"Difference Encountered in Alternate File Data" Error Message When You Try to Perform an NTBackup Operation (816645)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you view the Ntbackup.log file after you perform a backup operation by using the Windows 2000 Backup tool, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:
Difference encountered in alternate file data


Note Even though you receive this error message, the backup process completes successfully.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because there is a conflict between the file that is used to perform the verification stage of the backup operation and the file that is used to perform the remainder of the backup operation.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows 2000 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
   Date        Time      Version       Size       File name
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   31-Mar-2003 10:47 AM  5.0.2195.6697 1,164,048  Ntbackup.exe 				

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

You can use the Windows 2000 Backup tool to back up and restore data on volumes that use either the FAT file system or the NTFS file system. However, if you back up data from an NTFS volume in Windows 2000, Microsoft recommends that you restore the data to an NTFS volume in Windows 2000. If you do not, you may lose stored information and some file and folder features. For example, you may lose permissions, Encrypting File System (EFS) settings, disk quota information, mounted drive information, and Remote Storage information if you back up information from an NTFS volume in Windows 2000 and then restore it to a FAT volume or to an NTFS volume in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/10/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kberrmsg kbQFE kbWin2000preSP4Fix kbfix kbbug KB816645 kbAudITPRO kbAudEndUser