============================================================================= Bug Fixes, Enhancements, Known Restrictions and Problems in InspectorPC / FileRecovery ============================================================================= "FileRecovery", consists of the FileRecovery module(Disk 1), FR.EXE, and the ReNew/ReFresh modules(Disk 2), RENEW.EXE and REFRESH.EXE. ReNew supports restoring both compressed and uncompressed InspectorPC backup files including files with Long File Names even if the backup saveset is fragmented. ReFresh (Disk 2) is designed to restore all files containing Long File Names which have been recovered under a Maintain Directories or Flat File recovery mode. A disk shredder module (FileShredder) is available upon request but as a separate product. It provides a triple flux reversal process thereby making a disk unrecoverable, even by FileRecovery. The primary areas of strengthening and enhancements introduced in V1.04 are large capacity drive support (>2.1GB), multiple partition support and enhanced floppy diskette recoveries in the FileRecovery module. The major enhancement to the ReNew module involves the ability to recognize fragmented backups. This situation is a result of a user removing the initial diskette before it has been completely filled to select additional files for recovery to new diskettes under the same backup saveset name. Bug fixes, enhancements, restrictions and known problems will be listed here by module and bug report number. Development generated fixes and enhancements are reflected as such and will not indicate a bug report number in order to differentiate between those fixes and enhancements requested by FileRecovery customers and the development team. Please use the web, if posible, to report bugs. Our internet address is: http://www.convar.com/freeware In the event you do not have web access a bug report form is included (SUPPORT.DOC) on Disk 1. It can be printed with either MS-Word or WordPad. *** THANK YOU in advance for your responses *** ============================================================================= Bug fixes in the Recovery module (FR.EXE V1.04) ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) 21094 2 The problem displayed by the program halting with a memory error avail loop message has been corrected by the fix implemented for a potential memory allocation conflict. 2) 21898 4 When a bad diskette has been inserted and selected as the Source Drive, receive the "Insert Diskette" message even when the diskette is already inserted. The user now has the capability to hit the key for a popup menu will ask them if they wish to accept this disk anyway. 3) 23848 3 The problem with previously selected title boxes not clearing but remaining in the background on the screen with the newly selected title box appearing over it has been corrected. 4) 28753 4 The key functionality now works within the recovery type selection process. After having chosen a compressed backup as the recovery type and upon entering the saveset name field hitting the key will now take you back to the Activity Menu and allow you to choose another recovery type if you so choose. 5) 6685 1 The isolated problem with the program halting approximately 1/3 of the way through the recovery process and aborting to return to the DOS prompt with the following error messages; DOS/4G (2001) exceptionEH (page fault) error and the crash address of CS:IP1A0:00498C86 has been corrected. 6) 7359 4 When recovering to diskette, the drive capacity indicating available space will occassionally add an 'M' to the 'KB' starting with the second diskette with a large capacity remaining indicated (example, 496485)has now been detected, isolated, and corrected. 7) Development Generated The Destination Partition Selection window No Bug Report Number for disks with multiple partitions has been moved to display before the Execute Disk Analysis phase begins. 8) Development Generated The View Partition/Boot Information feature No Bug Report Number has been strengthened for floppy diskette recoveries. 9) Development Generated The ability to read all floppy diskette No Bug Report Number capacities has been expanded to include older floppy formats (160K, 180K, 320K, 360K, 720K). 10) Development Generated Multiple partitions are now being reported No Bug Report Number correctly when selecting entire disk to be recovered. 11) Development Generated The FAT12 to FAT16 conversion for floppy No Bug Report Number diskettes problem with files located at the end of the diskette has been corrected. 12) Development Generated The info.rcv report now reflects the single No Bug Report Number partition information as well as all partitions correctly on a source drive with multiple partitions. ============================================================================= Bug Fixes in the ReNew/ReFresh module (RENEW.EXE V1.04) ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) None ============================================================================= Bug Fixes in the Service-Pak Recovery module (FRSP.EXE V1.04S) ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) 24799 3 While adding additional users to the password registration, the problem with the program hanging while reading the floppy drive controller-this only happens after the addition of the 5th user or more in some configurations has been corrected. ============================================================================= Enhancements in the Recovery module (FR.EXE V1.04) ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) Development Generated Dual SCSI controller configuration handling No Bug Report Number has been implemented. 