Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!news.cs.indiana.edu!msi.umn.edu!cs.umn.edu!ariel.unm.edu!triton.unm.edu!ee5391aa
From: ee5391aa@triton.unm.edu (Duke McMullan n5gax)
Subject: Re: Colorado Memory tape backup
References: <1991Apr4.155954.11431@digi.lonestar.org>
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Keywords: Colorado, tape, backup
Message-ID: <1991Apr05.061200.588@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: Fri, 05 Apr 91 06:12:00 GMT
Lines: 42

In article <1991Apr4.155954.11431@digi.lonestar.org> mfrohman@digi.lonestar.org (Matthew Frohman) writes:
>I am considering buying a Colorado tape backup system for my pc.  I would
>like to hear from anyone who has had an experience with them.  Specifically,
>I am interested in backing up a collection of 3 1/2" floppies.

>I separate my disks into logical groupings (spreadsheets, graphics, etc.) and
>create each disk with a volume label that reflects the group and a sequential
>number (i.e., GRAPH-001, GRAPH-002).  What I would like to do is back up ALL
>of the floppies (sort of like dumping all of the disks to tape) so that when
>I add new files to a disk, I can do an incremental backup. Does the software
>allow this, or is each disk considered an individual back up? Can you do ONE
>backup of ALL disks and be prompted to "INSERT NEXT DISK"?

Hmmmm...I _think_ this will work with no difficulty, but I can't swear to it
...AND I CAN'T FIND THE (#@$*(#^%$*(!! MANUAL!

I just use mine to back up the hard disk, so I can't really address that
question now.

>Also, I currently have two floppy drives. I know they sell a cable for ~$30
>to chain the tape drive off the B drive.  Can you chain it off the A drive?
>I know you can make the cable yourself.  Anyone know the details?


Interesting.  My 286 box has 5.25" (a:) and a 3.5" (b:) floppies.  I took
an extra edge connector and stuck it on the present floppy cable, and instal-
led the tape drive in an empty half-height bay.  From the way the manual read,
I thought I'd lose either the a: or b: drive.

Nope.  Both drives work fine and the tape drive works fine.  The backup tape
software works fine, but it chaps me that it's too damn interactive.  I wish
I could just put a backup .bat file in there, run it and walk away.

Nope.  The software has to have its hand held.  It also gripes me that the
tape drive can't be simply regarded as a slow, large disk drive, but, no....

Other than those grumbles and a tremendously annoying lack of tech. data, I
love it.  ;^)

						d


