rsync, 'uid/gid impossible to set' cases cause future hard link failure, how to fix?

Question

I am using rsync version 3.1.1 protocol version 31 with cygwin version 2.3.1(0.291/5/3).

I believe that I need to chown all my Win7 files, with unknown uid/gid\'s, w

Answer 1

Towards man rsync the -a means the same as -rlptgoD and thereby also sets -o (owner) and -g (group).

So replace -a by -rlptD.