Hi!
I just today updated my NG 14.0 to the latest version, 14.0.5.34587, & have only now discovered that I:
1) can only schedule disk image backups
2) have no capability of altering a backup's schedule
3) can no longer look at any previously backed-up file/folders
4) can no longer create a file/folder backup
As per some other postings I've read, would it be wise to uninstall this lastest version of NG 14.0 & go back to an earlier version? What productivity will I miss by not using the latest version of NG 14.0?
Thanks for any insight anyone might have!
Jonathan
Allen,
Thanks for replying! Sorry about being a little vague in terms of o/s & other particulars.... I'm running Windows XP Professional, Version 2002, SP3 with 32-bit addressing. The version of NG 14.0 I originally installed is 14.0.0.24815.
I've been using version ~.24815 for a number of months now, having created a backup job to maintain recovery points with incremental backups for the whole HD, running twice a week & a second job that backs-up My Documents every evening. The initial dialog box of the version ~.24815 'Run or Manage Backups' task presents a 'Change Schedule' button & menu option on the Tasks pull-down menu to alter the backup run schedule. After updating to version ~.34587, the install had me create a brand-new backup job for full-HD recovery points with a run schedule of the app's own choosing. Why? What was wrong with my existing backup jobs?
I then attempted to create a new backup job for My Documents to run daily only to discover that the 'Run or Manage Backups' initial dialog box no longer offers me the capability to do this! Why? How can removing established feature/function be considered an improvement?
In addition, the ~.34587 'Run or Manage Backups' initial dialog box no longer presents a 'Change Schedule' button nor a Tasks drop-down menu option for the same, so I'm stuck with the run schedule assigned to the job by the app upon creation. Again, removing feature/function is considered an improvement?
Fortunately, the version ~.34587 Recovery Point Browser still allows me access to existing recovery points made by ~.24815.
Unfortunately, the ~.34587 'Recover My Files' task no longer allows me access to my existing My Documents backups & doesn't offer me the ability to import a backup destination via the dialog's 'Search In' panel, nor the File pull-down menu - both are greyed-out. Again, this is considered 'improvement'?
I am disappointed in the upgrade's change in behavior. And, in order to re-gain access to my file/folder backups & the ability to control the run schedule of my backup jobs, as well as have the capability to create file/folder backup jobs, I've reverted back to the older version.
I've also not been able to find any literature elucidating the alleged improvements NG 14.0.5.34587 provides the consumer over earlier versions of the product. Do you happen to know where I might be able to locate such verbiage? If so, it would help me understand why the removal of feature/function 'improves' the product for the end-user. Thanks for any insight you can provide!
Sincerely,
Jonathan
P.S. To answer your questions about possible errors I might've encountered - I saw no errors whatsoever while using the ~.34587 version, only the discoveries described above.
Hi!
I just today updated my NG 14.0 to the latest version, 14.0.5.34587, & have only now discovered that I:
1) can only schedule disk image backups
2) have no capability of altering a backup's schedule
3) can no longer look at any previously backed-up file/folders
4) can no longer create a file/folder backup
As per some other postings I've read, would it be wise to uninstall this lastest version of NG 14.0 & go back to an earlier version? What productivity will I miss by not using the latest version of NG 14.0?
Thanks for any insight anyone might have!
Jonathan
jdstreng wrote:Allen,
I've been using version ~.24815 for a number of months now, having created a backup job to maintain recovery points with incremental backups for the whole HD, running twice a week & a second job that backs-up My Documents every evening. The initial dialog box of the version ~.24815 'Run or Manage Backups' task presents a 'Change Schedule' button & menu option on the Tasks pull-down menu to alter the backup run schedule. After updating to version ~.34587, the install had me create a brand-new backup job for full-HD recovery points with a run schedule of the app's own choosing. Why? What was wrong with my existing backup jobs?
>> Was the backup job not listed? I have never seen a problem like this reported.
I then attempted to create a new backup job for My Documents to run daily only to discover that the 'Run or Manage Backups' initial dialog box no longer offers me the capability to do this! Why? How can removing established feature/function be considered an improvement?
>> Was the option for "backup selected files and folders greyed out or what? Please attach a screen shot.
In addition, the ~.34587 'Run or Manage Backups' initial dialog box no longer presents a 'Change Schedule' button nor a Tasks drop-down menu option for the same, so I'm stuck with the run schedule assigned to the job by the app upon creation. Again, removing feature/function is considered an improvement?
