If you need technical assistance with any aspect of Fastback Plus, contact Technical Support at the following:
Fifth Generation Systems
10049 N. Reiger Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
1-800-766-7283
(Fax) 504-295-3268
(BBS) 504-295-3344
Fastback Plus for the Mac v. 3.0.1 represents a continuing commitment on the part of Fifth Generation Systems to constantly and consistently strive for better products! The following paragraphs give information about the new features in this release and offer additional tips and further explanations. Fastback Plus 3.0.1 is an upgrade to Fastback Plus 2.6, 2.6.1, Fastback II 2.5, 2.1, and 2.0. This file addresses the differences between Fastback Plus 3.0.1 and Fastback II 2.6.1.
************************ A NOTE ABOUT THE MANUAL***********************
Dear User,
The manual states the memory size of Fastback Plus is set to 750k and that the program can run on a one megabyte Macintosh. While the minimum memory allocation for Fastback Plus is indeed 750k, we have opted to preset the suggested memory size to 900k to eliminate any need for you to change the information in the Get Info box. System 7 users will notice that the "Minimum Size:" states 750k, while the "Preferred Size:" is 900k. System 6 users will note a slightly different notation of memory sizes with the "Suggested Memory Size" set to 750k, and the "Application Memory Size" set to 900k. If you are running on a Macintosh with 2 megabytes or less, you may decrease the "Application Memory Size:" to 750k to accommodate your system. Thanks.
A. Fastback Plus now allows you to copy files to another destination in Finder format. Files which are too large to be contained on one diskette can be split over multiple disks to later be rejoined by Fastback Plus. Fastback Plus' special copy operation copies faster than the Finder, and allows you to include files according to Fastback Plus' flexible selection criteria.
2. Erase Files.
A. Fastback Plus also allows you to erase files quickly and efficiently using the Erase Files operation. The Erase Files operation allows you to quickly dispose of unwanted files according to any file selection criteria.
3. Snapshot Disk
A. The Snapshot Disk option allows you to take a "snapshot" of the state of your hard disk on a particular day. This Snapshot file allows you to quickly include only the files which were contained on the hard disk when performing a restore. Therefore, choosing the files for restoring your hard disk to a specific day's state is quick, easy and efficient.
4. New Choose Files Window
A. The new Choose Files window (available in any operation) is fully customizable to display information in almost any format.. You decide how to display the folder and file information contained within the Choose Files window, showing only the information YOU deem pertinent.
5. Fastback Plus sports a slightly new interface in Long menus. REMEMBER: THE OPERATION YOU CHOOSE WILL CHANGE THE OPTIONS YOU HAVE AVAILABLE. For instance, if you choose "Restore" under the Operations menu, all of the options under the Options menu relate to restoring.
Helpful Hints and Other Information
1. THIS VOLUME IS LOCKED OR INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE MEDIA SELECTION!
This message will appear when you're trying to back up if your media selection is incorrect or if the disk/tape is locked. Click the OK button, click on the PAUSE button, and then check these two things:
First, check to make sure that the disk/tape is not locked. In other words, on your disk, make sure that the slide tab is closed. On a tape, make sure that the "Record" tab is in the correct position. If your media was not locked,...
Second, pull down the OPTIONS menu and select Backup To.... The media selection window appears. Check you're Media Setting. If backing up to 800K diskettes, make sure that the entry next to Media: is 800K low density floppy diskettes. If the media selection here does not match the media that you are trying to backup to, change it to the appropriate setting.
This message appears during a restoration as well. Follow these same steps to resolve the problem.
2. GREYED FOLDERS AND/OR DIMMED FILES in the "Choose Files..." window in the Restore Operation.
Dimmed or greyed folders and/or dimmed files mean that those particular files will not be restored due to the setting of a particular option, such as the Overwrite option in the More Options... window. If you want to definitely restore files that are dimmed, you have two options:
a. Change the Overwrite setting to "Always." This will cause Fastback Plus to replace files on your hard disk with files of the same name from the backup set. Therefore, the newer version of the files on your "Restore To..." volume will no longer be there after the restore. The default setting for Overwrite is "Older Files Only." This means that Fastback Plus will not replace files on your hard disk unless those files are older than or the same age as those same named files on your backup set. Fastback Plus assumes that you always want to keep the most current copy of your files......unless you tell it something different.
b. Restore those files to a "Different Base Folder." Use the DESTINATION FOLDER setting in the More Options... window to designate a different folder where those files will be restored. Remember—Fastback Plus will automatically attempt to restore your files into the folders from which they came. In that case, Fastback Plus might be put in the position of replacing files on your hard disk. If you want both the copy of the file currently on your hard disk AND the copy of the same file from your backup set, use the Destination Folder option. First, create an empty folder on your hard disk called "Restore Folder" (you can call it anything you want). Then launch Fastback Plus, select Restore from the Operation menu, then select More Options... from the Options menu. Proceed from here to change the Destination Folder setting.
3. USE "CONFIRMATION DIALOG" TO SELECTIVELY RESTORE FILES AND FOLDERS WITHOUT A HISTORY FILE.
If, for some reason, you do not have a history file for your backup set and you do not want to restore the whole set, use CONFIRMATION DIALOG. Confirmation Dialog lets you say "Yes, I want to restore this file/folder" or "No, I don't want to restore this file/folder" before Fastback Plus restores anything. If you select "Files," Fastback Plus will prompt you for confirmation as it finds each file on the backup set. Likewise, if you select "folders," Fastback Plus will prompt you before restoring each folder. REMEMBER: Fastback Plus will usually begin with the volume name which is the same as your hard drive name. Always respond "Yes" to this folder.
4. USING A MAC IIFX, QUADRAS, and POWERBOOKS.
Fastback Plus gains its speed in backing up to diskettes because it uses special drivers built into the program for each particular type of floppy drive. The floppy drives on the IIfx and PowerBooks are unlike those on any of the other Macs on the market today, except the 040 machines. Because of this, the only choice you have under Media Selection on the IIfx, Quadras, and PowerBooks is "System Default." Make sure that your "Primary" and "Secondary" Devices are set properly. Both of these devices should be floppy drives or the "Primary" should be a floppy drive and the "Secondary" should be "Nothing."
5. BACKING UP AND WORKING AT THE SAME TIME.
Because Fastback Plus can work in the background and is able to back up AppleShare servers across the network, a special situation exists. If you are under MultiFinder using System 6.0x, are under System 7, or have other users (or even yourself) working on an AppleShare server, REMEMBER the following. If you are working while a backup is going on, DO NOT move your files around during the backup. If you move a file from a folder that HAS NOT been backed up into a folder that HAS already been backed up, that file WILL NOT BE BACKED UP!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A NOTE TO APS USERS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fastback AutoStart is not compatible with the APS formatting software version 2.42 when using System 6.0.5 or System 6.0.7. If your hard disk has been formatted with this software, you will experience an "Address Error (02)" after telling the Fastback Plus AutoStart control panel where Fastback Plus resides on your hard disk.
Remember, if you have any questions or need more help, our Technical Support Department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except major holidays) to answer your questions. Call toll free at 1-800-766-7283!
