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Ditto Tools for NT, Version 2.0
  

c 1997 Iomega Corporation. All rights reserved.
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This file contains important information which supplements
the User Guide and On-line Help.

The following subjects are discussed:

     1.   Do Not Use the Floppy Drive During Backup
     2.   DMA Conflict Problems
     3.   IRQ Conflicts
     4.   Power Management Conflicts
     5.   Maximum Parallel Port Cable Length
          (Problems with Printer Connections to PPT Drives) 
     6.   Potential Conflict with Screen Savers
     7.   Files Not Backed Up By Ditto Tools
     8.   Performance Issues on QIC-3020 Parallel Port Tape Drives
     9.   Controller Conflicts
    10.   Problems with National PC87306 Parallel Port Chip
    11.   Recommended Parallel Port Cards
    12.   Resetting the Ditto Tools Library
    13.   Problems scheduling backup of "My Computer"


   1.   Do Not Use the Floppy Drive During Backup
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If you are running the tape drive off of the floppy
controller, you cannot use the floppy drive until
the backup is finished.

   2.  DMA Conflict Problems
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Ditto Tools uses direct memory access (DMA) channels to
read and write data. Sometimes using a tape device that is
connected to the floppy controller causes conflicts with
the other devices using the same DMA channel.

   3.  IRQ Conflicts
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You may experience a conflict in IRQ selection if you are
configuring a parallel port tape drive on a system that
includes a sound card. SoundBlaster cards and compatibles use a
default IRQ of 7, which is also used by a printer port (LPT1).
If this conflict occurs, you can:

    *  Change your sound card's IRQ if possible. Some cards do
       not allow this change and some games may not work
       correctly.

    *  Check your system documentation to see if your parallel port
       can be configured to use a different interrupt.

Devices that may conflict with printer port interrupt:

       Sound Cards
       Scanner Cards
       Network Cards
       Bus Mice
       Other printer ports
       Other devices

   4.  Power Management Conflicts
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Some Desktop computer systems and laptops have power
management systems that take a "snapshot" of RAM and
turn off the hard drive. This will may create conflicts 
if it occurs during a backup, or restore, or a tape 
formatting operation.

When using Ditto Tools, it is recommended that you turn
OFF all power management features. If you're using
a laptop, avoid running power management features
by using an outlet rather than batteries.


   5.  Maximum Parallel Port Cable Length
       (Problems with Printer Connections to PPT Drives)
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Your parallel port tape drive should be connected directly to
your system's parallel port using the supplied cable. If you
use the pass-through connector on the drive to connect a 
second device such as a printer, the maximum cable length 
for both devices is approximately 10 feet (3 meters).

If you have difficulty using your tape drive when a second
device is connected to the pass-through connector, disconnect
the second device and its cable while using the tape drive.

If you experience data loss when using a printer connected to
the pass-through connector, shorten the printer's cable if
possible or disconnect the tape drive while printing.


If your printer is connected to the PPT tape drive, please check
the following:
   1. Make sure the PPT tape drive's power is on.
   2. During a printing operation, make sure you are not backing 
      up to any PPT devices.

  6.  Potential Conflict with Screen Savers
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Some screen savers will interfere with the operation of Ditto
Tools.  In addition, the screen savers may not activate while 
a backup, compare, or restore is running and Ditto Tools is 
minimized. For optimum performance, we recommend that you disable your
screen saver while using Ditto Tools. However, if you wish 
to use your screen saver, you must first make sure 
Ditto Tools is not minimized.


  7.  Files Not Backed Up by Ditto Tools
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Ditto Tools does not log or back up a number of files
to avoid potential system conflicts if they are restored.

  System Files
     	win386.swp
	pagefile.sys
	default
	default.log
	system
	system.alt
	software
	software.log
	sam
	sam.log
	ntuser.dat
	ntuser.dat.log

  Ditto Tools Library Files
	fileinfo.cdx
	fileinfo.dbf
	files.cdx
	files.dbf
	files.fpt
	files.stk
	tapes.cdx
	tapes.dbf
	tapes.fpt
	tapes.stk
	volumes.cdx
	volumes.dbf
	volumes.stk


  8.  Performance Issues on QIC-3020 Parallel Port Tape Drives
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If you have a QIC-3020 Parallel Port tape drive you may
experience a performance limitation, especially on
systems with unidirectional parallel ports. This combination
may not transfer data from the tape drive to the system fast
enough to allow the tape to run continuously, or "stream."
However, if you reformat the tape using the QIC-3010 format,
the tape will run at half the speed of a QIC-3020 and stream
more of the time. This will result in faster net restore times
and less wear on the tape drive, but will cut the tape's
capacity in half.

By default, the data rate has been set to 1Mb for Compare 
operations. You can manually set this to 2Mb in the 
Configuration options if your machine performes exceptionally
well.

  9.  Controller Conflicts
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The Promise 2300 EIDE VLB controller must run in fast
mode (/f parameter) in order to work with floppy tape drives.


  10.   Problems with National PC87306 Parallel Port Chip
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If your machine uses the National PC87306 parallel port chip, Ditto
Tools for NT cannot access your parallel tape drive. Install a parallel
port I/O card and disable the parallel port on the motherboard.

  11.   Recommended Parallel Port Cards
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If you experience performance problems with your parallel port tape
drive, you should consider buying an ECP/EPP parallel port card.

  12.   Resetting the Ditto Tools Library
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You can clear the Library by deleting the following files:

	fileinfo.cdx
	fileinfo.dbf
	files.cdx
	files.dbf
	files.fpt
	files.stk
	tapes.cdx
	tapes.dbf
	tapes.fpt
	tapes.stk
	volumes.cdx
	volumes.dbf
	volumes.stk

These files will be recreated by Ditto Tools for NT.

	
  13.   Problems scheduling backup of "My Computer"
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Occasionally you may encounter an error when attempting a 
scheduled backup of "My Computer". This usually occurs when
there is a CD-Rom drive selected for backup. Simply deselect the
CD-Rom or create a temporary file in the root directory of the
first hard drive for deselection. Save the File Selection Set and
reschedule the backup.

You should be aware that checking "My Computer" selects all visible
drives for backup. This includes CD-Rom drives, network shares, and 
removable media and may result in unnecessary backup of large amounts
of data.
