DOCUMENT:Q106711  23-NOV-1993  [W_NT]
TITLE   :Err Msg: Backup: NTBACKUP.EXE - Application Error
PRODUCT :Windows NT
PROD/VER:3.10
OPER/SYS:WINDOWS
KEYWORDS:

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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
 - Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you use a batch file to back up directories, you will receive the
following error message:

   Backup: NTBACKUP.EXE - Application Error
   The instruction at “XxXXXXXXXX” referenced memory at “XxXXXXXXXX”.
   The memory could not be “read”.

   Click on OK to terminate the application
   Click on CANCEL to debug the application

CAUSE
=====

The above error message occurs when a line in a batch file (that calls
NTBACKUP) contains a directory list that exceeds 282 characters.

For example, the file BACK.BAT contains the following lines:

   ntbackup backup d:\one\ d:\two\ d:\three\ d:\four\ d:\five\
   d:\six\ d:\seven\  d:\eight\eight\ d:\nine\nine\nine d:\ten\
   d:\eleven\ d:\twelve\ d:\thirteen\ d:\fourteen\ d:\sixteen\
   d:\seventeen\ d:\eighteen\ d:\nineteen\ d:\twenty d:\twentyone\
   d:\twentytwo\ d:\twentythree\ d:\twentyfour\ d:\twentyfive\
   d:\twentysix\ d:\twentyseven\

This file has more than 282 characters on the backup line and will causes
the error message.

RESOLUTION
==========

There are three possible workarounds to this problem:

 - Decrease the number of characters in the line to 282 characters or less.

   -or-

 - Use the Backup application from the Administrative Tools group to
   initiate the backup.

   -or-

 - Split the line up into 2 lines or more.

For example, the file BACK.BAT contains the following lines:

   ntbackup backup d:\one\ d:\two\ d:\three\ d:\four\ d:\five\
   d:\six\ d:\seven\  d:\eight\eight\ d:\nine\nine\nine d:\ten\
   d:\eleven\ d:\twelve\ d:\thirteen\ d:\fourteen\ d:\sixteen\
   d:\seventeen\ d:\eighteen\ d:\nineteen\ d:\twenty d:\twentyone\
   d:\twentytwo\ d:\twentythree\ d:\twentyfour\ d:\twentyfiveseven\

    ntbackup backup d:\one\ d:\two\ d:\three\ d:\four\ d:\five\ d:\six\
    d:\seven\  d:\eight\eight\ d:\nine\nine\nine d:\ten\ d:\eleven\
    d:\twelve\ d:\thirteen\ d:\fourteen\ d:\sixteen\

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT
Advanced Server version 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post
new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes
available.

Additional reference words: 3.10
KBCategory:
KBSubCategory: ntap

=============================================================================

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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.