Knowledge Base

IO Error on backup or restore restart-checkpoint file

Category: Troubleshooting & error messages
Date: 01 Feb 2011
Product: SQL Backup
When backing up or restoring a SQL Server database using SQL Backup, the following error may occur:

I/O error on backup or restore restart-checkpoint file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\backup\MyDatabase.ckp'. Operating system error 3(The system cannot find the path specified.). The statement is proceeding but is non-restartable.
 
The restore operation will probably be successful regardless of the error.

This message is raised when SQL Server's default backup directory no longer exists. Look for the SQL Server instance's key in the registry and look for the BackupDirectory string value:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.n\MSSQLServer\BackupDirectory

If the location specified does not exist on the server's file system, the value needs to be changed to a valid location, preferably one that the SQL Server and SQL Agent service accounts can read from and write to. Once this folder has been identified, the regedit tool can be used to create or modify this registry key, specifying a valid location for SQL Server backups.