System Image backup fails - not enough space for Volume Shadow Copy

[highstream]

Had a 50gb Win 7 (x64) system image on a 66gb partition. It was a good image, because I had to use it to restore once. Decided to do a new one, so in setting up the new backup I deleted the old one first within the Win backup process. Then I ran the new one and it fails for lack of space to create the Volume Shadow Copy. The partition currently has 65gb free. Just to check, I tried on another partition with much more free space and got the same result. Where might the hang up be? Thanks,

 

[Kaktussoft]

Had a 50gb Win 7 (x64) system image on a 66gb partition. It was a good image, because I had to use it to restore once. Decided to do a new one, so in setting up the new backup I deleted the old one first within the Win backup process. Then I ran the new one and it fails for lack of space to create the Volume Shadow Copy. The partition currently has 65gb free. Just to check, I tried on another partition with much more free space and got the same result. Where might the hang up be? Thanks,

Goto system properties and then system security. Configure it. Is it enabled? How many percent and disk space?

 

[C-11]

Would you Post a Screenshot of the Disk Management window maximized.

Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

 

[highstream]

Disk Mgt screenshot attached. O is the designated image backup drive and C is the system drive (the XP clone drive is a leftover, not active). Note that since posting I enlarged C drive to 65gb, but that only 53gb is actually in use currently.

 

[highstream]

Follow up: I just ran it again and it worked. Since I had tried a larger drive earlier, it's hard to believe that resizing C was the difference. My guess is that it had to do with permissions, per Kaktussoft's hint. This is a single Admin/User system, but I noticed that the Users line didn't have full permissions, so I changed that. Could that have been the difference? I'm not sure why, because it wasn't any different last time I imaged. Otherwise, I don't know.

Btw, what does "Apply these permissions to objects and/or containers within this container only" mean? Thanks,

 

[Kaktussoft]

Follow up: I just ran it again and it worked. Since I had tried a larger drive earlier, it's hard to believe that resizing C was the difference. My guess is that it had to do with permissions, per Kaktussoft's hint. This is a single Admin/User system, but I noticed that the Users line didn't have full permissions, so I changed that. Could that have been the difference? I'm not sure why, because it wasn't any different last time I imaged. Otherwise, I don't know.

Btw, what does "Apply these permissions to objects and/or containers within this container only" mean? Thanks,

I didn't mean permissions at all! I meant space reserved for "system restore" and shadow sets. You have only one system image backup now?

Please post output from http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html

vssadmin list shadowstorage /for=X:

Replace X with actual drive letter. Do it for all partitions you wanna backup. And for Output partition as well. Please post output

 

[Kaktussoft]

Btw, what does "Apply these permissions to objects and/or containers within this container only" mean? Thanks,

It means the permissions are only set for objects in that container (so in that folder). So only for files and folders within that folder. So NOT for files and folders in subfolders

 

[Kaktussoft]

http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-r...ge-space-system-image-backup.html#post1506938

 

[pparks1]

^ I have experienced this issue before. For me, it was because my hidden "System Reserved" partition dropped to less than 50MB free. This volume seems to change automagically within Windows and when I tried to run the backup, and it was less than 50MB, I would get this error. Once it cleared space on it's own, the system backup would work again.

 

[highstream]

Hmmm..interesting thought. Can't the System Reserved partition be set somewhere within Windows?

A different tho related problem for me in terms of system images has to do with freeing up space - deleting unneeded files - on a partition that I want to merge with another afterward, instead of just merging the two whole, which takes many hours longer. In a partition manager I've tried Wipe and Format, but both times Win 7 wouldn't start and I had to use the system image to get back on line. That suggests to me that I'm deleting something that's throwing off the system drive (mbr?). In the screenshot earlier, there's an inactive XP clone partition whose contents that I'd like to eliminate and then merge the partition with another on that HDD (or resize the other, which is even simpler). What's the most efficient way to do this w/o wrecking havoc again? Thanks,

 

[Kaktussoft]

Hmmm..interesting thought. Can't the System Reserved partition be set somewhere within Windows?

A different tho related problem for me in terms of system images has to do with freeing up space - deleting unneeded files - on a partition that I want to merge with another afterward, instead of just merging the two whole, which takes many hours longer. In a partition manager I've tried Wipe and Format, but both times Win 7 wouldn't start and I had to use the system image to get back on line. That suggests to me that I'm deleting something that's throwing off the system drive (mbr?). In the screenshot earlier, there's an inactive XP clone partition whose contents that I'd like to eliminate and then merge the partition with another on that HDD (or resize the other, which is even simpler). What's the most efficient way to do this w/o wrecking havoc again? Thanks,

You wanna remove "system reserved"? that's possible.
What partitions do you wanna merge?

