"Files scheduled to be copied next time the system starts" Stop/further info

Doing a file synchronise operation of my backup files between one drive and another external I got the message

Please note that one or more files have been scheduled to be copied next time the system starts. Restart your computer now if you would like these files copied immediately.

Somewhere else in the forum in 2010 a similar message was answered by Leo as "You see that message if a file was in use and couldn't be copied over, and you then selected the Schedule option when prompted. At least, that's the only time I can think of where it would happen."

I therefore assume one of the files being synchronised was in use (although I didn't think it was). Is there any way I can (a) find out which file(s) are involved and (b) maybe stop the process if I no longer want them copied?

Thanks in advance
Guern

It should tell you the file name in the message which appears:

(For a normal file copy, you'd typically see this after a Replace prompt which includes the full path, but those get skipped when doing a sync.)

You can stop the process by clicking Abort in the same dialog.

It happens if the destination file cannot be overwritten and the Windows reports ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION as the reason for failure.

Dear Leo
Thanks for your prompt reply. Unfortunately it seems my request was misleading - I had a slightly different warning message as attached. I did not have any options other than "OK"
Cheers
Guern.

Capture

Ah, that would happen if the sync tool auto-selected the schedule option without prompting for individual files. I hadn't seen that before with sync, but it makes sense now.

The list of pending moves is stored in the registry, but the easiest way to view the list and see which file(s) are waiting to be replaced is to use Microsoft's PendMoves tool from a command prompt:

(There's also ListPRFO which I wrote myself that does the same thing with a slightly different output.)

Dear Leo
Thanks again for your prompt reply.
Unfortunately I could not get PendMoves or ListPRFO to work. They just flashed up and then closed. Nor could I find anything in the registry which referred to Synchonising files.
Nor could I find anywhere in the Sync screen which was an auto schedule option. See screenshot below.
No matter, I'll restart the sync and see what happens - hopefully that will clear any backlog.
Thanks again
:

SyncScreen

Those are command-line tools. You need to open a CMD window and then type in the command. This will leave the window open allowing you to read the command's output.

If you have them in, for example, a Downloads folder, you can hold SHIFT while right-clicking on the Downloads folder in Directory Opus and you will see an Open command window here option in the context menu. Then you can type the pendmoves or listprfo command.

If you haven't rebooted yet, the files may still be scheduled to be overwritten on the next reboot. Something to be careful of, since it could mean subsequent changes to them, made between the scheduling and the eventual reboot, are overwritten.

They need to be run from a Command Prompt. See the reply just before mine for one way to do that.

Thank you DesertDwarf & Leo
Thank you for your replies.
Unfortunately my DOS skills are not good enough to get those programs to run under a command prompt.
But I re-did the sync again and did not see any unusual activity, so I assume any backlog copying has been cleared somehow.
Cheers
Guern

Run Command Prompt from the start menu. Drag the exe file to it (so it types the path to it for you), then push return.

Wow, that was a fast response, Leo!!!
I never knew one could do that!
But I'm still doing something wrong. It shows
C:>C:\users [etc my directory] and I don't know how get back and take out the extra C:
Guern

You don't have to take that out. It just tells you where you are.

Hi Leo
Thanks very much, and sorry to waste your time on a computer illiterate, but the text reads:
C:>C:\users[my name]\downloads\listPFRO.exe
and, when I press return, I get I get the message "PFRO not found"
Guern

That means nothing is (still) pending.

Hi Leo
Thanks very much. You've been very helpful.
So easy when one knows what one is doing!!

This OPUS is such a great programme - I use it all the time and don't know what I would do without it. But it is complex and I know I'll never grasp it all. So this great support from you is a fantastic plus.
Thanks again

Take care and have a great Christmas/New Year
Guern

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