#Q-Back Tools Question
43 messages in this thread
Thanks Tom, I have the program, called FixDisk. I'll dig into it deeper
and see about the feature of deleting, deleted files. I forgot about that
one.
FixDisk's undelete feature seems to work better than QBTools. QBTools
belched when I tried to use it to restore an entire deleted directory.
Fixdisk, however, did the job remarkably well. Which was a great relief, as
the drawer was filled with freshly d/l'd files
Brian, Do you know whether QBTools is successful at fixing a validation
error on a disk? I get those awful "Validating Disk Error Key xxxxxxx
already set." and the only thing left for me to do is backup the files
reformat the partition/hard drive and restore it. I just ordered QBTools
and would like to hear from you or someone else that has used that feature.
I do know that Mr. Chamberlain told me it will fix them but I'd like to
hear from a fellow forum member that has used it.
Make sure, once you have Quarterback Tools, that it isn't V1.0. This is an
extremely buggy version, and tends to choke a fair bit. The latest version
that I know of is V1.3c, which seems to be fairly solid. It does handle
validation errors (as far as the manual says), due to the fact that QBTools
can disable AmigaDOS to go work on an unvalidated volume. In any case, it
should be able to do what you want.
Well, when I had my last "Key not/already set" error, I only had 1.0. So my
experience has not been great. But I found out that there are certain
things you **NEVER** do on an unvalidated volume. Like Write to them under
AmigaDOS! I did this under one comm program or another ( I forget which )
when I downloaded a couple of files without changing the comm program's
default d/l dir. After completely trashing my HD this way, I had to backup
my data files and reformat as the version of QBtools (1.0) hated my HD
controller. I still have problems with QBTools' undelete feature. DOn't use
the "undelete to another volume" feature on executable files. Come to think
of it, the "keep on same volume doesn't work all that well either. For
undeletes — use FixDisk. For almost everything else, use QBTools. This is
my experience. Also, If you wind up with the "lemon" of QBTools 1.0
-Register immediately and then call the QuarterBack support BBS at (316)
686-0870. Once they have validated you as an actual QB/QBTools user, you
can get your updates on-line. `Tis much faster than mailing in the disk.
(This assumes that your dealer can't update your copy "on the spot." My
local dealer can, as hs a new version floating around on his HD.
Right now I use QBTools 1.3c and find it quite useful. I haven't seen the
other ODS utilities for AMigaDOS and so can't really compare. But QBTools
does the job, and does it well. [detail about prev line "ODS" is a typo!]
And isn't that the only real test of a utility?
BTW: If you have a controller that seems to confuse QBTools (as Supra's did
to 1.0) don't despair, contact the author (By BBS) and tell him about it,
you should get quick response. The confusion is probably unavoidable as the
Hard Drive controller mfr's always seem to find "better" ways of talking to
the hard disk…..
Just FYI — "contacting the bbs" does not get you in contact with the
author (generally). The BBS is in Wichita, Kansas and is run by Charlie
Fair — he is doing he Central Coast Software support. The author, George
Chamberlain (Pres. of Central Coast Software) is in Golden, Colorado. He
rarely gets online anywhere altho he is in frequent contact with Charlie.
Well I ordered it and it was Out of Stock, they said probably ship this
Wednesday. So hopefully all the older stock has been replaced or previously
shipped. BTW here is a bug report on Central Coast's program, MAC2DOS.
Apparently if your writing postscript files using ProPage 2.0a and you've
been using MAC2DOS in your system, or open it after writing one or more
separations, something happens to the postscript code and it gets truncated
by either ProPage directly or indirectly by Mac2DOS! I was going berserk
trying to print some postscript separations and kept getting the strangest
postscript errors. It lead me to believe that the files were getting munged
in the translation somehow! Even though they looked fine when I read them
using the read feature in MAC2Dos it became apparent that files were
getting beat up! One error message was like this…. Postscript error
undefined 674.lique. That is plainly not a postscript operator or error
code. Well I tried to write all the files without loading MAC2DOS and
downloaded them using the Amiga and my appletalk port on the DigiFex
multiport card installed in my A2000. Well it worked fine! Now I should try
to use the program and send directly to the imager without using a
postscript file. That was hanging up also, the par: port during a print.
I've had other problems with MAC2DOS and guess I'd better give George
Chamberlain another call and report my problems directly to him.
Normally, when AmigaDOS has a validation error, the drive is then set to
"Read Only." Whenever this has happened to me, I've been able to
successfully use QuarterBack to back up everything but the offending
problem area, reformat, and restore. (Long, I know, but it does work.)
Were you able to just write to your disk, or did you use a special program
to force AmigaDOS to change the status back to Read/Write?
PS – I always DL to RAM: or a floppy. I've been burned a couple of times
already. 😉
Well, I hate to say this, but it was JRComm. It tried to write to the
drive, and I guess it succeeded — to my great regret. Don't ask me how it
did it. But I had an instant mess on my hands….. 🙁
I myself will never d/l to RAM — What if I need to reboot? Flush…. RAD:
and VD0: have possibilities, tho…. AND since I have 3 megs….
