New Install Win 7 64 Bit Backup Will Not Run

BlakeR · 21 Feb 2014

Ok people... coming here is last resort. I've been through everything I can think of for days and I still can't fix this issue. I've researched all the forums and postings for self help and I'm still stuck.

A new, clean install of Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit on a newly formatted drive. All Win updates are current.

When selecting Windows Backup... The Starting Windows Backup window pops up and the progress indicator runs. Then just hangs there and takes me no further. I've tried starting Win 7 Backup from multiple places from within Win 7.

Here's a list of things I've researched and looked into, but none seem to address my situation and/or haven't solved my issue.

#1 Arconis issues... I have a clean install and this windows install has never ever seen Arconis or any other 3rd party backup programs. Doesn't apply to me.
#2 Windows backup & Shadow Disk... I've checked to see if these services are running. They both are and are set to automatic. Seems as it should be.
#3 Windows Files I've run sfc /scannow and it reports all is well. Looks good.
#4 Clean Windows Boot I've tried it.... Win Backup still just sits there.
#5 Context Menu Problems I read some posts about menu changes made by other programs perhaps causing and issue. I installed Clarey Tools and used it to disable all menu changes as suggested by another post. Still no good. I've since changed them back to normal.
#6 Hardware Issues I have 2 hard drives on the system both passing all disk checks I can throw at them. No bad sectors etc. Win Device manager reports no problems anywhere on the system. I've also disconnected any unneeded USB devices. Probably not related but trying to keep a lean system to rule out all issues.
#7 Alternate Win User Profile I saw a thread that suggested seeing if the issues exist in a new user profile. Keep in mind I have a clean win 7 install and haven't even added any other users yet. I'm running as the only user with Admin privileges. But I tried to create a new user profile with Admin privileges as suggested in the post. Win & backup still starts and then hangs.... Deleted test profile.
#8 Clean System I'm doing this NEW install to recover from a Win 7 issue gone bad. So trying to go slow with this new install every step of the way and get some good backups. Win 7 Backup is just about the 1st thing I tried to run. I have nothing loaded on this install yet other than Win 7 Ultimate (with all updates), AMD Catalyst to support my AMD based motherboard and graphics card, CC Cleaner, and the already mentioned Glary Utilities 4. So not like I have a ton of potentially complicating programs and/or old installs kicking around.
#9 Clean Registry Speaking of CC Cleaner... Yes I've run it on my Win registry and have no problems.
#10 Mal-ware Ok so my software list wasn't complete... I also have the latest versions of MalwareBytes and ZoneAlarm Firewall & Antivirus installed. I've run them both looking for issues and found none. And yes I've turned off ZoneAlarm and/or used clean boots to make sure it's not the issue.
#11 Windows Help? Well we all know how helpful windows "help" can be... I've looked over it all and nothing seems to work. After letting the Starting Windows Backup run for hours... I click close... the status window shows canceling but it doesn't.... Ok close it with task manager.... windows closes it (telling me the program is not responding... gee ya think???!!!) and then windows restarts Backup.... close it again with Task Manager. Win finally takes the hint and closes it.

Thoughts? What can I try next? I have noticed that immediately after starting Backup about 45 sec of heavy disk activity... I'd expect that... backup looking to see what data storage I have and potential places to put a back up, but after that nothing disk access-wise. I'm not sure what goes on behind the scenes, but it seems as if backup is hanging up looking for drives? Or just after that? In either case it's something before an event that triggers showing me the next window in the backup sequence.

I'm no expert, but this isn't my first rodeo either. I'm looking for some valid input here... Hope I can help some other along the way.

BlakeR

techarchives259 · 21 Feb 2014

from my understanding, you have one main hdd and you are trying to make a backup image on that same hdd correct? if so have you partitioned that hdd? you cannot backup on the same hdd without a saving it to a separate partition. save enough space to expand as you install new programs and files over time.

BlakeR · 22 Feb 2014

Thank you for taking a look at my issue.

No... I have 2 drives. Drive #1 Seagate 2T (Disk 0) Has a fully functioning partition for Win 7 (150G), passing all the tests and checks I mentioned above. This drive also has 2 other partitions, one for games (600G), and one for music vids etc (1.02T).

Drive #2 (Disk 1) (500G) Is an entirely empty drive. Formatted, Win 7 recognized, and tested as mentioned above.

Non of my drives or the partitions on them are anywhere close to being full.

I would love to get as far in the backup sequence for Win 7 to tell me I have a full drive, or something needs to be moved or changed. That would be huge progress! I have never run a backup on this new installation of win 7. Whenever I launch backup (from Control Panel, Action Center, command line) I get the opening window that pops up telling me something like "Preparing for Backup" with a moving action bar indicating that it is operating. I get about 45 sec of heavy disk activity (Win 7 checking available space, drives, files, etc.?) then the disk activity stops (or at least slow to a "normal" flicker) and the backup window just sits there. I never advance to be able to make any further backup choices. I also cannot Cancel the backup window normally by clicking the cancel button. I have to use Task Manager to kill the Backup Task. When I do Win 7 flashes a window that it's checking for a problem... then it restarts backup. I've let this 2nd Win 7 initiated backup run and nothing happens either. Kill that instance with Task Manager. Win 7 finally takes the hint and closes backup for good.

