KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q148126: Files With Changed Permissions Not Incrementally Backed Up

Article: Q148126
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.50 3.51
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 09-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SYMPTOMS
========

When you change permissions to files and directories in File Manager, the file
or directory entry time stamp or attribute does not change. Only the Access
Control Lists (ACL) are modified. Therfore, you cannot perform incremental
backup of these files and directories because their meta-data (also known as
ACL) have changed.

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, perform a complete backup.


STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.5 and
3.51. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Windows NT keeps track of three time stamps associated with files and
directories. These three time stamps are creation, last access, and last
written. When a file or directory is created, accessed or changed, Windows NT
updates the appropriate time stamp. These time stamps can be viewed by
performing a DIR command using a /T switch to view the desired time stamp.

For example, the following lists the different types of DIR /T commands you can
use:

  DIR /TC <file or dir.>   Displays the creation time.
  DIR /TA <file or dir.>   Displays the last access time.
  DIR /TW <file or dir.>   Displays the last written time.

If the last written time stamp of a file changes, the archive bit is set. This
allows NTBACKUP.EXE to perform incremental backups based on when the file has
last changed.


Additional query words: prodnt 3.50 3.51
======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search
Version           : 3.50 3.51

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.