Windows 95/98

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System Tools

Microsoft Backup

Filename

MSBackup.exe

File location

"\Program Files\Accessories\BACKUP\ MSBackup.EXE"

Inf file associated?

No

How to launch -

Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools

Windows 98 includes a new backup utility, called Microsoft Backup. Microsoft Backup supports a much wider range of backup devices than the Windows 95 backup application. Support has been added for parallel, IDE/ATAPI, and SCSI backup devices.

Supported devices include:

  • QIC-80 & 80 Wide, 3010 & 3010 Wide, and 3020 & 3020 Wide
  • TR1, 2, 3, & 4
  • DAT (DDS1&2)
  • DC 6000
  • 8mm
  • DLT
  • Removable media (floppy diskettes, Jaz or SyQuest cartridges.)

Note: The Jazz, Zip and SyQuest cartridges should have their own backup utilities. These devices are supported by using the option to backup as 'file' rather than the removable media itself. If you fill up the media, you will receive a 'Disk full' message. QIC-40 backup devices are no longer supported by the Windows 98 backup utility.

Installing MSBackup

Microsoft Backup is not a default selection for the Windows 98 installation process. If the utility is installed on the Windows 95 before Windows 98 Setup is run, Microsoft Backup will be installed during Setup.

The applet can be added using the standard procedures under the Windows Setup tab found in the Add/Remove Programs feature of the Control Panel. It is located in the System Tools component.

System Requirements

Microsoft Backup for Windows 98 requires the same minimum configuration discussed in the Setup module as well as:

  • A hard drive with at least 4.9 MB free disk space
  • A Microsoft or 100%-compatible mouse is highly recommended

Steps to Install

MSBackup should be installed on the machines in this class. Why? If MSBackup is not installed, you should follow the steps below to install it.

  1. Start Windows 98
  2. Choose Settings from the Start menu
  3. Click on the Control Panel
  4. Double click the Add/Remove Programs icon
  5. Select the Windows Setup tab
  6. Double click the System Tools component
  7. Put a check mark in the box next to the Backup icon
  8. Click OK
  9. Click Apply. Copying the files for the selected components runs automatically.
  10. Click OK to complete the installation

Configuring a Backup Device

Most types of Backup Devices are automatically detected and configured the first time a user runs Microsoft Backup. If you install a new backup device and it is not detected on Startup, go to Control Panel, Add New Hardware to detect the device.

To verify that a backup device is installed, go to Device Manager and check under Tape Drives.

Or check MSInfo under Components/Miscellaneous.

Microsoft Backup Troubleshooting

The following is a small list of known issues with Microsoft Backup. Check the Knowledge Base for more in-depth information.

Burst Mode

When using a floppy disk controller based tape drive and Burst mode is incompatible with a system, a "Tape not formatted or unreadable by drive" message will be displayed when the tape drive is accessed.

Disable burst mode via the Tools Media menu option.

DMA / Video Problems

When troubleshooting DMA /Video Conflict errors, hardware crashes, or other issues and you are not sure where to start, go to the Display properties in Control Panel. Click the Settings tab and the Advanced Properties button. On the Performance tab, slide the Hardware Accelerator all the way to the left. Restart the computer and try to reproduce the problem.

Parallel Port Drive Detection

The following steps are a guideline for troubleshooting parallel port drive detection problems.

  1. Does the user have a printer or other device attached to the port? If so, does the device operate correctly? If the printer does not operate correctly then the port is disabled, not functioning, or there is a conflict with other hardware.
  2. If a printer is attached to the machine, have the user connect the tape drive to the same port and then attach the printer to the tape drive.
  3. Check IRQs on the network adapter card, sound card and the parallel port. Remove conflicts.
  4. Some parallel ports are built in to the motherboard. If the user inserts a parallel port card into the machine, this will cause conflicts. In this case, have the user set the inserted parallel port to LPT2 instead of LPT1. This will resolve the conflict.
  5. Have the user check the BIOS to see if the setting for the onboard parallel port is disabled.
  6. The parallel port tape drive should be connected directly to the system's parallel port. If using the pass-through connector on the drive to connect a second device such as a printer, the maximum cable length for both devices is approximately 10 feet (3 meters).
  7. Check for ports and tape drives errors in MSInfo and Device Manager.

MSBackup and ScanDisk

ScanDisk determines free space by multiplying the available clusters by the cluster size. Microsoft Backup simply reads the directory entries and adds the files sizes together for the amount of space necessary for storing the backup. Therefore the amount of space used on a hard drive reported by ScanDisk and the amount to be backed up reported by our software will never coincide.

Microsoft Backup Error Codes

Microsoft Backup uses a distinct code in its error messages. Due to the nature of these messages, they are not available to training. There is a knowledge base article that allows you to decipher the hexadecimal values in the message.

When an error message is displayed, it is in the following format:

AA-BB-CC-DD-EEEE

Each of these values are in hexadecimal.

AA - Indicates what the drive is doing. Such as an IRQ conflict

BB - Means there is a driver error, disk access or file system errors. Such as the driver failing to load.

CC - Data access errors. Such as could not read data from the tape.

DD - Operator error. Such as the tape drive is empty.

EEEE - Media formatter error code. Such as the driver reporting that the tape can not be written to.

Points to Remember:

  • Supported devices for MSBackup include: QIC-80 & 80 Wide, 3010 & 3010 Wide, and 3020 & 3020 Wide, TR1, 2, 3, & 4, DAT (DDS1&2), DC 6000, 8mm, DLT and Removable media (floppy diskettes, Jaz or SyQuest cartridges, etc.)
  • QIC-40 backup devices are no longer supported by the Windows 98 backup utility
  • You can restore backups made with the Windows 95 backup
  • During Restore, if you choose a folder that does not exist, Backup will create a folder structure using the same folder/subfolder hierarchy used in the backup job.
  • You cannot restore backups made with MS-DOS version 6.x or lower.
  • Microsoft Backup is not a default selection for the Windows 98 installation process. If the utility is installed on the Windows 95 before Windows 98 Setup is run, Microsoft Backup will be installed during Setup.
  • The Backup Wizard is used to create new backup jobs. It cannot be used to modify an existing job.
  • When restoring data, if you choose a folder that does not exist, Backup will create a folder structure using the same folder/subfolder hierarchy used in the backup job.
  • Check the Knowledge Base to decipher MSBackup error messages.