New WD external drive not being read on XP

Wow. That sounds awfully long time but don't know. Probably best to err on the side of caution and as long as isn't hanging let it run to completion.

Pure curiousity (if you know)
- How large is the backup file?
- Does that older computer have USB 2.0 ports? or only USB 1.x?
- Rt click My Computer -> Properties.. on the first display does it say what type of Processor?

And i started on writing up some new instructions. I guess is no hurry now!

and other passing thought if it comes down to it after trying to get your old computer up and together again: Any friends with a laptop? (just so you needn't try transporting your external). install and run acronis to check backup, then uninstall acronis

Had to go back to refresh my memory of where we were! (did you ever get those XP install disks?)

Remains to be seen if open Windows issues may also cause Acronis problem. But you can opt to look at Acronis stuff in parallel if you want while we clean up your Windows environment. I’ll take a quick look thru any Windows issues next. But can suggest search for / install Belarc Advisor as its report includes a list of currently installed Windows Updates (among other useful stuff)

Acronis Stuff
1. Acronis Version/Build
=> As no Acronis updates, you probably have latest. But to find this info in future see Acronis.gif attached. (checked to find they do it this way)
=> Note Acronis Window on left. No menu bar (with Help). But has tiny arrow icon on far left of very thin bar you click to display/hide the Menu Bar)

2. Check Acronis Device Drivers
Note: You can edit/paste to command windows vs. re-enter. See here and note "clicking" upper left corner = clicking left side of title bar (very top bar)
=> Start->Run, enter cmd

Code:

[B]set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1[/B]
[B]start devmgmt.msc[/B]

When device manager starts
=> Click View->Show hidden devices, then expand Acronis Devices.
=> Rt click each device, Properties. Does it say working? Or give an error code?

3. Referring to User Guide Chpt 12.3
=> Try mounting image set for READ ONLY access (don't if you tried this or you've been doing read/write. Saw problem reports where this sometimes made the difference)
=> Try selecting drive letter Z

4. Explore vs. Mount
Rt click to Open the backup file (.tib extension) and try looking at stuff. This will Explore rather then Mount. Explore doesn't perform a drive letter mount. Does Explore give the SAME error or a different result?

5. If problem remains
=> If file C:\Windows\setupapi.log exists make a copy and keep it. Then delete original.
==> Open notepad ( Start->run, notepad.exe) copy code below, save as x.txt the rename to x.reg
=> Double click x.reg to apply registry update

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
"LogLevel"=dword:0800FF00

=> Re- attempt the Mount and the Explore (for fresh data collection)
=> Open command window, enter/copy code below into it (it;s one long command line)

Code:

cscript "C:\Windows\system32\eventquery.vbs" /fi "Datetime gt 12/28/08,12:00:00AM" /fo list /v /l system /l application > "%USERPROFILE%\DESKTOP\EventData.txt"

=> Attach to your next post C:\Windows\setupapi.log and EventData.txt on your Desktop

Well it took 6 days instead, because I had to start over (power was manually shut off to do some lighting work). My backup is now validated!!

YEA! (now, where's parade icon. Surely you;d get one by now!)

Well, as you have the time... let me know how how the other stuff comes out (not like i know i even needed to say that!)

finally able to continue to Step 4 for windows update:

Nice work! :grinthumb

And very well done post as well (as usual)

As for SP3, good call! will see where we are (should be getting close i think) with getting the computer sorted out on sp2

As for h/w updates very most likely they're ok but before installing i'lll double check (i forget and thread way long to go looking) could you tell me make/model of what current computer is

and i think u check once before.. but when done do again
Run->msinfo32
expand Components->Problem devices and check for anything listed

Thank you so much!!!

- My current (alternate/older) computer is a generic one I think. The CPU is 'white' with no name on it lol..not sure how I can search for the make/model of it...not sure if the BIOS would tell me?
- I just restared the pc from the windows updates, ran msinfo32, and am getting this error message again: "windows cannot open Help & Support because a system service is not running"

Everest
Download and run Everest Home. From top of Everest window:

• Click File->Preferences
  • Check English
  • Still under Preferences click Report, uncheck Include Debug Information
  • Close Preferences window
• Click Reports->Report Wizard. Get a Custom Report in plain text. Check items
  • Computer
  • Motherboard
• Then just attach the report

I used Belarc Advisor (familiar with Belarc--love it!) - would this be the make/model of the CPU?

System Model
ECS M787CL+
Enclosure Type: Desktop


View attachment 40752

Belarc is great! Especially in helping to track one's MS updates.

And some overlap between Belarc and Everest but each also have their own strength. Everest more the "geek" tool for internals and hardware info

And speaking of hardware.. yea, go ahead and do the 3 hardware updates. The updates target hardware on your machine

And if you could download Serviwin
Click View->Services for services report
Click View->Drivers for drivers report

For each view if you could, select all, save selected as tab delimited .txt file
Can then see your system services (as may be ur help error) and may as well get a snap shot of your drivers while we're at it!

Will follow-up on anything else tomorrow.. nite!

What a hugh thread leading nowhere :rolleyes:

Take a look at my name or signature, and you will see WHY it's long! Guess I was born with that luck! Don't know why thread is being visited by anyone it's not useful to, when only to complain about it. Thanks for adding to my day

LOL...see...now no matter what options I choose for mount letter or read/write...I am getting this error:

"Cannot assign a drive letter to a partition from the backup archive"

You should shorten your handle to somthing like "Obsticals" The loss of the single letter just looks wierd. Some people use their full email addresses and they get severely truncated... Back to the thread, does the thread title still apply? Where do you stand? Can you explain in simplier terms, more to the point?

Gee, where is "nowhere" between original plea for help and successive iterations to find/analyze/fix the subsequent domino list of problems which have spanned
- Failing hard drives, installing recovery products and getting ghost images created
- Dealing with/cleaning up Windows and Windows update issues found on 2 different computers

Any technical insight towards final resolution would also help

constantobstacl:

Hmmm... as for your system services....
1. Not yet sure why but service helpsvc isn't even in the list (and is required for Help and Support)
2. Will have to check if maybe is a configureable option or maybe a bug. In either case, not sure that it should affect Acronis. But will see.
3. Also, sorry i wasn't clear before but if you could re-generate the services and drivers report
=> Actions->Select All
=> File->Save selected
=> set Save As Type to Tab delimted text (.txt)

- The resulting report text file doesn't look "human" friendly (and it's not)
- But that file format is very friendly for input to other tools which let me do and see lots of things quickly with the data

Oh gosh, sorry! I have now saved to TYPE AS tab-delimited :

View attachment 40899
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