Notes At Launch For MacOS X:
Because of the completely different design of MacOS X compared to MacOS 9, a few things specific to MacOS X must be mentioned before using VirtualLabª. Accessing drives at a low-level requires an administrator password on MacOS X. Upon launching VirtualLab in MacOS X you will be presented with a dialog asking for an administrators user name and password. If you do not enter this information, VirtualLab will quit.
If this is your first time launching VirtualLab on MacOS X, you will be asked for your password twice. This is required to allow VirtualLab to authorize an internal tool to access your drives at a low-level. Because of a bug in Apple's Security API, the second dialog asking for a password may close before you finish entering the user name and password. If this happens, quit VirtualLab and relaunch it. VirtualLab will then ask for your password again and continue on with the launching process. (You will only have to enter your password once upon launching VirtualLab after this unless you reinstall VirtualLab).
Installing and Running VirtualLab
Step #1 Choose A Session Method
After launching VirtualLab you will be presented with this Welcome screen. Based on what information you already have received from Total Recall and what you would like to do, please follow these instructions.
1) If you have not received a Session ID and Password from Total Recall, proceed to Step #2
2) If you have a Session ID and Password but do not have a Saved Session file, proceed to Step #3
3) If you have a Saved Session file, proceed to Step #4
Step #2 Start A New Demonstration Session
Since you have not received any Session ID or Password information, you will need to create a temporary session on the VirtualLab Server.
To do so, select the 'Demo Mode' option on the Welcome screen and click the 'Next >>' button. From here you will see the following screen:
If you are behind a firewall and need to set up Proxy information, proceed to Step #5 and then return to this Step. There is more detail regarding Proxy late rin this section
After setting up any necessary Proxy information, click 'Connect'. This will bring you to a screen that will display your login status. Proceed to Step #6 for more information.
Step #3 Start A New Session With An Existing Session ID And Password
Since you have received any Session ID or Password information, but do not have a Saved Session file (you may have deleted it) you will have to login using the Session ID and Password given to you by Total Recall.
To do so, select the 'Start a new VirtualLab Recovery' option on the Welcome screen and click the 'Next >>' button. From here you will see the following screen:
Enter the appropriate information in the Session ID and Password fields.
If you are behind a firewall and need to set up Proxy information, proceed to Step #5 and then return to this Step.
Click the 'Connect' button and proceed to Step #6.
Step #4 Load An Existing Session File
Since you have a Saved Session file (you may have deleted it) you will need to load it into VirtualLab.
To do so, select the 'Load an Existing VirtualLab' option on the Welcome screen and click the 'Choose' button that will now be enabled. From here you will see the following screen:
Choose the session file you wish to load and click 'Open'. If the session file is valid, you will see a screen similar to this:
Click on the 'Next >>' button and you will be presented with the Login Screen.
If you are behind a firewall and need to set up Proxy information, proceed to Step #5 and then return to this Step.
Click the 'Connect' button and proceed to Step #6.
Step #5 Set Up Proxy Information
This step will inform you on how to enable a Proxy connection to the VirtualLab Server. If you have followed the Steps properly up to here, you should be at the Login Screen. If you are not, please go back to the first Step and work your way to the Login Screen.
Click the 'Advanced Settings' button above the 'Connect' button and you will be presented with the following options:
If you need to connect via a proxy check the main checkbox, otherwise leave it unchecked.
Select SOCKS 4 or SOCKS 5 as the proxy type (contact your Server Administrator for proxy information)
Enter the proxys address and port in the specified boxes.
If your proxy requires a Login and Password (SOCKS 5) or a Password (SOCKS 4) check the secondary checkbox and enter the appropriate information.
Click 'OK' when you are finished making changes.
Step #6 Connect And Login To The VirtualLabª Server
Reaching this step you have successfully started a VirtualLab session and are connecting to the VirtualLab Server. You should see a window like the one below.
This window will be displayed as your connection to the VirtualLab Server is verified along with your Session ID and Password (if you have entered one). Any error that occurs at this point will be displayed and you may contact VirtualLab Support if you have questions.
