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    When synchronizing directories with Synctoy 2.0, I receive the following message: "Exception during preview: illegal character in path."   This cause the syncronization to stop.   It appeared to stop when it encountered *.tmp files beginning with a ~ character.   I searched and deleted all of these, and am having the same problem.   I am running Vista Home Premium x64.   Thanks in advance!
    Tuesday, September 2, 2008 10:39 PM

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    Hi - I am looking through your exception stack above again and it does not look like it had to be the last directory. Clearly somewhere in your path there is a folder or file that has an invalid character in the path.

     

    The way to troubleshoot ( which could be time-consuming for you depending on your hierarchy) would be to sync individual folders till you hit the one causing the problem. The way to do this would be to use the "Exclude sub-folders" option on your folder pair and work your way down till you find the offending folder.

     

    Let us know if there anything else we can do to help.

     

    Thanks

    Deepa

    Wednesday, September 10, 2008 5:59 PM

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    This used to be a problem with SyncToy 1.4 which we resolved with 2.0. Can you please look for the error/exception information in the SyncToy log and put that in this post?

     

    Wednesday, September 3, 2008 2:58 AM
    Answerer
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    Where do I find the error/exception log?

    Wednesday, September 3, 2008 2:23 PM
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    Look under File->ViewLog.

     

    Thanks

    Deepa

    Wednesday, September 3, 2008 4:37 PM
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    Here are the results of several runs:

     

