Help/Advice Please

[YEM]

Hi All,

When we switched on one of the computers on Tuesday morning, it all went wrong. We lost all data and could not retrieve.

We had an IT technician in who retrieved all data. There is only one problem. He has made a copy of the data and we can see that there is a document (excel) there (located in the Altiris partition), however when he tried to get this back, it retrieved it but showed that the file contained 0kb. Why is this, and will we be able to retrieve it? Before we retrieve it, the document shows that it is around 20kb but each time reverts it to 0

Any wiz know why???

[Mortime Business Software]

I thought Altiris was supposed to do what you're asking. I've just read their information sheet and it says that the application takes snapshots of the system and timestamps them so you can roll back to the last snapshot if anything happens.

It also mentions that it can back up to a different machine over the network. I don't know if you pay for a service that does this, but do you think that your data could be on another machine somewhere?

I know that Windows XP lets you specify a restore point so that you can roll back to it. However, I think this is aimed more at complete wipeouts because you lose the data which was created between the restore point time and the current time, and I can't remember if it happens automatically (as it does with Altaris), or if you have to do it manually. You could check to see if you have a restore point on your OS.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Dave

[YEM]

Dave,

Thanks for this info. This is what Altiris is supposed to be doing, and has been telling us that it has successfully taken snapshots. The info is located in the Altiris partition but just cannot restore the document!!!

[confused]

I've seen this before with similar software, wasnt altiris but the same idea I personally dont like this type of "backup". I always, ALWAYS advise my clients to do either manual backups of standalone workstations or I setup automatic backups on a server and coach clients how to do it, and on sebsequent maintainance checks check that the backups work (that is to say they RESTORE as well as backup). Relying 100% on any sort of snapshot/imaging software is risky IMO.
Sorry to sound so negative, but I see this quite often, no backup and then a problem that requires a backup.

[Mortime Business Software]

You're a wise man/woman (?) confused. I always copy my important stuff to a different machine. One day I'll get round to writing a sockets program that will do it for me.

Last year I transferred some stuff to a new machine from a laptop. A mysterious "new folder" came over with it which was empty. I didn't know it was there until about two months later after I had done lots of new work without backing any of it up. I deleted this "new folder" and thought nothing more about it. But when I started the computer the next morning, all the work I had done since the transfer had disappeared. I was in such a state of panic because the loss of this work would have crippled me. But I managed to retrieve just about everything with the system restore facility. Even though this worked, I still manually copy to another machine.

By the way, do you have a name?

Dave

[confused]

Sorry,

I'm male and go by the name of Calv, I will be updating my siggy next week to include name, website etc after Del from UKSBC has been round to finalise the initial concept of my site and show me how the admin stuff works.
I frequent many boards and usually have a sig with my name etc and keep forgetting that I dont have one here yet!

Regards

CALV

[Mortime Business Software]

Okay, good on you Calv. Nice to meet you.

Dave

[YEM]

I always, ALWAYS advise my clients to do either manual backups of standalone workstations or I setup automatic backups on a server and coach clients how to do it, and on sebsequent maintainance checks check that the backups work (that is to say they RESTORE as well as backup). Relying 100% on any sort of snapshot/imaging software is risky IMO. Sorry to sound so negative, but I see this quite often, no backup and then a problem that requires a backup.

YES YES YES we know all about the whole backing up thing! You're not sounding too negative, it's a case of knowing what you're supposed to do and putting it off. We know it's our fault, and we do regular backups on the other machines, I think it's because we haven't really actually had anyone working on it until after the break and so never bothered to do a proper back-up. I suppose though, that you wouldn't have much of a job if people backed up religiously :)

I also know not to rely on the stuff that came as staandard with the machine, but how many people actually believe that on a 3-month old brand new machine, the program wouldn't work!!!!!

Anyway, as I said, we have recovered the majority of the files except this 1 excel docement. Was just wondering if anyone knew why in the partition it shows that the file contains something, but when restored its blank?

Thanks

[confused]

Hi,

I really feel bad now, I just reread and it really sounds like I'm rubbing it in - I dont mean to.

I assume the hard disk hasnt been replaced since all this happened? if not, theres a small, - and I mean small - chance that recovery of the file may be possible using 3rd party data recovery tools, Im free Tuesday morning and can take a look if you like, and the best part is, I wont charge you a penny - whether the restore is succesful or not.
You have my email address from the mail I sent before with my number on, if not, you can drop me a PM on here. I cant guarantee anything but can give it a try if you like. If at all possible, dont use the machine as this will decrease the chances of recovery.

CALV

[YEM]

Hi Calv,

Thanks for your offer - I didn't think you were rubbing it in, it' just that we are a little p****d off with ourselves!!!!

We have our technician coming back in today anyway and he took a ghost of all files onto his own laptop. If he cannot restore it anymore, then we reckon the file is lost. It's not too big a deal, we have our database and mail back and that's the most important part. I think it's a case of it takes something like this to make you do backups and so we do them onto a USB everynight as well as a manual one of the database!

We will be investing into an alternative way very soon though

[confused]

I think it's a case of it takes something like this to make you do backups
You anrt the only one, I'm sure we've all done it, I'm no exception "oh sod it, I'll do it tomorrow...."

I hope you get it sorted

CALV