I am using the windows default backup utility to backup data from the win 2000 server and 2 other machines. The 3 backup files are stored on an external hard drive attached the Win 2000 Server. The problem that I am having is that even though data to be backed up from the 3 machines are of different sizes the 3 backup files are the external hard drive are the same size of 4,194,277 KB. When I open the back up files, not everything was backed up. Is there a limit to how much could be backed up using the Windows backup utility?

If the external drive is formatted using FAT32 the file size limitation is 4GB. That would explain what you see. As far as I know there is no size limit for a backup using the Windows tool.

If the files are in use they will not be backed up. Life's more painless for the brainless.

Yes they will, that's what Shadow Copying is for. I play music on my laptop nearly all the time I am using it, and that includes when backing up. No files are missed. 4,194,277 KB is exactly 4.00GB. And, this leads us to believe, as already suggested, that the disk is formatted in FAT32 and such formats only allow single file sizes a maximum of... guess what? 4GB. Usually an error will be encountered when trying to write files larger than that, though. Medion MIM 2080 Toshiba T2130CT Macintosh Performa 450 All working wonderfully.

I am having exactly the same problem trying to back up using the backup facility to a flash drive. I have checked - it is formatted in FAT32. Do I need to reformat the drive? Thanks Loane

Loane You should really start your own thread here for best results. That said, I would make two comments. First, if you need to work with files larger than 4GB you will need to format using NTFS. Second, I wouldn't recommend using a flash drive to backup ANY files, let alone files larger than 4GB. I suggest an External hard drive. Are you trying to move copies of movies?

OtheHill's post is spot on. Have tested this using Win2KSVR with MSBUver5.0 on external drive with FAT32 Partition. Then Backed up same to NTFS Partion on same external drive and had no file size limitation up to 9.2GB. Have not tested larger. Thanks for the Help Sami