    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:29:27:824: -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:29:27:873: Starting SyncToy, version 2.0.100.0, built 8/12/2008 2:07:12 PM.
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:45:27:315: -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:45:27:318: Starting SyncToy, version 2.0.100.0, built 8/12/2008 2:07:12 PM.
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:46:06:878: Started scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:46:06:879: Started scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:46:08:421: Stopped scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:46:25:974: Stopped scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:47:02:443: *** Exception during preview: {0} :
     System.ArgumentException: Illegal characters in path.
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.CoreInterop.ISyncSession.Start(CONFLICT_RESOLUTION_POLICY resolutionPolicy, _SYNC_SESSION_STATISTICS& pSyncSessionStatistics)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWaySyncHelper(SyncIdFormatGroup sourceIdFormats, SyncIdFormatGroup destinationIdFormats, KnowledgeSyncProviderConfiguration destinationConfiguration, SyncCallbacks DestinationCallbacks, ISyncProvider sourceProxy, ISyncProvider destinationProxy, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWayKnowledgeSync(SyncProvider sourceProvider, SyncProvider destinationProvider, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.SyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.CreateAndStartSession(FileSyncProvider destinationProvider, FileSyncProvider sourceProvider)
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.Run(Boolean previewMode)
       at SyncToyUI.PreviewDialog.PreviewOnePair(SyncEngine she)
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:47:02:445: *** Exception during preview: Illegal characters in path.
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:47:12:878: Started scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:47:12:879: Started scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:47:13:711: Stopped scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:47:18:995: Stopped scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:47:55:594: *** Exception during preview: {0} :
     System.ArgumentException: Illegal characters in path.
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.CoreInterop.ISyncSession.Start(CONFLICT_RESOLUTION_POLICY resolutionPolicy, _SYNC_SESSION_STATISTICS& pSyncSessionStatistics)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWaySyncHelper(SyncIdFormatGroup sourceIdFormats, SyncIdFormatGroup destinationIdFormats, KnowledgeSyncProviderConfiguration destinationConfiguration, SyncCallbacks DestinationCallbacks, ISyncProvider sourceProxy, ISyncProvider destinationProxy, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWayKnowledgeSync(SyncProvider sourceProvider, SyncProvider destinationProvider, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.SyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.CreateAndStartSession(FileSyncProvider destinationProvider, FileSyncProvider sourceProvider)
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.Run(Boolean previewMode)
       at SyncToyUI.PreviewDialog.PreviewOnePair(SyncEngine she)
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 16:47:55:594: *** Exception during preview: Illegal characters in path.
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:06:46:671: Started scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:06:46:672: Started scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:06:48:230: Stopped scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:07:03:064: Stopped scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:08:32:180: *** Exception during preview: {0} :
     System.ArgumentException: Illegal characters in path.
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.CoreInterop.ISyncSession.Start(CONFLICT_RESOLUTION_POLICY resolutionPolicy, _SYNC_SESSION_STATISTICS& pSyncSessionStatistics)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWaySyncHelper(SyncIdFormatGroup sourceIdFormats, SyncIdFormatGroup destinationIdFormats, KnowledgeSyncProviderConfiguration destinationConfiguration, SyncCallbacks DestinationCallbacks, ISyncProvider sourceProxy, ISyncProvider destinationProxy, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWayKnowledgeSync(SyncProvider sourceProvider, SyncProvider destinationProvider, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.SyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.CreateAndStartSession(FileSyncProvider destinationProvider, FileSyncProvider sourceProvider)
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.Run(Boolean previewMode)
       at SyncToyUI.PreviewDialog.PreviewOnePair(SyncEngine she)
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:08:32:180: *** Exception during preview: Illegal characters in path.
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:09:22:465: Started scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:09:22:467: Started scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:09:23:384: Stopped scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:09:39:177: Stopped scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:11:22:631: *** Exception during preview: {0} :
     System.ArgumentException: Illegal characters in path.
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.CoreInterop.ISyncSession.Start(CONFLICT_RESOLUTION_POLICY resolutionPolicy, _SYNC_SESSION_STATISTICS& pSyncSessionStatistics)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWaySyncHelper(SyncIdFormatGroup sourceIdFormats, SyncIdFormatGroup destinationIdFormats, KnowledgeSyncProviderConfiguration destinationConfiguration, SyncCallbacks DestinationCallbacks, ISyncProvider sourceProxy, ISyncProvider destinationProxy, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWayKnowledgeSync(SyncProvider sourceProvider, SyncProvider destinationProvider, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.SyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.CreateAndStartSession(FileSyncProvider destinationProvider, FileSyncProvider sourceProvider)
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.Run(Boolean previewMode)
       at SyncToyUI.PreviewDialog.PreviewOnePair(SyncEngine she)
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:11:22:631: *** Exception during preview: Illegal characters in path.
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:19:48:763: -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:19:48:765: Starting SyncToy, version 2.0.100.0, built 8/12/2008 2:07:12 PM.
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:19:56:781: Started scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:19:56:781: Started scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:19:58:507: Stopped scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:20:12:413: Stopped scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:21:50:793: *** Exception during preview: {0} :
     System.ArgumentException: Illegal characters in path.
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.CoreInterop.ISyncSession.Start(CONFLICT_RESOLUTION_POLICY resolutionPolicy, _SYNC_SESSION_STATISTICS& pSyncSessionStatistics)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWaySyncHelper(SyncIdFormatGroup sourceIdFormats, SyncIdFormatGroup destinationIdFormats, KnowledgeSyncProviderConfiguration destinationConfiguration, SyncCallbacks DestinationCallbacks, ISyncProvider sourceProxy, ISyncProvider destinationProxy, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWayKnowledgeSync(SyncProvider sourceProvider, SyncProvider destinationProvider, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.SyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.CreateAndStartSession(FileSyncProvider destinationProvider, FileSyncProvider sourceProvider)
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.Run(Boolean previewMode)
       at SyncToyUI.PreviewDialog.PreviewOnePair(SyncEngine she)
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:21:50:795: *** Exception during preview: Illegal characters in path.
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:46:11:328: -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:46:11:330: Starting SyncToy, version 2.0.100.0, built 8/12/2008 2:07:12 PM.
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:46:53:105: Started scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:46:53:105: Started scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:46:54:233: Stopped scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:47:10:310: Stopped scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:47:45:982: *** Exception during preview: {0} :
     System.ArgumentException: Illegal characters in path.
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.CoreInterop.ISyncSession.Start(CONFLICT_RESOLUTION_POLICY resolutionPolicy, _SYNC_SESSION_STATISTICS& pSyncSessionStatistics)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWaySyncHelper(SyncIdFormatGroup sourceIdFormats, SyncIdFormatGroup destinationIdFormats, KnowledgeSyncProviderConfiguration destinationConfiguration, SyncCallbacks DestinationCallbacks, ISyncProvider sourceProxy, ISyncProvider destinationProxy, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWayKnowledgeSync(SyncProvider sourceProvider, SyncProvider destinationProvider, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.SyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.CreateAndStartSession(FileSyncProvider destinationProvider, FileSyncProvider sourceProvider)
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.Run(Boolean previewMode)
       at SyncToyUI.PreviewDialog.PreviewOnePair(SyncEngine she)
    SYNC: 09/02/2008 17:47:45:984: *** Exception during preview: Illegal characters in path.
    SYNC: 09/03/2008 09:20:46:628: -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SYNC: 09/03/2008 09:20:46:632: Starting SyncToy, version 2.0.100.0, built 8/12/2008 2:07:12 PM.
    SYNC: 09/03/2008 09:20:51:205: Started scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/03/2008 09:20:51:205: Started scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/03/2008 09:20:58:266: Stopped scanning directory : S:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/03/2008 09:21:01:559: Stopped scanning directory : L:\Cases\
    SYNC: 09/03/2008 09:21:36:608: *** Exception during preview: {0} :
     System.ArgumentException: Illegal characters in path.
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.CoreInterop.ISyncSession.Start(CONFLICT_RESOLUTION_POLICY resolutionPolicy, _SYNC_SESSION_STATISTICS& pSyncSessionStatistics)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWaySyncHelper(SyncIdFormatGroup sourceIdFormats, SyncIdFormatGroup destinationIdFormats, KnowledgeSyncProviderConfiguration destinationConfiguration, SyncCallbacks DestinationCallbacks, ISyncProvider sourceProxy, ISyncProvider destinationProxy, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.DoOneWayKnowledgeSync(SyncProvider sourceProvider, SyncProvider destinationProvider, Int32& changesApplied, Int32& changesFailed)
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.KnowledgeSyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at Microsoft.Synchronization.SyncOrchestrator.Synchronize()
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.CreateAndStartSession(FileSyncProvider destinationProvider, FileSyncProvider sourceProvider)
       at SyncToy.SyncEngine.Run(Boolean previewMode)
       at SyncToyUI.PreviewDialog.PreviewOnePair(SyncEngine she)
    SYNC: 09/03/2008 09:21:36:609: *** Exception during preview: Illegal characters in path.

