Dell DataSafe can't find proper volume

Customer drops off a Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium. He did some kind of restore which also backed up his user files.

The computer is running properly, but he couldn't recover his files. I can't either.

He used the Dell DataSafe backup to restore his computer.
It created a folder called Emergency on C:. In that folder are

Backup <time stamp>.1 – this is the application
Backup <time stamp>.10.dsb
Backup <time stamp>.100.dsb
Backup <time stamp>.101.dsb
Backup <time stamp>.102.dsb
Backup <time stamp>.103.dsb
Backup <time stamp>.334.dsb
​

I run the application – I get the Welcome to the File & Folder Restore Wizard. I click Next to continue. I select Restore specific files or folders. Click Next. I get a listing of files and folders that it had backed up. Under the specific user account, I put a checkmark in Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Music, Pictures, and Videos. Then click Next.

(Note: I've also tried the Restore all files and folders option. This produced the same result.)

I select to restore to a new folder on the Desktop. I select Keep both files and rename the restored file with a suffix. I click Next.

It then says volume #2 is required and wants Backup <time stamp>.2.dsb. Well, it never made this file. See above for the files that it created.

When I try this using the Restore All files and folders option, the program runs for a few minutes. I see file names flying by and then a window comes up asking for that same volume #2 which doesn't exist.

Anyone with any ideas what's going on here?

 

I have always had problems with Dell DataSafe.

Did he also use the datasafe online option or only the DVD's?

 

He used neither on-line nor DVD. The folder was created at C: on his hard drive.

While doing some research, it seems he may need to upgrade to the paid-for version ($40 USD) to restore the files. But I haven't found anything definitive. It's all a bit murky.

 

I've never heard of Dell DataSafe creating the folder on C: Drive. A Dell usually comes with a trial period of Dell datasafe online and using this you are also given the option of creating backup DVD's as a secondary method. I wonder if this is something new?

I'm wondering why he would safe it on his C: Drive anyway. That makes no sense.

 

He had an issue, probably malware, and decided to restore the computer to factory condition. There was an option to backup his data. That's what he's saying and it's probably what happened because the computer was restored and the folder was created which has the executible to restore the files and the files themselves crunched into these dsb files. Each file is the same size, except for the last one which is a bit smaller. Seems like something Acronis True Image would do when creating a tib file on DVD. The difference is that Dell included the executibe needed to restore the files.

That's my take on it.

 

Thanks for the link. When I select the Restore option, it seems it wants the Dell DataSafe upgrade ($40).

At your suggestion, I changed the extension to zip. Windows was unable to open the files.

 

What do you want to bet that if he purchases the upgrade, it will suddenly work?

 

I'm kinda thinking that. Wonder if there was a warning when he created this backup set that he'd need the paid-for version to restore the files.

 

It's been so long since I've used it that I can't remember if there is a warning....

 

I worked on another Dell today. Removed adware but then IE wouldn't run properly. Decided to rebuild the system.

I chose to restore the computer to factory condition. Selected 'Restore computer and preserve my new or changed files'. It said a link to the Emergency Files & Folder backup will be stored on your desktop. The Emergency File & Folder Backup will be located in the Emergency folder at the root of the hard dive.

After the computer was back to its factory condition, I found the Emergency folder on C:. Note, it did not put a shortcut on the desktop as it said it would. I ran the backup app and told it to put files and folders back where they should be. It worked very nicely.

I did see that it missed MS Works files. When it was asking about which files to backup, I didn't notice if it was going to backup Works files or not. Good thing I made a separate backup to another drive manually.

I think that first machine had corrupted files. Everything worked nicely on this machine using the same method as the first machine.

 

That's good to know, Tony. I was curious as to why the first computer had the datasafe issue.

 

I think you don't know the situation.

IE would come up, show a white window, no URL in the Address bar and then after about 10 seconds it would just quit. Went to Control Panel, Internet Options. Tried to reset it there. No joy. It would fail the effort to reset user customizations.

Uninstalled IE and it reverted back to IE8 (I think). Problem persisted. I downloaded fresh copies of IE 10 and later on 11. They would install, but I still got the white screen. Couldn't reset either of them.

From Programs and Features, I turned IE OFF, restarted, turned it back ON. Nothing worked.

Also tried IE (no add-ons)

I worked on it for more time than I should have. The Dell recover to factory condition and keep user files actually worked quite well. The user only has to reinstall Office, TurboTax, and her printer. I reinstalled WebRoot for her. Oh, I had to recover her Chrome bookmarks from my other backup because the Dell DataSafe didn't catch that.

 

Yeah, it had a few other minor problems. Felt time to reload.