NTFS File Question

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I still run some DOS-based programs (dBase III-Plus) from time to time on
three different computers. If I copy files to a CD from one computer to
load onto the other two, I invariably end up with data base files which
dBase is unable to access. However, if I first copy these files to a floppy
disk instead, I don't have a problem. I'm sure that the problem relates to
the NTFS file system of Windows 2000 (don't ask me why...) being transferred
to the CD, but not to the floppy.

Is there something else that I may be missing which creates this problem,
and is using a floppy the only way around it?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas

You need to supply more details, e.g.
- What is the error message generated by dBase?
- What are the file attributes of the file in the two cases?
(attrib.exe will tell you)
- What are the ntfs attributes of the file in the two cases?
(cacls.exe will tell you)

 

[Sid Knee]

I still run some DOS-based programs (dBase III-Plus) from time to time on
three different computers. If I copy files to a CD from one computer to
load onto the other two, I invariably end up with data base files which
dBase is unable to access.

Are you finalizing the CD when you write it? I doubt if it will open in
dos otherwise.

 

[Frank Booth Snr]

I still run some DOS-based programs (dBase III-Plus) from time to time on
three different computers. If I copy files to a CD from one computer to
load onto the other two, I invariably end up with data base files which
dBase is unable to access. However, if I first copy these files to a floppy
disk instead, I don't have a problem. I'm sure that the problem relates to
the NTFS file system of Windows 2000 (don't ask me why...) being transferred
to the CD, but not to the floppy.

Is there something else that I may be missing which creates this problem,
and is using a floppy the only way around it?

CDs use a form of the CDFS system. Nothing to do with NTFS. What is the
actual problem? Is it tranferring the files back from your CD to the
hard drive? Or does this process succeed? How do you format your blank CD?

 

[Gordon Biggar]

I still run some DOS-based programs (dBase III-Plus) from time to time on
three different computers. If I copy files to a CD from one computer to
load onto the other two, I invariably end up with data base files which
dBase is unable to access. However, if I first copy these files to a floppy
disk instead, I don't have a problem. I'm sure that the problem relates to
the NTFS file system of Windows 2000 (don't ask me why...) being transferred
to the CD, but not to the floppy.

Is there something else that I may be missing which creates this problem,
and is using a floppy the only way around it?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Sounds like BackupNow is not restoring the file correctly.
Try restoring it to a different folder on the original PC, then
compare the files.

 

[Gordon Biggar]

I use backup software by New Tech Infosystems, called BackupNow. It creates
a .nbf file (whatever that is), which I can then restore (same location) to
my other two computers. It works well for all of my software (Word, Excel,
etc.). However, for the dBase data base files (.dbf), I receive a "cannot
access file" message when the dBase software runs. When I attempt to list
the files in dBase, there is nothing but garbage. However, when I copy the
..dbf files from one computer to the other using a floppy, there is no
problem. Does this add any info?

Gordon Biggar

 

[Frank Booth Snr]

I use backup software by New Tech Infosystems, called BackupNow. It creates
a .nbf file (whatever that is), which I can then restore (same location) to
my other two computers. It works well for all of my software (Word, Excel,
etc.). However, for the dBase data base files (.dbf), I receive a "cannot
access file" message when the dBase software runs. When I attempt to list
the files in dBase, there is nothing but garbage. However, when I copy the
.dbf files from one computer to the other using a floppy, there is no
problem. Does this add any info?

Gordon Biggar

Why don't you simply use the backup software that comes with Win2k
called NTBackup, which works fine. You cannot directly backup to CD with
it, but you backup to hard drive first, then copy/move the bkf file over
to CD. You can restore directly from CD, though. You can backup directly
to a flash drive (or floppy) with NTBackup. You haven't said how you run
the Dbase.

 

[Gordon Biggar]

Frank --

Sorry for the delay in responding, but I've been traveling again.

The problem is specifically related to the .dbf files of dBase. All other
files (text, Word, Excel, etc.) that are restored to a computer via the
BackupNow software do not present a problem. One advantage of the BackupNow
software is that it won't overwrite files of the same (or earlier) date and
time, which speeds up the downloads considerably. (Perhaps, the NT Backup
software has the same capability?)

This weekend I will back up various .dbf files to an external hard drive,
using the NT Backup and BackupNow software. I suspect that Infotech may
have a bug in its software.

Thanks for your inputs!

Gordon Biggar

P.S. I run the dBase programs from the Start|Run command line by executing
batch files (.bat), which load the compiled dBase programs. But, maybe this
was not your question?