Get rid of GTP Protective partition so I can backup Windows 7?

Hi,

I just can't backup my C: system drive (windows 7 x64), I am getting the " A shadow copy could not be created...VSS error code 0x81000019"

After long research online I found out that it won't run because my c: drive is preceded with a 200MB GPT Protective partition on the same disk (not a "system reserved" one) as shown on this screen capture (click to enlarge):

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

I really need to get this backup of my system Win7 c: drive because I have lots of professional software installed that I am using daily and I can't afford a complete reinstall, since I'm working continously with this machine. Other backup software like Acronis (I tried many others) won't do the job for the same reason.


So basically, I understand the backup VSS service won't run till I get rid of that GPT Protective partition.
Can I get rid of it? How to do this?

Anyone who can help?

Thanks in advance!:)

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Well you win the posting something new I've never seen before :)
How on earth did you manage to install that gpt partition

Please follow the link above my signature to fill in your system spec's page.

Also so if you use Go Advanced button you'll see a paperclip icon so you can upload images here instead of using a file sharing site.

Can you please post a full shot of Disk Management, your 1st shot does not show up. Yes it`s quite amazing how your disk is MBR, but yet you have a 200 MB GPT partition. Who installed Windows on this PC ?

If C is marked Active, contains the System files, Boot, Page file, Crash Dump etc then you can most likely delete the 200 MB partition, then you should have no problems creating an image.

But we need to see the shot of DM from YOUR computer.

I just want to intrude with this one post and have no intention of taking over this thread as you already have some good and better heads on it.

As AddRAM suggested post a full screenshot of Windows Disk Management.

The following tutorials will help. So read these and act accordingly.

Follow the guidelines here to post an untruncataed screenshot with all the information clearly visible. Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

Snipping Tool How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista

Upload to Seven Forums: Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

Technically speaking, there is no such thing as MBR Partition and GPT partition. One only initialises a disk as MBR or GPT.

Second, when one initialises a disk as GPT, a 128MB Microsoft System Reserved Partition (MSR) is created preceeding the system partition. In case of boot drives this is an essential partition which Microsoft creates with a purpose and should not be deleted. Windows Disk Management however will not show it.(Third party partitioning/ formatting softwate like Partition Wizard will however show the MSR partition..)

I also cannot see the screenshot you posted in post #1 to a third party server, but it clearly shows the 200 MB partition. So it is not a true GPT drive. How are you assuming and calling it as a GPT drive? And can you show me any documentation that says GPT drives cannot be backed up, as you aver ? I haven't heard anything like that.

With these comments, I shall go back to watch mode.

Thank you for your answers!

jumanji said:

Technically speaking, there is no such thing as MBR Partition and GPT partition. One only initialises a disk as MBR or GPT.

Second, when one initialises a disk as GPT, a 128MB Microsoft System Reserved Partition (MSR) is created preceeding the system partition. In case of boot drives this is an essential partition which Microsoft creates with a purpose and should not be deleted. Windows Disk Management however will not show it.(Third party partitioning/ formatting softwate like Partition Wizard will however show the MSR partition..)

Not in my case.

See picture : Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet (same as attached below).

Still, when I right-click "Disk 1" (the left grey part saying Disk1 Basic 238,47GB Online) for properties, this is what I get:

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

jumanji said:

I also cannot see the screenshot you posted in post #1 to a third party server, but it clearly shows the 200 MB partition.

AddRAM said:

Can you please post a full shot of Disk Management, your 1st shot does not show up. Yes it`s quite amazing how your disk is MBR, but yet you have a 200 MB GPT partition.

The shot was showing up yesterday, I don't know why it didn't show up today. Anyway I edited the OP and provided a new link. Here it is again just in case (same as attached below) :

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet (same as attached below)

jumanji said:

How are you assuming and calling it as a GPT drive?

Well... Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet (same as attached below)

jumanji said:

And can you show me any documentation that says GPT drives cannot be backed up, as you aver ? I haven't heard anything like that.

Researching for a solution online, I found that this problem can be dealt with when this 200MB partition is MSR. Didn't find ANY solution for a "GPT protective partition" like it shows in my case.

So what's the deal in the end? Can I delete that GPT Protective partition or not?

AddRAM said:

If C is marked Active, contains the System files, Boot, Page file, Crash Dump etc then you can most likely delete the 200 MB partition, then you should have no problems creating an image.

But we need to see the shot of DM from YOUR computer.

If so, how can I do it, and will I still be able to boot my C: without problem?