You receive a "The process cannot access the file" error message when you open a report file of a backup that was completed while the Background Intelligent Service (BITS) runs (839090)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP3
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP3
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

You back up the Drive:\Documents and Settings\All Users folder when the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) runs. After you back up the folder, if you open the report for the backup activity, you may notice the following error message:

Warning: Unable to open "Drive:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr0.dat" - skipped.
Reason: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.

Warning: Unable to open "Drive:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr1.dat" - skipped.
Reason: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.
Note Drive is a placeholder for the root directory that contains the system files of your computer.

CAUSE

BITS creates and uses the Qmgr0.dat and Qmgr1.dat files. When BITS runs, the Qmgr0.dat and Qmgr1.dat files are always locked. Because of this locked state, the backup application cannot open and back up the files. Therefore, you will notice that the file is being used by another process.

RESOLUTION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To resolve this problem, you do not have to back up the Qmgr0.dat and Qmgr1.dat files. You can exclude these files from backup to prevent the errors. To exclude the Qmgr0.dat and Qmgr1.dat files, follow these steps:
  1. Log on to the computer as an administrator.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
  3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  4. Open the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup

  5. In the left pane, right-click FilesNotTo Backup, point to New, and then click Multi-String Value.
  6. Name the new entry BITS.
  7. Double click the BITS entry. The Edit Multi-String dialog box appears.
  8. In the Value data box, type the following value, and then press OK:

    %AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\*

  9. Close Registry Editor
Note You can set this registry value against the Common AppData entry in the following location for computers that are running non-English language operating systems:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to reproduce the problem

  1. Click Start, and then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
  2. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
  3. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    net start bits

    This command shows the status of BITS.

    Note Make sure that BITS runs before you take the backup of the folder.
  4. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    ntbackup.exe

    The Backup or Restore Wizard dialog box appears.
  5. Click Advanced Mode. The Backup Utility - [untitled] dialog box appears.
  6. Click the Backup tab.
  7. In the left pane, expand My Computer, and then expand Drive.
  8. Expand Documents and Settings, and then click to select the All Users check box.
  9. Type Drive:\Backup.bkf in the Backup media or file name box, and then click Start Backup. The Backup Job Information dialog box appears.
  10. Click Advanced. The Advanced Backup Options dialog box appears.
  11. Click to select the Disable volume shadow copy check box, and then press OK.

    Note You do not have to disable volume shadow copy if your computer runs the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system.
  12. Click Start Backup. The Backup Progress dialog box appears and backup of the folder continues.
  13. After the backup process is completed, click Report. You may notice the error message in the report that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

REFERENCES

For more information, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web sites:

Platform SDK: Background Intelligent Transfer Service
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/bits/bits/about_bits.asp

Background Intelligent Transfer Service
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/bits/bits/bits_start_page.asp

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

331716 INFO: List of known issues for Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:4/19/2004
Keywords:kbRegistry kbBackup kbprb KB839090 kbAudDeveloper
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