The padlock icon appears after making a secure connection to the VirtualLabª Server (all data is encrypted using 192bit AES encryption).
Once the login completes successfully, this window will close and VirtualLab will begin scanning your computer for all attached drives.
Step #7 Scan For Connected Drives
During this Step, VirtualLab will be scanning all busses of your computer to find attached hard drives and removable media drives (CDROM, Zip, etc). You will initially be presented with the following window:
Each time a drive is found, VirtualLab will alert you to its presence.
After all drives are found, VirtualLab will scan each drive for available volumes. Again, you will be alerted each time a new volume is found.
After VirtualLab has finished scanning for drives and volumes, this window will close and you will be presented with the Main Recovery Window.
Step #8 Create/Save A Session File
If you have Loaded an Existing Session, please skip to Step #9.
If you have started this session in 'Demo Mode' you will see this next window.
This dialog contains the Session ID and Password that you should use until it expires. It would be a good idea to write this information down. (You can view this information again by going to the File Menu and selecting the Show Session Info menu item).
Next, VirtualLab will require you to save a Session File which you should use when starting VirtualLab for the most efficient operation.
Make sure not to ignore this warning. If the Session File is saved on a drive you are attempting to recover, data may be overwritten. You will be asked where to save the Session File after closing this dialog.
You may not skip this step. For full functionality, VirtualLab requires access to a Saved Session file so make sure you have a drive that is not being recovered that is both unlocked and has at least 50MB of free space.
After successfully saving
the Session File you may continue to Step #9.
Step #9 Overview Of The Recovery Window
There are 4 main parts to the Recovery Window:
1) Drive List - This lists all available drives that may be able to be recovered
2) Information Box - Displays any pertinent information to the current recovery step
3) Recovery Options - Allows you to select a method of varying intensity/results for the drive you wish to recover
4) Statistics - Shows vital information about the current session
Step #9a Drive Selection
In this list, all drives and volumes VirtualLab was able to find in Step #7 will be listed. If the drive you wish to recover is not listed, first make sure the drive is connected and powered on. If the drive still does not appear under the name you are expecting, it may be damaged. View all of the drives in the list and look for any drive labeled 'Unknown Drive' as this may very well be the drive you wish to recover. If the drive's size matches the drive you wish to recover select it and proceed to Step #9b. If no drive seems to match the criteria you are looking for you may have one more option. MacOS X has much better low level drive support and may be able to locate your drive if you are currently running the MacOS 9 version of VirtualLab, if this is the case, try running the VirtualLab client for MacOS X before contacting support.
After selecting the drive you wish to recovery, proceed to Step #9b.
Step #9b Choose Appropriate Recovery Options
VirtualLab has the
following Recover and Undelete options. (You may navigate to either Recover or Undelete by using the 'Recovery Method' popup menu). 
Description of Recovery Options:
Recover
Quick Scan - Scans the existing Catalog and Extent trees (Best to recover from drives that are damaged but still mount)
Scrub Scan - Locates all existing Catalog and Extent trees on a drive (Best to recover multiple partitions from a drive after a partition map becomes corrupted and drive refuses to mount)
Scavenge Scan - Locates all fragments of Catalog and Extent trees (Best to recover a reinitialized drive or to find files that a Quick or Scrub scan failed to locate)
Undelete
Fast Undelete - Uses the Volume Bitmap to determine which allocation blocks on a drive are used. (Best to find recently deleted files or to find all files faster than a Signature Scan)
Signature Scan Ð Scans every sector of the drive for specific file information. (Best to recover specific types of files from a reinitialized drive when a Scrub or Scavenge Scan fails to recover valid data).
Other Options
Search For Volume Info - If you receive an error that no Volume Information could be found on a drive while trying to use an Undelete
Scan or a Quick Scan, you can select this option to have VirtualLab attempt to locate a valid Volume Information Block (VIB) for you.
Skip Bad Sectors (MacOS 9 ONLY) - If VirtualLabª hangs or crashes while scanning or recovering a drive, you can select this option to directly access the drivers for the selected drive. (Note: This will increase scan and recovery time significantly).