Brian
It's a trade off. I generally save the downloads to disk before doing
anything else after downloading them. (If it's a long dl session, I
sometimes save the finished ones during the DL'ing.) While RAD: and VD0:
are also possibilities, the fact that they're recoverable doesn't mean that
they haven't been 'stommped' on by some errant program. I've lost very few
downloads this way, and the extra DL speed over a floppy has probably more
than paid me back for the one's I have lost. The programs that I use to DL
are pretty stable, and RAM: has the advantage of not being a fixed size.
After evaluating all the options, I choose to use RAM:, but it might not be
the best choice for your sitaution.
(I used to use VD0: when I had the KS 1.2 ROM installed, but had trouble
when I tried to use it under KS 1.3. Since I also got an autobooting HD at
the same time, I just didn't want to take the time to mess with it.)
My biggest proble is that some of the _other_ programs I use while I'm
downloading may or may not be too extremely stable. Some of then are PD and
freeware system manipulation utilities. Then there's LHarcA, which works
well, but switching between the non-interlaced LHarcA screen and the
interlaced WorkBench and JRComm screens sometimes freezez the machine
solid. Not a whole lot of fun…..
Brian,
You might consider trying WBUNDO instead of LHarcA. It runs on the WB
screen, which will avoid the problem you mention. I haven't noticed any
problems with it. In fact, I like it so well that I copy it to RAM: in my
startup sequence so that I don't have to search my Utilities drawer for it
when I want to use it.
David
My friend has bought QBtools (1.3c) but when I tried it on my Supra
WordSync as in the option to scan for fragmented files as well as search
for undeletable files it will run for a bit then it justs sits there. You
cant exit the program it just locks up. I would love to purchase Qbtools
but not when it locks up like that. Any ideas anyone?
The current version of QBTools is 1.3D. You might want to contact
Central Coast Software at 303-526-1030 and ask about the Supra problem. I
had thought that was fixed in 1.3C.
Well, I don't have that problem with 1.3c. I did in 1.1 or so. I suspect
that there is something in the startup sequence that is messing things up.
Another possibility: what version of supra's drivers are being used?
I am using 1.10 of Supra Drivers. I use 1.3D of QBTools and it still locks
up.
Nick
Funny, I'm using that version of the Supra drivers, and I haven't had a
single problem since I dumped QBTools 1.0….
What else yo have running on the system? It is possible that some other
program/device driver might be messing with you….
Brian
Maybe Dmouse or Virus Checker may be interfering with QBtools. I will try
to boot with a plain workbench.
Nick
I haven't used either program, so I can't say which would be a more likely
candidate. But if it's your boot partition you're trying to optimize when
the machine hangs, kill the virus checker. Just a personal prejudice that
comes from my MS-Drudge background.. ;^)
Brian
> Maybe Dmouse or Virus Checker may be interfering with QBtools.
Is Virus Checker a specific program? Neither Dmouse nor VirusX interfere
with my QBT 1.3b. On the other hand, any floppy- (or HD-) caching program
like BlitzDisk or FaccII may very well cause problems with QBT.
. . . . . JimDoc <<via WHAP!>>
I don't know much about QBack Tools, but I read that it has problems with
CBM 2090 controllers (or was that 2090A controlloers?). Anyway, that may be
your problem…
QBTools 1.3C and above worked fine with my 2090 controller.
It was the earlier versions that didn't like the A2090/2090A cards. I never
as I don't have those cards….
I have problems with it's undelete function, as the undeleted files are
routinely unusable. But when I use FixDisk to undelete files in place,
everything works fine.
Brian
> Another possibility: what version of supra's drivers are being used?
Also, how long is he waiting on how large and how full a drive? There is a
lot of waiting in that mode, as it slowly scours the drive for errors. To
my mind the single greatest lack is more progress indicators, similar to
The Art Department, for example.
. . . . . JimDoc <<via WHAP!>>
The question of the month is — how complete is the lockup? If the mouse
won't move, then the lockup is complete. But if the program just gets
stuck, it is possible that the mouse will still operate — until you send
an intuition message to the program. Then WorkBench dies…… (At least
this is what I THINK the docs infer about WB programs that don't respond to
intuition messages ASAP….. No reply=system die)
Oh! Do you mean that just because the indicator bar that moves accross the
screen isnt moving that doesnt mean that QBtools locked up? Here's a
typical situation. I am trying to get a list of the files that are fraged
on my drive. It starts to scan my HD (a 40meg partition on an 80 meg drive)
you see the counter counting and the bar indicator moving. After about a
minute they both stop and it just sits there. Should I give it some time?
There is no indictation it is working.
Nick
Give it time … that bar moves extremely slowly and may be almost
undetectable during a 1 or 2 minute observation.
Cheers, Paul (WA1OMM)
<Give it time … that bar moves extremely slowly and may be almost
undetectable during a 1 or 2 minute observation.>
Should the HD light be running at all times? After Qbtools apparently stops
the HD light stops as well.
