Avamar: Backups fail with an I/O error: Unable to read(3) "some file" (code 2: The system cannot find the file specified)

Summary: If an Avamar backup fails with "avtar error 5737: Input Output (I/O) error - Unable to read file (code 2: The system cannot find the file specified)", check the Windows Event Viewer for a matching Input Output (I/O) error. (Work with the Microsoft Support team to resolve) ...

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Symptoms

An Avamar backup fails, and avtar reports the following error:

avtar Error <5737>: I/O error: Unable to read(3) "some file or directory" (code 2: The system cannot find the file specified).

Cause

Windows experienced an I/O issue. 

To confirm:

1. Go to Control Panel --> Event Viewer --> System:    

Screenshot of Windows event viewer 

2. Find the event that happened at the same time as the avtar error.
    • Match the avtar error and Event Viewer error timestamps.
    • There should be an Event viewer error indicating that Windows had an I/O error

Resolution

Contact Microsoft to resolve the Windows I/O error.

Once the I/O error is resolved, the Avamar backups will succeed.

Affected Products

Avamar

Products

Avamar, Avamar Client, Avamar Client for Windows
Article Properties
Article Number: 000041410
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 20 Mar 2026
Version:  6
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