Error when opening backup file

[VeeNewbie]

Hi everyone!

I am new to the program and to the forum - please excuse me if I ask dumb questions or things that have been answered before. And excuse me if I am unclear about my questions,I am not an IT specialist and I am (obviously) not a native English speaker. My program runs in German.

So - I have Windows Server 2016 Essentials running and its backup only allows to make backups to external USB drives. I want to backup to a NAS drive. That has worked with Veeam Agent for Windows - Free Edition that I am currently using.

So, I can see the backup that Veeam made (one metadata file and one backup file). But I cannot see how to actually access or open that file. The program (Agent) doesn't seem to have a "open backup" or "recover backup" function. At least I cannot see such a thing.

When I double click on the backup file, Veeam starts but produces an error: "Illegales Zeichen im Pfad", something like "illegal character in path" and you can do nothing else but click "OK" and the program closes.

So, I have a backup in a different location, but I do not know how to open it. So that is not yet worth much.

Therefore, my questions:

1) What does the error mean, what characters are illegal? Why can Veeam make a backup to that "illegal path" but not open it from there?

2) How am I supposed to open backup files? In the explorer or through the Agent (where?)?

3) Is it possible to make backups where the files are "duplicated" unchanged? I want to say: That I have the same Word- and PDF-Files in the backup location like in the original folder? So I can open those files directly from the backup location without needing to rely on Veeam? If not, is that a feature that is included in the paid version?

THANK YOU very much for your help. It is very much appreciated.

[wishr]

Hi Vee,

Welcome to Veeam community forums and thanks for posting your query.

First, please note that when posting about any technical issue you should include a support case ID as per our Veeam forum rules. All topics created without a case ID specified may be deleted.

Regarding the issue. Most likely, the path to the backup folder contains an inappropriate character/symbol. Please make sure that there are no unnecessary dots, commas, as well as other special symbols in your folder names. If that does not help, please reach out to our support team for assistance and post your case ID in that thread so we'll be able to keep a track of it.

As for backup files opening, you simply double-click them to kick off the Restore Wizard. Our backup products produce backup files that store your data inside of them. Basically, a backup is a "container" offering data compression, data encryption, and other useful capabilities to satisfy modern backup standards and requirements. To be able to perform File-level restore you should activate the File indexing in your job settings - please check if it is activated. You do not require any additional licenses to be able to use this feature.

Should you have any additional questions just let us know. Thanks.

[VeeNewbie]

Hi Wishr,

Sorry for not reading the forum rules. I should have, no doubt. They differ quite a bit from what I am used to. Many companies offer their forums for users to give each other technical support instead of actually providing any support themselves (costumers should help themselves in the forum). Here ist seems that technical issues should not be addressed in the forum. I have to say, I am bit confused as I do not know under which circumstances I am allowed or would have the need to open a topic on a technical issue after having reached out to Veeam directly by opening a support case (even after reading the rules I do not fully understand). But OK, I will open a support case if I still see the need. You may delete my post.

Quickly on the issue:

I have renamed the folder where the backup is made. The path used to contain an "undersocre" oder "underline" (this:_) what shouldn't be a problem normally. After its removal the same error still appears even tough there are no special characters whatsoever. Anyway, if I move the backup-files to another location (from a network folder to a local folder on a local computer) and double-click it there, it works.

So, even tough the error persists, I can get my backup files to open (in another location) and that is what matters to me. Your answer was quick and helpful, thanks a lot!

[Vitaliy S.]

Posting support case ID is needed as a reference to your problem so that any other customer experiencing the same issue could ask for a resolution. Having the case ID posted in these forums allows us to find the case and update topic with a solution. Hope this clarifies why we have this requirement. Thanks!