[<<]Message[>>] Author [<<]Subject[>>] [<<]Thread[>>]
Number : 7 Date : 2001-05-11 Author : Andy Subject : Re: Using /SP switch in XXCOPY Size(KB) : 5
Might I Suggest: Notice: Insert a *new* volume and press any key to continue Caution: Existing files on the entire volume will be discarded!!! Andy PS: I use a .BAT file to do an incremental backup from main to backup HD. One must be careful in setting the switches, therefore the .BAT file. By changing CMOS settings, I can actually boot Win98se from the backup drive, with completely transparent operation. This approach has saved my butt several times in the last year: With my new !&!!@#$ Gateway computer (never, never get another %!#*& Gateway again), I have had three *software* generated failures in the IBM main HD. (They said this couldn't happen but Gateway and IBM found a way to do it with great assurance -- sorry for the rant.) /==================================================================/ Kan Yabumoto XXCOPY tech wrote: > > At 2001-05-11 11:37, you wrote: > >I just used the /sp switch to copy a small directory to several > >floppies. > > > >Although it worked, as soon as each disk filled, I would > >get the message > >"Error 39. The disk is full." > >Then I got > >"Caution: Existing files on the entire volume will > >be discarded. Insert a new volume and press any key to continue." > > > >Couple of questions: > > > >Is this the normal response ("i.e., Error 39")? > > > >It also didn't seem to work if the diskette was full. It > >wouldn't write over the information and I had insert an > >empty diskette. Should it have written to diskette > >that already had information on it? > > > >Would really appreciate a response if someone has had > >similar experience. Thank you. > > =================================================================== > > First of all, let me explain to all that /SP is a switch which > allows a volume-spanning with a volume with a removable media > such as the floppy or CD-RW drives. > > -------------- > > The current official release version (v 2.44.4) disables the implicit > /CK feature (to check the remaining space on the volume before a > file copy is initiated) is automatically disabled for a removable > media. That was because with certain removable media, XXCOPY had > problems getting the correct remaining space on the volume. But, > a minor bug prevented the manual override of the explicit /CK > switch from working properly. That is, with a removable media, > XXCOPY v2.44.4 *ALWAYS* behaves as if you had typed /CK0. > > That is why you get Error 39 which would have been prevented if > the /CK feature were working properly. (This problem has already > been corrected in some newer beta versions.) > > So, for now, you just have to put up with the way it works > (to let the real out-of-space condition to take place and let > XXCOPY erase the partially copied chunk, which is a wasted > operation but at least it works). > > Now, the next issue is the wording in the prompt whenever the > diskette must be replaced. When the target volume becomes full > with the /SP switch, XXCOPY will pause and display the following > message: > > Caution: Existing files on the entire volume will be discarded!!! > Insert a new volume and press any key to continue > > Somehow, many people have problem understanding the first line. > We are puzzled by that. I believe we are not explaining what > the user should expect from the /SP operation. > > The current implementation of /SP is not quite up to the > high standard the users come to expect from XXCOPY. We say > /SP should be classified as a "quick-and-dirty" way to accomplish > the goal. It simply gives a user prompt whenever the volume > becomes full and lets the user swap the media (and the user > would press a key to continue). > > The first thing XXCOPY does after you swap the media and press > the key is to delete all existing files and directory in the > newly inserted media. That is why XXCOPY gives you the warning > (the first line). Actually, XXCOPY does not even check whether > the media is still there. If you just press the key without > swapping the media, it will result in a complete removal of > the files you just filled up in last diskette. > > (Strangely, we hear many people do just that --- just hit > a key without replacing the media and let XXCOPY continue > to "span" on the same media !!!!!!!!!). Maybe a better > phrasing would clarify this but we don't know what to say. > > Ideally, this feature would be a lot more useful if it were > to handle the incremental backup. The current implementation > simply deletes everything on the media first before start > writing data on the media --- good for a full backup only. > > I just checked with a floppy disk with extra data on it. > It seems to work fine deleting the existing files before > proceeding (it does not say which file(s) are removed because > in this case, XXCOPY treats the new diskette a blank diskette. > The deletion is simply a precaution and certainly the user > should not expect the display of what files are deleted > (let alone the usual "prompt-before-delete" ritual). > > Kan Yabumoto > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > xxcopy-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
This message if part of XXCOPY's message Archive. The archive contains all the messages posted at Yahoo!Groups: XXCOPY.