Windows XP backup on a HP DAT - schedule

[Guest]

Hi!

I try to run Windows XP backup on a HP DAT at night time, but scheduling
does not work propery. I set scheduling to "once a week" and those nights I
want the backup to run. I check the report, but I always get an empty
window - backup has not run. Its an admininstrator user and Windows XP sp1.
PC does not enter any low energy state during night. Manual backup does
ALWAYS work - whats wrong? or does anybody run same setup with success?

Thanks for any help

 

[Nepatsfan]

Does the account you're using to schedule these backups have a
blank password? I seem to recall reading somewhere that ntbackup
uses Task Scheduler to schedule backup jobs. If that's the case
then the account that's being used to setup your backup job must
have a password, no blank passwords allowed.

 

[Guest]

Hi Nep

It has password. Thanks anyway. Anymore suggestions ?

 

[Nepatsfan]

When you say that you always get an empty window when you check
the report does that mean when you click on the Tools menu in the
Backup Utility and select Reports there are no entries listed?

How are you running the successful manual backups?
From within the Backup program (running the backup "now" as
opposed to scheduled)?
Or from within Scheduled Tasks (Start -> Control Panel ->
Scheduled Tasks. Right click on Backup.job and select Run)?

Was a backup program included with your HP tape drive? If so, why
not use that?

As far as other suggestions go, make sure that the Task Scheduler
service is running (Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative
Tools -> Services). It's status should be "Started" with a
startup type of "Automatic". Also,you might want to check the log
file in Scheduled Tasks (On the Toolbar select Advanced -> View
log or go to Start -> Run -> Schedlgu.txt). Look for any error
messages associated with your backup job. If there are no entries
for your backup job then you may have a problem with the
scheduling.

Experiment by scheduling your job to run Daily and select a time
that's a few minutes in the future. Schedule a backup of a small
amount of data to your tape device and see if it runs correctly.

 

[Rick]

If possible, try logging into the PC at the time the backup is
scheduled as the user the task is set to use for the job. See if
there's a window that pops up looking for media. Also, are your log
files for those scheduled backups completely blank?

I had run into this exact issue where running the backup manually
works great but it would not work when scheduled. I opened a case
with Microsoft and in the end had to switch to managed backups. The
Microsoft tech could find no other way of solving the problem. Here's
the link for Managed backups. The article is for Windows 2000 so the
steps may not be exactly the same but pretty close:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;239892 .
After making this change the backups have been working great.

 

[Guest]

Hi Rick!

Thanks for your answer. Now I know what way to go. Its in fact for a
customer (one person) who wanted to keep his old HP DAT on his new PC. The
solution Microsoft (you) gave is too complicated for him. So I could argue
for a USB harddrive solution and he accepted..