2) Development Generated The file selection marker has been changed to No Bug Report Number white to indicate that all the directory has been selected when it is a directory with a single file-previously displaying grey file selection marker to indicate partial directory selection. 3) Development Generated The compression information is now being No Bug Report Number recorded in the file header of each diskette in multiple disk backup savesets. 4) Development Generated The International Character Recognition No Bug Report Number switch has been implemented. Recovering files with International Characters requires running the program via the fr -i or frsp -i command. 5) Development Generated The Sectors Per Cluster table has now been No Bug Report Number defined for floppies as a backup to the normal directory Sectors Per Cluster verification. 6) Development Generated The method for reporting drive capacity has No Bug Report Number been changed to ensure accurate drive capacity reporting consistently between the drive type identification phase and the drive selection phases. ============================================================================= Enhancements in the ReNew/ReFresh module (RENEW.EXE V1.04): ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) 13134 5 Added the ability to recognize fragmented savesets produced in either compressed or uncompressed backup mode on diskette. This allows ReNew to handle those situations when a previous diskette in a backup saveset has been removed before it reaches end of media mark to handle multiple backups produced in the same saveset on additional diskettes. ============================================================================= Enhancements in the FRDemo module (FRDEMO.EXE V1.04) ============================================================================= 1) 16516 5 Added a popup window that will alert the user that a compressed or uncompressed backup recovery type will not display the first sector of each file but will assimilate the backup mode selected and will display the backup progress via graph. Only Flat File and Maintain Directories recovery mode produces the first sector of the file to be displayed during the recovery process. ============================================================================= Restrictions in the Recovery module (FR.EXE V1.04) ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) Development Generated FileRecovery does not allow you to attempt No Bug Report Number a recovery from the Windows 95 shell. You will receive the following message, "Sorry, this program can not be run under the Windows 95 shell." You must then enter 'Start; Shut Down; Restart the Computer from the task bar portion at the bottom of your Windows 95 screen with your FileRecovery Disk 1 inserted in the appropriate drive. At the DOS command line enter> A:\FR to start the FileRecovery program where A: represents the drive where Disk 1 has been inserted. 2) Development Generated FileRecovery does not support the low level No Bug Report Number SCSI controller cards that do not have the on-board BIOS support (examples: ZipZoom card, and the Adaptec 1505, 1510, 1515 cards and SlimSCSI 1460) 3) Development Generated FileRecovery does not support disk compression No Bug Report Number software such as DoubleSpace, DiskDoubler, or Win95 DriveSpace. ============================================================================= Restrictions in the ReNew/ReFresh module (RENEW.EXE V1.04): ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) Development Generated No catalog is supported at this time. A No Bug Report Number catalog entry will be placed in the backup file in a later release. 2) Development Generated The current means of finding backup files is No Bug Report Number primitive. It looks for files with the name BACKUP.001 and checks the header. A more reasonable system will be employed in a later release. ============================================================================= Known problems in the Recovery module (FR.EXE V1.04): ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) 11314 3 Disk Analysis reporting Missing Address Marks resulting in Fatal Memory Error (M113) after only 3,160 bad sectors. Drive appears to be suffering extensive physical damage as each subsequent execution of the program results in less bad sectors being reflected before program is locking up with Fatal Memory error even though available memory is sufficient. 2) 12914 3 When responding to the message a previous backup exists on the destination drive chosen and then reselecting the same destination drive the program proceeds as if the files had been written to the re-selected drive yet the files have not been written to that drive. 3) 1773 2 On a WinbookXP Laptop with a Toshiba 540MB hard drive as the source drive the following phenomena has been witnessed. The program will complete one successful recovery attempt but additional recovery attempts will result in the program not initializing. Workaround is to copy a new fr.exe over the existing one that has become corrupted preventing the program from initializing. 