WinRescue Help - Backing up Open Files

In most cases backing up open files is not important. If all other programs are shut down when WinRescue is backing up, the only open file should be the virtual memory file. This file does not need to be backed up because it is created automatically. It is skipped by WinRescue.

But there are some instances when you may want to back up an open file. For example, databases are usually kept open. In these instances, please continue reading to see how to back up those files.

During Backup WinRescue detects if a file is open or not. Open files cannot be backed up while Windows is running (no program can back up open files while Windows is running). WinRescue can back up these files by waiting until Windows is restarted. For your protection, WinRescue will only skip these files, unless you follow the instructions below.

Unfortunately, WinXP/2000/NT does not allow files used for starting Windows to be backed up. If WinRescue backs up one of these files, it will crash Windows. This is because Windows only allows files to be moved and not copied outside of Windows. So the file is first moved before Windows starts (this removes the original file). When Windows then starts up, WinRescue is run and copies the file back to its original place and puts a copy in the Backup. If this file is not copied back before Windows needs it, it will crash Windows or make that part inaccessible. So please be careful with this.

Please make sure that the open file being backed up will not be needed before WinRescue has a chance to copy it back to its original position.

In order to cause WinRescue to back up an open file, you need to edit the resray.ini file in the WinRescue directory. Go to the bottom of the file and add a line that looks like this:

Be sure to include the square brackets. If you have already added this section before, do not make a new one. Find it in resray.ini and add the files below it.

On the next like put the filename of the file that you want to skip. It must be in all uppercase letters. After the filename put an equals sign and the number 1. There should be no spaces inbetween the filename, equals sign, and 1. If the filename is OpenFile.dll, then it would look like this:

If you have more than one file, they should all be put on separate lines under the [OpenFilesToBackup] section. So it would all look like this:

Even with these files listed, the number of open files given after the backup will be the same as before. But if done correctly, the open file will be put in the Backup after restarting Windows.

After Backup and before restarting Windows, the open files that will be backed up are listed in the OpenFN.ini file of WinRescue\Temp.

After restart of Windows, WinRescue will put the open file in the Backup file. If the Backup file is huge, this may take some time. If the Backup file is not accessible (on a CD or Network Drive), the open file will not be added. After Windows restart, all files left in the WinRescue\Temp directory may be deleted.

You can disable the backing up of open files by unchecking the Enable Open File Backup checkbox on the Misc. tab of Backup Properties.