Incompatible Archive.: PCLZIP_ERR_BAD_FORMAT (-10) : Invalid archive structure

Resolved threebeecee
(@threebeecee)

4 years ago

I created a backup early this morning that saved successfully. When I try to restore using the “restore” button, I receive the above message.

I am getting the below error messages when I use the other methods.

When trying to download the file, I get this message:

The webpage at https://[mydomain]/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php might be temporarily down or it may have moved permanently to a new web address

Restore link gives this error message:

Could not retrieve the remote file. It may not be a ZIP file, or the link is no longer valid.

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

Plugin Author Brad Markle
(@bwmarkle)

4 years ago
Hi @threebeecee, I’m really sorry to hear about the error you’re getting, and I’m more than happy to help.

If you’re trying to restore a backup and you get the, “PCLZIP_ERR_BAD_FORMAT (-10)” error, it generally means that there’s something wrong with the backup file you’re trying to restore.

The first thing we want to do is check the log files and ensure the backup completed successfully. To do this:
1. Go to Total Upkeep > Tools > Logs
2. Find the log file for the backup file in question and click on it. The filename should look similar to archive-1601663963.log
3. Look towards the end of the file. You should see a message “backup complete!” message, similar to: [2020-10-02 18:39:39 UTC] Backup complete!
If you don’t see this success message, the backup may not have completed successfully.

Can you share the log file for the backup you’re trying to restore?

Thanks,
– Brad
Thread Starter threebeecee
(@threebeecee)

4 years ago

How can I share the log with you privately?

Plugin Author Brad Markle
(@bwmarkle)

4 years ago

Hi @threebeecee – please email the log to support@boldgrid.com and references this forum thread, and I’ll be able to review it further.

Thanks again!
– Brad

Thread Starter threebeecee
(@threebeecee)

4 years ago

Update: none of my previously functional backups are working. Including one that says “backup complete!” near the bottom of the log.

internetgrandmaster
(@internetgrandmaster)

4 years ago

I am having the same problems. I cant transfer my websites

Plugin Author Brad Markle
(@bwmarkle)

4 years ago

Hi @internetgrandmaster – we’re happy to help further. Can you create a separate forum topic so we talk directly with you? Can you please describe in a little more detail there the issue you’re having?

Thread Starter threebeecee
(@threebeecee)

4 years ago

Providing further details: whenever I try to restore a backup and it fails, this plugin begins to run a long, never-ending series of processes that freezes then crashes my entire site.

I literally can’t even navigate back to my plugins screen to deactivate. I am only able to stop this process by renaming the plugin folder on my server.

Plugin Contributor Joseph W
(@joe9663)

3 years, 12 months ago

Hi @threebeecee, I’ve had a great time working with you in our private support channel! I wanted to post some of conversation here in case other users run into a similar error in the future.

The Incompatible Archive.: PCLZIP_ERR_BAD_FORMAT (-10) : Invalid archive structure error was created by trying to restore a corrupted backup file that did not successfully complete the generation process. In this case it was because the overall backup size was very large (9 GB).

Further investigation showed that this backup also contained archive files from a number of other backup management plugins and this was essentially a backup of many backups.

Once we used the file/directory exclusion feature to prevent those other archive files from being included in the backup we were finally able to successfully create a working backup.

Thank you again for your cooperation throughout the troubleshooting process and I hope that your backups will continue to work as expected!