3.11 Vrepair 1

[52chev]

We have a Netware 3.11 server that has eaten it's drive. I was able to find a backup drive but when I power it up I get the message that volume sys could not be mounted.
From looking at the forums I have found that I need to run vrepair so I followed some of the threads and input the name of the server and a hex number for the internal network number. I then typed in load vrepair and get the message "unable to find load file vrepair".

I don't have the media for the server does anyone have a copy of VRepair and can they tell me how to load it or tell me the next step?

Thanks,
52chev

 

[Provogeek]

The vrepair is located in the DOS partition, and the folder would be the same server.exe starts from (c:\nwserver or just c:\server) If you have long name space or Apple name space you will need the vrepair modules for those name spaces (should also be included).

If DOS boots, chances are the hard drive hardware is okay. You just need to fix the Netware volume. Any idea why it went belly up in the first place? would suck to fix it and have the same issue shortly after.

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[JockMullin]

Provogeek is correct; vrepair.nlm should be in the DOS partition.

If you can't locate it, post back. I have a copy and can give you ftp credentials to download.

Jock

 

[52chev]

Gentlemen,
Thanks for the info.
I started the server and then downed it and exit to DOS.
Did a DIR and there is no vrepair.nlm in the folder, so it looks like I will need a copy of vrepair.

I am not sure why the drive went belly up as it was something I found stuffed in a far corner of the storage cabinet.

Thanks for all the help you could really be saving the day as this server is vital to the running of our business.

 

[JockMullin]

Hi 52chev

OK, email me at my handle (at) gmail.com and I will reply with the nlm as an attachment.
I will rename it to vrepair.xxx so it doesn't run afoul of email attachment filters.

It is only 91K as it turns out, so quite email-able.
Save it in the same directory as server.exe, rename it to vrepair.nlm.

Best of luck; that drive sounds questionable - if it works clone it.

Jock

 

[52chev]

Jock,
I loaded Vrepair onto a floppy and then brought the server up and followed the following instructions:
Now you should be returned to a Colon prompt ( : ). At this prompt you will need toload the VRepair program. If you do not have a colon prompt, change to the Consolescreen by executing a Ctrl-Esc and entering the number to choose the Console screen.To do this there are 2 methods. A) Type LOAD C:VREPAIR

I got the VRepair screen and chose option 1 repair a volume.

when I hit enter I get the following message:
There are no volumes defined
<Press any key to continue>

Did I do something wrong? or am I out of luck?

Thanks
52chev

 

[JockMullin]

It doesn't sound good - either there is no netware partition on that drive or it is corrupt.

Does the DOS partition have fdisk.exe in it, or do you have a DOS boot diskette?
If so, run fdisk and see what partitions are defined on the drive.
You should see a small primary DOS partition (the one being booted) and another much larger unknown partition. That would be the Novell partition.

I'm guessing whoever made that drive backup only copied the DOS partition across, or the drive was put in the closet because the netware partition was corrupt.

What is the status of the "current" drive?

Jock

 

[52chev]

Jock,
I am not sure which drive you are referring to as the "current" drive, If you mean the one that was originally in the server it is totally toast.
I had a data recovery place look at it and they could not pull any information from it. the heads had worn clear through the shiny surface of the disk and had gone into the "meat" of the disk in several places, they were unable to recover any information from it.

As for fdisk I was able to run it and here is what it shows.
Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
C: 1 A PRI DOS INTREPID 10 Fat12 0%
2 Non-Dos 1022 13%

Total disk space is 8025 Mbytes

Yes it is a very small and old drive.

Thanks,
52chev

 

[JockMullin]

Well, that non-dos partition looks like the Netware partition; it is a gig in size and that sounds about right.

However, the only way to see what / if any volumes are in there would be to use the Netware install.nlm - that does not normally reside in the DOS partition. Do you have the Novell diskettes, by any chance (there should be about 12 of them).

If you do, install.nlm is in the one labelled SYSTEM_1.

This is the utility used to allocate and maintain Netware partitions and volumes in Novell 3.x.

Jock

 

[52chev]

The diskettes seem to have been lost in some black hole a long time ago.

 

[JockMullin]

Hold on - I don't think we loaded a disk driver yet ... I am checking your other thread - yes, you have ide.dsk.

When you boot up the server and get the colon prompt, type LOAD IDE.DSK

That will likely ask you for port and/or interrupts, but should provide a default entry if you hit enter.

Once it loads, then load VREPAIR and try again. It can't access the Netware partition without a driver. Sorry, it has been years since I've done any of this stuff.

Jock

 

[52chev]

Jock,
No problem on the how long it's been, you are still way ahead of me.

When I go through the steps at the end of the prompts I get the message "Previously loaded module was used re-entrantly"

Not sure what this means but VRepair still says "There are no volumes defined".

52chev

 

[52chev]

I am running Vrepair off of the floppy using the command "LOAD A:VREPAIR"

IS this OK or do I need to get it onto the DOS Partition?

52chev

 

[JockMullin]

That means IDE.DSK was already loaded, it is probably defined in the .NCF file in the DOS partition, so we didn't accomplish anything there.

Loading vrepair from the floppy should be no different than loading from C:

OK, as our one last shot at this, I am going to email you install.nlm (it will also fit on that floppy. Then I am going to have to chase around and find docos for that utility - I have them but not here; hopefully I can find something online.

Will email shortly ...

Jock

 

[52chev]

Jock,
When I go to the Partition Tables I get a big red screen that says error report.
Description
DOS Partition (12 bit FATS) relative sector 63 and size 21105 do not match the ending cylinder 1, head 80 and sector 63.
SEVERITY
WARNING - Program execution may not continue normally

I press escape to continue and get:
Warning!! The partition table is being reinitialized. All previous device information may be lost if you indicate "Yes" in the confirm box that follows this message.

I hit escape and it asks if I want to "Create a new partition table.

I tell it no and it goes back to the main screen.

When I go to Volume Options it shows nothing under volumes.

I am thinking that we are out of luck?

Thanks,
52chev

 

[JockMullin]

Hi 52chev

Yes, I'm afraid that's all she wrote. It looks like the partition table on that drive is messed up. It's up to you if you want to let it try and reinit the partition table, but almost for sure that will result in the loss of the Netware partition.

I would only try that on a cloned copy of the drive, in which case you wouldn't destroy anything on the original and any disk problems on the original would be avoided. However finding a compatible drive to clone it onto will not be easy - that is a dinosaur.

Sorry the results aren't more positive. I think we just found out why the drive was in the closet.

Jock

 

[52chev]

Jock,
I think you are right, I will see if I can find a compatible drive (it may take awhile) but if nothing else this thread makes a great tutorial on how to trouble shoot a drive!

Thanks for all of your help and i will let you know if I find a drive

52chev