Running mssql backup in a secondary process

See more:

VB

I am trying to run a backup on our MSSQL Express db in a secondary process so as not to interfere with the users accessing the features of the application.

Here is the code for the secondary process that is triggered by a timer on my main application form.:

    Private Sub CheckBackUp()
        ' check to see if a backup needs to be done
        Dim DoBackup As Boolean = False

        If IsBackUpLockFile() = True Then Exit Sub

        If ConfigCL.IsName("Last Backup Date") = True Then
            Dim LastBackupDate As Date = ConfigCL.Value("Last Backup Date")
            If LastBackupDate > SysStartDate Then
                Dim span As TimeSpan = Now.Subtract(LastBackupDate)

                If span.Days >= 1 Then
                    DoBackup = True
                ElseIf span.Hours >= BackupDateDelta Then
                    DoBackup = True
                End If

            End If

        Else
            ConfigCL.Add("Last Backup Date", Now.ToString, 1, "Last System Backup Date")
            DoBackup = True
        End If

        If DoBackup = True Then

            Dim task1 As New Task(Sub() Backup_Execute(SQLDataServer, SQLDataBaseName, Path.Combine(ServerPath, DataFileName)))

            Try
                task1.Start()

            Catch ae As AggregateException
                
            End Try

            task1 = Nothing


        End If

    End Sub


Here is the code for the Backup_Execute sub:

    Public Sub Backup_Execute(ByVal SQLDataServer As String, ByVal SQLDataBaseName As String, ByVal FullDataFileName As String)
        Dim strConn As String = "Data Source=" & SQLDataServer & ";Initial Catalog= '" & SQLDataBaseName & "'" & ";Integrated Security=TRUE"
        Dim con As New SqlConnection(strConn)
        Dim strQuery As String = "backup database " & SQLDataBaseName & " to disk='" & FullDataFileName & "'"

        Try
            con.Open()
            Dim cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(strQuery, con)
            cmd.CommandTimeout = 180 ' 3 minutes
            Dim iNumRows As Integer = cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
            ConfigCL.Value("Last Backup Date") = Now.ToString

        Catch SqlEx As SqlException
            MsgBox("SQL Exception when running backup" & vbCrLf & SqlEx.ToString)

        Catch Ex As Exception
            MsgBox("Exception when running backup" & vbCrLf & Ex.ToString)


        End Try

        con.Close()
        con.Dispose()

    End Sub


The above sub runs fine when it is run in-line. The main application form has a menu option to run this explicitly so I know it is not the problem.

For some reason that I do not know, the backup crashes when run in a secondary process.  When it comes to the line &quot;&lt;pre lang=&quot;VB.NET&quot;&gt;Dim iNumRows As Integer = cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()&amp;quot;&lt;/pre&gt; it goes back to my main application user form. No exception is thrown so I am not able to determine what the problem is.</pre>

What I have tried:

I have run the sub in-line and it executes the backup correctly. I have verified the code to run the secondary process via calling other subs.