Windows Media Center files (.wtv) not getting backed up
I bought Acronis True Image primarily to back up the TV shows we record with Windows Media Center. However, no matter what I do, it doesn't seem to back up these files. I have a separate 3TB disk just for the Media Center files. If I add other files to this disk, these files get backed up, but the .wtv files don't. I've turned off all exclusions and have built new backups from scratch with different backup settings, but I can't get it to save these files. Any suggestions?

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.wtv files are located by default to user/public /recorded tv/. Not sure but I think the user/public folder may be excluded from backup by the volume shadowcopy service or VSS. You might try stopping the VSS service prior to running the backup then start it again after the backup completes.
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Enchantech is correct. Microsoft has set VSS to exclude recorded TV from backups. This is a Microsoft setting and is not Acronis' fault. You have some options to override this setting:
1. Run regedit.exe and navigate to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\BacupRestore\FilesNotToSnapshot and delete the key named Media Center Record Path.
2. Set the start type of the Volume Shadow Copy service to disabled before the backup is started. Then set the start type back to manual after the backup is completed. This can be done with Pre and Post backup commands in the TI options for the backup.
3. Store your recorded TV in a different location. Only .wtv files stored at C:\Users\Public\Recorded TV are being excluded.
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Thank you Enchantech and Mustang.
Actually, the files are stored in a different location - in Windows Media Center, I've changed the default "recording" directory to be the M: drive (for Media) ... but I will try your suggestions and see how it works.
Regards,
David
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Did you resolve this David? Did you use the registry hack? I too would like to back up my recorded TV. (I don't know why more people don't record free HD TV =)
(I have a custom HTPC I built with Win 8.1 and can't upgrade to Win 10 because I don't want to lose WMC.)
Thanks
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Hi CD - I actually ended up writing a simple program in Visual Basic that backs up the Media Center files onto my external drive. I have everything set so that Acronis runs at 1am every day and my own program runs when Acronis is finished. The program I wrote spits out a text file that lists all the TV shows that are backed up and which ones have already been deleted from the Media Center.
I agree that Media Center is a great feature - it's the only reason I haven't upgraded this PC to Windows 10 (it's still on Windows 7).
Regards,
David
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Thanks for the reply! Maybe I'll look at Synctoy. Unfortunate that there is not an easily accessible setting in either Windows or Acronis to choose to back up recorded TV files :(
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Hello Everyone,
Indeed, as pointed out by Enchantech and Mustang, exclusions listed in the registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToSnapshot are automatically applied to all Acronis backups, unless VSS is not used in the backup.
I have submitted a feature request to add ability to include only files with certain extensions into the backup. Thank you for the suggestion.
Regards,
Slava
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Thank you Slava, that would be a great addition to the product.
David Workman
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