Unable to open files on backup drive

[Guest]

Hello,

I am using a Western Digital External Drive to duplicate and backup my C:
drive. I am running Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2. The external
drive is labeled Local Drive K:

The Western Digital drive uses the Dantz Retrospect software for duplication
and backup. Although Retrospect is duplicating the contents of the C: drive
into the External Drive (i.e., K: drive), I am unable to view the contents of
the duplicated folder on the K: drive. When I try to access this folder on
the K: Drive, I get an error message that says "Folder is inaccessible.
Access is denied."

I called Western Digital tech support. They say it is a Windows XP Home
Edition Service Pack 2 problem. How can I see the contents of this folder in
the K: Drive?

(Also strangely in Windows Explorer, the K: Drive is getting listed under
Hard Disk Drives and not under Devices with Removable Storage.)

Thanks,
Pam

 

[Richard Urban]

You use the same program to view the backup as you used to create the
backup. The backup file may be password protected or encrypted, if the
program has these options, and you chose to implement either of them.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

I tried to open the files from Retrospect itself. I was able to view the list
of files inside the folder. However, when I tried to open an Excel file via
Retrospect after selecting the 'Open the file with Microsoft Office Excel'
option, I get the following Error messages:

Excel cannot access this file. The document may be read-only or encrypted.
Cannot access file.

What am I missing?
Pam

 

[Richard Urban]

You have the idea of backups incorrect I'm afraid. There is no way that you
are allowed to work with files that are part of a backup. If the original
file is lost, or corrupted, you restore the file from the backup you
created.

If one were allowed to alter a file that was in the backup, the integrity of
that file would always be suspect, wouldn't it? You would never be certain
that it somehow hadn't been tainted or corrupted.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

I understand your point. I realize that I will not have regular access to the
BACKED UP files and that they have to be RESTORED through the Retrospect
software.

What I am trying to do is access DUPLICATED files. I used to be able to
open and save the duplicated files when I was using this External Drive with
another computer running Windows XP. Now, I have switched the External Drive
to a new computer and I cannot open the duplicated files. (As I understand,
the duplication function is similar to just copying files.)

If I try to access any of the Word documents in the Local Drive K: I get the
following Error message:
The folder K:/… isn’t accessible. The folder may be located in an
unavailable location, protected with a password, or the file name contains a
/ or \.

I don't know if this provides any clues? How do I open access to K:/?

Thanks,
Pam

 

[Richard Urban]

Ah! A little bit more information. Anything else (-:

Are you trying to open the retrospect backup file itself from a second
computer, one that did not create the file to begin with? I am not entirely
certain, at this point, exactly what you are trying to do. How was the file
created and on which machine? Which machine is having trouble opening the
file? What versions of Windows XP are on BOTH computers? What version of
retrospect are on BOTH computers?

Are you restoring (correct terminology) a backed up file to another location
and then having trouble opening the "restored" file to work with

Do you know about privileges?

I would like to assist you further but I have become confused now.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

I used to use this External Drive on machine 1 some months ago. Recetnly, the
External Drive was reformatted and all the data from machine 1 were erased.
Now the External Drive is connected only to machine 2. It is duplicating
information only from machine 2. I am trying to open the duplicated files
only from machine 2, the machine from which the files were duplicated .

Machine 1 has Windows XP, Machine 2 has Windows XP, SP 2. Both computers
have the same version of Retrospect.

I do not know about privileges. Any help you can offer will be appreciated.

Pam

 

[Richard Urban]

Windows XP HOME

or

Windows XP Professional

please!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

Sorry, Windows XP Home (on both machines).

Pam

Windows XP HOME

or

Windows XP Professional

please!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

Sorry, Windows XP Home (on both machines).

Pam

Windows XP HOME

or

Windows XP Professional

please!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!