>>>> "Deepak" == Deepak Gupta <Gupta>
writes: 
    Deepak> Adrian,
    Deepak> When I tried M-x recover-all-files, I got the following message :-
    Deepak> "Wrong type argument: stringp, nil"
    Deepak> I also looked in ~/.autosave, but the directory was empty.
    Deepak> I've realised that my file backup setting is obviously not
    Deepak> right, since I have made changes to another file today &
    Deepak> the backup file is not being updated.
    Deepak> How do I turn on regular file backup ?
Hmmh, my setup is quite elaborate so I don't know much about default settings.
You may want to try
(setq backup-by-copying t)
That's all I found in my .emacs regarding backup.
For autosave I have these:
(setq auto-save-timeout 30)
(setq auto-save-interval 60)
(setq auto-save-offer-delete t)
Hope this helps,
Adrian
    Deepak> thanks,
    Deepak> Deepak 
    Deepak> -----Original Message-----
    Deepak> From: Adrian.Aichner(a)t-online.de [mailto:Adrian.Aichner@t-online.de]
    Deepak> Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 12:52 PM
    Deepak> To: Gupta, Deepak
    Deepak> Cc: 'xemacs-beta(a)xemacs.org'
    Deepak> Subject: Re: XEmacs replaced my source file with zero length file
>>>> "Deepak" == Deepak Gupta <Gupta>
writes: 
    Deepak> Dear Bug Team!
    Deepak> I'm using XEmacs-21.4.6 on Windows NT.
 
    Deepak> Windows was running out of memory, or maybe had already
    Deepak> run out of memory.
 
    Deepak> I was editing & then hit the save button, and Xemacs died
    Deepak> (along with the NT Task Manger !).
 
    Deepak> My source file became a zero length file & the backup "~"
file
    Deepak> was
    Deepak> several days old, so did not actually have my changes. There was
    Deepak> no
    Deepak> #<source file name># file !
    Deepak> Ouch!
    Deepak> I hope auto-save is working in your environment.
    Deepak> Try
    Deepak> M-x recover-all-files
    Deepak> Or just see whether there's anything in ~/.autosave, or perhaps in
    Deepak> ~/autosave.
    Deepak> Good Luck,
    Deepak> Adrian
 
    Deepak> ================================================================
 
    Deepak> System Info to help track down your bug:
    Deepak> ---------------------------------------
 
    Deepak> OS version: 
 
    Deepak> Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]
 
    Deepak> OS: Windows_NT
 
 
 
    Deepak> XEmacs 21.4.6 \"Common Lisp (Windows [1])\" configured for
    Deepak> `i586-pc-win32'.
 
 
 
    Deepak> Building XEmacs in \"f:\\xemacs\\xemacs-21.4-release\\nt\".
 
    Deepak> Using compiler \"cl -nologo -W3 -O2 -G5 -ML\".
 
    Deepak> Installing XEmacs in \"c:\\Program
    Deepak> Files\\XEmacs\\XEmacs-21.4.6\".
 
    Deepak> Package path is \"~\\.xemacs;;c:\\Program
    Deepak> Files\\XEmacs\\site-packages;c:\\Program
    Deepak> Files\\XEmacs\\xemacs-packages\".
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for Microsoft Windows native GUI.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for XPM images.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for GIF images.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for PNG images.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for TIFF images.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for JPEG images.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for X-Face message headers.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for toolbars.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for dialogs.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for widgets.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in support for native sounds.
 
    Deepak> Compiling in fast dired implementation.
 
    Deepak> Using minimal tagbits.
 
    Deepak> Using indexed lrecord implementation.
 
    Deepak> Using portable dumper.
 
 
 
    Deepak> Load-Path Lisp Shadows:
    Deepak> ----------------------
    Deepak> nil
 
