Error message when trying to back up

[Dar*Dar 0]

Let me start by saying that I've been using TMG for over 12 years. So I know how to back it up. And everything has been going fine until three days ago, when I went to back up and within about 3 seconds of hitting the button an error windows pops up that says, "Input file read failure - This error occurs when a file read operation is performed on a ZIP file that is locked or restricted by another process."

 

I then have to click the 'OK' button of the error message, at which point I get a notification that my backup is complete. However, it's not complete because I know it takes more than 3 seconds to back up my project (containing over 27,000 people). I haven't added anything new to the computer recently, so I'm clueless as to what is causing this. I'm really concerned, though, because I have added quite a bit of data since my last backup (yes, I'm bad and don't back up every single time I'm in the program).

 

I'm hoping someone can help! Thanks very much!

[Jim Byram 0]

That can happen when backing up to removable media rather than to your hard disk. Check the backup path.

[Dar*Dar 0]

Hi Jim,

 

Backup is to my C: drive. But I went in and changed the target from the automatically generated name to a more custom name, and then tried that. Voila, it worked! So... thanks for bringing up the path so that I would try something else.

[Dar*Dar 0]

Hopefully someone will see this, because now I'm having the same issue. I literally can't back up my data. It's going to my C: drive. I'm not having it generate the file name automatically. I get the error message: "Input file read failure - This error occurs when a file read operation is performed on a ZIP file that is locked or restricted by another process."

 

Darlene

[Redleg21 0]

This error has been bothering me as well. I have searched my computer files looking for a ZIP file but cant find one. I have found that when you enter the backup box and hit next you have the source path for the file (where it is coming from) and below that is the destination path (where the backed up file is going). Uncheck the box Generate Archive name automatically this will allow you to change the path by clicking the ..... on the right. Back up the path to your PC and then enter Windows8_OS©/Users\Your User Name\Documents\The Master Genealogist v9\Backups Then when you enter the finish button it should back up. The problem is that you have to do this every time you want to back up Not the perfect solution. Does anyone have a better solution that works?

[Terry Reigel 0]

The problem is likely to be trying to backup to a location that does not exist. The error messages delivered during the backup process are often very misleading.

 

The backup location is specified for each separate project you have. When you move a project to a new computer that location is carried with the project, but likely does not exist on the new computer. The permanent solution is to set the backup for each project to a valid location on the new computer. The process to do that is described in my article on Moving Data to New Computer or Version which includes screenshots showing how to do it.

 

Do not just examine the paths visually - the paths on the new computer may be only subtlety different. Use the method described in my article.