gt7865a@prism.gatech.EDU (COMER,MATTHEW BRIAN) (03/11/91)
Whenever I try to run fastback plus in Windows, my system crashes
with the message "DMA Buffer too small -- Try DMABUFFERSIZE=016 in SYSTEM.INI"
Well, I tried putting that line in system.ini, but it doesn't help. In fact,
putting it in at the top causes windows to crash right away. Put in later,
it has no effect. Can anyone help??
--
Comer, Matthew Brian
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
uucp: ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!gt7865a
Internet: gt7865a@prism.gatech.edupress@venice.SEDD.TRW.COM (Barry Press) (03/12/91)
In article <24003@hydra.gatech.EDU> gt7865a@prism.gatech.EDU (COMER,MATTHEW BRIAN) writes: >Whenever I try to run fastback plus in Windows, my system crashes >with the message "DMA Buffer too small -- Try DMABUFFERSIZE=016 in SYSTEM.INI" >Well, I tried putting that line in system.ini, but it doesn't help. In fact, >putting it in at the top causes windows to crash right away. Put in later, >it has no effect. Can anyone help?? Where you put things in system.ini matters a lot. The file is divided into sections, with things like [386enh] or such at the front of each section. What you need to do is to look in the sysini?.txt files in your windows directory to see where the line really belongs, and put it there. Separately, it seems like a risky business to run a backup process while in Windows -- that is, you're modifying the same file system that you're trying to back up? Brave. -- Barry Press Internet: press@venice.sedd.trw.com
kabra437@pallas.athenanet.com (Ken Abrams) (03/12/91)
In article <24003@hydra.gatech.EDU> gt7865a@prism.gatech.EDU (COMER,MATTHEW BRIAN) writes: >Whenever I try to run fastback plus in Windows, my system crashes I've got an answer for you but it probably isn't the one you are looking for. Don't run FASTBACK (or any other backup program) under Windows (or any other multi-tasker). It just simply is not good policy to make a backup of a file system while other things have active access to that same file system. An unreliable backup is worse than no backup at all because it lulls you into a false sense of security. -- ======================================================== Ken Abrams uunet!pallas!kabra437 Illinois Bell kabra437@athenanet.com Springfield (voice) 217-753-7965
aden@vf.jsc.nasa.gov (ADEN_S_SPENSER) (03/13/91)
In article <1025@pallas.athenanet.com>, kabra437@pallas.athenanet.com (Ken Abrams) writes... >In article <24003@hydra.gatech.EDU> gt7865a@prism.gatech.EDU (COMER,MATTHEW BRIAN) writes: >>Whenever I try to run fastback plus in Windows, my system crashes >Don't run FASTBACK (or any other backup program) under Windows (or any other >multi-tasker). Exactly. What you're seeing isn't ever going to change (to my knowledge). FASTBACK PLUS must run exclusively, without WINDOWS anywhere around. Don't even try runnning it Full Screen and Exclusive, it won't work. You simply MUST exit Windows. That's the way it works on all of our systems. -- S. Spenser Aden -- Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Co. -- (713) 483-2028 NASA -- Johnson Space Center, Houston -- Flight Data and Evaluation Office aden@vf.jsc.nasa.gov || Comments are mine alone, not those of LESC or NASA.
