Backup and Restore - limited target drives.

[fhaber]

(UUT: brand-new Z60. Updated to the latest software via IBM's automatic update facility on the BlueKey.)

Problem: IBM Backup and Restore ?3.1 (sorry, machine not in front of me) will not offer an IBM external USB 60M drive as a target. Windows Backup uses this just fine.

The drive in question is the svelte 2.5" one that uses two USB cables instead of a power brick.

There's a version of B&R on the external, but it asks for an uninstall of the existing version before it'll talk to you, and seems to be a BACK-VERSION!

First-level Lenovo support denies that this can happen.

Suggestions?

-frank

[hcalsos]

It is possible to use Rescue and Restore 3.1 with an external USB drive, but you have to set it in the preferences. The new version of RnR is not compatible with the previous versions of RnR or Rapid Restore.

[fhaber]

Thanks. Questions occur to me, though.....

o You mean that the file format **of the backup** made by 3.1 cannot be read/restored by earlier versions? And 3.1 likewise can do nothing with older files?

o I now see elsewhere here that the entire suite of "IBM-ware" associated with 3.1 Rescue/Recovery might be problematic _in toto_. What's a quick way to check the versions of what the autoupdate has installed?

[GomJabbar]

The new version of RnR is not compatible with the previous versions of RnR or Rapid Restore.

I am not saying you are wrong, but I see the following in the readme file.

ThinkVantage(TM) Rescue and Recovery(TM)
for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 and XP
version 3.10.0017.00
Installation Readme

Considerations
==============
To get the latest information regarding the Rescue and Recovery
program, visit

http://www.lenovo.com/think/support/sit ... IGR-4Q2QAK

To view Hints & Tips associated with the Rescue and Recovery program, do
the following: Click Hints & Tips. In the Brand field use the drop-down
menu to select ThinkVantage technologies. In the Family field use the
drop-down menu to select Rescue and Restore. Then click Continue.

The following are considerations associated with the Rescue and
Recovery environment:

Consideration 8
Rapid Restore Ultra 3.0 and prior versions are not compatible with
the Rescue and Recovery program. If you install the Rescue and
Recovery program and previous versions of Rapid Restore Ultra are
installed, then the Rescue and Recovery program prompts you to
uninstall any previous versions of Rapid Restore Ultra including all
backups made by prior versions of the program during installation of the Rescue and Recovery program.

And from the web link in the quote above:

Consider the following when using this code:
If you want to retain the ability to restore from backups created with a previous version of Rescue and Recovery, you must create a copy of your backup files on bootable, external recovery media before installing the latest version.

To archive your backups, complete the following procedure:

1. From the Rescue and Recovery main screen, click Backup, then select Copy backups from hard drive from the drop-down list.
2. Select the medium you want to save your backup files to by clicking the appropriate radio button. The backup files that will be copied are listed on the user interface.
3. Click OK to continue.

You will need blank removable media when copying backups from the hard drive to CD or DVD. Make sure that you label each disc as it is created, and that you store them together in a safe place.
Note: You will be prompted to make the external media bootable at the beginning of the process.

[hcalsos]

I havent tried to do a restore with backups created with a pre RnR 3.1, because the 3.1 install deleted my previous backups. I just concluded that it was done for a reason, and the logical reason would be that it wouldnt be compatible.
It might be that backups stored on external drives/cd's still works fine. I might have jumped the gun on that one