Robocopy Backup - ERROR 5 (0x00000005)

Hi,
I'm wondering if anyone might be able to shed some light on why I am getting the following such errors when running a robocopy batch file (as administrator) which cause the backup script to stall (- albeit temporarily):

2013/07/30 21:10:43 ERROR 5 (0x00000005) Copying File C:\Users\Tim\My Documents\Harey 8-128.jpg
Access is denied.

Waiting 30 seconds... Retrying...

2013/07/30 21:12:20 ERROR 5 (0x00000005) Copying File C:\Users\Tim\My Documents\TimsData\Year1.pdf
Access is denied.

Waiting 30 seconds... Retrying...

2013/07/30 21:15:27 ERROR 5 (0x00000005) Copying File C:\Users\Tim\My Documents\TimsData\Tim\Heddon's Mouth - Printable Walk - South West Coast Path.htm
Access is denied.

Waiting 30 seconds... Retrying...

I am using the following backup command:

Code:

robocopy "%srcPath%\My Documents" "%dstPath%\My Documents" /b /v /ts /fp /bytes /tee /e /dcopy:t /copy:dt /a-:sh /xf desktop.* /np /log+:%logPath%\mwk1log.txt

I realise that if I limit the retries and wait time from the defaults the stall time will be shortened and the file(s) skipped. However, that does not resolve the issue why robocopy is having a problem copying the file(s).

I have found that if the erroring files are moved from the source location to the desktop, the following errors arethen recorded in the log:

2013/07/30 21:11:13 ERROR 2 (0x00000002) Copying File C:\Users\Tim\My Documents\Harey 8-128.jpg
The system cannot find the file specified.

2013/07/30 21:13:53 ERROR 2 (0x00000002) Copying File C:\Users\Tim\My Documents\TimsData\Year1.pdf
The system cannot find the file specified.

2013/07/30 21:15:57 ERROR 2 (0x00000002) Copying File C:\Users\Tim\My Documents\TimsData\Tim\Heddon's Mouth - Printable Walk - South West Coast Path.htm
The system cannot find the file specified.

... which is understandable as it has been moved. Then the backup script continues. But when I check the destination directory I find the file has been copied anyway!

Additional Notes:
The target device is an attached external USB drive.
I have already checked that the permissions on the files/folders concerned are correct.
The files affected appear to consistently be .jpg, .pdf or .htm files.
The files do not appear to be corrupt as they can be opened and worked on as required.
The batch file works fine apart from the intermittent errors copying files.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Golden,

Thank you for your feedback.
I'm slightly confused by your reference to the dcopy:t switch, which I have not used.
The switch I have used is the copy:dt switch. Did you mean that both switch forms are buggy and I should therefore try the copy:datsou switch?

Hi Golden,

Doh! Apologies I must be going blind! I thought you'd quoted my code!
I'll give that a try and come back to you.
Thanks again.

Hi Golden,

Finally, I've managed to get a comparison between the three slightly different scripts following your suggested changes.

It appears the script fails identically with the inclusion of the /dcopy:t or /copy:datsou switches.
With the /copy:dt switch it appears there are no more backup failures relating to .pdf files. Having said that none of the three revisions have produced an error free backup.

This is all a bit of a mystery as a straight drag copy or copy and paste work without any hitch.

If you have any further thoughts they would be most welcome.

Thanks again and apologies for the delay in responding.

Hi Golden,

Unfortunately, that change made no difference either.
I may well have to resort to script that does not use robocopy, if no solution can be found, which would be a shame given the logging detail the tool provides.

Any further thought/suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks again.