Rebuilding a Backup Catalog for Retrospect 5.x Windows

This post will walk you through the process of completely rebuilding your Retrospect catalog file. This may be required if you have lost your previous catalog file, or the file has become damaged due to a crash or disk problem.

Figure 1: The Retrospect Directory
To begin the catalog rebuild, launch the Retrospect program. The “Retrospect
Directory” will be displayed.

Click on the “Tools” tab followed by the “Repair” button (Figure 1).
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Figure 2: Catalog Repair Selection
You will then be asked to select the catalog repair function.

You will need to select the catalog rebuild type that corresponds with the type of backup hardware you are currently using. In this example we are rebuilding the catalog from an Iomega Zip disk so we have chosen to “Recreate from removable disks.” This option is best if your backup is stored on a Zip, Jaz, SyQuest, Optical, MO, or DVD-RAM disk as well as several other types.

If you are using a tape drive like an OnStream drive, DAT, LTO, VXA, AIT, DLT or Travan drive (and several other types) you would choose “Recreate from tapes.” Users of CD-R or CD-RW devices should select “Recreate from CD-R discs.”

Once you have selected the repair type, click “OK” (Figure 2).

Update existing catalog file and Repair file backup set are not covered in this tutorial.
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Figure 3: Media Selection
The next window will ask you to insert a member of your backup set (Figure 3). It is best to insert the Disk or Tape named 1-Your Backup Set Name (1-Backup Set A in our example). If that disk is unavailable, you should insert the next earliest member of the backup set.
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Figure 3A: Member Selection
Once your disk has been inserted it should appear in the media request window. Select your inserted disk and click “OK” (Figure 3A).
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Figure 3B: Forget
Note: Not all users will receive this dialog box.

For those that are asked, “There is already a known backup set named Backup Set A. Recreate a new catalog anyway, forgetting the existing one,” you must click “OK” to proceed with the catalog rebuild process.
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Figure 4: Save Catalog Window
You will next be prompted to save your catalog file to the hard disk (Figure 4). The default location is “My Documents” or the “Retrospect” folder.
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Figure 4A: Replace Catalog Window
If your hard disk already contains a file with a name identical to your catalog file name, you may be asked if it is safe to replace that file on the hard disk. You typically can replace the item you are saving, or choose a different location to keep the old file with this name, as well as begin the rebuild to a new file.
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Figure 5: Building Catalog
Once the catalog file has been saved to the hard disk, Retrospect will begin the catalog rebuild process (Figure 5).

You should start to see the names of your files appear on the screen within a few minutes.

If the file names do not change, or if at any point in the process the text “Resynchronizing (Slow)” appears on the screen for more than a few minutes, please consult our Knowledgebase and other online technical resources.
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Figure 6: More Members Window
When Retrospect reaches the end of the first disk or tape you will be prompted with this dialog box.

If you have additional tapes or disks (members) in this backup set that need to be recataloged, then click Yes. If you do not have any additional members to rebuild, click No.

If you select No, then you have completed the catalog rebuild process.

If you select Yes, then prepare to insert the disk or tape.
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Figure 6A: Next Member Request
If you selected Yes to the previous dialog box, you will be prompted to insert the next member of your backup set (Figure 6A). You may need to manually eject the first disk or tape.

Once you insert the next member, Retrospect will automatically continue with the catalog rebuild process, displaying changes in file names. Over time the number of files and MB completed should change.
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Figure 7: No More Members
When you have inserted all of the members that need rebuilding, click No (Figure 7).
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Figure 8: Recatalog Finished
When the rebuild completes, you should have a dialog box similar to this one (Figure 8).

You should now be safe to perform future backup or restore operations with this backup set.
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