Trying to set up a regular backup routine as I recently had to completely re install everything after a crash. However, now getting error message saying that space is inadequate on backup drive. Have also now noticed I seem to now a have a separate "System reserved" section on my primary drive? Can anyone explain how I can sort this? Thanks in advance.
Bakup issue.jpg
Disk space issue.jpg
If i understand correctly,
Your [E] Backup drive has 470 GB free space
Your [C] (Windows) drive uses 561 GB space
Windows built-in backup utility does not use compression, you don't have enough free space on [E]
An imaging program such as Macrium Reflect free uses compression, so a backup image should be around 300 GB, and would fit on [E]
You can free up space on [E] to use the built-in utility, or use a different program such as Macrium.
Now for the real fun, your Disk Management is a mess
You have 3 Active partitions - E, J, and D
You should only have 1 Active partition, having more causes problems
An Active partition shows where a bootloader is installed
The [J] drive is the System drive, that shows where the bootloader is that was used to start Windows
If Windows is installed into unallocated space it creates a System Reserved partition for the bootloader and a [C] partition for the Windows OS
I believe you installed into unallocated space and that's why you have a System Reserved partition
If Windows is installed into a pre-defined partition it installs the bootloader and Windows into that partition as [C]
Either way is fine, i believe most systems have a System Reserved partition for the bootloader.
When installing Windows only the drive where Windows is being installed should be connected.
All other drives should be disconnected during the install.
I believe you installed Windows with other drives connected causing this
If you want to try to fix your current install, try this:
Move the bootmgr to System Reserved [D], here is a tutorial for moving the bootmgr:
Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD
Reboot the PC, check Disk Management and make sure [D] is the System, Active partition
If everything looks ok, shut down and disconnect Disk 0 [J], and Disk 2 [E]
Reboot and see if Windows boots up ok
If all that works, shutdown and reconnect Disk 0 [J], and Disk 2 [E]
Boot up
Set [J] and [E] to inactive and reboot, here is a tutorial:
Partition - Mark as Inactive
Post a new screen print of Disk Management
Your [C] partition uses 561 GB, so i believe you store USER data on [C] such as Photos, Videos, Documents, etc.
Many people (myself included) only use the [C] Partition for the OS and installed programs.
All User data is stored on a different partition such as [D].
That allows for for a much smaller [C] drive, and smaller/faster system backup images.
The OS + Programs partition can be restored without affecting user data.
That's a different discussion, just making you aware of the possibility.
Sorry for the long-winded reply
My suggestions are for a single-boot, Legacy BIOS, MBR setup.
Multi-boot, UEFI, GPT, etc. work differently
David thanks for the prompt reply which strikes me as very comprehensive and knowledgeable. Your comment about my system being "a mess" is very accurate and I hope to get on to sorting it this week.
Unfortunately today I have been inundated with a truckload of spam/phishing emails so I will have to clear that out and then arrange a new email address. Its a real pain but has to be done.
Thank you gain David I will let you know how I get on.
Kind regards,
Frank
I think you have to provide a screenshot on the C:\ drive.
Wonder if the System Reserve files: Boot folder, Bootmgr, BOOTSECT.BAK
if it is also available at C:\ drive
It is possible, as mine is on the Active Primary Boot on C:\ drive for all 3 files/folder.
Last night downloaded and used EasyBCD and this is what the setup looks like now.
After easyBCD.jpg
This is the C drive now BOOT appears to be greyed out.
C drive 1.jpg
The entries in the BOOT folder
C Drive 2.jpg
Do you have a Windows Installation disc or a System Repair disc (DVD disc) ?
If not, let me know and i can give you instructions to create one.
It's wise to have a disc available in case something goes wrong and you need to run a Startup Repair.
Your [G] drive is still the System Active partition, so that's where the bootloader is that was used to start Windows.
It looks like you moved bootmgr to [C], i asked you to move it to [D] in post #2.
What you did changed the Active partition from [D] to [C] on Disk 2.
I don't know if doing another Move Bootmgr to C with EasyBCD will fix this (this time move it C).
That's why you want some type of startup repair disc available.
I have the original installation CDs which I used when I re installed windows 64 bit. I will try moving boot manager to C: and if I need to I can always take the long way around by disconnection all drives other than C; Na re installing. Doers that sound sensible?
Yes, try moving the bootmgr to C.
It seems like the first time you did it, it only completed part of the process by changing the Active partition on the drive. It didn't make the C partition the System partition.
Second attempt. How does it look now?
Second attempt EasyBCD.jpg
[G] is still the SYSTEM, Active partition, so that's where the bootloader is used from
It looks like using EasyBCD to move the bootmgr (again) won't fix your problem.
You can disconnect Disk 0 and Disk 2, so you only have Disk 1 connected.
That removes the other 2 Active partitions that are probably confusing things.
Windows (Installed) will not startup that way, as it can't find the bootmgr.
You would need to boot Windows with your Install disc (DVD) and do a Startup Repair.
If that works you should be able to boot with only Disk 1 connected.
Then you should see [C] as the SYSTEM, Active partition.
The risk doing all this is you don't have enough room to do a backup of your C drive.
If things go wrong, you could lose the data on that drive.
Are you ok with that risk ?
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