"nt user" Interfering with Backup

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Lewis
  • Start date Start date
D

David Lewis

Greetings,

I like to backup the "Doc & Settings" directory by copying to separate
physical drive.I am logged in as an Administrator . Windows wouldn't let me
specifying "Can't copy "NT User"..someone else or other program is using..".

No one else is logged in and I closed all other programs and rebooted.No
difference.

1)Who or what is "NT User"?
2)Why is it blocking backup of the "Doc & Settings" and how to fix?
3)Also,I noticed a "Default User" showing up under Explorer.Neither Default
or NT User show on Welcome Screen.What Gives?

TIA
 
NTUSER.DAT is part of the registry, a databse used by the
operating system. It is in use anytime XP is running form
the hard drive. if you want to backup the Documents &
Seetings folder, use a program called ntbackup.exe. This
program is on the XP CDROM, but it is not installed as
part of the default XP installation:

To manually install Backup:

Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file in the following
location on the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM to start a
wizard that installs Backup:

CD-ROM Drive:\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP

When the wizard is complete, click Finish
 
from the wonderful said:
<snip>

Thanks Bob.
Just to be clear then...is it not possible to simply copy (right click /drag
/ copy) the C: Documents and Settings Directory onto another physical drive?
Click to expand...

This won't work for the currently logged-in user - it'll work Ok for
everyone else. Various files in the 'current user's profile, including
ntuser.dat, and index.dat for cookies, Temporary Internet files, etc.
will be 'in use'. NTBackup can still copy them using 'shadow copy', but
other (normal) attempts to open/copy them will fail.
 
from the wonderful said:
Makes sense,Thanks
Click to expand...

Just to add that there may be some bits of 'all users' profile which are
similarly afflicted (no matter who is logged on).
 
OK,Thanks again

--
Kind Regards,
David


GSV Three Minds in a Can said:
Just to add that there may be some bits of 'all users' profile which are
similarly afflicted (no matter who is logged on).
Click to expand...
 
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