#Quarterback Problem
34 messages in this thread
I am using Quarterback Ver:6.0 in my Amiga 2000.
Have just installed a Tape Backup drive. On my hard disk I have 3 main
partitions – DH0: DH1: and DH2: – (Plus Ram).
Have no problem backing up/restoring any ONE of the 3 partitions. As I have
250 Megs of tape space, would like to backup – at the one session – two or all
three of the HD partitions. Here I have a problem……
In the main Manual (Page 13) "To select several items in the
display"…..Click on 1st item, the hold down the SHIFT key and continue
clicking on each additional item you wish to select…."
It just does NOT WORK ! I select DH0: click on it. Press SHIFT…
go down to DH2: and click. Doing this somehow "de-selects" DH0: and
just selects DH2: So I seem to only be able to Select ONE partition –
despite the Manual's instructions.
Am I doing something wrong ? Is the software faulty ? PLEASE give me
simple instructions as to how I may backup/restore more than one
partition during a single session.
Try SHIFT first, then DH1, DH2, DH3.
I don't use the 6.0 version of QB, but when you select multiples in
most software packages, you have to hit SHIFT first in order to tell
the software that you are selecting more than one. Hope this helps.
Tomorrow when in the studio will give your suggestion a try. Will let
you knoe the outcome….
Went down to the studio and tried your suggestion of pressing the
SHIFT key before making the selection of DH0: DH1: and DH2:….. It
just did NOT work. There was no indication that more than one
partition had been selected for backup. To prove matters…. it only
backed up the last selection.
I tried SHIFT… before… during and after selection. Just will NOT work!
Understand that there is not all this trouble with the AmiBack software. Have
you tried it ?
Thanks for the suggestion anyhow. HILARY.
Is there some reason you're not using the multiple backup macro
included with QB 6.0? When you pull down the macros menu, there it
is!
Gary. I tried the Macro…. and this is what happened.
With the Macro running, selected DH0: as the first backup, and then DH2: as the
second. Started running….
It backed up the DH0: and did a compare. All OK. Next, I noticed that it tried
for the DH2:…. The Hard Drive was running and the various scanned files
appeared on the screen…. BUT… there was no action at all from the Wangtek
tape backup drive. It then tried for a compare, but ended up telling me that
it was not a proper backup.
To speed investigation, I placed disks in df0: and df1: and tried again. The
same thing happened… backed up OK on the first and then failed to "write"
the second to the tape.
At this time I am somewhat frustrated. Would like to back up everything to the
tape. There is plenty of room (250 Megs)…. but just do not know what the
answer is at this time. Hope the software folk get back to me with some
suggestions.
Thanks anyhow for your interest. Hilary.
Let's be precise about the language you used in your reply to me.
…macro running, selected DH0…"selected"? You don't select anything
under the multiple backup macro. When you start the macro, a new
requester appears asking you to type in each partition you want to backup.
using either its name (work:) or volume (DH0:). After each one you type
in, it then asks you if you want to do another until you answer "no".
If that's not what's happening, you're doing something wrong in starting
the multiple backup macro.
If "select" was a bad choice of words and the macro IS working in this
manner, then look under backup options and be SURE that QB is rcognizing
your Wanktek as the destination. I use the QB with the multiple backup
all the time with my C= 3070, and it works fine. So it either is
something in your QB setup, or….(TA Da) The Wangtek!
Gary
on AutoPilot from Charlotte, NC
I am so very sorry…. indeed I humble myself…. and grovel in our snow
covered ground… for the use of so un-precise words in my loud pleas for aid.
I hope you are not offended in any way ?
What I meant was that a little window appeared. It asked me what
drawer/disk/etc I wanted to backup. With my fingers I typed in DH0:
and then pressed the <RETURN> key. Another window asked if I wanted
to backup another do-dad (hope you are not cross at that term)… I
wrote in DH2:… When the window asked once again the question… I
put in NO.
Everything indicates that QB not only knows the Wangtek is there, but also is
glad that it is there. Little notices appear showing its name, number and some
extremely sensitive things about it.
Incidently… pardon my lack of expertise as well as my use on un-precise
works…. BUT…. What the Heck is C=3070 ?? I never knew that the Russians
were now exporting them.
The C= 3070 is the tape drive that Commodore sold for a while. I
believe they have now discontinued them -but I have one, and it works
well.
