-
Need help restoring an old BRU PE tape
I’ve emailed OWC customer support (without response) and read through the other threads I could find that show command line options, but I’m running into errors I haven’t found elsewhere and could use any help anyone can provide.
I have a client from about 5 years ago desperate to dig up an old project that’s been archived using Bru PE. I still have a drive to read the tape, but have long since moved on to Big Sur and no longer can install Bru as a result. I’ve installed the trial for Argest, but the Import Tool fails (shows that it works, then shows the tape as having been imported, but the individual catalogs aren’t available and don’t have names.)
So then I moved to just trying command line. I can rewind the tape, find the buffer size, and then cd to the restore folder. But when I try this command:
bru -xvvvvf ntape0 -b 131072
or any variations on it (adding -PA at the end, changing xvvvvf to xvvf), I always get this error:
bru: [W058] “/Library/Application Support/Argest Backup/etc/brutap”: can’t access for read: errno = 2, No such file or directory
(And indeed, I’d noticed that there is no Argest Backup folder in my Application Support folder, because I went looking for it to see if there were catalog files there when I tried the Argest Tape Import Tool.)
Then it gives another error a bunch of times:
bru: [I277] Error setting extended file attribute of ‘/’: errno = 1, Operation not permitted
Then after a few other miscellaneous errors, it starts listing every file on the tape but then giving this error for every one:
bru: [W042] “./Volumes/[path&filename]”: warning – error setting owner/group: errno = 1, Operation not permitted
I’ve tried changing the drive and directory I’m attempting to restore to, I’ve tried attempting to change the name of the restore drive to the name of the original drive the files were archived from. Nothing helps.
Anyone out there able to give any directions?
Thanks!
-
5 Replies
-
I think your best bet is to take this tape to an older system with MacOS 10.15 or lower, install Bru on it. Its free for restore anyway. I don’t think the Tolis site offers Bru for download any more, but you could get it from someone who has a running system.
I think I may have an old download of Bru-PE that I could loan to you. Its free to read and write for 30 days and free to restore forever.
Neil
-
Thanks for the suggestion Neil. I don’t have an older system but I have wondered whether I could install an older version of OSX on an external drive as a bootable installation and run Bru from there. Any reason you know of Bru wouldn’t work from an external drive install?
-
unfortunately OWC’s Argest is just as buggy as Tollis’ Argest, and no where near as stable as BRU was.
I have old tollis installers for bru and their last Argest version kicking around somewhere but i would suggest looking into virtualizing an old mac setup and trying to get BRU running on that.
Did you try manually creating the Argest folder.
On mac, mine is Library/Application support/ArGest Backup with subfolders for tapes and catalogs. Makes a great case for creating the rosetta stones when doing archives for clients.
It doesn’t surprise me the tape import tool doesn’t work. I had to manually copy my catalogs and tapes across when i switched from Tollis bru to tollis Argest, and from what i see in the bugs, OWC has done very little in the year they have had access to the code.
If the client is desperate, and old mac on EBay might also be the solution… or a rental unit.
I’m sure they are around somewhere.
I’d say ship the tape over, but that would take quite a while. Perhaps a callout in your local area for other users.
-
I realized I don’t currently have a machine I’m able to load an old version of OSX onto because my machines are both now m1 machines. I’ll try manually creating the folder structure when I get a chance. Appreciate you noting the specific path. Right now the client is trying to decide whether to pay for the work to recreate the old project, so it’s on hold for the moment. Still never did get a response from OWC/Argest support. Super confidence-inspiring!
-
Yes I’ve been dealing with owc support for 6 months…it has been brutal. Took over 4 months to get my license key.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up