After completing Steps #9a and #9b, click the 'Recovery Drive' button and proceed to the next Step accordingly.
If you have selected the 'Search For Volume Info' option, proceed to Step #12 and then return to this Step.
For Fast Undelete go to Step #10a
For Signature Scan go to Step #10b
For Quick Scan go to Step #11a
For Scrub Scan go to Step #11b
For Scavenge Scan go to Step #11c
Step #10a - Fast Undelete
Upon clicking the 'Recover Drive' button, you will be presented with the following window.
In this dialog, you will want to select only the types of files you want to recover. (You may use the Select All or Select None buttons for convenience). If a file type you need is not listed, click the 'Add' button and proceed to Step #13.
After selecting all of the file types you wish to recover, you may additionally select whether you want to find files that have been erased from the drive, are still available on the drive, or both by using the checkboxes at the bottom of the window.
When finished, click 'OK' and proceed to Step #10c.
Step #10a - Signature Scan
Upon clicking the Recover Drive button, you will be presented with the following window.
In this dialog, you will want to select only the types of files you want to recover. (You may use the Select All or Select None buttons for convenience). If a file type you need is not listed, click the 'Add' button and proceed to Step #13.
When finished, click 'OK' and proceed to Step #10c.
Step #10c - Undelete Scan Progress
After choosing which file types to recover and closing that window, VirtualLab will begin scanning the selected drive using the method you chose in a previous step.
Depending on your drive size and whether you chose Fast Undelete or Signature Scan (Signature Scan usually takes 3-4 times longer to scan) you may have to wait up to an hour or more while VirtualLab scans. During the scan progress, you will be updated by VirtualLab with the current count of files successfully located. If you think VirtualLabª has found all of the files you wish to recover before the scan is complete, you may click 'Cancel' at any time.
After this scan completes or you click Cancel, proceed to Step #14a
Step #11a - Quick Scan
There are no special options for a Quick Scan. After clicking 'Recover Drive' VirtualLabª will immediately begin scanning the drive.
You may cancel this scan at any time and view the files and folders VirtualLab has already found.
Proceed to Step #14b
Step #11b - Scrub Scan
There are no special options for a Scrub Scan. After clicking 'Recover Drive' VirtualLabª will immediately begin scanning the drive.
You may cancel this scan at any time and view the files and folders VirtualLab has already found.
Proceed to Step #14b
Step #11c - Scavenge Scan
There are no special options for a Scavenge Scan. After clicking 'Recover Drive' VirtualLabª will immediately begin scanning the drive.
You may cancel this scan at any time and view the files and folders VirtualLab has already found.
Proceed to Step #14b
Step #12 - Search For Volume Information
This step tells how to interact with VirtualLab to find a Volume Information Block (VIB) on a drive that VirtualLab cannot find initially. You will be presented with the following window after clicking Recover Drive
These options are for advanced users. If you do not understand any of them, skip them altogether.
Options:
Start Search At Sector Specifies where to initially start a search for a VIB on a drive (the higher the number the farther into the drive the scan begins)
Maximum Total Volume Size Specifies the largest volume you wish to find (Larger volumes will be ignored)
Minimum Total Volume Size Specifies the smallest volume you wish to find (Smaller volumes will be ignored)
Accept Only This HFS Format If you would only like to find HFS+ (HFS Extended) or HFS (HFS Classic) select the menu item that corresponds with what you wish to search for.
Note: Any of these options are only used if their corresponding checkbox is checked.
After clicking OK, VirtualLab will begin a scan on the drive for VIBs. Upon finding a VIB that matches the criteria in the VIB Search Options dialog, you will be presented with the following window.
Review information in this dialog and act accordingly. If this VIB seems to match the drive you're looking for closely or exactly, click 'Yes'. Otherwise if you wish to keep scanning for a VIB click 'Keep Searching'. If you wish to give up searching for a VIB and use another scan method such as Scrub or Scavenge click 'No & Cancel Search'.