Am surprised that there are not more vendors out there making tape
backup drives for the Amiga family of computers – at a reasonable
price – say around $300 or less. One can pick up tape drives for the
IBM family very easily and at about $200. I have one…. been running
for three years…. no problems.
I suppose it is still that nobody takes the Amiga seriously also –
like in this problem – Amiga vendors do little or anything to help
anyone in trouble with their products.
If it's a software/hardware problem, the software people blame it on
the hardware, and the hardware maker blames it on the software.
If only I could run the Toaster et alia. in a PC…. I would junk the
Amiga likew a shot.
The Amiga needs a SCSI tape backup, and SCSI costs a bit more than
the proprietary ones available for the MSDOS machines. However, the
Macintosh uses SCSI, and PC people are beginning to see its
advantages, so SCSI prices are coming down from the elevated heights
they used to have. ANd they really do work well – and with seven
devices on just one card, it sure saves slot room.
Gee, and all this time I thought you really LOVED your Amiga. I'm
disappointed that you would give it up so easily!
Thanks Betty. Was reading in some mag' or other that there are now
tape backup drives that connect to the parallel port on a computer.
Have no idea if that would work on an Amiga…. and would like to
know as the prices were very reasonable.
Maybe it's just MY Amiga…. but, when I add anything to it in the way
of hardware, it gets annoyed and tries all sorts of tricks with me.
It happens every time. I suppose that if one is content to run the
thing "out of the box" it would be fine. Mine is so full of stuff
there is not any room for more. Pity they do not make a
"professional" version of the thing.
Hilary –
> One can pick up tape drives for the IBM family very easily and at about
> $200.
I bought an Archive Viper SCSI 250meg streaming tape backup, refurbished,
from Moonlighter in Orlando almost 2 years ago for $250 (plus $120 for a
nice external box).
. . . . JimDoc, on AutoPilot
I bought a stock tape backup unit from Club Mac, who advertizes in all the
Macintosh magazines. It's scsi, plugged right in with the cable that came
with it, and worked the first time I turned it on. It's a TEAC 150 Meg
tape drive, and works great!
You need to look at UNIX systems to do an apples to apples tape drive
compare. The SCSI tape drives were always very expensive, but now that
SCSI has been catching on, all the peripherals will start dropping.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Wayne. My WANGTEK cost under $300. Have got the thing going at long last, but
it needs some tweaking – as far as the QUARTERBACK (Central Coast Software) is
concerned.
Am having quite a job to get any help from them however.
Regards, Hilary.
the C= 3070 is Comodore's own SCSI tape drive. Where you go
Russian's out of that is beyond me <G>.
Gary:
I noticed in a recent response from you:
>I use the QB with the multiple backup all the time with my C= 3070 …
I assume this is a C= tape b/u unit. I have never seen it in any of the
ads in AWorld. As I need to do all my buying through the mail here in
Japan I was wondering if you know any mailorder house which carries it?
Also any approx. prices?
I woud like to stay with C= hardware if only for compartibility's sake.
Tim Budd
An Amigan in Tokyo
Tim,
Yes, the 3070 was a scsi tape unit, originally designed as a companion to
the A-3000. Unfortunately it is no longer in production. A few months
ago the last units were offered at big discounts by a couple of mail order
houses as a clearance item. But I understand they sold out quickly and I
have seen no more available.
The last place to offer them was Grapevine, which I think bought all of
Commodore's remaining inventory.
Sorry…it IS a good unit.
Gary
on AutoPilot from Charlotte, NC
Grapevine Group had some (advertised them in AW anyway) a couple months
back. I don't know if they still have any…I didn't see them listed in
Grapevine's ad in the Mar 94 issue. If you don't have their address or
phones, let me know and I'll send 'em to ya.
//daniel on autopilot in paradise
\X/ powered by intel and motorola
>(C= b/u tape drives) Grapevine's ad in the Mar 94 issue. If you don't
>have their address or phones, let me know and I'll send 'em to ya.
Thanks for the information Daniel. Even though I've been banished to Japan
I've got my sister sending over my Amiga Worlds. There is only so much a
guy can do without. 😉
I really want to find some type of back-up system (tape drive?, Syquest?)
which will work hassel-free with QuarterBack to use on my two hard drives.
Suggestions??
I will definately have to get it via mail order as I have yet to find any
Amiga dealers here.
Thanks again
Tim Budd
An Amigan in Tokyo
Tim –
I believe that New Horizons still sells an external tape backup unit.
Should work pretty well with QB. Send a message to them here and ask
if they still have those units. I forget what name/number they called
them.
