The Filename, Directory Name, or Volume Label Syntax is Incorrect

When you try and add another USB external drive to windows backup you get the following error “ The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect”.

This message occurs if you have another drive currently assigned to the backup and it is NOT currently accessible. eg. its offsite or you only have one dock attached to the server. To add another disk and get around this error do the following:

1. Open an Administrative Command Prompt

2. Run ‘wbadmin get disks‘

3. In the output of this message locate the external USB drive you want to add to the backup set. The format of the output will be something like:

Disk name: xxxxxxxxxxx
         Disk number: x
         Disk identifier: {xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx}
Total space: xxx.xx GB
Used space : xxx.xx GB

4. Run the following command copying the Disk Identifier from step 3 at the end of the command:

       WBADMIN ENABLE BACKUP -addtarget:{xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx}

5. Answer yes to the prompts.

Agent XPs component is turned off

In Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio you get the following errors when trying to create a management plan either through the “Maintenance Plan Wizard” or the “New Maintenance Plan…” on an SQL Server 2008.

Cannot show requested dialog. Additional information: unable to execute requested command. ‘Agent XPs’ component is turned off as part of the security configuration for this server. A system administrator can enable the use of ‘Agent XPs’ by using sp_configure.

To fix this right click on the server and select “New Query” as shown.

In the query window on the right type the following:

sp_configure ‘show advanced options’, 1;

GO

RECONFIGURE;

GO

sp_configure ‘Agent XPs’, 1;

GO

RECONFIGURE

GO

Then click Execute as shown.