Nick
> Do you mean that just because the indicator bar that moves accross the
> screen isnt moving that doesnt mean that QBtools locked up?
Well, I _thought_ that was what I meant, from my memory of having done it 2
weeks ago, but having just now run the fragmentation analysis on a 40-meg
partition, I see there were no long pauses, so you do seem to have a
problem. Sorry about that….
. . . . . JimDoc <<via WHAP!>>
I found my problem with QBTools, it seems it didnt like Dmouse or SID or
one of the other little thingies I had running upon boot up. I have as yet
to narrow the problem down. What I did was to comment out all extra
programs like Dmouse etc… after I booted it up, then tried QBTools it
worked just fine when I had it search for fraged files. Havent tried
defraging the drive (waiting until I back it up). So problem solved I
guess.
Nick
FixDisk can resolve validation errors, too. And it's cheaper, and less
bug-prone. I've got both, and use both. But I try FixDisk first…
. . . . . JimDoc <<via WHAP!>>
Jim, Thanks for the ino on FixDisk. I'll take a look at it. However I just
got my copt my copy of Quarterback tools, thelatest release and its saved
my buns twiice ace already.
Chris Tolmie
What version of Quarterbacktools is your copy?
robert, My version of Quarterback Tools is v 1.3d. That is the latest
version. At least when I spoke to George Chamberlain the other day he
didn't say it was an earlier version, although come to think of it, he
didn't say it was the latest either. I've been having trouble with MAC2DOS
lately and I believe it to be caused by my CIA 8520 chips rather than the
MAC2DOS interface. After re-swapping the chips the program was again able
to copy to the mac disk, the stuffit files I needed to transfer over to my
MAC without any errors. Still, MAC2DOS has a problem not recognizing that a
disk has had files deleted and that there is now room on them. Sometimes I
must reformat a floppy that has been completely deleted of files before
mac2dos will write to it. In fact, the macintosh format program isn't
enough, I have to sometimes format it as an amiga disk, then a mac disk or
use a third party macintosh format program that 'zeroes' the disk. Anyway
George is aware of its problems and would like more info on it from me or
anyone else who has documented problems with MAC2DOS version 1.1d.
Chris
I just received last week the latest update to B.A.D. The disk label has
the printed version of 3.11 scratched out with "4.0" penned over it. The
whole format of B.A.D. is new. It has a WB2.0 type of work screen.
robert, What did they do just update your disk with the new software and
pen in a new revision number? Oh well, as long as it works better than ever
who cares right? B)
I'm ordering my new update tomorrow. Did you get the copy of Diary, or
hasn't it been released yet? I'd like to know how it works if you got it.
later,
Chris
This "Diary" thing is new to me. What is it?
Let us know how the new BAD is!
Nick
I only tried it on a couple of floppies and they really seem to fly. Before
trying it on my hard drive, I had wanted to know if anyone else had and
what the results were. I hate to do anything new to my hd for fear of
creating problems. I used QBtools and it was fine. I was just wondering if
B.A.D. would be better.
How did you get an update? How much did it cost you? How long did it take
to get? Are there any more options in the new B.A.D.?
– via Whap!
Write or call Mark Hellman and send 15 dollars. The whole format is
different although it still does the same thing.
Mark Hellman
M.V. Micro
P.O. Box 1237
Wheatridge, Co. 80034-1237
1-303-467-1718
This is from B.A.D. 4.0:
Version 4.0- 2/1/91 ——————–
First major revision
Added:
New user interface – this will be the style of all programs to come
New Grid Display – Shows you graphically what B.A.D is doing
New Test Mode – Disk structure analysis
New Virtual Memory – All but Eliminates memory constraints
New Bells and Whistles:
Estimated time of completion based on system time and device speed
Elapsed time display
ScreenFlash at process complete or on error
Pretty much everything is new, even the language is new we converted over
to JForth Professional by Delta Research. It offers true JSR threading,
optimized code, faster compiles, etc. etc.
We hope you will like all of the improvements, and don't worry there is
more to come. We still have a few more things we want to do so look for
another update around this same time next year.
———————————————————————-
Effective 1/1/89 Price: $49.95
______________________________
/ Dealers and Distributors /
==============================/
/ Please Call: / Send
$$$ to: Centaur Software 213/542-2226/
(DEALERS & Distributors ONLY!)/
Mark Hellman ==============================/
P.O. Box 1237
Wheatridge, CO
80034-1237
Voice Phone: 303/467-1718
BBS Number: 303/424-6208
Hope this helps.
Thanx for the info. Guess what? On Tuesday, I found a postcard in my
mailbox from Centaur Software offering me an update. The card was mailed
1st class (I moved since I sent my registration card in), and was still
delivered to my new address.
I take back any and all bad words I may have said about Centaur
Software. Thanx for the info anyway, I'm sure a lot of folks will update.
– via Whap!
FixDisk can resolve validation errors, too. And it's cheaper, and less
bug-prone. I've got both, and use both. But I try FixDisk first…
. . . . . JimDoc <<via WHAP!>>