Backup failure

Backup constantly fails after the first backup in Norton Security Suite by Comcast.  The initial backup after creating a Backup Set will run fine, all subsequent backups fail.  I have tried deleting and recreating the Backup Set with the same results every time.

 

I have run LiveUpdate, the product is up-to-date.  I have restarted the computer.  I have uninstalled and reinstalled Norton.  Same results:  failure after the initial backup.

 

Norton Security Suite v20.4.0.40


jim_mallen wrote:

Norton 360 keeps telling me that my backup failed and to check if my backup medium is plugged in and try again.  Updated to version 6.0 and get same message.  My external drive shows on my computer with norton 360 backup file and 59GB used and 400GB available.  Any ideas for a computer novice.


Welcome Jim,

Recheck your backup job configuration to verify that you are telling 360 the correct place to store your files.

Keep us posted

Backup constantly fails after the first backup in Norton Security Suite by Comcast.  The initial backup after creating a Backup Set will run fine, all subsequent backups fail.  I have tried deleting and recreating the Backup Set with the same results every time.

 

I have run LiveUpdate, the product is up-to-date.  I have restarted the computer.  I have uninstalled and reinstalled Norton.  Same results:  failure after the initial backup.

 

Norton Security Suite v20.4.0.40

Hey Andmike,

 

Thanks for the greeting.

 

My backup location is a Toshiba external drive.  I'm only backing up 901 files @ 1.9GB, mainly pictures, so there's plenty of space on the drive.  My backup is set to run automatically when my computer is idle.  Usually I get a message from Norton telling me that backup hasn't been performed in a while, which prompts me to connect my drive and run it manually.  

When I run a manual backup, it begins by counting up the files in my Set, 901 of them, then it stalls and fails.  As far as I can tell the automatic backup never runs.  The error I get, which I suspect is the default error given in the event the program doesn't know what went wrong, is that it couldn't find my backup drive and to make sure it's connected.  The drive is clearly connected because I can get into it easily.

 

As stated in the OP, the initial backup always runs smoothly, no hitches.  It's only the subsequent backups that fail.

 

Let me know if you need any more info, thanks.

Is there an error message when the backup fails? Can you post a screenshot of the error?  Instructions to post screenshots can be found here
http://community.norton.com/t5/Forum-Feedback/Forum-Tip-How-to-post-screenshots-in-the-forum/m-p/254415#U254415

 

Are there any changes or additions to the files you are backing up? If not, there is nothing for the backup to do.

 

 

 

Here you go, peterweb.  This is the only error message I receive.

 

Files have been added to the folder included in my Backup Set since the initial backup.

 

nortonfail.png

Hello again caseface.

 

Thanks for the information.

 

May I suggest that you change the settings for your backup to Manual.  It cannot use the automatic setting if the backup drive is not normally connected and this may be leading to it getting confused.  Even if it is set to manual it will still nag you if you do not do a backup for some time.

 

It might be best to start with a new backup set.  Run it once to get the full backup.  Then after a few days when you are sure that a few files have changed run it again and see what happens.  Hopefully it will work correctly, whatever do keep us informed.

 

If this is successful then I would suggest that you remove the old backup set from Manage Backups and consider deleting the old files from the backup drive as well.  But first you need to get the new on working properly.

 

Also, just as an experiment you might like to try doing a single file restore from you old backup set (no need to actually do the restore if you do not want to but go up to the final stage) that will prove whether the computer and backup drive are talking to one another and if the backup set is in a reasonable order.

 

I look forward to hearing back from you.

I understand what's going wrong. Sorry for the length but it's worth the read. Solution below the picture.

 

 

=== PROBLEM ===

 

At any given time, I may have anywhere from zero to three devices plugged into various USB ports on my laptop. The computer assigns each of these a drive letter as an identifier, starting with the first available letter (usually D:) and moving along the alphabet. It's a dynamic assignment.

 

Depending on the order in which I connect my devices, my Toshiba (read: backup) drive may be D, or E, or F.

When I go to view the rules of my Backup Set in Norton, the "Where" changes to match the new drive letter (E: this time instead of F:). That's great. But it doesn't actually back up to this drive letter, and the backup will fail.

 

If I delve further into the problem (From the Norton start page > Tasks > Check Security History > Select "Backup" from the drop-down menu) I can see it unsuccessfully tried to back up to drive F: instead of the appropriate drive E:.  (See picture)

That's why I have to continuously resave my Backup Set.

 

driveassignerror.png

 


=== SOLUTION ===

 

Make the drive assignment for the backup drive static, rather than dynamic. The lower drive letters will be changing a lot, so avoid drive assignment confusion by assigning the backup drive a letter towards the end of the alphabet.

 

In Windows 7: Find Computer Management under Administrative Tools in Control Panel. Alternatively, search Computer Management in the Start menu.