>> Was the option greyed out? Please attach a screen shot.
Fortunately, the version ~.34587 Recovery Point Browser still allows me access to existing recovery points made by ~.24815.
Unfortunately, the ~.34587 'Recover My Files' task no longer allows me access to my existing My Documents backups & doesn't offer me the ability to import a backup destination via the dialog's 'Search In' panel, nor the File pull-down menu - both are greyed-out. Again, this is considered 'improvement'?
>> Again, a screen shot would be helpful. You can also import a backup destination by running the recover my files and folders, then go to the File menu and select Import Backup Destination.
I am disappointed in the upgrade's change in behavior. And, in order to re-gain access to my file/folder backups & the ability to control the run schedule of my backup jobs, as well as have the capability to create file/folder backup jobs, I've reverted back to the older version.
I've also not been able to find any literature elucidating the alleged improvements NG 14.0.5.34587 provides the consumer over earlier versions of the product. Do you happen to know where I might be able to locate such verbiage? If so, it would help me understand why the removal of feature/function 'improves' the product for the end-user. Thanks for any insight you can provide!
>> There are typically not new features in a patch release like this but rather bug fixes and other improvements. This is true for the latest Ghost 14 patch as well.
Sincerely,
Jonathan
P.S. To answer your questions about possible errors I might've encountered - I saw no errors whatsoever while using the ~.34587 version, only the discoveries described above.
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for the clarifications. What you are describing is not normal and is not a case of Ghost removing features or functions but rather that something apparently went wrong during the upgrade. Do you recall when you ran Live Update if there were any errors at all reported during the update?
Above I responded to specific questions and it would be helpful if you could attach some screen shots where specified above. To do this have the appropriate windows visible on your desktop, then hit Shift + Print screen combination on your keyboard. Bring up MS Paint application and hit Ctrl + V then save the image to your desktop. To attach to your post hit the green symbol which looks like a green tree (near the top) and browse to your image. Size the image appropriately so that it fits properly into your post and click Insert. Note that it takes a bit for me to be able to view the image since a moderator has to approve it first.
When you went back to the previous version did you uninstall Ghost and then reinstall? Have you tried to run Live Update again to see if the problem is reproducible? If not I would suggest this. I reiterate that what you describe is not normal and I am sure the problem can be solved.
Thanks
Allen
Allen,
I re-applied the NG 14.0.5.34587 upgrade &, after logging back onto my computer, saw for the first time notices that I needed to update the license for the upgrade. - I would not be able to create any new backup jobs, nor have file/folder backup capabilities until doing so.
Hmmm. Not really understanding what it was I needed to do (there was no indication as to what, exactly, I needed to do in order to update the license for the upgrade - why would I need to update my license for something I've already purchased, anyway?), I decided to take a chance & click on the Help menu 'Upgrade Limited Edition' selection. This seemed to then indicate that my license had been upgraded, yet I find that I still can't create a file/folder backups, nor can I alter the runtime schedule of the full-HD backup job.
- Another question - why is a version update considered a 'limited edition'? What limited the license of my original purchase - the act of applying a version upgrade offered to those who've legitimately purchased the product? My original purchase is really only a conditional purchase in regards to a version upgrade? Windows applies service packs & security updates to my o/s all the time & I'm not required to continually upgrade any license as a part of any particular update. Why am I required to do so with Norton Ghost? "We have an update to the version you currently own, but in order to legally obtain the update, you'll have to re-register your product so that you may only have limited use of the upgrade." ? What kind of business model is that? I'm not interested in upgrading to any other version of NG. So why, then, is a version update made available that effectively reduces the capabilities of the product I legally own? I don't understand how the customer benefits in this case.
Regardless, I've attached the various screen shots documenting my situation. You'll notice in the Run or Manage Backups screen shots that there no longer appears the feature which allows me to alter the established runtime schedule of the backup job. As for the Recover My Files screen shots, please notice that the Import Backup Destination feature is greyed-out.
Hopefully, you can help me understand what, if anything, I've done wrong. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Jonathan
<<Edit: Resized Images>>
Message Edited by JerryM on 12-13-2009 08:40 PM
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for the update. What you are describing is not normal and in all my time on these forums I have never encountered any even remotely similar issue. I can absolutely assure you that there is no licensing issue for a product like Ghost which you have already purchased. Something is seriously wrong with your Ghost installation.
Your images have not yet been approved by the Moderator so I cannot see them just yet, I am sure they will show up soon.
