Err Msg: "Access Denied" on Backup or Update of RAS Temp File

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

When a Remote Access Service (RAS) Server is running, and you attempt to either backup the root directory using NTBackup or update the Emergency Repair Disk using REPAIR.EXE from the Windows NT 3.1 Resource Kit, the following error message appears:

   Copy %systemroot%\System32\RAS41766.TEM

   Access Denied.

   Abort or Retry.

CAUSE

The RAS Server initialization code creates the temporary file RAS41766.TEM in the %systemroot%\System32 directory when starting RAS and deletes it when RAS is stopped. The location for this temporary file is not user selectable. When you perform a disk backup or an update to the Emergency Repair Disk, Windows NT tries to access this file. Because Windows NT security only allows access to this file by the RAS Server initialization code (the file's parent process), NTBACKUP.EXE or REPAIR.EXE are denied access resulting in the above error.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, stop RAS before attempting to backup your disk with NTBackup or update the Emergency Repair Disk.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. This problem has been corrected in Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server version 3.5.