Files With Changed Permissions Not Incrementally Backed Up

 Last reviewed: April 10, 1996
Article ID: Q148126
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 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.

KBCategory: kbtool
KBSubcategory: ntbackup
Additional reference words: prodnt 3.50 3.51

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Last reviewed: April 10, 1996
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