Windows 7 Backup Fails to Start

[mjf]

I'm at a loss to help I'm afraid.
Someone may come along with a bright idea.

Even if you end up using different non Windows backup the situation would still be unacceptable for me.

...so if it was me I know Windows 7 SP1 shouldn't be that fragile. So I would start from scratch and do a clean install with just Disk 0 installed. Then move on to check the backup capabilities are working.

 

[hawkeye62]

I'm at a loss to help I'm afraid.
Someone may come along with a bright idea.

Even if you end up using different non Windows backup the situation would still be unacceptable for me.

...so if it was me I know Windows 7 SP1 shouldn't be that fragile. So I would start from scratch and do a clean install with just Disk 0 installed. Then move on to check the backup capabilities are working.

Thanks very much for trying!

Regards, Jim

 

[karlsnooks]

Remove Disk 2.

Backup your your C to Disk 1.

 

[mjf]

Remove Disk 2.

Backup your your C to Disk 1.

The inability to do that is what the thread is about.

Edit: He was already advised to disconnect disk 2. see post #19. Result = no go.

 

[karlsnooks]

Precisely. Just sit back and be in awe.

 

[hawkeye62]

Remove Disk 2.

Backup your your C to Disk 1.

Disk 2 is a SATA drive in an external case connected to an external SATA port. It has it's own power supply. I can turn off the power and Windows no longer sees it. That is the way it was all along. I powered it on to see if Windows Backup would see it. It didn't. I powered if off again and Windows Backup still fails with the same error message.

Thanks for your patience and help, Jim

 

[hawkeye62]

Good afternoon. You must have Administration privileges to do this. If you do have Admin. rights turn off you computer, then disconnect the drive you are trying to install the backup on. Start your computer, once that is done plug your drive back in and see if windows picks it up. And I still don't see your specs in the lower left hand side of you post. The reason we need this is because every time some one tries to help they don't have to search through your post looking for your specs. Once done correctly you specs will be at the lower left of every one of your post. Check out my specs on this post and it will give you a good idea what we need.

You want me to plug the HDD in while the computer is running? Please tell me what benefit this gives over uninstalling the HDD via Device Manager, then rebooting so that Windows has to re-install it.

Thanks for your continued help, Jim

 

[karlsnooks]

Let's not worry about what if or what makes sense.

Let's get your backup.

However, before we even tackle that:

An fully and completely up-to-date Win 7 is imperative.

Update your Win 7.

Please carry out all steps of the following:
UPDATING YOUR WIN 7
ASSURE THAT YOU RECEIVE ALL UPDATES
WIN | type WINDOWS UPDATE | ENTER |
Change settings (left-hand column) |
checkmark all four of the boxes | OK button

Approve any dialog boxes presented. Let Windows install any update features.

WIN is the key with the Microsoft flag on top.

INSTALL CRITICAL UPDATES
Check for Updates (left-hand column)
Install ALL critical updates.
Restart your computer (even if not prompted)

Repeat this procedure until there are no more critical updates.

DO NOT TRUST the “Windows is up to date” in center of dialog. until you see that TWICE IN A ROW!

INSTALL IMPORTANT UPDATES
Use the “critical update” procedure until all important updates are installed.

INSTALL OPTIONAL UPDATES
Use the “critical update” procedure until all optional updates are installed.

Under Optional updates you will be presented with a list of about 34 language updates.
You can hide those updates so that aren't continually notified of those updates. When you click on 34 optional updates are available, then you
a) highlight all of the language updates,
b) right-click anywhere in the highlighted list.
c) click on Hide Updates,
d) OK button.


UPDATE GOLDEN RULES
Install ALL, yes, ALL updates.
This is Win 7 and not Vista or XP (eXPired).

UPDATE IS HUNG –TAKING FOREVER
Hung is very doubtful unless you interrupted updates.

CTRL + SHIFT + ESC key combo will pop-up the Task Manager.
Lo and behold, Windows Update is still running!

You hold down the CTRL and SHIFT keys.
While holding them down, tap the ESC key once.

 

[Layback Bear]

Remove Disk 2.

Backup your your C to Disk 1.

The inability to do that is what the thread is about.

Edit: He was already advised to disconnect disk 2. see post #19. Result = no go.

As in post #4

 

[hawkeye62]

Let's not worry about what if or what makes sense.

Let's get your backup.

However, before we even tackle that:

An fully and completely up-to-date Win 7 is imperative.

Update your Win 7.

Please carry out all steps of the following:
UPDATING YOUR WIN 7
ASSURE THAT YOU RECEIVE ALL UPDATES
WIN | type WINDOWS UPDATE | ENTER |
Change settings (left-hand column) |
checkmark all four of the boxes | OK button

Approve any dialog boxes presented. Let Windows install any update features.

WIN is the key with the Microsoft flag on top.

INSTALL CRITICAL UPDATES
Check for Updates (left-hand column)
Install ALL critical updates.
Restart your computer (even if not prompted)

Repeat this procedure until there are no more critical updates.

DO NOT TRUST the “Windows is up to date” in center of dialog. until you see that TWICE IN A ROW!

INSTALL IMPORTANT UPDATES
Use the “critical update” procedure until all important updates are installed.

INSTALL OPTIONAL UPDATES
Use the “critical update” procedure until all optional updates are installed.

