ntbackup problem with Outlook Express dbx files after XP SP3

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Unfortunately we're now pretty much back at the beginning: Although we know
a lot more about your setup than before, we still have no backup and no
meaningful log file. At this stage you need to decide if you want to
persevere, or change direction, or live with the problem. The note below
applies only if you wish to persevere.

In cases where I have no idea about the cause of a certain problem, I reduce
the setup to something much simpler in the hope of locating the component
that breaks the process. In your case I would do this:
1. Start a Command Prompt (click Start / Run / cmd{OK})
2. Type the following commands:
md c:\Test1\Test2 {Enter}
dir /s "c:\Program Files" > c:\Test1\Test2\Dir.txt
3. Create & run an ntbackup job that does the following:
- Back up the folder c:\Test1
- Back it up to the file c:\Test.bkf
4. Examine and post the backup log file.

The next step would depend on what exactly you report. When we have a
working backup, we change it until it breaks again.


OK, I've used this line (of course with MyName replaced):

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Documents and Settings
\MyName\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup
\data\OutlookExpress.bks" /a /d "Set created 9/2/2008 at 10:16 AM" /
v:no /r:no /rs:no /hcff /m daily /j "OutlookExpress" /l:s /f "C:
\Documents and Settings\MyName\My Documents\OutlookExpress.bkf" 1>>c:
\test.txt 2>>&1

And here are the results:

Start Thu 09/04/2008 7:41:58.71
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 1447-9761

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings
\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data

09/03/2008 11:50 AM <DIR> .
09/03/2008 11:50 AM <DIR> ..
09/03/2008 03:10 PM 232 backup01.log
09/03/2008 03:18 PM 232 backup02.log
09/03/2008 03:21 PM 132 backup03.log
09/03/2008 03:23 PM 2 backup04.log
09/03/2008 04:12 PM 2 backup05.log
09/03/2008 07:00 PM 2 backup06.log
09/03/2008 03:07 PM 232 backup07.log
09/03/2008 03:07 PM 232 backup08.log
09/03/2008 03:08 PM 232 backup09.log
09/03/2008 04:33 PM 232 backup10.log
09/02/2008 01:52 PM 282 OutlookExpress.bks
09/02/2008 10:21 AM 7 test.txt
12 File(s) 1,819 bytes
2 Dir(s) 34,208,399,360 bytes free
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 1447-9761

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings
\Application Data\Identities\RegistryStuff\Microsoft\Outlook Express

09/04/2008 03:25 AM <DIR> .
09/04/2008 03:25 AM <DIR> ..
09/03/2008 10:22 AM 83,716,548 advertising.dbx
09/03/2008 04:39 PM 36,876,612 computer.dbx
09/04/2008 07:33 AM 1,347,668,812 Deleted Items.dbx
09/03/2008 10:22 AM 24,899,440 Drafts.dbx
09/03/2008 06:33 PM 74,720 Folders.dbx
09/04/2008 07:26 AM 94,498,160 Inbox.dbx
09/03/2008 06:33 PM 9,656 Offline.dbx
09/04/2008 07:36 AM 7,334,612 Outbox.dbx
09/02/2008 09:17 AM 9,404 Pop3uidl.dbx
04/04/2008 11:33 AM 76,500 Search Folder (1).dbx
06/08/2008 02:01 AM 142,036 Search Folder (2).dbx
07/26/2008 09:31 AM 76,500 Search Folder (3).dbx
08/07/2008 08:53 AM 76,500 Search Folder (4).dbx
03/02/2008 10:29 AM 76,500 Search Folder.dbx
09/04/2008 07:36 AM 190,809,952 Sent Items.dbx
09/02/2008 10:21 AM 7 test.txt
55 File(s) 2,768,247,407 bytes
2 Dir(s) 34,208,395,264 bytes free
1 file(s) copied.
-d

1400:0100 43 00 3A 00 5C 00 44 00-6F 00 63 00 75 00 6D 00 C.:.
\.D.o.c.u.m.
1400:0110 65 00 6E 00 74 00 73 00-20 00 61 00 6E 00 64 00
e.n.t.s. .a.n.d.
1400:0120 20 00 53 00 65 00 74 00-74 00 69 00 6E 00 67
00 .S.e.t.t.i.n.g.
1400:0130 73 00 5C 00 50 00 61 00-75 00 6C 00 5C 00 4C 00 s.
\.P.a.u.l.\.L.
1400:0140 6F 00 63 00 61 00 6C 00-20 00 53 00 65 00 74 00
o.c.a.l. .S.e.t.
1400:0150 74 00 69 00 6E 00 67 00-73 00 5C 00 41 00 70 00 t.i.n.g.s.
\.A.p.
1400:0160 70 00 6C 00 69 00 63 00-61 00 74 00 69 00 6F 00
p.l.i.c.a.t.i.o.
1400:0170 6E 00 20 00 44 00 61 00-74 00 61 00 5C 00 49 00
n. .D.a.t.a.\.I.
-q

End Thu 09/04/2008 7:42:03.95

The Backup Log is only 2 bytes has the following:
¦

what next?

