Windows 10: Appdata\Local\Backup\lastCompatBackupTime.txt

Hi all.As the title suggests, it's a file in my Appdata called Backup with a file called lastCompatBackupTime.txt in it. I've already seen another post suggesting it's just a log of the last time an app attempted to back up, but I'm not sure. It already scared me off my old PC and I'm using a different laptop altogether now, and to my horror, it reappeared. Just want to make sure there's nothing in the network or something like that.The .txt file usually contains a number between eight and twelve characters long, I'd guess. There are no mentions of any connected apps. I do not have Onedrive ba

:)

 

Backup Issue - Microsoft 10 - Cannot perform initial backup

Question

• 
  
  

Applies to

• Windows
• Windows 10
• Update, backup, & recovery

5 views Backup Issue - Microsoft 10 - Cannot perform initial backup




My backup stubbornly refuses to run. I can't run the initial backup, therefore the file history backups don't run either. This has been an ongoing problem for quite some time. Suggestions I've received have not worked so far. Following is the problem
and the failed resolution attempts:

• I get this message from the Event Log:

Unable to scan user libraries for changes and perform backup of modified files for configuration C:\Users\Papa\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory\Configuration\Config

Event ID - 201

Level: Error

User - System

*** ---- There is no config file at this directory location. The contents of the location are:

catalog1

catalog2

config1

config2

• In another thread from July, someone suggested checking a particular service (I forget the name just now) is running. It is.

• Two days ago a Microsoft employee suggested the following steps. These steps resulted in no change, still no backup:

KA

Karthicka_R replied on

• Microsoft
• Support Engineer

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft community.

I suggest you to follow the below steps to start and stop the services “Windows backup” and “volume shadow copy” and check if it helps.

• Press “Windows+R” and in the run command box type “services. MSc”.
• Search for the service “Windows Backup” double click on it and check whether the service is started or not, click on “OK” button. I suggest you to stop and start the service again.
• Once done again search for the service “Volume shadow copy” double click on it and check whether the service is started or not. I suggest you to stop and start the service again, click on “OK” button and
  check whether you can perform backup successfully.

Hope this information was helpful and do let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to assist.

• I performed these steps multiple times. The backup still crashes, with the same error message. In addition I collected the following error message, but only one time:

Unable to start a backup cycle for configuration C:\Users\Papa\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory\Configuration\Config

Event ID: 200

• Can anyone help me with this stubborn problem?

Thank you in advance.

 

File History Backup and Appdata folders

I have two home computers both on an Office 365 subscription, Windows 10. Many ‘C:\...User’ folders are included in ‘File History, Backup’ by default but the ‘User\AppData’ folder is not.
Is it a good idea to include any of the AppData folders in backups?
For example, Outlook files are in the AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook folder and I am particularly concerned about backups for Outlook including Calendars and other personal folders.
Perhaps just the ‘AppData\Local’ folder should be backed up? I don't know if there are other files in this or other AppData folders that should be added to The File History Backup process.

Thanks!

 

Zip VS AppData\Local

Hello, Minh Ho ng Lê

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I’m sorry to hear that you are having trouble with the ZIP files that contain applications and resources. I can understand how frustrating it can be when Windows creates duplicate files in the AppData folder and causes confusion. Let me try to explain why this happens and how you can prevent it.

The AppData folder is a special folder that Windows uses to store application-specific data, such as settings, preferences, caches, temporary files, etc. Each user on the computer has their own AppData folder, which is located in C:\Users<user>\AppData. The AppData folder has three subfolders: Local, LocalLow, and Roaming. The Local folder is used for data that is specific to the current computer and does not need to be synchronized with other devices. The LocalLow folder is used for data that has low priority or low integrity, such as web browser data. The Roaming folder is used for data that can be synchronized with other devices, such as user profiles and settings.

When you run an application from a ZIP file, Windows may create a copy of the application and its resources in the AppData\Local folder. This is done for several reasons, such as:

• To improve the performance and reliability of the application by reducing the dependency on the ZIP file.
  
• To allow the application to access the resources without requiring elevated permissions or UAC prompts.
  
• To enable the application to update itself or download additional resources without modifying the ZIP file.
  
• To isolate the application from other applications and prevent conflicts or corruption.
  

However, this also means that any changes you make to the resources in the ZIP file may not be reflected in the AppData\Local copy, and vice versa. This can create confusion and inconsistency when you want to add or modify personal files or other resources.

To prevent Windows from creating duplicate files in the AppData\Local folder, you have a few options:

• You can extract the ZIP file to a regular folder and run the application from there. This way, Windows will not create a copy of the application and its resources in the AppData\Local folder, and any changes you make to the resources will be saved in the same folder as the application.
  
• You can use a portable application launcher, such as PortableApps or Cameyo, to run the application from the ZIP file. These tools will create a virtual environment for the application and redirect its data to a separate folder or file. This way, Windows will not create a copy of the application and its resources in the AppData\Local folder, and any changes you make to the resources will be saved in the virtual environment.
  
• You can disable or modify the behavior of Windows regarding creating copies of applications and resources in the AppData\Local folder. This is not recommended, as it may cause problems with some applications or Windows features.
  

I hope this helps you understand why Windows creates duplicate files in the AppData\Local folder and how you can prevent it. If you have any further questions or feedback, please feel free to ask me.

Best regards

Yuhao Li

Microsoft Community Technical Support