Under Optional updates you will be presented with a list of about 34 language updates.
You can hide those updates so that aren't continually notified of those updates. When you click on 34 optional updates are available, then you
a) highlight all of the language updates,
b) right-click anywhere in the highlighted list.
c) click on Hide Updates,
d) OK button.


UPDATE GOLDEN RULES
Install ALL, yes, ALL updates.
This is Win 7 and not Vista or XP (eXPired).

UPDATE IS HUNG –TAKING FOREVER
Hung is very doubtful unless you interrupted updates.

CTRL + SHIFT + ESC key combo will pop-up the Task Manager.
Lo and behold, Windows Update is still running!

You hold down the CTRL and SHIFT keys.
While holding them down, tap the ESC key once.

Done. There were 5 optional updates.

Now what?

Thanks, Jim

 

[karlsnooks]

Can you now perform the backup?

Which partition(s) to you wish to back up?

Where do you want to put the backup?

 

[hawkeye62]

Can you now perform the backup?

Which partition(s) to you wish to back up?

Where do you want to put the backup?

No, Backup fails to start with the same error message.

I want to backup both partitions on HDD 0 (C) to HDD 1 (D).

Thanks, Jim

 

[hawkeye62]

Here is a snip showing the error I get if I click, "Create a system image", or "Change Settings", or "Options > Change Settings". By the way, I physically removed HDD 1 (D) and re-installed it as had been suggested. As I expected, it did not solve the problem.

Regards, Jim

 

[karlsnooks]

Hawkeye,
I know that you don't think this makes any sense, but:
Physically remove Disk 2.
Leave Disk 2 removed until this problem is solved.
Disconnect from any network.

Make a fresh snapshot of DiskManagement output and include with your next post.

Now can you backup the one partition (ignoring the reserved partition) to a partition on disk 1?

 

[hawkeye62]

Hawkeye,
I know that you don't think this makes any sense, but:
Physically remove Disk 2.
Leave Disk 2 removed until this problem is solved.
Disconnect from any network.

Make a fresh snapshot of DiskManagement output and include with your next post.

Now can you backup the one partition (ignoring the reserved partition) to a partition on disk 1?

NO, BACKUP NEVER STARTS. See the failure screen in the snip in my last post.

Tell me what you mean by "physically remove disk 2". Disk 0 is my system/boot HDD, disk 1 is the HDD I want to put the backup on, disk 2 is attached to an external SATA port. I can disconnect the SATA cable, I can power it down.

I will be out of town until October 15th. I will still be able to read Email and read the Forum, but no access to the PC in question.

Thanks, Jim

 

[karlsnooks]

Have an enjoyable trip.

The Disk 1 is presently 100% empty.

Would you run a test for me and:
1. copy, but not move, a folder and files over to there.
2. Using Windows Explorer can you read, change, add to, delete from the folder and files on Disk 1?
3. When finished, perform a quick format of Disk 1.

 

[hawkeye62]

Have an enjoyable trip.

The Disk 1 is presently 100% empty.

Would you run a test for me and:
1. copy, but not move, a folder and files over to there.
2. Using Windows Explorer can you read, change, add to, delete from the folder and files on Disk 1?
3. When finished, perform a quick format of Disk 1.

Yes, I was able to copy a folder full of files from "C" to "D", and do all of the usual file operations. After a quick format, all that is left is a System Volume folder.

Thanks, Jim

 

[karlsnooks]

I see that we haven't run the System File Checker.

Please read following tutorial first and then if SFC doesn't give you a clean bill of health the three times: run sfc, reboot.

Help that you don't end up with files that need to be replaced as that is a little bit of a pain.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

 

[hawkeye62]

I see that we haven't run the System File Checker.

Please read following tutorial first and then if SFC doesn't give you a clean bill of health the three times: run sfc, reboot.

Help that you don't end up with files that need to be replaced as that is a little bit of a pain.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

OK, "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations." I ran it three times just for kicks. Got the same message three times.

Thanks, Jim

 

[karlsnooks]

Sure wish the easy fixes would be the case.

OK. this next procedure is going to take serveral hours. I need you to run a full scan using the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper over disk 0 and disk 1. Disk 1 shold go very quick.

PUT SYSTEM SWEEPER ON A USB STICK
System Sweeper, https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper, allows you to start an infected PC and perform an offline scan to identify and remove viruses, rootkits and other advanced malware. System Sweeper is a free standalone, bootable malware and virus remover from Microsoft.


NOTE: A fine tutorial on the System Sweeper is:
How to use the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper


Download System Sweeper (about 576 kB):
https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper

Insert 256 MB or larger USB stick into a usb port.
Run the downloaded program--mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe
Choose the option to install to USB.
Caution: The install program will format the usb stick.

The install program will download about 200 mB more.
After the install is finished, leave the stick in the usb slot.

Run the program you downloaded once again.
This 2nd run, and any subsequent runs, will download the very latest anti-virus definitions (about 60 mB).

To keep System Sweeper up-to-date, simply reinsert the usb stick and run the installation program, mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe, again.

The initial, full scan by System Sweeper can easily take several hours, but subsequent quick scans will be shorter.
Remember, your computer is being very thoroughly checked for all types of malware.

The results of System Sweeper will be in:
\Windows\Standalone System Sweeper\Support as one or more files with a LOG extension which can be viewed with Notepad.