Cannot set directory locks

[aikidesi]

Just started getting the messages below, a day or so ago, every time I run the program... I'm using Synchronize/Mirror to replicate files from my hard drive and an external drive onto a backup external drive.
I've not changed anything in this app. If anyone has experience with this situation and knows why it suddenly started happening and, more importantly, how to correct it, it's greatly appreciated.

Cannot set directory locks for the following folders:
Cannot write file "C:\Users\Frank\Documents\Outlook Files\sync.ffs_lock".
ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND: The system cannot find the file specified. [CreateFile]
Cannot write file "D:\Documents\sync.ffs_lock".
ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND: The system cannot find the file specified. [CreateFile]
Cannot write file "D:\Music\sync.ffs_lock".
ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND: The system cannot find the file specified. [CreateFile]
Cannot write file "D:\Pictures\sync.ffs_lock".
ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND: The system cannot find the file specified. [CreateFile]
Cannot write file "F:\sync.ffs_lock".
ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND: The system cannot find the file specified. [CreateFile]

Thanks in advance for the assist!

[xCSxXenon]

What happens if you disable the LOCK files, temporarily? Make sure FFS is closed before making/saving changes or they won't stick.
https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?topic=expert-settings
LockDirectoriesDuringSync

[aikidesi]

I can try that but what do you think made this start happening? The errors indicate "file not found"... Did I once have these files and they somehow disappeared?

[xCSxXenon]

One step at a time

[aikidesi]

That worked! I changed LockDirectoriesDuringSync Enabled from "true" to "false" and got no warnings this time around.
Thank you so much for your assistance!

[xCSxXenon]

So that at least confirms that the location is actually accessible, but that is really just a temporary diagnostic step. Is "Frank" the user you are logged in as? Are you on the latest version of FFS?

[aikidesi]

I don't log in to use; I just double click the FFS icon on my desktop. I'm on Version 11.1 (Donation Edition) 64 Bit 5/9/21

[xCSxXenon]

FFS doesn't use users at all, I was asking about your Windows user account you are using. I am leaning towards a Windows issue with permissions or something. You could run:
sfc /scannow
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
sfc /scannow
and see if it fixes anything at all, unlikely though. You may need to provide a system log to really nail down what is causing those errors, obviously those locations exist.
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#crash

[aikidesi]

I ran the apps you suggested (sfc found and resolved corrupt files) and then reset the LockDirectoriesDuringSync Enabled back to "true"... got the warnings again.
But, even with the warnings, the sync seems to be working properly... what's the downside to just ignoring those warnings or setting the variable back to "false" so I don't even see them?

[xCSxXenon]

They prevent multiple FFS syncs from running at the same time. If that doesn't apply to you, then disabling them will be fine

[aikidesi]

It doesn't apply to me; I just run it once a night, right before I shutdown, to backup files onto an external drive.
Weird that it just started happening but I'll just set that field back to "false" and move on.
Thank you so much for your time and assistance!

[EmmJim]

Same problem... The last version I installed (11.11) doesn't sync Outlook Desktop files.
Even if you close Outlook (so the files are free!)
activated
<LockDirectoriesDuringSync Enabled="true"/>
And the same problem remains

2021-06-12 153511.jpg (57.98 KiB) Viewed 4183 times

2021-06-12 153442.jpg (169.1 KiB) Viewed 4183 times

[kutorigami]

The message started popping up after a hardrive had no further space for creating new locking files.