Error 'Backup Failed' - message appears immediately

When the backup process fails immediately, it indicates technical or environmental issues affecting the process or backup destination. 

Click on the possible solutions steps to resolve the error message: 

• Application shortcut has invalid parameters
  • Right-click on the desktop shortcut and review the shortcut tab
  • Ensure that the "Target" and "Start in" location reflects a drive letter (a: to z:), and not a server location (which starts with "\\")
  • The shortcut command must include "wrun32.exe -s -c cblconfi vipsal.acu"
  • If the location and command is incorrect, correct the location and save the shortcut
  • It is recommended to recreate the shortcut using the createshortcut.exe application within the system folder
• The system location (from where backup will be made) is invalid (not reflecting mapped drive letter)
  • The source location is where the application is installed, which can be on your local computer or on a network drive/server
  • There should be no spaces in the application folder name. Rename the folder to be without spaces (for example, use an underscore to replace the space).
    • How to view the location:
      • Access the payroll application
      • From the Company Listing screen, select Sup Help
      • Review the System Information section: The "System is installed on location" must have a drive letter  with no spaces in the folder name (E.g. c:\Sage_Payroll or v:\Sage)
      • If the location refers to a server/UNC location (which starts with \\), the mapped drive must be defined as a Trusted Site. Click here for more details to apply the change.
  • Should the issue persist, delete the shortcut on the desktop, and recreate the system shortcut using the createshortcut.exe application within the system folder. 
  • Review the Properties of the shortcut, under the Compatibility tab - the option 'Run as Administrator" should not be ticked
  • Restart your computer and retry making the backup

  • In a network environment, the mapped drive might not be recognised. Review the system location 

• Destination folder (where backup will be saved to) is invalid
  •  If you selected to make a backup directly to the c:\ drive of your computer, please select another directory or location.  Your computer will not allow a backup to be created directly to the local c:\ drive. 
  • The destination folder selected should be a location where you have permissions to read and write information and data:
    • Right-click on the folder and select Properties
    • Select the Security tab
    • Ensure the name of the user making the backup  appears in the "Group or user names" section, and select the user name
  • Ensure that the user is allowed to have Full Control on the folder 
• Insufficient disk space available to create a backup

  • In order to save a backup file, there must be sufficient space available on the destination location drive
  • The recommended available disk space is 20Gb
  • How to view the available disk space:
  • Within the payroll application:
    • Access a payroll company
    • Select Utilities, then Display Disk Space:
    • Select the drive letter you want to save the backup to
    • The details including the disk space used and available will display
  • Through File Explorer
    • Open This PC or My Computer
    • Select This PC or My Computer on the left-hand side of the screen
    • All available drives will display, and you will be able to review the space available on the destination drive
  • If you want to save the backup to a folder on a network drive, you might not be avle to view the actual available space, or quotas might be applied by your administrator. Please discuss the available space with your network administrator to assist you checking and changing (if required)
• Check for any pending Windows updates
  • Updates might cause that the backup process cannot continue
  • Press the WinKey / click on Windows icon on the Taskbar and type in "Windows Update"
  • Select "Check for Updates" and insure all outstanding updates are installed
  • You might need to restart your PC
  • Should you need assistance with this step, please discuss with your system administrator
• Backup utility application is missing for application folder
  • The backup process uses the application PKZIPC.EXE within the payroll application folder to create backups
  • If this application is missing from the folder, the backup process will stop immediately
  • The file could be missing due to the following reasons:
    • The file was deleted by a user or a process
    • The application folder was copied, and not all files were transferred
    • The anti-virus application could have quarantined the file as possible threat, if you computer becomes infected by a virus
  • How to confirm if the PKZIPC.EXE file is in the folder
    • Right-click on the application shortcut on your desktop (which opens the payroll application)
    • Select Open file location from the menu
    • Sort the files in the folder according to filename
    • Scroll through the files (which is now alphabetically sorted) and validate if the file PKZIPC.EXE is in your folder
  • If the file is missing fro the folder, you will require a copy of the file. You can copy the file from any folder or backup on the same version, or can request a copy from the support team