Can not copy NTFS Additional File Streams of file *** (REFS)

Podz · Joined: 11 Dec 2020 Posts: 4

Hi, switching off the "NTFS Alternate Data Streams" option solved my problem with some files -> "[Can not copy NTFS Additional File Streams of file" ****** ". Function 'BackupWrite' returned error 13. The data is invalid.]".
In my case I was trying to do a backup with W10 from a REFS volume to an external NTFS usb HDD.

May I know if these Alternate Data Streams contain relevant information? Is it really something that can be ignored in a simple backup without losing anything?

Thanks

TGRMN Software · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 8684

Hi, what type of files were these?
thanks
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Podz · Joined: 11 Dec 2020 Posts: 4

*.txt, *.jpg, *.raf, *.docx, and many types of video files.

TGRMN Software · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 8684

Please try this software to see what they are:

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/alternate_data_streams.html

let us know,

thanks!

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Podz · Joined: 11 Dec 2020 Posts: 4

Ok, after updating Windows 10 to version 20H2 and upgrading the REFS pool (ver. 3.4 as before, I don't know what has changed exactly) the problem seems solved.

I analyzed the folders where the problem occurred with AlternateStreamView v1.56, but only in a few subfolders, which I am now able to backup without errors with the option "do not copy file/folder data streams" unchecked, it detects some alternate streams like ":Zone.Identifier:$DATA". In other subfolders where previously there were errors, no alternate streams are found...very strange.

TGRMN Software · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 8684

:Zone.Identifier:$DATA is attached by Windows to files that are downloaded from the Internet. This particular stream is written when you download something from the net - Windows can then display that nice "Security Warning" dialog box when you run it and offer to show you the EXE's digital certificate for example. Going to Properties and clicking Unblock will remove this, and there might be a setting to disable it somewhere in Windows.
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Podz · Joined: 11 Dec 2020 Posts: 4

Thanks, I did not know. Indeed, they are files downloaded from the internet. However now even the files with those ADS do not give any errors during the backup.
If the problem recurs in the future I will immediately check with AlternateStreamView before doing anything else Wink