    Deepak> Installed XEmacs Packages:
    Deepak> -------------------------
 
    Deepak> ((zenirc:version 1.13 :type regular)
    Deepak> (xslt-process :version 1.06 :type regular)
    Deepak> (xemacs-devel :version 1.4 :type single-file)
    Deepak> (xemacs-base :version 1.57 :type regular)
    Deepak> (w3 :version 1.21 :type regular)
    Deepak> (vm :version 7.02 :type regular)
    Deepak> (viper :version 1.31 :type regular)
    Deepak> (view-process :version 1.11 :type regular)
    Deepak> (vhdl :version 1.15 :type regular)
    Deepak> (vc-cc :version 1.18 :type regular)
    Deepak> (vc :version 1.3 :type regular)
    Deepak> (tramp :version 1.01 :type regular)
    Deepak> (tpu :version 1.12 :type regular)
    Deepak> (tooltalk :version 1.13 :type regular)
    Deepak> (tm :version 1.3 :type regular)
    Deepak> (time :version 1.11 :type regular)
    Deepak> (textools :version 1.12 :type regular)
    Deepak> (text-modes :version 1.36 :type single-file)
    Deepak> (texinfo :version 1.2 :type regular)
    Deepak> (supercite :version 1.19 :type regular)
    Deepak> (strokes :version 1.08 :type regular)
    Deepak> (speedbar :version 1.22 :type regular)
    Deepak> (sounds-wav :version 1.1 :type regular)
    Deepak> (sounds-au :version 1.1 :type regular)
    Deepak> (slider :version 1.13 :type regular)
    Deepak> (sieve :version 1.01 :type regular)
    Deepak> (sh-script :version 1.13 :type regular)
    Deepak> (sgml :version 1.08 :type regular)
    Deepak> (semantic :version 1.11 :type regular)
    Deepak> (scheme :version 1.11 :type regular)
    Deepak> (rmail :version 1.13 :type regular)
    Deepak> (reftex :version 1.24 :type regular)
    Deepak> (psgml :version 1.26 :type regular)
    Deepak> (ps-print :version 1.02 :type regular)
    Deepak> (prog-modes
    Deepak> :version
    Deepak> 1
    Deepak> .49
    Deepak> :type
    Deepak> single-file)
    Deepak> (pcomplete :version 1.01 :type regular)
    Deepak> (pcl-cvs :version 1.57 :type regular)
    Deepak> (pc :version 1.21 :type single-file)
    Deepak> (os-utils :version 1.26 :type single-file)
    Deepak> (net-utils :version 1.23 :type single-file)
    Deepak> (mine :version 1.14 :type regular)
    Deepak> (mh-e :version 1.14 :type regular)
    Deepak> (mailcrypt :version 2.11 :type regular)
    Deepak> (mail-lib :version 1.42 :type regular)
    Deepak> (jde :version 1.31 :type regular)
    Deepak> (ispell :version 1.24 :type regular)
    Deepak> (ilisp :version 1.2 :type regular)
    Deepak> (igrep :version 1.08 :type regular)
    Deepak> (idlwave :version 1.24 :type regular)
    Deepak> (hm--html-menus :version 1.17 :type regular)
    Deepak> (fsf-compat :version 1.09 :type single-file)
    Deepak> (frame-icon :version 1.09 :type regular)
    Deepak> (forms :version 1.14 :type regular)
    Deepak> (footnote :version 1.13 :type regular)
    Deepak> (eudc :version 1.35 :type regular)
    Deepak> (eterm :version 1.13 :type regular)
    Deepak> (eshell :version 1.02 :type regular)
    Deepak> (emerge :version 1.09 :type regular)
    Deepak> (elib :version 1.1 :type single-file)
    Deepak> (eieio :version 1.02 :type regular)
    Deepak> (efs :version 1.27 :type regular)
    Deepak> (edt :version 1.12 :type regular)
    Deepak> (edit-utils :version 1.75 :type single-file)
    Deepak> (ediff :version 1.35 :type regular)
    Deepak> (edebug :version 1.14 :type regular)
    Deepak> (dired :version 1.11 :type regular)
    Deepak> (dictionary :version 1.06 :type regular)
    Deepak> (debug :version 1.14 :type regular)
    Deepak> (crisp :version 1.12 :type regular)
    Deepak> (cookie :version 1.13 :type regular)
    Deepak> (clearcase :version 1.02 :type regular)
    Deepak> (cc-mode :version 1.27 :type regular)
    Deepak> (calc :version 1.18 :type regular)
    Deepak> (c-support :version 1.16 :type single-file)
    Deepak> (build :version 1.05 :type regular)
    Deepak> (bbdb :version 1.17 :type regular)
    Deepak> (auctex :version 1.29 :type regular)
    Deepak> (apel :version 1.2 :type regular)
    Deepak> (Sun :version 1.13 :type regular))
 
