Backup Doesn't Work, what is the point?

Cryptography keys are stored in files that Windows blocks access to so it can prevent others from copying your keys to gain access to your encrypted files and communications. Because of this file backup programs, including NTI Shadow, are not allowed to backup the encryption keys such as the file "Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys\0f22197359b4865e69b81b7197df1019_0ccb2cf1-a486-4456-a39e-2fd1c72741cf".

Using a dirve image bakcup program such as Acronis True Image, the Drive based Bakucp from NTI Backup Now 5.5 Advanced, the Complete System Backup from NTI Backup Now EZ, Norton Ghost or any other drive image bakcup program, all the fiels can be backed up because they are not accessed the same way as a file based bakcup accesses files.

When an error is encountered the backup needs to stop backing up, evaluate the error it is recieving from the OS, log the error by opening the log file, appending the error informaion to the end of the log file, running any functions that are needed to address the error and then it can return to backing up files. How much this will slow down the bakucp depends on how many functions the bacukp program needs to run to deal with the error and how many fiels in teh bakcup are getting errors.

The standard file reference in Windows (C:\, \\server\, Etc.) has a file path limit in Windows of 255 characters starting with the drive letter for a local drive or the first \ on a network file server such as a NAS and ending with the file extension. Since Shadow uses the standard file reference when accessing files if the backup soruce or backup destination file path is longer than 255 characters Windows will tell Shaow that the file can not be accessed to be read from (source file) or written to (destination file). If you try to access a file that has a path longer than 255 characters in Windows Explorer usingthe standard file reference, you will get the same error. Accessign a file with a path longer than 255 characters can be done by sharing a folder in the path to the network and accessign the file via the network share or usign an altenate file reference referred to as a POSIX file reference, which has a longer file path limit.

All Backup programs have their limitations. If you stay within the limits of the bakucp program you are using, it will backup your files as intended. The limits to pay attention to in NTI Shadow 3 are:

1. Files locked by any process other than Shadow can not be backed up. This includes any fiel you have open in any program you are usign and fiels that Windows locks such as system files and folders.

2. Files where the file to be backed up or that the bakcup file (since Shadow backs up your files in their native format) has a file path longer than 255 characters can not be backed up.

3. Fiels and folders that your user account are not allowed access can not be backed up.

4. Since Widnows places hidden system folders that it restricts access to the local system accont only, you can not select an entire drive to be backed up and have a successful bakcup without errors.

So what should be selected in a Shadow bacukp? Only your data files and/or the fodlers that contain them. You should not select folders that contain files used internally (without you selecting the files) by Windows or your programs.