Unusual backup size

Nuntius · 19 Dec 2011

HI.

This is my first time posting... and I have this question which I was trying to solve but couldnt do anything about... was hoping you guys will be able to help.

so anyways.

I have 50GB C drive which I try to back-up. but for some reason I was unable to.

here' the error i get when i try to backup

I mean... how is it possible to have a 550GB backup for a 50GB C drive?

I been backing up my system for the past year, and I have seen the backup size increase quit a bit over time... but... not once I have seen a backup as big as this...
even a system image of my C drive should be ALOT smaller than that~~

Can someone please help me to solve this problem??

I really hate to format my PC :/

Thank you!!

JimLewandowski · 19 Dec 2011

It looks like you are doing a "Back up" vs. a "System Image" of your C: drive.

If you go to the previous screen, click on CHANGE SETTINGs (bottom). Click NEXT in spite of the warning that the drive does not have enough space to receive the backup.

Review the file directory [+] tree structure applet listing with the checkmarks next to folders you have configured to back up. It seems that there must be a lot of stuff checked in there to account for 500 GB. It's almost as if you have the whole C and whole D drive checked to "back up".

whs · 19 Dec 2011

My guess is that there are some system files on another partitions ( maybe on G) and Windows always tries to backup all partitions where it finds system files. I suggest you use either free Macrium or free Paragon. There you will not have that problem.

JimLewandowski · 19 Dec 2011

whs said:

My guess is that there are some system files on another partitions ( maybe on G) and Windows always tries to backup all partitions where it finds system files. I suggest you use either free Macrium or free Paragon. There you will not have that problem.

But he's doing file backup and not system backup. So, that wouldn't apply here, would it? Then I suppose he could have the "system image" checkbox at the bottom of that screen checked which, as you say, would back up any drives in which there are system files.

whs · 19 Dec 2011

You got a good point Jim. I am not sure. I do not mess around with any Windows backup or imaging because it is always a mess - as we see again.

Brink · 19 Dec 2011

Hello Nuntius, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm also leaning towards you having another HDD that is marked as a "system" drive, and is being included in the system image by default. Could you post a screenshot of your Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) window showing all of your HDDs' layout to see if any of them are also marked as "System" other than your Windows 7 drive?

JimLewandowski · 20 Dec 2011

Brink said:

Hello Nuntius, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm also leaning towards you having another HDD that is marked as a "system" drive, and is being included in the system image by default. Could you post a screenshot of your Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) window showing all of your HDDs' layout to see if any of them are also marked as "System" other than your Windows 7 drive?

Much easier to back up and start at the primary Backup and Restore panel and select Create System Image (lefthand side vs. "backup") and then when he selects his D drive (target to receive system image) and clicks NEXT, the next screen will show exactly which drives Windows does consider system drives.

Nuntius · 20 Dec 2011

Thank you for replying.

here' a screenshot of my current system partition & my backup setting

Hope this will help~

Thanks again!!

JimLewandowski · 20 Dec 2011

You have your pagefile on D:. Hence, I assume it must SYSTEM IMAGE that drive also (i.e. system image ALL things Windows "needs" to run).

Per my post above, starting with CREATE SYSTEM IMAGE, that GUI path will tell you exactly which drives Windows considers "system drives".

Brink · 20 Dec 2011

Yep, that's what it is. You have the page file on D: , so it will be included in the system image along with the Window 7 C: and "System Reserved" partitions.