The original version of this page can be found at : http://forum.makemusic.com/default.aspx?f=5&m=482105
Posted By : Joseph. - 8/4/2016 2:56 PM
Lately, I've had this annoying error that keeps popping up:

"Error 183 backing up file C:\Users\Path\To\BackupFolder\example.bak. Cannot create a file when that file already exists."

After I've been working with a new .mus file for a while, at some point, I won't be able to save with Ctrl+s. This error pops up.

I have to rename the original file to something else, but often I will start getting the same error again and again. I'm tired of renaming files.

Does anyone know why this message comes up? I look in that folder and see these:

example1 (Finale Auto-Save File)
example1.bak
example2 (Finale Auto-Save File)
example2.bak

Although for some files the Auto-Save File is missing... If that means anything.

Anyways, I'm not sure how .bak works, I would assume that it is overwritten from time to time (Doesn't appear to keep many versions). If that's the case, why would it freak out when the file already exists?

Anyone know why this happens?


Windows 7 Finale 2012c

Finale Hotkey Grid - free, open source, and mostly... a work in progress.
/github.com/jsphweid/Finale-Hotkey-Grid

Another macro to make booklets effortlessly...
/github.com/jsphweid/bookletMacro


Posted By : Motet - 8/4/2016 5:22 PM
That is mysterious. It seems like a file permissions problem, since Finale normally overwrites those .bak files (despite what the error message says), but as you say, since it's Finale writing those files, how could it then not have permissions. You might try switching to a new backup folder, one that's completely "vanilla" (e.g. in My Documents).

I put the .bak files in the same directory as the .mus files (i.e., don't specify a path for backup) and put the .asv's elsewhere.


Finale 2014.5, 2011b, 2005, TGTools
Windows 7, MIDI input
Finale Transposition Chart


Posted By : Joseph. - 9/7/2016 12:55 PM
Motet said...
That is mysterious. It seems like a file permissions problem, since Finale normally overwrites those .bak files (despite what the error message says), but as you say, since it's Finale writing those files, how could it then not have permissions. You might try switching to a new backup folder, one that's completely "vanilla" (e.g. in My Documents).

I put the .bak files in the same directory as the .mus files (i.e., don't specify a path for backup) and put the .asv's elsewhere.


I did what you said and still get this often. You're definitely correct that it is a file permissions problem.

I click on the properties of the .bak file and everywhere it reads "You do not have permission to view or edit this object's permission settings."

Even looking at advanced settings, under Current Owner: "Unable to display current owner."

I don't really understand how I lose permissions on this file. It doesn't really make sense to me. I'm starting to think of not keeping .baks and simply doing all my work in dropbox / google drive folder which keeps backups for a while. Any other thoughts?


Finale 2012c
Windows 7 64-bit i5-2500k 8GB RAM NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
Macbook Pro OSX v.10.11 El Capitan

Finale Hotkey Grid - free, open source, and mostly... a work in progress.
/github.com/jsphweid/Finale-Hotkey-Grid

Another macro to make booklets effortlessly...
/github.com/jsphweid/bookletMacro


Posted By : Joseph. - 9/7/2016 1:09 PM
Although honestly, I read this:

http://superuser.com/questions/79528/file-i-cant-take-ownership-of

And I used Unlocker to basically force Windows to give me permission. Seems to work. For now.


Finale 2012c
Windows 7 64-bit i5-2500k 8GB RAM NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
Macbook Pro OSX v.10.11 El Capitan

Finale Hotkey Grid - free, open source, and mostly... a work in progress.
/github.com/jsphweid/Finale-Hotkey-Grid

Another macro to make booklets effortlessly...
/github.com/jsphweid/bookletMacro


Posted By : Motet - 9/7/2016 1:21 PM
I wonder if it has to do with how Finale was installed vis a vis "as administrator" or not, and thus what the permissions are when Finale runs. I'm pretty sure I did not install mine as administrator.


Finale 2014.5, 2011b, 2005, TGTools
Windows 7, MIDI input
Finale Transposition Chart