Microsoft KB Archive/167687

= PAX Command Gives Error "Bad Magic Number" =

Article ID: 167687

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q167687



SYMPTOMS
The Windows NT posix utility portable archive exchange (pax) gives the following error when an archive created on a UNIX computer is retrieved.

  pax: [offset 98]: Bad magic number pax: : May be corrupt pax: [offset 176]: Apparently resynchronized pax: : Continuing



CAUSE
The above error is obtained when the rsh command is used to remotely carry out pax on a UNIX host and redirect the output file to the local Windows NT computer.



RESOLUTION
To work around this problem, use the rcp command to copy the archived file from the remote UNIX host to the local Windows NT computer.  Use the following command to create the archive file on the remote host:

Rsh unixhost -l root -n pax -w -x cpio -f archive.file file*

 Use rcp to copy the archive file from the remote host in binary format:

rcp -b host.user:archive.file .

 Use pax to retrieve files:

Pax -r -f archive.file





STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: tar ustar archive

Keywords: kbbug KB167687

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