Troubleshooting MS Backup and MS Backup for Windows (94639)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0a
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
This article was previously published under Q94639

SUMMARY

If you encounter problems running Microsoft Backup for MS-DOS or Microsoft Backup for Windows, use the steps in the following section to correct the problems.

NOTE: If your computer fails the compatibility test, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for more information:

compatibility and test and fails

Common problems caused by incorrect system configuration include the following:
  • Microsoft Backup appears to stop responding (hang) when run from the MS-DOS command prompt in Windows.
  • Microsoft Backup for Windows causes Windows to close, leaving the MS-DOS command prompt displayed on the screen.
  • Windows reports that the DMA buffer size needs to be increased to 64.

MORE INFORMATION

Troubleshooting Microsoft Backup for Windows and Microsoft Backup

  1. Microsoft does not recommend or support running the MS-DOS-based version of Microsoft Backup (MSBACKUP.EXE) with Windows. If you choose to do this, you should create a program information file (PIF) with the following settings for Microsoft Backup: 
           Display Usage: Full Screen
       Execution:  Exclusive
  2. Your CONFIG.SYS file should include the following settings (the values shown are minimums):
           FILES=30
       BUFFERS=30
       STACKS=9,256
  3. The DMABufferSize= line should be set to at least 32 in the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. In some situations, the DMA buffer size needs to be set to 40 (either in the SYSTEM.INI file, or using EMM386.EXE, or both).
  4. If you are using MSBACKUP.EXE in Windows or the Windows version of Microsoft Backup (MWBACKUP.EXE), you should place the following line in your SYSTEM.INI file if Setup did not install it: 
          device=c:\dos\vfintd.386
    If you omit this line, Backup displays the following error message:
    Microsoft Backup is not properly installed on this system.

    Please reinstall Microsoft Backup, or make the following changes to your SYSTEM.INI file:

    [386Enh]
    DEVICE=[ms-dos path]VFINTD.386
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB94639
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