Knowledge Base

SQL Server maintenance task doesn't delete existing backup files once Hyperbac components are installed

Category: Troubleshooting & error messages
Date: 05 Aug 2011
Product: SQL HyperBac
Many users will have a scheduled maintenance task set up in SQL Server to delete backups older than 'x' days. Once the Hyperbac components are installed however, files are no longer being deleted which can lead to disk space issues in certain environments.

This problem occurs because once the Hyperbac components are installed, the old files are attempted to be decompressed when SQL Server reads the header to determine whether to delete them. Because the files aren't compressed (due to being created prior to the installation), they cannot be read and thus SQL Server won't delete them.

It is necessary to simply manually delete any backups that were created before installing Hyperbac. Ones created from the install point onwards will be deleted correctly when they reach the specified age.