 

[highstream]

I wasn't thinking of removing System Reserved, figuring that it is necessary. But I notice on C drive there is that with 100mb, plus two other unallocated partitions with 128kb and 1mb that I don't know what to make of. Can't recall seeing them on my previous Win 7 SSD.

Merge J & O into O, to make more room for backup images. Actually, I've got J down to a basic logical partition, but the partition manager has it grayed out for merging and there's another partition to the left between it and O that prevents expanding O directly. I guess the solution is to combine partitions to the left and then resize and combine to the right.

 

[mjf]

You can use Partition Wizard to try and cleanup bits of unallocated. Merging O and J will require a bit of fiddling. Again Partition Wizard is the tool I would use.
The free version doesn't support "merge". I would backup the 2nd partition, delete it and resize the 1st partition into it. Also, If you only plan 4 partitions on this drive then they can be made primary again with PW. More than 4 and your HDD will go dynamic - this is bad.

Re: your initial problem this may help
http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-r...not-enough-space-shadow-copy.html#post1643008

 

[Kaktussoft]

J & O into O, to make more room for backup images

So you wanna delete J (can be done safely in win7)


Now using partition wizard How to Move/Resize Partition with partition manager? Partition Wizard Move/Resize Partition Video Help.

• move G to the left
• there's now unused space between G and O
• extend O so let it use the "unused space"

Take the right partition!! Drive letters in win7 are diffirent as in partition wizard. Check drive letters after starting win7. Eventually correct them.
Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to manage partition directly with partition manager bootable CD.
Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online take the last one so "bootable CD (ISO)". Burn that ISO on CD/DVD and boot from it.

Post results please.

Wanna delete "system reserved" as well? Only possible if you don't use and don't wanna use bitlocker. I post steps if you want

 

[Kaktussoft]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html
Try to boot afterwards. As always if having trouble booting perform http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html
C partition is active and booting fine? Now you can delete "system reserved" from within "disk management"

 

[highstream]

Oh, so that's what the Sys Reserved is. No, Unlocker comes in handy now and again.

While you were posting, I finally remembered what to do with the partitions and had already downloaded Partition Wizard free (I have been using EASEUS, but decided to check out alternatives). So yes, it's pretty nifty although the free edition lacks Merge (the button is there but not the functionality). In any case, it all worked out (pending a reboot... - successful). See the screenshot - Disk 2. Any ideas about that unallocated 1mb (0.52mb)? It doesn't seem available for combining with its neighbors.

Also, how could I have gotten rid of the XP Clone partition (J) without wiping/reformatting it and then having to restore the C drive backup image? That was necessary to boot into Windows.

 

[mjf]

The way you go about "Merge J&O into O" to quote will depend what data you want to preserve. If you have data on G I suggest you back it up before you do anything.

If you use the EasyBCD tool you will lose your system reserved. If you don't want to lose it you can simply extend it with PW
How to Move/Resize Partition with partition manager? Partition Wizard Move/Resize Partition Video Help.
I suggest you make it 200MB

The other way to often fix your type of imaging problem is to delete USN journal files from the system reserved with the fsutil command. These are often cleared over time by the OS.

 

[highstream]

Thanks, G drive is the SyncBack backup of C. Unlike the system image, that backup gives me direct access to files and folders and some synchronization regularly.

With the J&O merge, I didn't need my old XP system drive (clone - J) anymore, so it could be wiped clean. But the problem wiping and/or reformatting was that Win 7 (C) wouldn't boot, meaning to get it going I had to restore the backup image we discussed earlier. So I was thinking there has to be a better way to do this. Hence, my question. Suggestions for doing that next time? Many thanks!

 

[Brds7t7]

Hello Highstream,

I had the same problem as you and mine was caused by the system reserved partition too.

Not sure why microsoft only made it 100mb as it's too small. It was 200mb in the windows 7 beta and in Windows 8 it's 350mb.

I used Easeus to extend mine to 350mb but I also keep a copy of the Windows Recovery Folder (WinRE) on mine too. I've never had any problems creating an image since.

I haven't used partition wizard boot cd but I hear it's very good. A lot of users on here recommend it.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Thanks, G drive is the SyncBack backup of C. Unlike the system image, that backup gives me direct access to files and folders and some synchronization regularly.

With the J&O merge, I didn't need my old XP system drive (clone - J) anymore, so it could be wiped clean. But the problem wiping and/or reformatting was that Win 7 (C) wouldn't boot, meaning to get it going I had to restore the backup image we discussed earlier. So I was thinking there has to be a better way to do this. Hence, my question. Suggestions for doing that next time? Many thanks!

J was just a primary partition. Although it was active, you didn't boot from it. Could be deleted without issues (It wasn't used at all). Or didn't even contain pagefile, hibernation file etc I assume.

Did you try "startup repair" after removing J? This wil give you a clue what is wrong. I don't understand why it didn't boot. What was the error message when booting?