4) 23471 3 The new call, INT 21, 7303h introduced in the Windows release (SR 2) for large drives is not now supported by FileRecovery which displays the correct partition size for drives over 2.1GB. 5) 24206 3 There is currently a problem with the graph display reflecting the recovery progress status on the larger disk size (3.1GB). The graph will jump to approximately the 3/4 mark on the graph immediately but then will not display the recovery is complete by completely filling the graph. 6) 24786 3 On some 1.6GB drives it has been noticed that the field reflecting capacity required is increasing rather than decreasing during the recovery phase. 7) 25232 3 It has been noticed that on certain drives a read request is issued for a cylinder beyond the total number of cylinders on the disk which will result in an audible read attempt on the cylinder it is requesting (example; a read request for C766 on a drive with only 760 cylinders) 8) 25652 4 Change the F2 call for a Select All Files action within the File Selection phase to ignore junk directories, or any files that have no chance of recovery. 9) 27065 3 It has been noted that pressing the space bar next to the will display a total size of selected files that is different than the one displayed when selecting files by pressing the F2 function key. 10) 29324 4 Change the method by which FileRecovery appends files to the end of the compressed or uncompressed backups-currently using the DOS methodology-slows down the recovery process when files are large and numerous. 11) 4658 3 When adding a SCSI removable for the destination drive for recovery from a bad identifiably bad source drive the ASPI drivers will assign a drive letter of C: due to corruption on hard drive resulting in some confusion with the correct drive letters being assigned by FileRecovery. The workaround is to make your known bad hard drive your slave drive and a known good hard drive the master (if at all possible) and the drive letter will then be reflected correctly by FileRecovery. 12) 6972 3 While in Cluster Navigator, Manual Recovery Mode under the Expert Experience level the and keys referenced in the Select Activity Menu responding to the key are not functioning. Workaround: Use the hot keys (l) for Delete and (n) for End which are functioning correctly. 13) 7155 4 When quitting the program from Cluster Navigator under the Manual Recovery mode in Expert experience level the credits window is not consistent with the one being displayed after quitting at the end of the program. The window is shrunk together and not centered. 14) 9499 3 The sector value displayed after 'Execute Disk Analysis' has upon occassion been reported incorrectly as one less sector per track than the correct value. ============================================================================= Known problems in the ReNew/ReFresh module (RENEW.EXE V1.04) ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) 21601 4 When choosing a floppy disk drive as the destination drive for restoring files to, the message should pop up requesting the user to insert a diskette for restoring those files to, instead the program proceeds and will write to the ReNew disk if the user is not careful. 2) 6857 3 Warning: When choosing a floppy diskette to restore your recovered files to there is no window that will pop up requesting you to insert a diskette to restore the selected files. Workaround: The user must make sure to insert the diskette after selecting the a: drive as the destination and before the Recovery mode selection window(Maintain Directories, Flat File, Change Experience Level, Main Menu, Quit) ============================================================================= Known problems in the Service-Pak Recovery module (FRSP.EXE V1.04S) ============================================================================= Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) 2 Problem has been identified after completing more than half of the recovery phase where the program will halt and return the user to the DOS command level. Upon reinitializing the program the User registration slots and Disk registration slots have been filled with what appears to be random, garbage characters preventing the user from performing any additional drive recoveries even though there should be drive slots remaining. (Workaround: until the problem can be isolated to specific circumstances, remove the Service Pak disk 1 after the program is well into the Execute Disk Analysis phase to eliminate potential corruption of remaining user and drive slots) NOTE: the problem has only been duplicated once in development and was as a result of a random action, very isolated occurrence. Verification of problem has been elusive. 2) 2 Problem has been identified with copying over the FRSP.EXE executable on a previous disk 1 only to find that the Master password has been corrupted and is no longer recognized. (Workaround: must ftp the special service-pak version that will unlock the password and allow the user to reset the password, then the user can copy over the most recent version of the service pak and continue). ============================================================================== Future Enhancements Requested in the Recovery module (FR.EXE V1.04) ============================================================================== Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) 10508 5 Addition of a help screen in the View Disk by Sector process to instruct the user of the availability of the Page Up and Page Down key functionality. 