New
#1
Sudden refusal to make a System Image
I'm sorry this is a long post but its best to get all the facts out. I'm new to Windows.
My System- C: is an SSD (256 GB). X: is a 1 TB conventional hard drive in the computer's box. It holds W7's backups.
Since buying the computer in March my W7's Backup routine has been set to backup regularly every day on to the X: drive. I was able to see the daily backups listed and I could see WindowsImageBackup which was new every day (I looked inside its folders).
I have just inspected the X: drive and found that no WindowsImageBackups have been made since 23rd June. On going to Start > Backup and Restore > Change Settings > Backup and Restore your files, the last Backup is today, on time, and I see at Contents: "Files and libraries and personal folders for all users" but no mention of the usual "... and your System". (I can't remember the exact wording).
I click on Change settings and get the window "Select where you want to save your backup". My X: drive is still selected as the backup but there is a new warning triangle "A system image cannot be saved on this location". "More information" states "A system image cannot be saved on a drive that your computer boots form or that Windows is installed on."
My computer boots from the C: drive, and the X: drive does not have Windows on it.
Also, I have just connected an external USB drive and after refreshing the window. It is listed. But if I select it as the backup drive (this is just to do checks) I get "This drive does not have enough space to store a system image." More information leads to "This drive does not have enough free space to store a system image. It is recommended to have 917.22 GB of free space." This is odd. In an earlier window it said it would not save a System Image so why does it mention it now? Also, that drive has 465 GB and is empty. Sutely that is enough for a Backup of the 256 GB SSD and a System Image!
The last date of a WindowsImageBackup is on 23rd of June (I looked at the actual image rather then the earlier enclosing folder date). So what might have happened around that time. Nothing I know of. However, about 25th June I installed @MAC SyncUp backup program (recommended by someone on the forum) but it failed to backup some files. On 27th when waking up from sleep I got several black screens with "Start Windows Normally " (amongst other things) which I accepted. On investigation I got a message from Windows with a red triangle saying that @Mac SyncUp was incompatible so yesterday I uninstalled it (using its own uninstaller). The waking up problem has gone.
Therefore, Backup and Restore is apparently continuing but has stopped making a System Image; despite that, it says that two drives cannot be used for a Syst. Image for seemingle irrevelant reasons. Something is odd here.
(I don't have a System Repair Disc because my machine can't make one. My local shop is investigating that).
So what can I do please to get a system image being saved again regularly? Grateful for help.
PS: I have just noticed that Control Panels > Troubleshooting > History > Program Compatibility (3 of them, dated today) say "An unexpected error has occurred. The Troubleshooting wizard can't continue." Also, I tried System Restore > Scan for affected programs. Nothing found. And Action Centre found nothing.
I have just started a manual backup on the above mentioned 465 GB external and under contents it says "Files and libraries and personal folders of all users and system image!! But it has failed (terminated).