clone/copy disk "serial number" ?

[x509]

I use a backup program (Retrospect) that manages backup drives (for disk-to-disk backup) using the internal "serial number," or whatever is the right name for the disk ID, of the drive. If I move backed up files to a new, larger hard disk, Retrospect doesn't recognize that the new drive already contains backup files. (I have to "import" all the backup sessions, which is a pain in the arse.)

I think that if I copy/clone the disk serial number I can avoid the import process. How do I accomplish this?

 

[mwroobel]

Are you using a mac or a pc, and are you running the full version or Retrospect Express?

 

[bAMtan2]

the shadowprotect boot disk has an option buried in there to change the disk id. gparted and other linux utilities can probably do this, they may call it uuid. try parted magic or a linux forum

also note that your backup software may use other methods to identify the disk than this. shadowprotect for instance isn't so easily tricked, I think

 

[x509]

Are you using a mac or a pc, and are you running the full version or Retrospect Express?

Full Retrospect on Windows 7.

 

[x509]

the shadowprotect boot disk has an option buried in there to change the disk id. gparted and other linux utilities can probably do this, they may call it uuid. try parted magic or a linux forum

also note that your backup software may use other methods to identify the disk than this. shadowprotect for instance isn't so easily tricked, I think

I'm not using shadowprotect. You would think that Retrospect would be OK if the new disk was assigned the same drive letter (H: on my system) as the old disk, but you would be wrong.

 

[bAMtan2]

I would not think that because I know how these tools work. if something changes without their knowledge, the job cannot continue. this is why they keep track of disk variables that can change when the system is offline, so something can't be changed without their knowledge. that is why changing the disk id is probably not enough to trick it.

 

[x509]

I would not think that because I know how these tools work. if something changes without their knowledge, the job cannot continue. this is why they keep track of disk variables that can change when the system is offline, so something can't be changed without their knowledge. that is why changing the disk id is probably not enough to trick it.

Well I'll bet you are an IT professional. Me, I'm just a guy who builds all his own PCs.

Any way to figure out what Retrosepect uses to keep track of disk volumes? Dantz got bought out by EMC a few years ago, then got sold off to some other company. Somewhere along the way, the support forums were shut down.

 

[mwroobel]

Well I'll bet you are an IT professional. Me, I'm just a guy who builds all his own PCs.

Any way to figure out what Retrosepect uses to keep track of disk volumes? Dantz got bought out by EMC a few years ago, then got sold off to some other company. Somewhere along the way, the support forums were shut down.

You can find the Retrospect Support Forums Here.

If you go to Configure-=> Devices -=> Environment and right click the backup device you are using and choose Ignore ID does that solve the problem?

 

[x509]

You can find the Retrospect Support Forums Here.

If you go to Configure-=> Devices -=> Environment and right click the backup device you are using and choose Ignore ID does that solve the problem?

Thanks for the URL. When I last looked, about six months ago when Retrospect was owned by Sonic (?) there were no forums.

I don't have the time right now to try out your suggestion. However, I am subscribing to this thread and I will post when I can get to it. Last time I really read the Retrospect manual was when it was release 6.something.