     

    Wednesday, September 3, 2008 5:50 PM
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    To more clearly identify the folder in which this exception is being thrown - look under the directoy where SyncToy has been installed. There is a file called SyncToy.config. If you open this file - you will see a line that looks like this:

          <add name="SyncToyTraceLevel" value="Info" />

    Change this to

          <add name="SyncToyTraceLevel" value="Verbose" />

     

    After you do this - restart the SyncToy application and re run the sync. This time when you look in the log - you will see the names of the different directories as we are scanning them and you should be able to identify the exact directory that this fails on. You should look at the whole path and files under this path if you can see any different character that has the potential of being an illegal character.

     

    Thanks

    Deepa

    Wednesday, September 3, 2008 8:41 PM
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    Thanks for the reply.   How do I interpret the log?
    Thursday, September 4, 2008 9:44 PM
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    We print out each directory that we are beginning to scan. - so look to the end of the log at the last sync and see what is th elast subdirectory that was scanned - that is going to be the directory that had an illegal character in there.

     

    Thanks

    Deepa

     

    Friday, September 5, 2008 11:13 PM
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    Thanks.   I did check the last directory on my last scan and did not find any illegal characters.   I simplified the filenames and reran the sync, and continued to get errors.   The earlier version works fine in my XP machine so I'll make do with that for awhile.  I am away from my desktop for the next 9 days, so I will recheck and repost then if the problem continues to occur.

     

    Sunday, September 7, 2008 4:06 AM
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    Hi - I am looking through your exception stack above again and it does not look like it had to be the last directory. Clearly somewhere in your path there is a folder or file that has an invalid character in the path.

     

    The way to troubleshoot ( which could be time-consuming for you depending on your hierarchy) would be to sync individual folders till you hit the one causing the problem. The way to do this would be to use the "Exclude sub-folders" option on your folder pair and work your way down till you find the offending folder.

     

    Let us know if there anything else we can do to help.

     

    Thanks

    Deepa

    Wednesday, September 10, 2008 5:59 PM
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    BuzzLS (and others reading this):   I had the same issue and followed the instructions exactly as the moderators explained.  The solution was expected, a hidden "corrupted" file that had some bogus characters.  The only way I could find this was to start with high subdirectories and work my way down.  As the moderator explained, this can take a while; which it did, but now I have the file segrgated (unchecked) (cannot delete but that's another issue).  Now the synch works perfectly!!!  Thanks moderators....
    Sunday, February 13, 2011 6:11 PM
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    I have been using the SyncToy 2.0 for a while and it worked fine until recently when I tried to synchronize folders containing files generated by a laptop using Window7 operating system. I can not see the illegal characters, but the Window XP see it. I tried to retype the whole file name, but still could not fix the problem.

     

    XQYang

    Thursday, August 18, 2011 7:20 PM
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    I had a similar issue.  Turns out the corrupt file was on my target, not in my source.  Once I ran a chkdsk /f on that, it worked.

    Friday, January 11, 2013 5:45 PM
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    I'm having the same problem. When I tried to change the line in .config I got a message that I don't have permission.

    I've now spent hours trying to back up my files.

    Tuesday, April 7, 2015 10:05 AM