CSC - offline files - Lifesaving technique!

[TimeTraveller]

Hello All,

Heres a little War story to hopefully save you the same issue.

Server had gone awol - clients all using offline files

Rebuilt server all ok.

Had backed up the MY Documents on the PC's for the logged on user to a safe
location on the PC C: Drives.


Disjoined/rejoined new domain etc. all ok

Users start complaining that not all data is available in the now
synchronised My documents!!!!!

Previous Admin had not even taken a tape backup so I had nothing to put
back.

Investigating one of the PC's I looked at the FOLDER option in control panel
and viewed the OFFLINE FILES, sure enough there were the missing files!

Unfortunately I could not copy or open these documents.


This is the fix

get hold of: CSCCMD.EXE you will need to get the version 1.1 the freely
downloadable 1.0 version in the resouce kit does not offer the correct
feature.
I called PSS support and they emailed it to me.

Then it was easy, issue the following command and all will be good

CSCCMD /EXTRACT:\\server\users /Target:C:\Recovered

This lifed all files and folders out of the offline cache and I was able to
then copy them to the correct my documents folder and life is good again

Did Breathe a BIG sigh of relief!!!!

Even TT has issues occasionally luckily enough I usually get round them
somehow - By Hook or by crook - lol

They now have a tested BACKUP tape system in place, RAID 1 Mirrored Drives
and Shadow Copy as well as folder redirection etc. - Gives me a few more
recovery options for the future.

TT

[Dave Nickason [SBS MVP]]

Recovering files from the CSC has been a pain point for a lot of people. I
had understood that there was no way to get the files from the cache after
rejoining a different domain. It's great to know that's no longer the case.

Features and functions in version 1.1 of the Client-Side Caching
Command-Line Options command-line tool
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;884739

I'm guessing (hoping) this would be a free PSS call?

Post by TimeTraveller
Hello All,
Heres a little War story to hopefully save you the same issue.
Server had gone awol - clients all using offline files
Rebuilt server all ok.
Had backed up the MY Documents on the PC's for the logged on user to a
safe location on the PC C: Drives.
Disjoined/rejoined new domain etc. all ok
Users start complaining that not all data is available in the now
synchronised My documents!!!!!
Previous Admin had not even taken a tape backup so I had nothing to put
back.
Investigating one of the PC's I looked at the FOLDER option in control
panel and viewed the OFFLINE FILES, sure enough there were the missing
files!
Unfortunately I could not copy or open these documents.
This is the fix
get hold of: CSCCMD.EXE you will need to get the version 1.1 the freely
downloadable 1.0 version in the resouce kit does not offer the correct
feature.
I called PSS support and they emailed it to me.
Then it was easy, issue the following command and all will be good
CSCCMD /EXTRACT:\\server\users /Target:C:\Recovered
This lifed all files and folders out of the offline cache and I was able
to then copy them to the correct my documents folder and life is good
again
Did Breathe a BIG sigh of relief!!!!
Even TT has issues occasionally luckily enough I usually get round them
somehow - By Hook or by crook - lol
They now have a tested BACKUP tape system in place, RAID 1 Mirrored Drives
and Shadow Copy as well as folder redirection etc. - Gives me a few more
recovery options for the future.
TT

[TimeTraveller]

Hi Dave,

It turned out to be a free call after explaining that it was a new tool that
is documented in kb article etc.

If you want to test it I can let you have the file.

Pity we couldnt put this sort of thing on the SBS websites for others!

Not sure why MS have not just made it downloadable anyway.

TT

Post by Dave Nickason [SBS MVP]
Recovering files from the CSC has been a pain point for a lot of people.
I had understood that there was no way to get the files from the cache
after rejoining a different domain. It's great to know that's no longer
the case.
Features and functions in version 1.1 of the Client-Side Caching
Command-Line Options command-line tool
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;884739
I'm guessing (hoping) this would be a free PSS call?

