Knowledge Base

System error 32 (The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process)

Category: Troubleshooting & error messages
Date: 01 Apr 2009
Product: SQL Backup
When backing up a database, the following warning may be displayed:
Warning: System error 32 (The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process).

The error is being generated from the Windows Operating System which is reporting "System Error 32 (The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process).

Check to see whether there is any anti-virus or anti-spyware tool running on the SQL Server, in particular if either tool has an 'On-Access' scanner. With some AV applications, when a file is first written or opened, the file is checked for viruses. This is what is meant by an on-scanner. SQL Backup is attempting to create the backup file and is prevented from doing so by the AV software. If you do have an Anti-virus or Anti-spyware application running, exclude the disk location where you create your backup files from the checks.

If you are backing up to a network share, this investigation must be performed on the server hosting the file share rather than the local SQL Server computer.

Process Explorer shows you information about which files processes have opened or loaded. Before using this tool, you may need to check the SQL Backup activity log for that particular job to retrieve the filename of the backup, if the filename was automatically generated by SQL Backup.
  · Download Process Explorer from the Microsoft site ( http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx ) and run the program.
  · Click the Find menu, and choose Find Handle or DLL...
  · Type the file name (name of the file which is locked by some process.)
  · After typing the search phrase, click the Search button
You should see the list of applications which are accessing the file.