Any other ideas?

BlakeR · 23 Feb 2014

Ok... Here's a #12 to add to my original list.

#12 No then New System Reserved Partition I'll spare you the ugly details but the Seagate 2T drive that has my New Win 7 install on the first partition C: has had a rough ride. A prior failed Win & Restore in place install went terribly wrong and messed up all the partitions I had on the drive. Using partitioning tools I was able to recover the D: and E: drives and data 100%. Knowing the install of Win 7 on the C: partition was trashed to begin with I simply reformatted C: and installed Win 7 from scratch. As noted in my original post, this install of Windows 7 seems to in all respects perfectly fine, except for Win 7 Backup.

In looking at all I can find I came across mention of the System Reserved partition and it's role in serving as a temp storage area for Windows Shadowing service. So... using partitioning software I created a System Reserved partition of 500M and set it as an active partition assigning no drive letter per a posting on the topic I read. I then ran Win 7 Repair from my CD Rom and Win 7 "fixed" some issues it found. I see that in the process the Repair put several files on this System Reserved partition so I know/think my install of Win 7 "sees/knows about" this partition area.

Bad news is that Win 7 Backup STILL DOES NOT RUN!!! Help!!! Still Hangs/fails to move past the opening "Preparing your Backup" opening notification window.

techarchives259 · 24 Feb 2014

have you ever had the hdd's tested to make sure they arnt bad, I work at a computer store and I have seen them come in bad.
1hardware test
2could be a bad disc drive (if u install on a bad disc drive windows will be corrupt)
3 if u deleted that system reserved partition, redo windows again and this time don't lol
4right click my computer, Manage. this opens a page that will help give you a diaognosis.
eventviewer/windows logs/ system. put your cursor over the level bar and click on it, this will sort all the issues to the top. after sorting use the scroll to view your events.

BlakeR · 24 Feb 2014

Thanks for the suggestions.

Both of my drives are Seagates. The 2T drive is brand new. The 500G is about 4 years old. Both passed the SeaTools windows and DOS level deep scans with flying colors.

I'll look into your #4 suggestion to see if there is anything usable/actionable there.

As for a another fresh install of Win 7... I am almost to that point. But here's my question.

In installing onto the 2T drive for the new install I'll have 3 user partitions. C: for Windows & Programs (a 150G) D: for Games (a 610G) and E: for Vids, Music, and Photos. I have data on D: and E: that I don't want to lose but I'm pretty confident Windows 7 Install won't mess with them.

I was at this cross roads before. I had C: wiped clean and formatted just waiting for Win 7 install. Why didn't the install create the "System Reserved" hidden partition if it needs it? When I said I deleted it I was referencing my OLD Win 7 install from over a year ago. I had to use file/partitioning recovery tools to salvage the Data on D: and E:. The OLD Win 7 C: partition and what I'm assuming was an OLD System Reserved hidden partition are long gone. If one was ever created in the first place. Does Win 7 install ALWAYS create a System Reserved space? And if so, does it ALWAYS take the space it needs for that creation from the space on the partition it's installing to?

BlakeR · 24 Feb 2014

Ok so I've done a bit more looking into the whole System Reserved partition and more and more think it has nothing to do with my Backup issues.

Can anyone point me to a link and/or clearly explain EXACTLY what backup related registry values in a fresh Win 7 64 Bit Ultimate install should be? Again this is a fresh install. I have never loaded and 3rd party backup programs, but obviously something is amiss. I'd like to go through the registry and confirm any Backup function registry entries are "virgin".

techarchives259 · 24 Feb 2014

if you went to device manager and viewed the events, your system will tell you the exact error code to why you are having this problem #4

techarchives259 · 24 Feb 2014

scratch that device manager is in the page but I ment the manage page. this page give you a second by second system health of your os and all the errors and fatal bugs that will crash you, u will also find applications if looking hard enough and that will show all ur programs health (installed software)

BlakeR · 25 Feb 2014

Ok... I've been into the application logs, system logs, and custom logs and I do not see any issues where Win 7 realizes that Backup or Shadow Volume are reporting any problems. I DO see error log entries time stamped when I have to use Task Manager to shut down Backup.

I also just completed an Upgrade/Restore in place running the install from Win 7 running using the CD. It all went smooth with no errors. Backup will still not get past the "setting up" opening small splash screen. All issues are exactly as they have been in all my reporting above.

Can anyone tell me what Win 7 Backup is actually doing/checking/verifying between the time you hit the cmd to run backup and the time it pops up the 2nd User Screen? Since I've yet to see it, I don't know what that screen will tell me or give me the option to do, but I'm curious as to what Win & Backup is up to during that time and what it could possibly be getting hung up on during that time.