Windows 7: W7U BitLocker/Back-Up Problem

I reformatted a new HD and chose NTFS (now trying exFAT to see if that helps but doubt it) then I did a System Image from Control Panel/Backup & Restore and it looks as though the image was created successfully but no files were backed up. When doing a separate system back up, I get this error message that prevents the back up:

Windows Backup failed while determining libraries location of one of the users included in backup.
Details: BitLocker Drive Encryption cannot be used because critical BitLocker system files are missing or corrupted. Use Window Startup Repair to restore these files to your computer.

I tried the original MS W7U install disc, but it just wanted to install the whole system and I didn't see where to find this from the Repair Disc. Any idea what's going on? I flying unprotected with no backup at this point.

Hello saidas108, welcome to Seven Forums!



Please post a snip/screen-shot of Windows disk management so we can have a look, in the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a maximized snip of that.

How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums

If there isn't a new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition present you will have issues using Windows 7 Backup and Restore and BitLocker programs., after you post the snip, have a look at the information below, among other things, it outlines how to create a "System Reserved" partition.


Whether you use diskpart to run either the clean all command to completely wipe a HDD / SSD or just the clean command to remove the format configuration data and don't use diskpart to create at least a single partition to do the installation to, letting the Windows installer do the format you will end up with the new Windows 7 System Reserved partition, if you want to make your own decision whether this partition is added, study these two (2) options below.

• Then if you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
• If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.

Either way, running the "clean all" then creating and formatting the partition(s) using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Hope this is large enough. I couldn't figure out how to make it bigger. I appreciate all of the info and links but am afraid most of its over my head. If you can just give me the easiest way to do what is needed to get the backup working I'll do it! Thanks!!!!!

Have a look at this tutorial below, it shows how to use the Partition Wizard Boot Disk (PWBD) to shrink the left side of C: to create space for the "System Reserved" partition, that can then be created using Windows 7 disk management, I suggest that you create it at 200MB instead of the new 100MB default.

System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot


First download the Partition PWBD ISO file to the desktop, be sure to get the PWBD and not the installed version; scroll down to see the download link for the bootable CD ISO file at this link below.

Partition Wizard Free Bootable CD

Then use ImgBurn to burn the ISO to a CD, at no greater than 4x speed with a verify; it was designed for use and works best from a CD rather that a DVD then boot the created CD to make the changes.

ImgBurn Free ISO Burning Software

If you have no need to use BitLocker, you could use this excellent free program to create an image / backup of Windows without createing the SysResv partition.


Imaging with free Macrium