Rescue and Recovery 3.1 stuck on 0% ... so I forced quit

[Migs]

Friends:

I'm using a ThinkPad T42 with Windows XP Pro and ALL the updates. Also Rescue and Recovery 3.1

My TP is fine, but in the process of making backups with RnR it started getting stuck at 0%. I Ctrl-Alt-Del'd (force qutted) the application. Since then each time it can no longer create a backup. I formatted, repartitioned and even changed the name of the USB hard disk that I am using for this backup purpose to no avial.

How do I restore the normal working of rescue and recovery on my TP with my external USB hard disk? In the meanwhile I am using Acronis True Image to to my backups, but using the "original" software would be nice as a parallel thing to do.

I take the opportunity to thank you all, -Migs

[Danny Manabat]

hi. i have a T42 also with rescue and recovery 3.01.0042.

i have also successfully used 3.01.0037 previously.

in general, here's how i made it -
1. created a partition on my hard disk, specifically for back-ups.
2. defragged my winxp partition.
3. made a base backup and incremental backups, save to partition.
4. plugged in my usb hdd and used rnr to copy backup to usb.

i have not tried to backup directly to usb hdd.

'hope this helps.

[Migs]

Hi Danny:

Thanks for your comment. I was able to do the same as you until it stopped working. Now it hangs all the time. My question was how to make it all work again. I even tried reinstalling the software RnR but that didnt help. It seems the files left from the previous oeration of the program still remain, and the new install still looks at those and gets confused.

Any ideas?

Thanks again for your input!-Migs

[Danny Manabat]

how about re-doing this way, very basic -

1. restore to factory contents.
2. install rnr 3.1. (don't use rapid restore)
3. make a base back-up.

the above should work. if not, then its possible that the installation of rnr 3.1 somehow messed up your hpa. it happened to me. i installed then re-installed several version of rnr that time.

but i was able to return them to "normal". i used the product recovery cd's to wipe out my hdd and re-create the hpa, restore factory contents, then installed rnr 3.1.

[Migs]

Hi Danny:

I understand what you are saying. Format and restore the whole hard disk again. You know this means days of work right? I'd like to know what files remained after deleting the program, so I can wipe those too to see if it would be easier that way. Your suggestion, while I'm sure it will work, means hours and hours of reconstructing all the stuff in my thinkpad. I'm not too keen on that option yet.

Thanks amigo.

Migs

[Danny Manabat]

i recall when i was using 3.01 that i uninstalled 3.01 then installed 3.1 to see the difference between the two.

at that time i used 3.01 to create a base backup and 3 incremental backups in my usb hdd.

after using 3.1 for sometime, i decided i want to use this 3.1. however, i also know that the previous back-ups using 3.01 cannot be used with 3.1 so i had to build a new set or abandon 3.1 and return to 3.01. that's when i decided to uninstall 3.1 and return back to 3.01 so that i can still use my backups.

during the re-installation of 3.01 an error occured stating that 3.01 could not be installed because a previous new version was detected. so i was stuck between retaining 3.1 and throw away my back-ups or try to reinstall my previous 3.01 - which i was unsuccessful.

i assume that somehow rnr 3.1 replaced or deleted some files in the hpa and could not be recovered.

back to your case, a simple uninstall of rnr 3.1 then reinstall again should work. and if not, i can only suspect that some files in the hpa were corrupted when you Ctrl-Alt-Del'd.

thus, if some files in the hpa related to rnr were corrupted, then reformatting, repartitioning and renaming your usb would not work because the source has been corrupted.

maybe you can play around with a spare hdd, so you don't risk loosing your present install.

should you decide anything, share your experience. i am interested to know also, since i was not successful last time.

[Migs]

Hi Danny:

Thanks a bunch. I will play with it further and if I emerge victorious I will let you know. Anyways, thanks for taking the time to help me.

Migs