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Editing backup jobs to remove selected file paths that no longer exist, without re-creating a new backup job

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Jon
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This is a guide that will instruct an experienced user to remove backup paths from NovaBACKUP backup jobs which contain file paths that NO LONGER EXIST and which are producing various warnings relating to those file paths no longer existing.

This is a workaround for those users who do not want to have to re-create a new backup job to fix this issue.

If you are not comfortable with manually editing backup job scripts (.NBK files) using Notepad, you can simply create a new backup job on the "Backup tab" by selecting the "New Job" icon at the top left of the program. Be sure to only include files and paths which can be accessed when the job will run.

Cause:

A path existed when you created a backup/copy job, but no longer exists on your machine, such as files on a removable drive.

Your backup/copy job presents you with a warning for drives that are unreachable when the job runs:

mceclip0.png

Path: X:\*.*, error: The system cannot find the path specified.

Resolution:

  1. Run the Notepad application. (notepad.exe)
  2. Open the backup job (.NBK) in Notepad which is attempting to backup the path that no longer exists.

    • Your Backup job script files (.NBK file extension) will be stored in this location by default on your system:

      C:\ProgramData\NovaStor\NovaStor NovaBACKUP\UserScripts\%UserName%\Backup\
  3. The area of the backup job which has the paths defined is near the top of the (.NBK) file, as seen below. The [select] section shows your files/folders to include in the job.
  4. Remove the line for the path that no longer exists. all path.item.# values need to be sequential, starting at 0 for the last one, going up in value for each line sequentially above it.
    • In the following example, we will be removing the F: drive from the selections.
  5. SAVE the modified file, replacing the existing .NBK file.
    • IMPORTANT: Make sure the saved file still ends in (.NBK) with the same name
      (i.e. My Backup.NBK not My Backup.nbk.txt)
  6. The next time that job runs it will no longer attempt to backup the "F:" paths that you removed from the .NBK file.

Before

[select]
path.item.7=+C:\MyFiles
path.item.6=+F:\SomeOtherFiles
path.item.5=-C:\ExcludedFiles
path.item.4=+D:\ImportantFiles
path.item.3=+F:\RemovableDrive
path.item.2=+D:\MyLargeFiles
path.item.1=+C:\UserData
path.item.0=+C:\Users
path.numberOfItems=8

After

[select]
path.item.5=+C:\MyFiles
path.item.4=-C:\ExcludedFiles
path.item.3=+D:\ImportantFiles
path.item.2=+D:\MyLargeFiles
path.item.1=+C:\UserData
path.item.0=+C:\Users
path.numberOfItems=6

 

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