"Be Readin' Ya"
Roy Pahnke – Casper Wy
The units are called Touchdown 100 drives. I own one and have been
relatlively satisfied. Once, the drive shut down and never came back on.
Sent it to CCS, and after almost 2 months of phone tag, I got it back and
it's worked fine ever since. (If memory serves, I think their tech
department lost the drive for a while). Anyway, not to totally "dis" on
CCS. They were always ready to help over the phone, though they could
stand to put some more fire under their butts, or coffee in their mugs
<g>.
Stephen Bailey
Sawyer & Bailey Film and Video CIS # 72773,2451
Daniel,
if Grapevine has any, they haven't sent one my way. I sent them a
cashier's check last Septemeber and still no tape drive. The same with a
HiD floppy. Perhaps we can write that off to the advance placement of
advertising.
"You do trust me, don't you? Of course you do."
— "To Play the King" (BBC)
Check you backup options under the options menu, perhaps "backup type"
is set for selective and not complete. Also do not select "Display
this requester before you scan". Make sure your settings are correct
for everything else (Destination, Compression, and other settings),
then go to project menu and save yoou settings.
It sounds that when it went to your dh2: it was in selective mode. This
is something new with version 6.0.
Thanks for the suggestions Joe. I was most careful… and the
backups were attempted in the Full Backup mode. I took the simplest
route. At the moment am using one tape for each partition backup.
This works fine. It annoys me somewhat that "what the book says" is
not what Hilary's arrangement does!
Make sure that in the Tape Control item under the Utilities Menu,
that you do NOT have "Rewind after backup or restore" selected.
The shift key works when you are selecting items within the partition.
To select a group of partitions or devices to be backup in one session,
you need to run the multiple backup macro.
No, I haven't used AmiBack. I originally got QB 5.??? and just keep
using it. I admit, it's not what I'd call a marvelous piece of
software, and I've never tried to back-up more than one partition at
a time (I'm not even sure I can, have to check the docs).
Anyway, I'm sorry my little guess didn't help.
Stephen Bailey
Sawyer & Bailey Film and Video CIS # 72773,2451
No matter Stephen….
Maybe the folk at Central Coast Software (whose Section this is) will
return to their ranch on the Texas plains – after a weekend of
rounding up whatever there is in Texas to round up. After taking off
their six guns and spurs, just maybe they will be in a frame of mind
to ponder the problem of an Easterner who was suckered into buying
their product. Wonder if they named the City of Austin after the
rather terrible Austin car in Great Britain ? Probably….
Hilary,
I like the interface of QB better than Ami-Back (I have both), but I
always found a major shortcoming of QB was that it didn't allow for
multiple backups, without using an ARExx macro. Many people have asked for
this capability, but Central Coast still won't provide it.
Anyway, both programs have now been upgraded, but I didn't get either
upgrade yet, so I can't comment on how they compare. But apparently, CCS
still has not provided a non-ARExx way to do multiple backups in their
latest upgrade.
Austin was named after Stephen F. Austin generally held to be the
Father of The Republic of Texas and an all around revered dude in
these parts. It appears from your description that you were using
the multiple backup macro correctly. I am inclined to think that
there may be a problem with the size of buffer that you have selected
for your tape drive. I suggest that you leave the buffer size at 32K
and leave the memory type as 24bit. These items may be found in the
Buffer Options requester.
Austin was named after Stephen F. Austin, one of the heroes of the
Texas Revolutionary War, and one of the presidents of the Republic of
Texas back in 1836-45. As best I recall Texas history, the capitol
of the Republic at that time was in Houston (named after Sam Houston,
another TX. REV. hero), and a new president of the Republic, who did
not like Sam Houston at all, had the new capitol built and named
after someone else. It's really nice that he did, regardless of his
reasoning at the time. Austin is well located, not too far from the
center of the state, and in one of the prettiest parts of the state,
too.
I tried AmiBack – don't like it at all! It doesn't keep directories
on tape and if you loose the directories on disk(ette) it takes a
long time to rebuild them. Didn't like the interface either. But
these are all matters of opinion. Some call the things I don't like
advantages.
In QB there is a macro suppled called MultipleBackups. Hook it to a
function key (manual tells you how, very straing forward) then, when
yo select it you get a string requester to enter the partitions one
at a time until you've named all that you want.
The shift select should work if you select the partition Icons and
drop them on the QB Deposit, icon, I think.