 

[prubin]

OK, so back to the beginning. I can create and successfully run backup
jobs and scheduled tasks for files selected AT OR ABOVE the directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application Data
\Identities\Registry Stuff\

Any backup jobs that have files BELOW this directory do NOT run.

This is where I started the thread. Any ideas?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

1. Reboot the machine.
2. Log on as Administrator.
3. Use Explorer or My Computer to navigate to
"C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings"
4. Unhide the folder "Application Data" (including its subfolders).
5. Rename the folder "Application Data" to "Application Data.bad"
6. Start a Command Prompt.
7. Type this command:
xcopy /s /h /e /o
"C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application
Data.bad\*.*"
"C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application Data\"
(it's best to copy & paste the command into a batch file)
8. Ensure that "MyName" has full access to
"C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application Data".
If you run WinXP home then you must do this while in Safe Mode.
9. Log on as MyName, then re-run ntbackup.exe.
10. If it still fails, re-run ntbackup after a reboot and while logged on as
Administrator.
11. Wait a week.
12. If all is well, delete "C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local
Settings\Application Data.bad".

OK, so back to the beginning. I can create and successfully run backup
jobs and scheduled tasks for files selected AT OR ABOVE the directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application Data
\Identities\Registry Stuff\

Any backup jobs that have files BELOW this directory do NOT run.

This is where I started the thread. Any ideas?

 

[prubin]

Rather than your suggested operation, I peformed the following tests:
I created a new folder with a very similar name to the RegistryStuff
folder, with one character less:

Original folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application Data
\Identities\{***************************-9E76DF6395D0}

and

New folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application Data
\Identities\{***************************-9E76DF6395D}

I have full admin rights to this new folder. Just as before, I can
create and successfully run backup jobs and scheduled tasks for files
selected AT OR ABOVE this new directory.

And just as before, any backup jobs that have files BELOW this NEW
directory do NOT run.

So then I continued to strip off once character at a time, until I got
to:

C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application Data
\Identities\{***************************-9E76D}

At this point, I can successfully create and run any backup jobs BELOW
the directory.

Apparently there's some limitation to the length of this string. At 31
characters or less, it works fine. but at 32 characters or more, it
fails.

Any ideas???

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I'm glad to see that you're seizing the initiative by running a few tests of
your own design. Things are now getting interesting. Here are a few
observations:
- There are some path length issues in Windows XP (and in previous
versions). However, they apply to paths > 260 chars. Furthermore,
ntbackup.exe is not affected by them.
- Can you readily reproduce the problem for paths of this form:
C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\123456789012345678901234567890
(i.e. without the curly bracket stuff)?
- I am very aware of your initial observation that the problem may have
started with the installation of SP3. What is your version of ntbackup.exe?
You can find out like so while in a Command Prompt:
filever.exe c:\windows\system32\ntbackup.exe
My version details are:
--a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.2180 shp 1,200,128 08-04-2004
ntbackup.exe
You can obtain filever.exe from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...76-9bb9-4126-9761-ba8011fabf38&displaylang=en
- I suggest you run a backup test with the original version of ntbackup.exe.
You'll find it on your WinXP CD in the i386 folder. To expand it, type this
command from a Command Prompt:
expand X:\i386\ntbackup.ex_ c:\ntbackup.exe
Replace X: with the drive letter of your CD drive.
When running the test, make sure to run c:\ntbackup.exe, thus forcing the
original version to be used.

Please report the result here. You might have found a bug!

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

If your tests suggest that the new version of ntbackup is to blame, would
you please send me a copy so that I can run some tests of my own? Here is
what you would need to do:
1. Create a folder c:\temp.
2. Copy c:\windows\system32\ntbackup.exe to c:\temp.
3. Rename c:\temp\ntbackup.exe to ntbackup.txt
4. Send the file c:\temp\ntbackup.txt to pegasus_fnlATyahooDOTcom.

Thanks!

 

[prubin]

Aha! The old version of ntbackup works fine, whereas the one
distributed with SP3 fails. Here are the differences in filever.exe:

version with SP2:
--a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.2180 shp 1,200,128 08-04-2004
ntbackup.exe

version with SP3:
--a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.5512 shp 1,200,640 04-13-2008
ntbackupsp3.exe

Please let me know if I need to report anything further. For now, I
suppose I just use the SP2 version.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Great! Will you now send me a copy of the new version for further testing?
The address is pegasus_fnlATyahooDOTcom.

