Executables (.exe files) registered as Services are not available in the restore selections of the drive backups

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Article ID: 100006532

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Updated On:

Cause

Backup Exec includes a feature known as Active File Exclusion.   This feature is designed to prevent the duplication of backup data from multiple sources.  When an executable (.EXE)  file is registered as a Service, it is backed up as part of the System State backup.  Because of this, Backup Exec excludes the .EXE files from the backups of the drives where they reside.  The only way to restore the .EXE files is by restoring the entire System State.

 

Resolution

The .EXE files should be restored using System State.

Other options are shown below but not recommended and not supported for system recovery.

 

A. Extract the .EXE file from System State

A file in System State can be extracted by a redirect restore of System State to a temporary folder. However, due to Windows File Protection (WFP), the file may not be manually placed in the original location.

 

B. Exclude the .EXE file from System State

To exclude the .EXE file from System State, follow Microsoft KB 980794. This KB is generally used when the file has been uninstalled.

https://support.microsoft.com/kb/980794

 

C. Disable Active File Exclusion

Disable the Active File Exclusion feature If it is desired to have the .EXE files which are registered as services be backed up as part of the drive backups,

How to disable the Active File Exclusion feature in Backup Exec
https://www.veritas.com/docs/000042448

Please note that disabling Active File Exclusion is a global option that applies to all backup jobs.   Disabling this feature may result in skipped file messages for database files like Exchange and SQL,  which are also excluded from the drive backups automatically when Active File Exclusion is active.

 

 

Issue/Introduction

Executables (.exe files) registered as Services are not available in the restore selections of the drive backups (volume level backups.) The job log from the backup job shows no exceptions or errors related to these files.