    Deepak> Features:
    Deepak> --------
 
    Deepak> (mail-abbrevs xemacsbug shadow sendmail rfc822 cus-edit cus-load
    Deepak> wid-edit font-lock efs-cu view-less view cus-face dired-faces
    Deepak> dired-xemacs dired zenirc-autoloads xslt-process-autoloads
    Deepak> xemacs-devel-autoloads xemacs-base-autoloads w3-autoloads
    Deepak> vm-autoloads
    Deepak> viper-autoloads view-process-autoloads vhdl-autoloads
    Deepak> vc-cc-autoloads
    Deepak> vc-autoloads tramp-autoloads tpu-autoloads tooltalk-autoloads
    Deepak> tm-autoloads time-autoloads textools-autoloads
    Deepak> text-modes-autoloads
    Deepak> texinfo-autoloads supercite-autoloads strokes-autoloads
    Deepak> speedbar-autoloads sounds-wav-autoloads sounds-au-autoloads
    Deepak> slider-autoloads sieve-autoloads sh-script-autoloads
    Deepak> sgml-autoloads
    Deepak> semantic-autoloads scheme-autoloads rmail-autoloads
    Deepak> reftex-autoloads
    Deepak> psgml-autoloads ps-print-autoloads prog-modes-autoloads
    Deepak> pcomplete-autoloads pcl-cvs-autoloads pc-autoloads
    Deepak> os-utils-autoloads
    Deepak> net-utils-autoloads mine-autoloads mh-e-autoloads
    Deepak> mailcrypt-autoloads
    Deepak> mail-lib-autoloads jde-autoloads ispell-autoloads
    Deepak> ilisp-autoloads
    Deepak> igrep-autoloads idlwave-autoloads hm--html-menus-autoloads
    Deepak> fsf-compat-autoloads frame-icon-autoloads forms-autoloads
    Deepak> footnote-autoloads eudc-autoloads eterm-autoloads
    Deepak> eshell-autoloads
    Deepak> emerge-autoloads elib-autoloads eieio-autoloads efs-autoloads
    Deepak> edt-autoloads edit-utils-autoloads ediff-autoloads
    Deepak> edebug-autoloads
    Deepak> dired-autoloads dictionary-autoloads debug-autoloads
    Deepak> crisp-autoloads
    Deepak> cookie-autoloads clearcase-autoloads cc-mode-autoloads
    Deepak> calc-autoloads
    Deepak> c-support-autoloads build-autoloads bbdb-autoloads
    Deepak> auctex-autoloads
    Deepak> apel-autoloads Sun-autoloads lisp-autoloads loadhist auto-show
    Deepak> fontl-hooks code-cmds gutter-items menubar-items x-menubar
    Deepak> dragdrop
    Deepak> mode-motion mouse itimer auto-save lisp-mode easymenu iso8859-1
    Deepak> page
    Deepak> buff-menu lib-complete help-nomule cus-file derived frame
    Deepak> text-props
    Deepak> obsolete cus-start custom widget cl-extra mini-cl cl cl-19
    Deepak> packages
    Deepak> backquote very-early-lisp file-coding mswindows-scrollbars
    Deepak> mswindows
    Deepak> toolbar native-sound scrollbar network-streams subprocesses
    Deepak> menu-accelerator-support menubar md5 xemacs gutter tiff png gif
    Deepak> jpeg
    Deepak> xface xpm xbm lisp-float-type windows-nt dragdrop-api dialog
    Deepak> devices
    Deepak> window-system base64)
 
    Deepak> Recent keystrokes:
    Deepak> -----------------
 
    Deepak> BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS BS C a 
    Deepak> s h SPC F l o w SPC A n a l y s i s down left BS BS 
    Deepak> C F A misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user 
    Deepak> misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user 
    Deepak> misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user 
    Deepak> misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user 
    Deepak> misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user 
    Deepak> misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user 
    Deepak> misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user misc-user 
    Deepak> misc-user misc-user button1 button1up misc-user ESC 
    Deepak> x r e p o r t TAB e m TAB RET
 
    Deepak> Recent messages (most recent first):
    Deepak> -----------------------------------
 
    Deepak> Loading xemacsbug...done
    Deepak> Loading xemacsbug...
    Deepak> Loading cus-edit...done
    Deepak> Loading customization dependencies...done
    Deepak> Loading customization dependencies...
    Deepak> Loading cus-edit...
    Deepak> Loading font-lock...done
    Deepak> Loading font-lock...
    Deepak> Reading directory
    Deepak> c:\HAPublisher\PublisherResources\fotemplates\...done
    Deepak> Reading directory
    Deepak> c:\HAPublisher\PublisherResources\fotemplates\...
    Deepak> Subdirectory c:\HAPublisher\PublisherResources\fotemplates\ has
    Deepak> changed on
    Deepak> disk.  Re-list? (y or n) Yes
    Deepak> Subdirectory c:\HAPublisher\PublisherResources\fotemplates\ has
    Deepak> changed on
    Deepak> disk.  Re-list? (y or n) 
    Deepak> Reading directory c:\Barista\...done
    Deepak> Reading directory c:\Barista\...
    Deepak> Reading directory c:\MyDownloads\...done
    Deepak> Reading directory c:\MyDownloads\...
    Deepak> Reading directory c:\Program
    Deepak> Files\XEmacs\XEmacs-21.4.6\etc\...done
    Deepak> Reading directory c:\Program Files\XEmacs\XEmacs-21.4.6\etc\...
    Deepak> Reading directory c:\Program
    Deepak> Files\XEmacs\XEmacs-21.4.6\i586-pc-win32\...done
    Deepak> Reading directory c:\Program
    Deepak> Files\XEmacs\XEmacs-21.4.6\i586-pc-win32\...
    Deepak> -- 
    Deepak> Adrian Aichner
    Deepak>  mailto:adrian@xemacs.org
    Deepak>  
http://www.xemacs.org/
-- 
Adrian Aichner
 mailto:adrian@xemacs.org
 
http://www.xemacs.org/