Your Computer Fails the Microsoft Backup Compatibility Test (97577)

CAUSE

Your computer may fail the Microsoft Backup compatibility test for the following reasons:

The floppy drive controller card does not support direct memory access (DMA).
A software compatibility problem exists in MS-DOS.
You are using a third-party virtual device driver (VxD) in Windows.
The floppy disk is not properly seated.
The floppy disks you are using are failing or are formatted incorrectly.
You are loading APPEND.EXE, causing the following error message:
The file <filename> does not exist. The file cannot be compared.
You are running POWER.EXE.
You are using a third-party extended memory manager (such as QEMM with FL=0 and FEMS).
The buffers and files settings in your CONFIG.SYS file are inadequate.
You don't have enough free disk space for Microsoft Backup to create temporary files.

WORKAROUND

Troubleshooting the MS-DOS-Based Version of Microsoft Backup

If you are running the MS-DOS-based version of Microsoft Backup, start your computer with the Clean Start function key (F5) and try the compatibility test again.

If the compatibility test still fails, check the CONFIG.SYS file for the following settings:

   buffers=30
   files=30
   stacks=9,256

If the buffers and files are not at least 30, increase them to 30 and save the CONFIG.SYS file. Restart the computer using an interactive boot (F8). Respond "Y" only to buffers and files, and then retry the compatibility test. If the test fails again, follow the instruction in the "Manual Backup to Path Test" section below.

Troubleshooting Microsoft Backup for Windows

If you are running Microsoft Backup for Windows:

Run File Manager and format a floppy disk to see if you are having problems formatting floppy disks from Windows.
Try running Windows in standard mode and then running the compatibility test.

If the compatibility test works in standard mode but does not work in 386 enhanced mode, remove any virtual device drivers (VxDs) that may conflict with VFINTD.386. For example, tape backup VxDs may conflict with VFINTD.386.

The following software VxDs (loaded in the [386enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file) can cause the compatibility test to fail:
```
      DEVICE=MYABU.386
      DEVICE=FASTBACK.386
      DEVICE=VFD.386
      DEVICE=CPBVXD.386
      DEVICE=VIRWT.386
      DEVICE=CMSTAPE.386
      DEVICE=CMSTAPED.386
      DEVICE=CMSDTAPE.386
      DEVICE=ABACKUP.386
```

NOTE: Backup for Windows may fail by either dropping to the MS-DOS command prompt, blanking the screen, or hanging the system when it reaches 99% completion.

Manual Backup to Path Test

If the compatibility test fails, you cannot back up to drive A or B using the specific drive options. Instead, you must back up to the MS-DOS path.

When you back up to the MS-DOS path, all your floppy disks must be formatted before you begin backing up. This feature (backing up to the MS-DOS path) is implemented in Microsoft Backup to provide maximum compatibility with the various hardware being produced.

NOTE: Be sure the disks being used for the compatibility test are formatted using the MS-DOS FORMAT command. The disks may have been pre-formatted, or formatted using a third-party utility, such as PC Tools or Norton Utilities. This may cause the compatibility test to fail. To find out if they were formatted using such a utility, check the date on the FORMAT.COM in the DOS directory. It should be 3-10-93 for MS-DOS 6.0.

To test backing up to the MS-DOS path, do the following:

Start Microsoft Backup or Microsoft Backup for Windows.
Choose the Select Files Button and select approximately 2 MB of files--enough that all the files cannot fit on one floppy disk.

For more information on selecting files, see the Selecting Files For Backup Help topic.
After you have selected approximately 2 MB of files, choose the OK button.
In the Backup To box, select MS-DOS Path.
In the Backup To text box, type A:\ or B:\ and then choose the Start Backup button.
Change the disk in the floppy disk drive when you are prompted to do so.
When Microsoft Backup has completed the backup, choose the OK button.
Choose the Compare button.
Choose the Select Files Button and select the files you backed up.
Choose the Start Compare button.

If the compare successfully completes, you can safely back up to the MS-DOS path.