Post by TimeTraveller
Hello All,
Heres a little War story to hopefully save you the same issue.
Server had gone awol - clients all using offline files
Rebuilt server all ok.
Had backed up the MY Documents on the PC's for the logged on user to a
safe location on the PC C: Drives.
Disjoined/rejoined new domain etc. all ok
Users start complaining that not all data is available in the now
synchronised My documents!!!!!
Previous Admin had not even taken a tape backup so I had nothing to put
back.
Investigating one of the PC's I looked at the FOLDER option in control
panel and viewed the OFFLINE FILES, sure enough there were the missing
files!
Unfortunately I could not copy or open these documents.
This is the fix
get hold of: CSCCMD.EXE you will need to get the version 1.1 the freely
downloadable 1.0 version in the resouce kit does not offer the correct
feature.
I called PSS support and they emailed it to me.
Then it was easy, issue the following command and all will be good
CSCCMD /EXTRACT:\\server\users /Target:C:\Recovered
This lifed all files and folders out of the offline cache and I was able
to then copy them to the correct my documents folder and life is good
again
Did Breathe a BIG sigh of relief!!!!
Even TT has issues occasionally luckily enough I usually get round them
somehow - By Hook or by crook - lol
They now have a tested BACKUP tape system in place, RAID 1 Mirrored
Drives and Shadow Copy as well as folder redirection etc. - Gives me a
few more recovery options for the future.
TT

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Post by TimeTraveller
Hello All,
Heres a little War story to hopefully save you the same issue.
Server had gone awol - clients all using offline files
Rebuilt server all ok.
Had backed up the MY Documents on the PC's for the logged on user to a
safe location on the PC C: Drives.
Disjoined/rejoined new domain etc. all ok
Users start complaining that not all data is available in the now
synchronised My documents!!!!!
Previous Admin had not even taken a tape backup so I had nothing to put
back.
Investigating one of the PC's I looked at the FOLDER option in control
panel and viewed the OFFLINE FILES, sure enough there were the missing
files!
Unfortunately I could not copy or open these documents.
This is the fix
get hold of: CSCCMD.EXE you will need to get the version 1.1 the freely
downloadable 1.0 version in the resouce kit does not offer the correct
feature.
I called PSS support and they emailed it to me.
Then it was easy, issue the following command and all will be good
CSCCMD /EXTRACT:\\server\users /Target:C:\Recovered
This lifed all files and folders out of the offline cache and I was able
to then copy them to the correct my documents folder and life is good
again
Did Breathe a BIG sigh of relief!!!!
Even TT has issues occasionally luckily enough I usually get round them
somehow - By Hook or by crook - lol
They now have a tested BACKUP tape system in place, RAID 1 Mirrored Drives
and Shadow Copy as well as folder redirection etc. - Gives me a few more
recovery options for the future.
TT

Good to know, thanks. However, I always disable offline files (on shares &
via group policy on clients) anyway - I don't like 'em.

[todd5574]

How can I get this csccmd.exe 1.1 file? I called Microsoft PSS and they said
they have the file, but I have to pay $245 for a support call to get it. Any
chance you can email me the file or post it on a site somewhere?

Thanks!

Todd

Post by Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

Post by TimeTraveller
Hello All,
Heres a little War story to hopefully save you the same issue.
Server had gone awol - clients all using offline files
Rebuilt server all ok.
Had backed up the MY Documents on the PC's for the logged on user to a
safe location on the PC C: Drives.
Disjoined/rejoined new domain etc. all ok
Users start complaining that not all data is available in the now
synchronised My documents!!!!!
Previous Admin had not even taken a tape backup so I had nothing to put
back.
Investigating one of the PC's I looked at the FOLDER option in control
panel and viewed the OFFLINE FILES, sure enough there were the missing
files!
Unfortunately I could not copy or open these documents.
This is the fix
get hold of: CSCCMD.EXE you will need to get the version 1.1 the freely
downloadable 1.0 version in the resouce kit does not offer the correct
feature.
I called PSS support and they emailed it to me.
Then it was easy, issue the following command and all will be good
CSCCMD /EXTRACT:\\server\users /Target:C:\Recovered
This lifed all files and folders out of the offline cache and I was able
to then copy them to the correct my documents folder and life is good
again
Did Breathe a BIG sigh of relief!!!!
Even TT has issues occasionally luckily enough I usually get round them
somehow - By Hook or by crook - lol
They now have a tested BACKUP tape system in place, RAID 1 Mirrored Drives
and Shadow Copy as well as folder redirection etc. - Gives me a few more
recovery options for the future.
TT

Good to know, thanks. However, I always disable offline files (on shares &
via group policy on clients) anyway - I don't like 'em.

[Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]]

They're charging you? Did you reference the following KB when you asked for
the utility?

Features and functions in version 1.1 of the Client-Side Caching
Command-Line Options command-line tool
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;884739
--
Merv Porter [SBS MVP]
===================================

Post by todd5574
How can I get this csccmd.exe 1.1 file? I called Microsoft PSS and they said
they have the file, but I have to pay $245 for a support call to get it.
Any
chance you can email me the file or post it on a site somewhere?
Thanks!
Todd

Post by Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

Post by TimeTraveller
Hello All,
Heres a little War story to hopefully save you the same issue.
Server had gone awol - clients all using offline files
Rebuilt server all ok.
Had backed up the MY Documents on the PC's for the logged on user to a
safe location on the PC C: Drives.
Disjoined/rejoined new domain etc. all ok
Users start complaining that not all data is available in the now
synchronised My documents!!!!!
Previous Admin had not even taken a tape backup so I had nothing to put
back.
Investigating one of the PC's I looked at the FOLDER option in control
panel and viewed the OFFLINE FILES, sure enough there were the missing
files!
Unfortunately I could not copy or open these documents.
This is the fix
get hold of: CSCCMD.EXE you will need to get the version 1.1 the freely
downloadable 1.0 version in the resouce kit does not offer the correct
feature.
I called PSS support and they emailed it to me.
Then it was easy, issue the following command and all will be good
CSCCMD /EXTRACT:\\server\users /Target:C:\Recovered
This lifed all files and folders out of the offline cache and I was able
to then copy them to the correct my documents folder and life is good
again
Did Breathe a BIG sigh of relief!!!!
Even TT has issues occasionally luckily enough I usually get round them
somehow - By Hook or by crook - lol
They now have a tested BACKUP tape system in place, RAID 1 Mirrored Drives
and Shadow Copy as well as folder redirection etc. - Gives me a few more
recovery options for the future.
TT

Good to know, thanks. However, I always disable offline files (on shares &
via group policy on clients) anyway - I don't like 'em.

[todd5574]

Yes I did. They said that this was not technically a hotfix and that I
needed to speak with technical support. I was persistant and I kept calling
back the PSS and finally I got someone who gave me a free support call to get
the file. It took a couple hours, but I finally got the file and was able to
extract the lost files.

Thanks

Post by Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
They're charging you? Did you reference the following KB when you asked for
the utility?
Features and functions in version 1.1 of the Client-Side Caching
Command-Line Options command-line tool
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;884739
--
Merv Porter [SBS MVP]
===================================

Post by todd5574
How can I get this csccmd.exe 1.1 file? I called Microsoft PSS and they said
they have the file, but I have to pay $245 for a support call to get it.
Any
chance you can email me the file or post it on a site somewhere?
Thanks!
Todd

Post by Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

Post by TimeTraveller
Hello All,
Heres a little War story to hopefully save you the same issue.
Server had gone awol - clients all using offline files
Rebuilt server all ok.
Had backed up the MY Documents on the PC's for the logged on user to a
safe location on the PC C: Drives.
Disjoined/rejoined new domain etc. all ok
Users start complaining that not all data is available in the now
synchronised My documents!!!!!
Previous Admin had not even taken a tape backup so I had nothing to put
back.
Investigating one of the PC's I looked at the FOLDER option in control
panel and viewed the OFFLINE FILES, sure enough there were the missing
files!
Unfortunately I could not copy or open these documents.
This is the fix
get hold of: CSCCMD.EXE you will need to get the version 1.1 the freely
downloadable 1.0 version in the resouce kit does not offer the correct
feature.
I called PSS support and they emailed it to me.
Then it was easy, issue the following command and all will be good
CSCCMD /EXTRACT:\\server\users /Target:C:\Recovered
This lifed all files and folders out of the offline cache and I was able
to then copy them to the correct my documents folder and life is good
again
Did Breathe a BIG sigh of relief!!!!
Even TT has issues occasionally luckily enough I usually get round them
somehow - By Hook or by crook - lol
They now have a tested BACKUP tape system in place, RAID 1 Mirrored Drives
and Shadow Copy as well as folder redirection etc. - Gives me a few more
recovery options for the future.
TT

Good to know, thanks. However, I always disable offline files (on shares &
via group policy on clients) anyway - I don't like 'em.