Computer Problems « Chomper Stomping

Posts Tagged ‘Computer Problems’

One Click Backup w/ Sabrent & Hitachi – FAIL

Friday, February 5th, 2010

I can’t get a full drive backup. I’ve tried multiple settings.

First I tried to backup all files:

It kept failing, presumably because I was using the computer during the backup. So, i finally just backed up only the 50+ GB of images (which was my major focus) successfully, WIN! Then I went back to the task of backing up the entire C: drive. I noticed that you could just do “Newer”, which I decided would allow my backup to continue from where it failed.

So, next I tried:

Still didn’t work, but at least it didn’t re-backup files already backed up. After deleting several files that were causing it to fail (had to go to the command line for these, because windows could not delete/recognize/open them) I again tried the backup. This time it failed on UsrClass.dat (see the actual error below):

Create date/time : 2/5/2010--8:06:21 AM Error Report of Backup from [C:] to [Z:\Backup_Drive_C]

C:\Documents and Settings\Christopher\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.

I thought, hrm… Maybe I’ll just run it again. Nope. Still failed. Ran again, still failed. Ok, so I’m going to have to actually do something about the file.

I *almost* tried switching to another product, again, but then I realized this would be my fourth product switch and maybe I should at least give Sabrent tech support a try. So I submitted the following help request through their website:

1. Purchased Sabrent SATA 3.5″/2.5″ Hard Drive to USB 2.0 Docking Station.
2. Installed one click backup software
3. Placed newly formatted/partitioned empty drive in dock
4. Began backup of C: drive to drive in dock (Z:)

Expected Result:
Full Backup of C: Drive to Z: drive

Actual Result:
Failed after ~20,000 files with the following error:
Create date/time : 2/5/2010–8:06:21 AM
Error Report of Backup from [C:] to [Z:\Backup_Drive_C]

C:\Documents and Settings\Christopher\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat
The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.

http://screencast.com/t/N2E3YjdkYz

We’ll see how they respond. If I can’t get this to work, the next thing I’m going to try is some sort of Open Source drive duplication or backup solution that will let me copy from one drive to another. If that still doesn’t work, I’ll start looking at commercial, local backup options.

Tags: backup, blog, Computer, Computer Problems, USB
Posted in Software, Tools, autobiographical, hardware | No Comments »

Downgrading my Mozy account and getting a refund

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Let’s go on a little journey.

Back in August I heard an advertisement from Carbonite online backup. I thought, you know? What the heck, I’ve been thinking/worrying about this for two years. I’ll give it a try. So I did. Unfortunately, I was in the Firefox web browser. For some reason, you can’t successfully download and install Carbonite through Firefox, EVEN THOUGH they have a Firefox specific download page. After 3 days of messing with this, uninstalling, reinstalling, restarting, online chatting (their online chat helper person sucks btw), they FINALLY thought to ask what browser I was in and then informing me it doesn’t work with Firefox. CARBONITE FAIL.

So, I went to their direct competitor, Mozy. I signed up for the free 2GB trial account. My backups completed just fine every day for four months. SOLD!

I sign up for the unlimited account. Just the monthly version at this time because I’m a skeptic and don’t want to hand them $100 before I even see it work fully once.

After two months of not being able to do a full back up (I actually was able to get 71GB of my total 250GB backed up before it failed one time) I’m ready to cancel. I’ve already been told by the Mozy support tech I’ve been bouncing e-mails off of for two weeks that I’ll be refunded both payments that I’ve already been charged.

As I said, I’ve been bouncing e-mails off of Mozy and they are trying to figure out what is wrong. I’ve e-mailed them log files, etc, and the last thing they said was there is a conflict with my Symantec (a bunch of errors in their logs). I don’t have Symantec installed anymore (I think I uninstalled a month ago) so I was going to uninstall and re-install Mozy, but after I uninstalled I felt I’d rather just opt out of the reinstallation and go with another option.

I went through the online chat to see how that refund they promised me 10 days ago was coming. Then I requested to be downgraded back to the free account (I don’t want to delete my account until they refund my money). Here’s how that went:

(full chat log):

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with ‘Mubarak’
Mubarak: Welcome to Mozy Live Support. May I have your account email address please?
Christopher McCulloh: REDACTED
Mubarak: Thank you. How are you doing?
Christopher McCulloh: ok, you?
Mubarak: I am doing good. Thank you for asking.
Mubarak: How may I assist you?
Christopher McCulloh: As you may be able to see from my case history, I was supposed to receive a refund for all charges due to the fact that I have not yet been able to complete a backup
Mubarak: Do you have any case ID for the same?
Christopher McCulloh: REDACTED
Mubarak: Thank you, let me check.
Mubarak: I see that this ticket is under research team.
Mubarak: I am checking your account on the Mozy server.
Mubarak: Thank you Christopher, The actual ticket for the refund is REDACTED
Mubarak: I have checked the status and the billing team is working on it to get you the refund.
Mubarak: I will add a note to them about this.
Christopher McCulloh: Ok, how long will that take?
Mubarak: I will update them to make it as quick as possible.
Mubarak: I cannot promise you the exact time.
Christopher McCulloh: ok. Thank you.
Mubarak: Welcome Christopher.
Mubarak: Is there anything else I might help you with today?
Christopher McCulloh: Yes, how do I downgrade back to the free 2GB account?
Mubarak: For that you will have to cancel the existing account completely, or sign up for the free account with a different email address.
Christopher McCulloh: hrm… ok. I’m not ready to do that without having received a refund. Any way to put my account on hold so I’m not charged again?
Mubarak: I will update this request as well to the billing team.
Mubarak: They will contact you via email.
Christopher McCulloh: ok, thanks
Mubarak: Welcome Christopher.
Mubarak: Thank you for contacting Mozy technical support. You have a wonderful day.
Mubarak: Bye.
Christopher McCulloh: you as well.

So, double FAIL, but we’ll see how it turns out in the end. Mozy has been more than fair/friendly so far and I will definitely keep them in mind for future backup needs. Let’s hope they don’t ruin that for themselves by screwing me here at the end…

Tags: back-up, backup, blog, cancel, carbonite, Computer, Computer Problems, Dell, fail, mozy, refund
Posted in autobiographical | 5 Comments »

“Dell Wars” Episode VI – Return of the… Sith?

Monday, November 26th, 2007

I’ve chronicled my disastrous flirtations with Dell computers in the past, and thought that my struggles were over. Alas, here is episode VI…

Every computer I own is a dell. Why? Because they used to be good. After a year of fighting with dell, they finally sent me an xps 410 (to replace my crappy xps 400).

I upgraded my RAM a while back because the 1GB just wasn’t doing it.

So now I’m playing through Half Life 2 Episode 2 with the developer’s commentary on. I’m going after the larva in the chapter where the antlion gaurdian chases you through the tunnels. Just after you have to break through the boards to escape him and you drop through the floor. As soon as I run down the hall, at the exact moment I am approaching the medic passing the hall light on the left side the game freezes and there is a memory error. It happens every time. I have done everything short of uninstalling my antivirus program to try and fix it. It has happened at the exact same moment every time for the last 12 times.

This is not happening to anyone else, just me. Why? It has to be something to do with my stupid freaking dell. Probably the built in (to the motherboard) sound-card. At least now I’m not getting the blue screen of death, it just quits the program.

I am never buying a dell again. Ever. Yes, this is the billionth time I’ve said that, but this is just a nail in the already soldered shut coffin for dell with me.

dell == hell.