Please run the Security configuration tool in: Start menu > All programs > Norton Ghost > Security Configuration Tool. Please check and add if necessary your user name with full permissions and see if this helps.
Next, please try running the fixinstall.bat located in Program Files/Norton Ghost. If this does not work we will probably need to use the Norton removal tool and reinstall from scratch but more on that later if needed.
Please, when you run this program log into your computer with the default Admin account.
Thanks and I'll also keep checking back to see when your images become available.
Allen
Hi Jonathan,
Regarding the first image. What happens if you click on Edit Settings? Then click next until you get to the schedule page. Are you able to change the schedule from there?
Regarding the third image. It shows a backup created two days prior. Are you able to load this file backup and restore files if desired? If there is a problem with your file backup you can rename the catlog.dat located in:
-- For Win XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Symantec\FileBackup
-- For Win Vista: C:\PrgramData\Symantec\FileBackup
Then see if you can re-import the file backups. Before you rename this you need to stop the Norton Ghost Service. To do this please type services.msc in the Start menu run box. Then scroll down to the Norton Ghost service and click Stop. After renaming the catalog.dat please start the Norton Ghost service again.
I'm not seeing anything related to limited edition or license issue in the images you posted. Where does this show up and can you post an image of this?
Thanks
Allen
Allen,
The 'Edit Settings' sequence doesn't have the schedule-change dialog it once did. It dawned on me that this was so because the 'Change Schedule' button & 'Tasks' pull-down menu selection don't appear on the 'Run or Manage Backups' dialog box. They are just not there.
I was able to get to all the recovery points created by the older version, just not any of the file/folder backups. Thanks for the tip about the catalog.dat rename. I didn't go that route, as you'll see, below, but I'm sure your advice is sound.
As for the 'Upgrade Limited Edition' pull-down menu selection, that was on the Help pull-down menu. I apologize for having mentioned it, yet not providing pictorial proof of my claim.
Ok. Now, on to what I have done... As you suggested, I ran Fixinstall.bat, but got an error, reporting that the agent wasn't running... No matter. Logged on as an admin, I removed NG & the LiveUpdate tool out-right & re-installed the app "from scratch".
Following the initial install reboot, I took the default of running the LiveUpdate tool as a part of the install sequence. This did locate, download, & install the 14.0.05.34587 version update. Rebooted yet once again, as required by the update install, &, lo-and-behold, everything appeared as it should, - (imagine that!) - complete with the ability to create both full-HD recovery point backup jobs as well as file/folder backup jobs. Both the 'Change Schedule' button & 'Tasks' pull-down menu selection on the 'Run or Manage Backups' dialog box are back as well. Hooray. The 'Recover My Files' tool now allows me to import a backup destination once again. I'm back in my happy place.
I won't begin to guess what it was I had or hadn't done during the initial install of NG, when I first purchased the product. Whatever it was, the badness is gone now & things are in a comprehendible state - rudder down, crow's nest up.
One thing I will mention as an aside - I chose to NOT keep any commands, backup history, or log files, when performing the uninstall. I'm not sure whether or not the badness might've been attributable to such things, but I made this choice in order to conduct the re-install as if I'd never had NG installed in the first place.
Allen, thanks for your helpful suggestions & insights. I very much appreciate your willingness to hawk the Norton Community User Forums, patiently & thoroughly articulating your experience & knowledge to help solve the desperate & intractable problems of those of us who find ourselves here looking for a way back to peace-of-mind & security. Thank you. Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to you & your's!
Sincerely Yours,
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for the update. I had not requested that you uninstall and reinstall Ghost since you had reported doing that earlier. One of the next steps would have been to run what we refer to as the Norton Removal tool after doing the conventional uninstall. This helps to remove things from the registry and application directories that can sometimes cause problems when something has become corrupted, which is apparently what happened in your case. The thing about the removal tool is that it removes all Norton/Symantec products so they would all have to be reinstalled. But the removal tool is very good about truly cleaning everything possible which conventional uninstall just does not do. This would have been the next step, though now we don't need to do so since things are working normally again. 
I am happy that things are working properly for you now, that is always good to hear.
If your issues have been resolved to your satisfaction please mark the relevant post which you believe contained the solution by clicking on the green Solution button that only you can see. This will allow others to know the problem is solved and quickly get to the solution when they search the forums.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family as well.
Allen
Message Edited by AllenM on 12-14-2009 08:19 PM
Message Edited by AllenM on 12-14-2009 08:20 PM