2) 129 5 Add the ability to switch to the View Boot/ Partition information from the View Disk by Sector mode. 3) 13930 5 After having run the program for the first time would it be possible to remove the first popup window that asks if you have ever run the program before and go directly to the Experience Level Window displaying only advanced or expert. (Currently user can run the program selecting the experience level in the startup command, replace fr with fr -a to bring program up in advanced experience level without initial popup menus or fr -e to bring the program up in the expert experience level) 4) 14758 5 Introduce some sort of messaging to indicate what is actually taking place during the various phases of the program, at times the user feels uncomfortable not sure as to there being any progress made within the program. Would appreciate more generalized information rather than technical detail. 5) 15288 5 User requests the ability to filter certain types of files in the file selection phase of the program, such a *.doc, *.dbs, *.xls, etc. 6) 21233 5 User would appreciate an alert message to warn the user of the results of removing a diskette that is not completely full in a backup (compresed or uncompressed) and continuing to add files within the same saveset name on new diskettes-fragmented backups in your recovery. (ReNew (V1.04) now has capability to recognize fragmented savesets) 7) 237 5 Enhance the pattern recognition ability within FileRecovery in Automatic and Semi-Automatic file detection in order to prevent the need to use ClusterNavigator unless absolutely necessary or to allow ClusterNavigator the ability to piece together clusters of the same file type during selection. 8) 4537 5 In the file selection phase when searching for specific files by entering file names, add an audible that indicates the next letter entered for the search string responds with no match if that is the case, currently the user is left wondering. 9) 6649 5 Implement a different shade of blue for the identification of partially selected files in a directory versus the entire directory selected. Currently the user must go to the file level within an already selected directory to determine if part of the files had been previously selected or the entire directory had been previously selected. 10) 7282 5 In response to the question, "Have you ever run FileRecovery before?", with a "Yes" reply it would be more consistent with the message to either eliminate the Beginner experience level altogether or default to either Advanced or Expert experience level. ============================================================================== Future Enhancements Requested in the ReNew/ReFresh module (RENEW.EXE V1.04) ============================================================================== Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) 14607 5 In the Backup Saveset window change the definition at the bottom of the screen to reflect "compressed" or "uncompressed' saveset rather than just "backup" 2) 29479 5 After restoring multiple savesets need to add the ability for the text color of previously selected saveset names to change to blue to indicate the savesets have already been selected. 3) 4844 5 Remove the floppy drive as an available destination drive choice when it is the only floppy drive in the configuration and the backup saveset is on floppy diskette since it is impossible to have both the backup and the recovery be on the same floppy diskette. ============================================================================== Future Enhancements Requested in the Service-Pak Recovery module (FRSP.EXE V1.04) ============================================================================== Bug Report#: SEV: Description: None ============================================================================== Enhancements Scheduled for Future Recovery module (FRSP.EXE V2.00) ============================================================================== Bug Report#: SEV: Description: 1) 11387 5 'Explorer' Recovery capability from a floppy diskette that had been partially reformatted. Explorer will allow the user to insert C, H, S values in order to advance to certain locations on the floppy diskette in order to continue a read from that location forward. Currently scheduled for Version 2.0 as new feature. 2) 21987 5 Add a Run Diagnostic menu choice to the Main Activity menu that has the following menu choices; Read Reliability, Seek Reliability, Surface Read, Addressability, Seek Timing, and Rotation Timing. 3) 8730 5 'Configure' The ability to bypass the BIOS in the event the values being read by the BIOS are not correct values. Include the ability to edit the values being received providing valid BPS(bytes per sector), SPC(sectors per cluster), and RS(reserved sectors) values which will allow FileRecovery to locate files even when the BIOS has erroneous critical values. Currently scheduled for Version 2.0 as new feature.