Thinking this is a hardware issue

When trying to backup on Norton Ghost, i get this error (tried backing up to 2 different drives)

Sounds like the source drive is where the problem is. You will likely need to run the "chkdsk /r /f" command with both switches on the C drive as well as checking to see how large the image will be compared to the actual amount of drive space available of the destination drive.

If you are trying to see an image from your main drive use the option included in 7. That always seems to be right on the money as far as the backup images and restoration of them later. The 3rd party programs are then simply left mostly for secondary drives.

They can see errors at times especially if the program itself is suffering a glitch of some kind. Still you will want to check the volume to see if it is found "dirty" with some errors to fix.

Well I ran it, and I didnt see if it had any issues as I started it then went to bed. But the backup still fails. It had to be the source drive considering I've tried 2 different drives. Does that mean I would have to go get another hard drive?


and this I/O error seems to be the error I got when trying to partition my disk a long while ago. I never figured out how to fix it.

With too many repeat efforts failing to see a working image with any option I would have to suspect the OS drive is having a problem.

The best advice here would be running a drive diagnostics utility from Toshiba to find out if you are seeing bad sectors or a drive that will fail at some point.

As far as the option for a full system image in 7 I've been restoring several images since the start of the year first on the old build where the board quit and now the new build with each restoration having a success. The lack of success you are seeing however does suggest the main drive you have there is at fault for the continual problems. I think you are realizing that yourself.

At this point I would suggest a good run of diagnostics tool and consider replacing the drive. If still under warranty you may be able to have Toshiba replace it for you.

Try selecting the "ignore bad sectors" option :) If it works, you have bad sectors:

Run chkdsk once more just to be sure, sometimes it does not catch the first time around. I would also try to monitor it, if it is not giving you a report...

That's if Ghost has that option. I know the 7 backup option will simply create an image automatically once the drives and partitions on it are detected if the 100mb and others are present. A repeat run of the check disk won't hurt any as Liquidsnak advised however. Never rule anything out completely!

Well ghost doesn't have that option (as far as I can find), and I cant find the diagnostics tool from Toshiba.com

I just realized I looked up the manual for Symantec software My fault.

Toshiba is fairly useless in the utilities department. Use Seagate's seatools:

| Seagate

Will it work with my *insert some jap. name that starts with an f* toshiba hard drive?