rreiner@yunexus.YorkU.CA (Richard Reiner) (03/13/91)
>Don't run FASTBACK (or any other backup program) under Windows (or any other >multi-tasker). Correction: Fastback may not work under Win3, but it works just fine under DESQview/386. //richard
urban@frith.uucp (Mark Urban-Lurain) (03/13/91)
In article <1991Mar12.144740.29121@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> aden@vf.jsc.nasa.gov writes: >In article <1025@pallas.athenanet.com>, kabra437@pallas.athenanet.com (Ken Abrams) writes... >>In article <24003@hydra.gatech.EDU> gt7865a@prism.gatech.EDU (COMER,MATTHEW BRIAN) writes: >>>Whenever I try to run fastback plus in Windows, my system crashes >>Don't run FASTBACK (or any other backup program) under Windows (or any other >>multi-tasker). > >Exactly. What you're seeing isn't ever going to change (to my knowledge). >FASTBACK PLUS must run exclusively, without WINDOWS anywhere around. Don't >even try runnning it Full Screen and Exclusive, it won't work. You simply >MUST exit Windows. That's the way it works on all of our systems. I've used FASTBACK on my 386 under windows in the following manner: 1) In a DOS window run from a .PIF which has background checked. 2) Backup or restore to/from a DOS PATH, not via DMA. You must use previously formatted disks to do this. Enable the advanced user mode in FB and select DOS PATH as the destination in backup mode or source in restore mode. 3) Not backing up dirs/files in use under windows. I use a CMS tape system to do my regular backups, but fastback to move files between systems. The above method has worked fine for me on several occassions. I do this while doing other tasks in other windows (including DOS windows) switching to the FB window for disk changes. I agree with the above posters' advice about not trying to backup files that may be in use when windows is running. However, if you specify the files to backup (or want to do a restore) in the above manner, you should be pretty safe. Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for anything which happens to your files. -- Mark Urban-Lurain urban@cpswh.cps.msu.edu Computer Science Dept. urbanluraimg@clvax1.cl.msu.edu Michigan State University (517) 353-0682 A-714 Wells Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
kabra437@pallas.athenanet.com (Ken Abrams) (03/14/91)
In article <21872@yunexus.YorkU.CA> rreiner@yunexus.YorkU.CA (Richard Reiner) writes: >>Don't run FASTBACK (or any other backup program) under Windows (or any other >>multi-tasker). > >Correction: Fastback may not work under Win3, but it works just fine >under DESQview/386. > You missed the point completely! I am well aware that it is POSSIBLE to do backups while a multi-tasking environment is running. My point is that it is not PRUDENT to do so. The possible exception to this is large multi-user systems with custom backup software that is designed to save a valid copy (although not necessarily the latest one) of files that are in use while the backup is running. This is NOT a design feature of any PC based backup system as far as I know. Backing up an "active" file system with a program that wasn't designed for a multi-tasking environment is playing with fire. -- ======================================================== Ken Abrams uunet!pallas!kabra437 Illinois Bell kabra437@athenanet.com Springfield (voice) 217-753-7965
David.Stever@p36.f40.n282.z1.FIDONET.ORG (David Stever) (03/20/91)
CB> From: gt7865a@prism.gatech.EDU (COMER,MATTHEW BRIAN) CB> Whenever I try to run fastback plus in Windows, my system crashes CB> with the message "DMA Buffer too small -- CB> Try DMABUFFERSIZE=016 in SYSTEM.INI" CB> Well, I tried putting that line in CB> system.ini, but it doesn't help. In fact, CB> putting it in at the top causes windows CB> to crash right away. Put in later, CB> it has no effect. Can anyone help?? Call Fifth Generation tech support, but I think that FB just isn't 'Windows friendly' enough to run in Windows. 55 N. Griggs St., St. Paul, MN 55104-6915 Das. -- |The Dark Knight's Table : David Stever - via FidoNet node 1:282/31 |(612) 938-8924 HST V32 Minnetonka, Minnesota |Domain: David.Stever@p36.f40.n282.z1.FIDONET.ORG
shepard@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Brett Shepard) (03/26/91)
In article <114.27EAF365@tdkt.FIDONET.ORG> David.Stever@p36.f40.n282.z1.FIDONET.ORG (David Stever) writes: > > CB> From: gt7865a@prism.gatech.EDU (COMER,MATTHEW BRIAN) > > CB> Whenever I try to run fastback plus in Windows, my system crashes > CB> with the message "DMA Buffer too small -- > CB> Try DMABUFFERSIZE=016 in SYSTEM.INI" [...] > CB> to crash right away. Put in later, > CB> it has no effect. Can anyone help?? > >Call Fifth Generation tech support, but I think that FB just isn't 'Windows friendly' enough to run in Windows. > I was under the impression (quite possibly mistaken) that anything that tried to take over the dma (i.e. any backup program) was incompatable with win. If I'm wrong, please correct me! bds ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Just the opinions, ma'am." | Brett Shepard | Close your eyes and Go ahead, crash our system! | Ball State University | pretend that there is UUCP: shepard@bsu-cs.bsu.edu| Muncie, IN | a fancy graphic here -------------------------------------------------------------------------------