Changed Command Parameters for Scheduled Backup Job May Not Be Saved (243260)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
This article was previously published under Q243260

SYMPTOMS

When you edit a previously scheduled backup job in Windows 2000 Backup, the setting changes are not saved, and Backup does not use the additional settings that you made. If you open the scheduled backup job again, the settings that you made are no longer present.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the Windows 2000 Backup scheduler does not allow you to add or remove some valid command parameters. The Backup scheduler also checks the syntax of all parameters, and only saves changes to original parameters that contain valid entries. Some parameters cannot be changed, and you must delete the entire job and run the Backup Wizard again to create a new scheduled job with the appropriate options.

RESOLUTION

Instead of using the Scheduled Jobs tab in Backup to modify the backup job properties, use the Scheduled Tasks tool in Control Panel:
  1. Using the Scheduled Tasks tool in Control Panel, view the properties of the scheduled backup job.
  2. Make the appropriate changes to the backup command string in the Run box.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Open the job properties again, and confirm that the change was saved properly.
You can use this method to modify or add command parameters to be used when the job runs. However, because no syntax checking is performed, use this method with caution.

For a list of all available backup switches, you can view the Ntbackup.exe Help from a command line by typing the following command:

ntbackup /?

NOTE: If you open the Scheduled Jobs tab again in Backup and view the properties of the modified job, you see the changes you made. However, if you click OK instead of Cancel when you exit, the modified parameters may be removed or changed because of the command-parameter syntax checking performed by Backup. Click Cancel if you want to preserve the changes you made in the Scheduled Tasks tool in Control Panel.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows 2000 Backup supports scheduling backup jobs. If you schedule a backup job using Backup, and have a need to modify, remove, or add a backup command parameter, you can make the change by viewing the job properties on the Scheduled Jobs tab in Backup . However, if you remove, modify, or add an additional parameter to the command string, the parameter may not be saved when you exit. This prevents the backup job from running with the modified or added parameter, and may result in backup problems or backups being performed differently than you expect.

One of the useful backup parameters you may want to add to a scheduled backup job is the /UM switch. This switched is useful when you are backing up to a stand-alone tape library when you are not managing your tapes with Removable Storage Manager (RSM). For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

239892 Scheduling Unattended Backups Using a Standalone Tape Library

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/21/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB243260
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.