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Unable to allocate the Backup Engine error

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Jon
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Please follow this guide to resolve "Unable to allocate backup engine" and if this does not work check the forum, or contact NovaStor Support.

Please verify the following:

  • There are no CD/DVD media in a drive?
  • Check Windows Device Manager, does it have any storage related devices showing with exclamation meaning they are trouble devices and not operating normally?
    • If any storage devices have an issue such as CD/DVD drive then disable those devices and reboot your computer, then verify if the devices are disabled by checking Device Manager again. Also try uninstalling those devices.
    • Then perform the step detailed in this guide in the section "Start or Restart the Backup / Copy Engine Service".
  • There are no U3 USB Flash Drives plugged in?
  • The NovaBACKUP Service is not running (See "Start or Restart the Backup / Copy Engine Service").
  • Any Antivirus Programs are set to skip NovaBACKUP directories (See "Exclude NovaStor Directories from Active Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware Scanning").
  • If you are running the NovaBACKUP software on a VMWare ESXi server version 4.1, you may need to disable the CD/DVD drive in device manager for that virtual machine.

Exclude NovaStor Directories from Active Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware Scanning:

On Windows 7 +, Server 2008 +

  • Go to: C:\ProgramData\NovaStor\ and
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\NovaStor\

Start or Restart the Backup / Copy Engine Service:

  • Close any NovaBACKUP windows that may be open
  • Go to Start >> Run
  • Type "services.msc" and press <enter> or [Ok]
  • Scroll down until you see "Novastor NovaBACKUP Backup/Copy Engine"
  • Double-click on that entry
  • Confirm the Startup type is "Automatic"
    • NOTE: This service MUST be set to "Automatic" for NovaBACKUP to function, if this service is set to "Disabled", it cannot be started by any means
  • Click [Start] or [Restart]
  • Then try to open NovaBACKUP again.

Also you can try this fix:

  • Locate C:\ProgramData\NovaStor\NovaStor NovaBACKUP\Profiles.
  • Rename this to Profiles_old
  • Run the NovaBACKUP Installer and choose the [Repair] option.

If this resolves the issue, please zip the Profiles_old folder and submit a Support Ticket online with the ZIP file as the attachment. 

Please make the Subject: Unable to Allocate Backup Engine

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