Utility Backup will not load

[James SB]

Hello-Not sure if this is the right place for post or not. I have Windows XP
Media, Service Pack 3 and had the utility backup setup and working fine. I
wanted to access some info I had backed up to external hard drive but the
Windows Utility Backup won't load up. I am using the backup that I access
throught start- accessories-system tools. Any feedback as always appreciated.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Hello-Not sure if this is the right place for post or not. I have Windows
XP
Media, Service Pack 3 and had the utility backup setup and working fine. I
wanted to access some info I had backed up to external hard drive but the
Windows Utility Backup won't load up. I am using the backup that I access
throught start- accessories-system tools. Any feedback as always
appreciated.

Try this:
- Click Start / Run
- Type the three letters cmd
- Click the OK button
- Type this command: ntbackup
- Press the Enter key
- Report what you see

If this does not work, reboot into Safe Mode, the repeat the above process.

 

[James SB]

When I wnet to start run and so on, after I hit enter I got the same prompt
-- C:\Documents and Settings.
James B

 

[James SB]

Thaks for rply Pegasus. Excuse my next stupid question. F2 is Setup, F12 Boot
Menu. Which is safe made?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

F8 gives you the various boot options.

When you run your next test, do it like so:
- Click Start / Run
- Type the three letters cmd
- Click the OK button
- Type this command: c:\windows\system32\ntbackup.exe
- Press the Enter key
- Report what you see.

 

[James SB]

The same thing happened. Now should I try the F8 and do I type the first
entry you gave me or the second?
Thanks again for feedback.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

The same thing happened. Now should I try the F8 and do I type the first
entry you gave me or the second?
Thanks again for feedback.

The second, because it specifically addresses the file ntbackup.exe that
resides in the System32 folder, not some fake look-alike that might reside
somewhere else.

 

[James SB]

To reboot to safe mode, don't I hit the F8 key repeatedly until the safe mode
screen comes up. I guess I am not starting to hit the key at the right time
to access the safe mode. When exactly do I start-again sorry for burning up
your time.

 

[James SB]

OK Pegasus-I figured out how to reboot. The response I got was the following:
"backup Utility cannot connect to removable storage service. This service is
required for use of tape drive and other backup devices. Please exit and
start the removable storage service using the system services function of the
management console." I was able to access and restore the info I needed to
retrieve. When I tried to launch bacup utility after it still wouldn't
launch. I guess the question is now how to get to the system services
function of the management console.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Your response is ambiguous in many ways, which forces me to make several
guesses. Please comment on them::
1. You managed to boot into Safe Mode.
2. You could not initially run ntbackup.exe while in Safe Mode.
3. You launch RMS while in Safe Mode.
4. You were able to run ntbackup and restore the files you needed.
5. While in Normal Mode, ntbackup still refuses to run.
6. While Normal Mode, RMS does/does not run.
You can see if it runs by typing this command at the Command Prompt:
net start | find /i "removable"
You can start it by typing this command at the Command Prompt:
net start "removable storage"

 

[James SB]

I did manage to boot into safe mode
After I went start-run and typed in the code you gave me it gave the
response that I listed.
After the prompt I did get back the backup screen came up while in safe mode
and was able to operate backup utility normally.
Then when I went back to normal mode you are correct that backup wouldn't
operate.
I was unable to open the external hard drive in normal mode if that is RMS.
Where do I get to the command prompt to check on RMS?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Your report suggests that you either have some agent on your machine that
interferes with ntbackup or that your registry is damaged, perhaps by some
registry cleaner you might have used. I suspect the former. Try this:
1. Physically disconnect your machine from the Internet.
2. Run msconfig.exe via the Start/Run facility.
3. Remove all ticks under the Startup tab.
4. Click the Services tab.
5. Tick the box that will hide all Microsoft services.
6. Untick all remaining ticks.
7. Reboot the machine into Normal Mode.
8 Check if ntbackup runs. If it does, restore the tick marks in batches of 4
until you have located the culprit.

Do not reconnect the machine to the Internet until you have restored the
various ticks.

 

[James SB]

Your patience and feedback greatly appreciated. I will do all this and get
back.Thanks again.

 

[James SB]

Do I need to be in safe mode when I make the changes you listed below. If so
do I then go to the prompt to start in normal mode and then reboot.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

You can make them in either mode.

Do I need to be in safe mode when I make the changes you listed below. If
so
do I then go to the prompt to start in normal mode and then reboot.

 

[James SB]

OK. If after all this the backup works and I started addind back the ticks 4
at a time, do I try to lauch Backup each time until it stops working. Also
Does it matter if I add back the tick marks from Startup tab or services tab
first. I promise That is the last question until the next one.

 

[James SB]

After unticking in startup and then services (hiding all Microsoft services
and then unticking the rest) I hit apply/ok and got the following: An access
denied error was returned while attempting to change a service. You may need
to log on using an administrator account to make specified changes. I hit ok
and then the restart button came up. I clicked it and it rebooted and brought
up system configuration utility window and I checked to Normal mode. I looked
at the startup and services tab and all the ticks I had unticked were ticked
again. Tried to load backup in normal and no go.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

After unticking in startup and then services (hiding all Microsoft
services
and then unticking the rest) I hit apply/ok and got the following: An
access
denied error was returned while attempting to change a service. You may
need
to log on using an administrator account to make specified changes. I hit
ok
and then the restart button came up. I clicked it and it rebooted and
brought
up system configuration utility window and I checked to Normal mode. I
looked
at the startup and services tab and all the ticks I had unticked were
ticked
again. Tried to load backup in normal and no go.

The questions you ask suggest that you do not have a great deal of
experience in trouble-shooting Windows. There is no shame in admitting
this - you probably have highly developed skills in other areas. In order to
improve your chances of resolving this problem, you might want to ask a
computer-savvy friend to assist you.

To answer your two most recent questions, let me give you an overall
description of the situation. I suspect that you have a rogue process on
your machine that prevents ntbackup from running while in Normal Mode. It
does run in Safe Mode, hence it must be a process that runs in Normal Mode
only. You must now try to identify the rogue process. It could be a "Task"
or it could be a "Service".

How does one determine a rogue process among 30 or 40 candidates? One way is
to do it by process of elimination, e.g. like so:
1. Disable each and every candidate.
2. Does this fix the problem? If yes then you must identify the culprit.
3. Enable a bunch of processes, e.g. 4. It does not matter if it's services
or tasks.
4. Does the problem return? If yes then the culprit must be among the 4 you
restored - disable one at a time until the problem disappears. If no then
it's back to Step 3.

Since you are performing administrative tasks, you obviously must log on as
Administrator to enable/disable tasks and services. If you're running
Windows XP Home then you must log on in Safe Mode in order to log on as
Administrator.

And as a last thought - while ntbackup is a solid and reliable backup tool,
it can be difficult to use and it lacks many features that people take for
granted. Depending on what your backup requirements are, you might be better
served using a different tool, which would remove the need to fix the
ntbackup problem.