Category : HD Utilities
Archive   : STACTECH.ZIP
Filename : 2404.TXT

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STACKER NOTE STACKER NOTE

Subject: Backing Up Stacker Drives (Applies to Stacker 1.x, 2.x, and 3.0
STAC FAX Index #2404 2/20/92
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Background.
You can use your favorite backup program, like Fastback, Norton Backup, or
the DOS backup program to back up your Stacker drives. A Stacker drive may
be backed up like any other drive. If you Stacked drive C:, have your backup
program back up the files on Stacker drive C:.


Will the backed up files be in compressed or uncompressed form? Stacker
"Un-Stacks" files as they are read from the hard drive then hands them to the
backup software in their original, uncompressed state. If the backup software
uses compression, it will recompress the files before storing them to diskette
or tape. This means that the files can be restored to any drive, Stacked or
not.


What about the STACVOL file and the files on the uncompressed host drive? The
STACVOL.xxx file contains all the files and free space for the Stacker drive.
Therefore, you do not need to back up this file if the Stacker drive has been
backed up. In addition to backing up your Stacker drives, you will want to
back-up the boot drive. If you have Stacked drive C: it will be the drive
that host's the C: Stacker drive. For example, to determine the boot drive,
use the "STACKER" command. Type:

C:\STACKER\STACKER

The output will look similar to:

Stacker Disk Mount Utility - 2.01, (c) 1990-92 Stac Electronics,
Carlsbad, CA
Stacker drive map:
Drive C: was drive D: at boot time [ D:\STACVOL.DSK = XX.XMB ]
Drive D: was drive C: at boot time

The boot drive is the drive that "was drive C: at boot time". In this example,
Drive D: is the boot drive and host drive for Stacker drive C:. To backup in
this situation, instruct your software to backup drive C: and D: but tell it
not to backup D:\STACVOL.DSK. That's because D:\STACVOL.DSK is the C: drive!


How do I restore my system in the event of a hard disk crash? Depending on the
severity of the crash, you may need to repartition and reformat the drive.
Next, you would need to install DOS. Then, restore the boot drive files from
backup. The next step is to install Stacker to create the compressed drive(s).
But before you do this, edit C:\Config.sys to remove the Stacker device driver
commands. (They will be added when you reinstall Stacker.) The final step is
to restore the files from backup to the Stacker drive(s).


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Copyright 1992, Stac Electronics