If you have found a valid VIB, click 'Yes' and return to the previous Step.
Step #13 - Add a New File Type Signature
After clicking the 'Add' button you will be presented with this window.
Before proceeding make sure you have AT LEAST 5 files of the type you wish to create a signature for. DO NOT DUPLICATE A SINGLE FILE 5 TIMES AND EXPECT IT TO WORK! All 5 files need to be unique. The more files you have, the more accurate the signature will be.
After making sure you have at least 5 unique files of the type you wish to add, click 'Select File' and find one of them. VirtualLab will automatically search for more files of the same type and then attempt to generate a signature. If a signature could be generated, you will be asked to name it.
Enter a name and click OK. The new signature will automatically be selected as a type to be recovered.
Return to the previous Step.
Step #14a Undelete File Selection
After the scan has finished you will be presented with a list of recoverable files.
If there are 'dots' next to some of the files that you wish to know about, go to Step 15 and then return to this Step.
View the files and if the files you wish to recover are present select them.
If you have already purchased Recovery Quota/Credit, you may click Recover Files and proceed to Step 16.
If you need to purchase Recovery Quota/Credit or add more Quota/Credit, click 'Order Now!' or 'Add Quota' and a browser window will launch. Make sure you have your Session ID handy at the time.
Step #14b - Recovery File Selection
After the scan has finished you will be presented with a list of recoverable files.
If there are 'dots' next to some of the files that you wish to know about, go to Step 15 and then return to this Step.
View the files and if the files you wish to recover are present select them.
If you have already purchased Recovery Quota/Credit, you may click Recover Files and proceed to Step 16.
If you need to purchase Recovery Quota/Credit or add more Quota/Credit, click 'Order Now!' or 'Add Quota' and a browser window will launch. Make sure you have your Session ID handy at the time.
Step #15 - 'Dots' or Recovered Item Status
Upon reaching the File Selection window, you may notice ÒdotsÓ next to file names that weren't there before. If there are dots they are there because you have recently run a recovery with this file list.
What each of these statuses mean:
Recovered Recently - This file/folder was successfully recovered in the most recent recovery session
Recovered Previously - This file/folder was successfully recovered during a prior session
Partially Recovered - This file was interrupted during a recovery session and only part of the data is recovered OR this folder does not have all files contained recovered
Error Occurred - An error occurred the last time this file was attempted to be recovered OR there was a file in this folder that was not recovered successfully.
If you select 'Skip Files That Have Already Been Recovered' on the Select Files screen, both files that were Recovered Recently or Recovered Previously will be skipped. (This does NOT include folders as the folder hierarchy will always be accurately recreated).
Step 16 - Recovering Your Files
After all the files you wish to recover are selected and you have purchased Recovery Quota/Credit, click the -Recover Files- button. You will then be shown the following warning.
You will be selecting a DESTINATION for the files you have selected. So follow this warning and select a drive that you are NOT recovering.
After selecting the Drive or Folder you wish to have the Recovered Files saved in, proceed to Step 16a if you are performing an Undelete or proceed to Step 16b if you are performing a Recover.
Step 16a - Undelete Recovery Progress
This screen shows the current progress of your recovery. You may cancel the recovery at any time.
If errors occur during recovery, a Log Window will be displayed to inform you. You may also view the log at any time by choosing 'Open Log' from the File Menu.
Step 16b - Recover Recovery Progress
This screen shows the current progress of your recovery. You may cancel the recovery at any time.
If errors occur during recovery, a Log Window will be displayed to inform you. You may also view the log at any time by choosing Open Log from the File Menu.
Step #17 - Recovery Complete
After VirtualLabª has finished recovering the files or you click 'Cancel' you will be presented with the following dialog.
If the number of errors is not zero, view the Log Window for information. If possible, save information from the Log Window to a Text File and send it with any VirtualLab Support Emails.
The final window will look similar to this:
You have successfully recovered your files if you have reached this point! Click 'Select More Files' if you are not finished. Otherwise 'Return to Drive Selection' to recover another drive or quit VirtualLabª.