Windows Backup cannot find the shadow copy

Greetings! I have been using Windows Backup for years with no problems. Today I got a new Buffalo external harddrive with USB V3. I started the backup, then remembered something and stopped the backup in the middle. I have no idea if this has anything to do with my problem. When I was ready to restart the backup I first went to the new drive and deleted the folder that had been created by Windows Backup. Then I restarted the backup. It backed up all the data without a hitch, but when it started to work on the System Image the whole thing stopped and I got the error message: Windows Backup cannot find the shadow copy of the source volume. I tried removing programs, I did a System Restore to a point before I did the first backup. Nothing helped. I attempted backups at least four times with the same result. I haven't a clue how to proceed. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh yes, I wanted to also mention that I've been doing backups to my old Seagate drive and have no idea if these are stored on catalog files somewhere that are conflicting. As a test I reconnect the Seagate and tried a backup but it failed with the same error.

I have an HP notebook with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I have no idea what else to do at this point.

GL

Thanks for the suggestion. Right now my main interest is finding out what's wrong here to correct any misstep I may have made or system error that could impact the use of a tool such as you mention.

GL

Best would be to delete all the stuff from the Win7 imaging and go with Macrium as suggested. I use it all the time and it is rock solid, easy, fast and transparent. Made a tutorial which you find here: Imaging with free Macrium From all I have seen, the Win7 imaging is just too messy to bother with it. But there are some experts around that seem to know it inside out. Send a PM to Karlsnooks, he may be able to help.

Thank you Jacee. I had a look and that process was started. It was set to be started manually.

GL

I am attaching (if I can figure out how) a screen shot of the error message and number.

GL

Hello Sanvean, thanks for the information. I'll try again while disabling the antivirus software. This is a new pc. I've been using the Microsoft Backup Utility for years with other systems, all with AV SW installed. But new is new. Who knows. I'll try. As for the other point you mention, I considered that myself and turned off Synch Toy and another online backup program that I felt might "lock files" in some way. It had no effect. I couldn't think of any other programs in that category. Certainly none that I haven't been using for years in this context with no difficulties.

Thanks again!

GL