 

Select Disk Management from the left menu. Right-click the backup drive, select 'Change drive letter and paths.'

Select the drive letter and click Change.  Assign a new drive letter (something like Z:).

 

The drive should now always be recognized as that letter and will not conflict with drive letters assigned to other devices, making the Backup Set run smoothly.

Well done caseface!   :-)

 

I am pleased that you have solved the problem and delighted that you have posted the solution to help others.  :-)

 

Hope all runs smoothly from now on.

Backup constantly fails after the first backup in Norton Security Suite by Comcast.  The initial backup after creating a Backup Set will run fine, all subsequent backups fail.  I have tried deleting and recreating the Backup Set with the same results every time.

 

I have run LiveUpdate, the product is up-to-date.  I have restarted the computer.  I have uninstalled and reinstalled Norton.  Same results:  failure after the initial backup.

 

Norton Security Suite v20.4.0.40

Hey Andmike,

 

Thanks for the greeting.

 

My backup location is a Toshiba external drive.  I'm only backing up 901 files @ 1.9GB, mainly pictures, so there's plenty of space on the drive.  My backup is set to run automatically when my computer is idle.  Usually I get a message from Norton telling me that backup hasn't been performed in a while, which prompts me to connect my drive and run it manually.  

When I run a manual backup, it begins by counting up the files in my Set, 901 of them, then it stalls and fails.  As far as I can tell the automatic backup never runs.  The error I get, which I suspect is the default error given in the event the program doesn't know what went wrong, is that it couldn't find my backup drive and to make sure it's connected.  The drive is clearly connected because I can get into it easily.

 

As stated in the OP, the initial backup always runs smoothly, no hitches.  It's only the subsequent backups that fail.

 

Let me know if you need any more info, thanks.

Is there an error message when the backup fails? Can you post a screenshot of the error?  Instructions to post screenshots can be found here
http://community.norton.com/t5/Forum-Feedback/Forum-Tip-How-to-post-screenshots-in-the-forum/m-p/254415#U254415

 

Are there any changes or additions to the files you are backing up? If not, there is nothing for the backup to do.

 

 

 

Here you go, peterweb.  This is the only error message I receive.

 

Files have been added to the folder included in my Backup Set since the initial backup.

 

nortonfail.png

Hello again caseface.

 

Thanks for the information.

 

May I suggest that you change the settings for your backup to Manual.  It cannot use the automatic setting if the backup drive is not normally connected and this may be leading to it getting confused.  Even if it is set to manual it will still nag you if you do not do a backup for some time.

 

It might be best to start with a new backup set.  Run it once to get the full backup.  Then after a few days when you are sure that a few files have changed run it again and see what happens.  Hopefully it will work correctly, whatever do keep us informed.

 

If this is successful then I would suggest that you remove the old backup set from Manage Backups and consider deleting the old files from the backup drive as well.  But first you need to get the new on working properly.

 

Also, just as an experiment you might like to try doing a single file restore from you old backup set (no need to actually do the restore if you do not want to but go up to the final stage) that will prove whether the computer and backup drive are talking to one another and if the backup set is in a reasonable order.

 

I look forward to hearing back from you.

I understand what's going wrong. Sorry for the length but it's worth the read. Solution below the picture.

 

 

=== PROBLEM ===

 

At any given time, I may have anywhere from zero to three devices plugged into various USB ports on my laptop. The computer assigns each of these a drive letter as an identifier, starting with the first available letter (usually D:) and moving along the alphabet. It's a dynamic assignment.

 

Depending on the order in which I connect my devices, my Toshiba (read: backup) drive may be D, or E, or F.

When I go to view the rules of my Backup Set in Norton, the "Where" changes to match the new drive letter (E: this time instead of F:). That's great. But it doesn't actually back up to this drive letter, and the backup will fail.

 

If I delve further into the problem (From the Norton start page > Tasks > Check Security History > Select "Backup" from the drop-down menu) I can see it unsuccessfully tried to back up to drive F: instead of the appropriate drive E:.  (See picture)

That's why I have to continuously resave my Backup Set.

 

driveassignerror.png

 


=== SOLUTION ===

 

Make the drive assignment for the backup drive static, rather than dynamic. The lower drive letters will be changing a lot, so avoid drive assignment confusion by assigning the backup drive a letter towards the end of the alphabet.

 

In Windows 7: Find Computer Management under Administrative Tools in Control Panel. Alternatively, search Computer Management in the Start menu.

 

Select Disk Management from the left menu. Right-click the backup drive, select 'Change drive letter and paths.'

Select the drive letter and click Change.  Assign a new drive letter (something like Z:).

 

The drive should now always be recognized as that letter and will not conflict with drive letters assigned to other devices, making the Backup Set run smoothly.

Well done caseface!   :-)

 

I am pleased that you have solved the problem and delighted that you have posted the solution to help others.  :-)

 

Hope all runs smoothly from now on.