Backup 3.0 (#4): More on 'Backup archive in use' message -- workaround; Backups cannot be resumed

More on 'Backup archive in use' message -- workaround Yesterday we reported on an issue where Backup 3.0 states that the currently manipulated backup archive is "in use" and cannot be written nor restored.

It appears that in at least some cases, this issue is caused by the presence of Norton AntiVirus' AutoProtect feature -- a component that has been implicated in a broad variety of general system and third-party issues.

As such, simply turning off the NAV AutoProtect feature while performing the backup will generally eliminate the error message and allow a backup to occur.

MacFixIt reader Steve writes:

"I got the error message that the backup archive was in use. I discovered that Symantec's Norton AntiVirus 10's autoprotect feature was operating when Backup began setting up the backup cache file. I turned AutoProtect off while doing the backup and had no further trouble. My theory is that Backup (which was building a cache file for my Users folder), got to a point in the copying process where it had to copy an active file, at which point it failed. Quitting all my applications and turning off AutoProtect appears to eliminate the occurrence of an active file somewhere in my Users folder during the scanning-marking-copying process."

Backups cannot be resumed MacFixIt reader Dean notes that Backup 3.0 does not sport a resume mechanism, and instead will start an interrupted backup from the beginning.

Dean writes:

"I did a manual full back up of client folder that was to take 22 DVDs. After 19 DVDs used, I needed to burn a disc for a client. I stopped the backup after it finished number 19 thinking it would resume the backup with number 20. Wrong, it wants to start all over."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Previous coverage:

• Backup 3.0 (#3): Incomplete restores; Backup archive 'in use' message
• Backup 3.0: Review, troubleshooting issues

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