508 - System-related Windows files are not backed up

Symptom

Some system-related Windows files (e.g. Pagefile.sys, msdtc.log, Internet Explorer temporary files) are not being backed up.

Cause

These files are on the FilesNotToBackup list, which is located here:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup

According to Microsoft, the files on this list are not required for restoring and should not be backed up. The Agent therefore filters out these files from any backups done via VSS.

The registry entry typically looks like this:

Solution

This is intended behaviour and as such does not require a solution.

Note: The Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC) log file (default location C:\windows\system32\msdtc\msdtc.log) is among the list of files not to be backed up. If errors such as event ID 4163, 4185 or 4112 are encountered, use the command-line to run msdtc -resetlog.