motivation in sharing the commentary.

It is nonetheless worth noting that all of the following criticisms (originally documented in February, 2000) are still present on the GRC website:

• "prevents mass storage systems from crashing" (nothing can do that)
  
• "sophisticated magnetodynamic physics models" (pseudo science)
  
• "weakest possible magnetic signals" (not real)
  
• "we doubt whether anyone but Steve and a handful of aliens would even know what all this is" (no argument there)
  
• "Weak Bits" (no such thing)
  
• "gradual evolution of the drive's storage surfaces through physical and magnetic stresses" (mumbo jumbo)
  
• "SpinRite is actually able to lower the amplification of the drive's internal read-amplifier" (impossible, and after all this time Steve apparently still does not know that data is recorded on magnetic disks with flux reversals, not "amplitude")
  
• "mass storage systems need periodic preventive maintenance" (nonsense)

It is rather odd that GRC hasn’t bothered to address or correct these points in the last seven years.  Search the GRC website, and you’ll find that each of the above quotes is still there.

Also note that the information I reproduced in Reply #29 was posted originally to the “comp.dcom.xdsl” discussion group, and thus is no more or less biased than any other forum post.

Pleonasm wrote on Mar 12^th, 2007 at 11:12am:

NightOwl, I have no affiliation with GRC (or with its critics), nor have I used SpinRite – and thus cannot comment on the tool itself.

I have used SpinRite, so I guess I can comment on the tool.

See my comment in this previous thread.


Quote:

The Granddaddy of disk analysis tools is SpinRite from Gibson Research Center.  It's been around almost since disk drives were invented. http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm The current version supports NTFS drives.  With the prices now of disk drives, you did the right thing by replacing your drive.  I used to use SprinRite on failing disk drives, but now I mostly just replace them.

Also, see Dan Goodell's comment in this thread.


Quote:

I see Ghost4me posted in another thread about Spinrite, so let me embellish the plug.  This laptop would POST but wouldn't boot, and running the disk manufacturer's diagnostic utility returned, "disk failure, return to manufacturer for replacement."  I couldn't ghost it (nor Drive Image, nor BootIt) because the image creation would fail when it hit an unreadable sector.  So I ran Spinrite 6 on it.  It breezed through the sectors until it hit an unreadable sector, then it worked on the sector for the better part of an hour.  When Spinrite was done, everything was back, and even the manufacturer's utility gave the disk a clean bill of health.  So yes, Spinrite works!

Well, I must admit:  the success stories reported by Ckcc, Ghost4me and Dan Goodell for SpinRite are quite impressive, indeed.

:) I found a reference on this website to the back up advanced box. I then successfully backed up the drive and created an incremental back up by simply ticking advanced/Ignore bad sectors when backing up. So I now have a back up of C:. Although this must have bad sectors C: works without probelms of crashes so that seems good enough for me. Only thing is i hope the back up will restore my drive if I ever get a serious problem. ;D