Aha! The old version of ntbackup works fine, whereas the one
distributed with SP3 fails. Here are the differences in filever.exe:

version with SP2:
--a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.2180 shp 1,200,128 08-04-2004
ntbackup.exe

version with SP3:
--a-- W32i APP ENU 5.1.2600.5512 shp 1,200,640 04-13-2008
ntbackupsp3.exe

Please let me know if I need to report anything further. For now, I
suppose I just use the SP2 version.

 

[prubin]

Yes, I did indeed send the file to you yesterday. Did you receive it
OK?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

No, no message received. My mail box works and it will accept a file of this
size. As I said, you may have to rename it to ntbacku.txt in order to get
around the Yahoo virus and spam filters. Here is the address again:
pegasus_fnl AT yahoo DOT com.

Yes, I did indeed send the file to you yesterday. Did you receive it
OK?

 

[prubin]

No, no message received. My mail box works and it will accept a file of this
size. As I said, you may have to rename it to ntbacku.txt in order to get
around the Yahoo virus and spam filters. Here is the address again:
pegasus_fnl AT yahoo DOT com.

I just sent it again, this time as ntbackupSP3.zip
Please confirm.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

No, no message received. My mail box works and it will accept a file of
this
size. As I said, you may have to rename it to ntbacku.txt in order to get
around the Yahoo virus and spam filters. Here is the address again:
pegasus_fnl AT yahoo DOT com.

I just sent it again, this time as ntbackupSP3.zip
Please confirm.
=============
OK, it's here now, thanks. I'll do some further research into this issue.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I just sent it again, this time as ntbackupSP3.zip
Please confirm.

=================

I ran some tests with your version of ntbackup.exe but was unable to
reproduce the phenomenon you observed. This could be due to a couple of
reasons:
- It only happens on a machine that is fully SP3. Mine is SP2.
- There is something else that plays a role in this issue.
I shall revisit the issue after putting my machine on SP3.
By the way, while it's a good idea to back up your OE data regularly, you're
depriving yourself of much of the benefit of the backup because you're
backing up your data to the same partition on the same disk that you use for
the original files. By doing this you protect yourself against accidental
loss of OE data but you're exposed to the following risks:
- File system corruption
- Crashed disk
- Theft, fire, water damage, electrical damage
- User error (e.g. re-installing Windows - which happens all the time!)

A good backup scheme requires at least one external backup medium (but
preferably two) that is normally disconnected from your PC and stored in a
different place. A single medium is still risky: If you damage your OE file
while exiting, then back it up then you're history because you have just
overwritten the only good copy you had . . .

 

[prubin]

Thanks for your reply, and please do let me know what you find when
SP3 is fully loaded. I have reproduced the problem on three separate
machines. All behave the same.

Also, with regard to external backups, we do full system backups daily
to external devices, so we have it covered.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks for your reply, and please do let me know what you find when
SP3 is fully loaded. I have reproduced the problem on three separate
machines. All behave the same.

Also, with regard to external backups, we do full system backups daily
to external devices, so we have it covered.

=================

SP3 has now happened on my system. I ran the exact command you ran (except,
of course, for the user name) and I created a selection file that pointed to
"C:\Documents and Settings\Pegasus\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities". After changing your switch of "/m daily" to "/m normal", I
obtained a full backup each and every time, even when backing up a 1.5 GByte
file.

I am therefore unable to duplicate the phenomenon you experienced.

 

[prubin]

Hi there. At the level of Identities, everything is OK. It is BELOW
the level of all the Registry Stuff that fails. Try your Outlook
Express folders.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hi there. At the level of Identities, everything is OK. It is BELOW
the level of all the Registry Stuff that fails. Try your Outlook
Express folders.

================

I have now been able to duplicate your problem and will discuss it with
Microsoft. It will probably take some time for it to be resolved, seeing
that it is not a big issue and that it will need to undergo the usual
regression testing. If you wish then I'll send an update directly to the
EMail address quoted above. Thank you for your patience.

 

[prubin]

Excellent, I'm pleased that you were able to duplicate the problem.
For now, I'm simply using the SP2 version of ntbackup, which works
fine. And yes, I would appreciate an email to equilter AT equilter DOT
com when it is resolved.

Thank you!

 

[Eric]

Any solution to this? I'm running into a similar problem.


When I ran that batch I too got the path not found. You need to go through
and take the space off the end of each line that ends up being copied over
when pasted.


After the upgrade to SP3 I'm running into this problem with the scheduled
backup not functioning, just as described, as well as now getting "An
inconsistency was encountered on the requested media" whenever I attempt a
manual backup.