Hi,

You didn't mention which other software you tested, buy I've been able
to successfully backup, by means of imaging, the partition containing
the FB 2.5 (as well as 1.56 and 2.13) with Acronis backup software on
Windows 7. And it does it with the three servers running, I only exclude
the firebird data files - I run a backup before the job and include the
backup files in the image.

I've had a traumatic experience with NG in the past and I haven't used
any longer since 2005, so I really can't add much to the experience. But
I recently tried another imaging software which refused to accept my
hard disk layout. Even after a long exchange with their support and
trying just about every suggestion of theirs or newer builds, I wasn't
able to have it working properly. Just about every other software I use
is able to read from or write to the partitions it refuses to recognize,
but they insist the so called "unusual" layout of my disk is the culprit.

And, sincerely, as a computer programmer for 36 years, I wouldn't blame
the data being read for the shutdown, it makes no sense to me. I just
can't imagine some byte sequence being unacceptable and causing the
computer to shutdown upon being read. As someone pointed before this is
likely to be caused by the compression algorithm, the two you tested may
have licensed the same compression library and thus share the same bug
that maybe causes a buffer overflow, that makes the software to lose
it's grip, that... and so on.

Just my two cents,

Carlos

On 12/02/2011 12:11, munster77054 wrote:
> I've been in computers for 35+ years, both in the service (20+ years) and out. I wasn't only an operator, but also programmer and sysadmin on the "big boys" (mainframes). I've also built, troubleshoot and programmed on the PC for over 15 years, in addition to my mainframe jobs. I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt, that what I've said can happen.
>
> Last night, my friend called me, and told me that his son had given him a copy of another popular disk imaging software. My friend tells me that the same thing happened, when it tested it on his secondary computer. He told me that the situation intrigued him, so:
>
> 1. He formatted the hard drive, and installed Windows, fresh (but didn't activate it).
> 2. He installed FB 2.1.x
> 3. Attempted to ghost (using floppy version of ghost, which keep the drive free of ghost program).
> 4. It was successful.
> 5. He uninstalled FB 2.1.x and installed FB 2.5.x
> 6. Attempted to ghost (using floppy version of ghost, which keep the drive free of ghost program), and it did the same, powered down.
> 7. Reformatted the HDD, reinstalled Windows, but didn't activate it.
> 8. Installed FB 2.5.x
> 9. Attempted to ghost (using floppy version of ghost, which keep the drive free of ghost program), and it did the same, powered down.
> 10. Reformatted the HDD, reinstalled Windows, but didn't activate it.
> 11. Installed FB 2.1.x
> 12. Installed the other imaging software.
> 13. Successfully imaged the drive.
> 14. Uninstalled FB 2.1.x and installed FB 2.5.x
> 15. Attempted to image the drive, same thing, powered down.
> 16. Reformatted the HDD, reinstalled Windows, but didn't activate it.
> 17. Installed FB 2.5.x
> 18. Installed the other imaging software.
> 19. Attempted to image the drive, same thing, powered down.
>
> So now, we have it happening 4 times, on 3 different computers, with two different software programs. Both with individuals with 20 years (my friend) and 35+ years (me) in computers. One my friend went to the extent of reformatting his secondary PC, and reinstalling Windows fresh multiple time.
>
> No other version of FB has given me (or my friend) this problem... All other versions of FB can be ghosted just fine and no other programs/files on my computer has ever given me an issue with ghosting my computer.
>
> You have to remember, just like viruses (I'm not saying FB is malware), all it needs to be is read into memory, and "bang" you been had. It's just like this situation, there must be something in one of the FB files that is causing the problem. When it gets read, it signals the shutdown.
>
> Even my wife, that isn't into computers, although she will uses it, says the same thing, it has to be the FB software, since the ghosting blows up in the same folder, on 3 different computers, with two different software packages.
>
> So as I said previously, "If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it is a duck." The same problem happened on 3 different computers, with 2 different imaging software programs, with two people that have 20-35 years in computers, professionally.
>
> This isn't a coincidence... as Gibbs says on the show NCIS, "I don't believe in coincidences". One, plus, one is always two! The problem is in FB 2.5.x, no matter how you cut it.
>
> NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG. This post in NO WAY is meant to be mean spirited. It's just after 35 years of troubleshooting computers, and computer related problems (e.g. circuit issues, when I was an operator), a person is proficient in troubleshooting, plus my friend's additional testing is conclusive, since it happened with two different software... that means it isn't unique to NG.
>
> WITH ALL RESPECT TO ALL MEMBERS HERE, this will be the last post to this thread I will make, or more accurately, PLAN on making, since I'm convinced, based on the imperial evidence, that it is FB 2.5.x, not NG or the other imaging software has the issue.
>
>
> --- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, Anderson Farias<peixedragao@...> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>>
>> You say:
>>
>> 1. The version I'm using reboots the computer, and runs the backup in PC-DOS mode, so FB Server isn't running.
>>
>>
>> Than you say:
>>
>> My friend and I are right, it is FB2.5.
>>
>>
>> Well.. that's contraditory. SINCE Fb server IS NOT running, it can't be the source of the problem.
>>
>> It may be some problem of NG with FB 2.5 files, but that has nothing to do with Firebird. Norton should be informed of the problem so they can fix their app.
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>> Anderson
>>
>
>
>
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