Drive not available in list of drives at backup.


  1. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home
       #1

    Drive not available in list of drives at backup.


    Problem:
    I was trying to make a (standard Windows 7) backup, but the backup drive Y: was not shown in the list of drives available for backup.
    Note:
    The drive Y: was shown in Explorer!

    Analysis:
    I think the cause of the problem should be found in the fact that drive Y has the attribute System (and a system drive may not be used for storage of backup files)!
    The configuration (2 drives) is as shown in the attachment.
    Note:
    Partition C has as attributes: Opstarten, Wisselbestand, Actief, Crashdump, Prim. Partitie.
    When drive Y is disconnected, drive C gets attribute System too!


    Further:
    The idea was to use drive Y only for backup purposes. I made a first backup and everything seemed OK. After disconnecting drive Y the PC continued to function.
    I want to make a backup now, so I reconnected this drive Y but now it may not be used by the backup!

    Question:
    How to solve this problem now (I think the attribute System in drive Y has to be removed, but the question is how) and
    How to prevent occurring this problem in the future?
    Drive not available in list of drives at backup. Attached Files
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 72,050
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello Jan,

    Since Y: is considered to be a system and active drive, that would be why you are unable to use is to back up to.

    Does your Windows 7 still boot properly if you remove Y: ? If so, then you could format Y: at boot, and should be able to use it to back up to afterwards.

    Translation: Partition C has as attributes: Startup, Paging, Active, Crash Dump, Prim. partition

    Your screenshot:

    Was there a reason why you have unallocated space on Disk 1 like that?

    Drive not available in list of drives at backup.-drives.jpg
    Last edited by Brink; 01 Mar 2014 at 16:12.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hello Brink,

    After removing drive Y the system is still running normally.

    The solution you gave (Format Y) has as disadvantage that the backups stored on the drive will be lost.
    Perhaps there is a solution wich does not result in loosing data?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 72,050
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #4

    Did you move anything to your Y: drive?

    For example: user folders, page file, etc....
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Your question "Did you move anything to your Y: drive?" is to be answered with Yes: I stored some installation files (files used rarely) on drive Y, but no pagefile or user data.

    Jan
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 72,050
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #6

    In that case, I'm not sure what would be causing Y: to be seen as a "System" drive.

    The only thing I can suggest is to temporarily copy the contents of Y: to another location (if able), format Y: at boot, then copy the contents back.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I just found the cause of the System attribute for drive Y:
    In the boot/repair screen (System properties, Advanced) the option "List of OS" appeared to be checked.
    After unchecking this option the attribute System disappeared.
    After this I could backup again!!!!!!!
    :)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 72,050
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #8

    Perfect.
      My Computer


 

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