Issue with Windows Backup creating System Image

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  1. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Issue with Windows Backup creating System Image


    Need help with a Windows backup problem.

    I'm trying to create a system image of my OS drive (C). This is an SSD drive. Anyway whenever I attempt to create the image, Windows Backup automatically selects my game drive (M) along with C drive and I can’t deselect it. In short I have no choice but to have both drives selected.

    Now, I do have the MBR on the "C" drive and there are no boot records, files, or folders of any kind on the "M" drive. Yes, I have show all hidden files and folders in folder view enabled.

    And to double check that C doesn’t need M, I’ve physically removed it and all other drives from the system, and C boots up just fine.

    Also, there are no other OS’s loaded into the boot loader, just Window 7. I’ve even used this fix again just be sure everything was on C drive - Boot loader on separate partition?

    BTW I did create a system image of just C drive by leaving the other drives disconnected, after which I re-connected the drives, tried to create another system image and yes, Windows Backup is STILL insisting on adding the M drive as well.

    Anyone have any thoughts on what’s going on? It’s really annoying.

    Thanks
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  2. Posts : 2,039
    Several, including Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #2

    I gave up with windows image and now use this;

    Free Backup Software for Hard Drive System Backup and Restore. Backup freeware for data backup and disaster recovery in Windows 7/XP/Vista and Linux - EASEUS

    <http://www.todo-backup.com/>

    No problems since.

    Regards....Mike Connor
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks Mike, but the problem I have is I want to use Windows Backup for my image. I need to know why Windows Backup is doing something that it has no logical reason for doing.

    BTW I also have a decent backup program in Acronis True Image 2010 which I've already used to create an image.

    Again, need to know why Windows Backup keeps insisting on including a drive that has nothing to do with booting the system.

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  4. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #4

    A disk management screen shot and BIOS boot order could help with suggestions.
      My Computer

  5.    #5

    Sounds like you've confirmed there are no System files on Games partition so this is likely a fluke. A screenshot would verify this.

    I'd just unplug it during imaging as it won't be referenced at all then. You'd want to have all other drives unplugged during reimaging anyway.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Not sure what you're looking for in the BIOS, but I can assure you that the SSD drive is the first boot drive.

    As for the disk management screen, the C drive is active and does contain the MBR,

    Issue with Windows Backup creating System Image-capture.jpg

    Tis no mere rookie here

    Again, I fail to understand why WBU is insisting on asking for a drive with not boot records.

    gregrocker said:
    Sounds like you've confirmed there are no System files on Games partition so this is likely a fluke. A screenshot would verify this.

    I'd just unplug it during imaging as it won't be referenced at all then. You'd want to have all other drives unplugged during reimaging anyway.
    Thanks Greg, that's what I did. It's just annoying that this is happening for no reason. Also as you might imagine, physically disconnecting a drive to do an image is not idea. Really would like to know what the heck is going on.

    Thanks

    Just in case....

    Issue with Windows Backup creating System Image-system-config.jpg
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  7. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #7

    gregrocker said:
    I'd just unplug it during imaging as it won't be referenced at all then.
    Pragmatic maybe if the restore also works, but clearly there is an unresolved issue.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 259
    Windows 10 Home
       #8

    I had the same problem when I first got Windows 7 over a year ago. Instead of trying to find out "why" I just went to a third party backup. I had forgot about this problem until I saw your post and now I'm wondering if the following is something that will help:

    http://www.windows7news.com/2010/09/...ckup-problems/

    In my case it was trying to backup a partition on my second hard drive, the same as yours is doing. I wish I had checked further into then, but I was more interested in getting a backup and learning W7. Would be good to know if this works.
      My Computer


  9. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #9

    I really do not want to be sarcastic, but this is your problem:

    the problem I have is I want to use Windows Backup for my image
    We all know by now that the windows imaging (as the other Windows backup facilities) are very capricious, to say the least. I hope you are only experimenting with it for the academic interest and do not intend to rely on them for your production system. Acronis and some of the other options are a lot better for that.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Thanks Cato, excellent find! Yeah that looks like what might be going on here. However I'm a little reluctant to try the procedures as I don't want to give up any more hard disk space on my SSD drive. Also It appears that I don’t have the 100MB partition anyway as Windows never seemed to create one for me as shown in disk part…..

    Issue with Windows Backup creating System Image-disk-part.jpg

    @whs, not to be obtuse, but I would like to use a feature that’s supposed to work. However I do see now that the program is buggy.

    My post is to try and find a solution, if none can be found, no sleep will be lost. Now I do value your opinion in this matter as to restoring an image that obviously needs to be aligned correctly on an SSD drive, and from my understanding, ATI2010 doesn’t do this properly, thus my interest in Windows Backup.

    In other words when you restore an image to an SSD drive, it will get the default 63 sectors offset instead of 64kb (or a multiple of 64kb) offset recommended for SSD drives even if this offset was in place when the image had been created. This may result in a drop of performance on certain models of SSD drives after the restore;
    Solid State Drive Support in Acronis Products | Knowledge Base

    Since Windows Backup seems buggy, and ATI2010 is said not to properly align a SSD drive during an image restore, what do you recommend other than ATI 2011?

    Thanks
      My Computer


 
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