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[thepyramus]

Hi,
I was wondering how Acebackup backs up open files (Files in use). Is it safe to assume that scheduled backups won't fail if I am working on a file that Acebackup is trying to back up?

Thanks
K

[NotesTracker]

How indeed does AceBackup take account of open files, of which there can be many?

I've been using and/or evaluation a number of other backup products (such as NTI's Shadow and SecondCopy). They all stumble a bit when they encounter open files. For example, SecondCopy seems to not copy them at all. From my perspective, having forty years as an IT technical practitioner, it should be perfectly possible to COPY any open file (not to update or delete them, of course).

So, what's the answer to this excellent question by thepyramus?

Cheers,
Tony Austin (NotesTracker)
CEO, Asia/Pacific Computer Services

[Support (AceBIT)]

Acebackup can backup open files, since copies directly bytes from the HDD clusters assigned to a locked file.

Of course it is not a preferred method to backup an open file, since theoretically Windows can modify a file while AceBackup is copying its bits.

[wyeadon]

Good to know that open files are actually backed up. The problem could be that Windows is accessing the file during the backup and this would lead to problems. The safest way is to close all files (if possible) before starting the backup. That's at least how I use to do it.

[NotesTracker]

Totally agree with the above, for files that are being held open for Update (being actively written to). Then again, even in this case it might be worth backing them up (say, some file that is gradually being appended to, where any backup might be better than none at all).

But quite often files are created quickly, then closed (small text documents, for example). After that, they are likely only ever opened only for Read (input), so surely they're worth being backed up even if open?
Cheers, Tony.

[sauce70]

Hello

I'm trying to backup an open file, but I receive the following message from AceBackup:

Operation: Backup file "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrador.TERMINALES\Escritorio\Base.mdb"
Resultado: El proceso no tiene acceso al archivo porque está siendo utilizado por otro proceso (Code: 32)

"Process cannot access file because it's been used by another process (Code: 32)"

The file is an open MS Access database. How can I backup it when it's open?

Thank you

[sauce70]

Hello

Does anybody has a solution for the error 32 message (beside closing the Access .mdb file, of course)?

If AceBackup is able to backup open files, why am I getting this error?

Thanks in advance

[irha]

Does this mean, AceBackup doesn't make use of windows shadow copy to copy open files? Could anyone please confirm?

[jimm1909]

Does this mean, AceBackup doesn't make use of windows shadow copy to copy open files? Could anyone please confirm? Vegas Deals

I'm wondering this as well. Confirmation woudl be appreciated.

Thanks

Jim

[Aaron]

Seems like this 'issue' hasn't been resolved since support hasn't posted a reply? Has anyone found a solution or have you given up and moved to other backup applications?

I also found two other related posts about not being able to backup open files.

locked-files,-vss,-windows-live-sync,-failure-to-exclude-t4632s50.html
Posted: Apr 28, 2009

i-cant-backup-open-outlook-2003-files-t4619s50.html
Posted: Apr 21, 2009

-Aaron

[jaclynelias]

+I recently put a new posting about the same subject, I think someone took it out, because this posting is already available. Anyways, I'm in the process of changing our backup software, so I ran into this software, gave it a try and with the first attempt, it couldn't backup a QuickBook File because it was opened.
+So, I'm currently evaluating www.backup4all.com, yes it's not free, but it's been working fine with files that are opened (it costs about $50 for the pro version). They have a free version on www.fbackup.com but again, that free version didn't cover all my needs. The cost of $50 is NOT really much for such an important function. Now, if you are doing backups for files across the network (map drives etc), the open files backup will not work, but I'm sure you can figure out why. Anyways, give it a try.

+I haven't tested it for unicode, or security, encryption etc. My first and most important step was to see if it can backup open files, incremental backups, deferential backups etc.

Good luck.

[alanauerbach]

May 23, 2009:

Acebackup can backup open files, since copies directly bytes from the HDD clusters assigned to a locked file.

Of course it is not a preferred method to backup an open file, since theoretically Windows can modify a file while AceBackup is copying its bits.

Today, February 27, 2011, AceBackup halts when it encounters an open file. It does not copy it. Why does this differ from Support's statement that open files are copied by AceBackup? Is there a version of the application that will handle open files? Even if it cannot use Microsoft Shadow Copy (which I understand it does not), skipping open files and reporting the exception is a better approach than simply halting.

/s/ Alan Auerbach

[lillian987]

Can it be updated to newer version?