Backup no longer works

[Shadowjk]

And that you are booted Normally without the Little tweaks

 

[imacken]

Don't know what the Little Tweaks are, so I guess the answer is Yes!

 

[gaz]

backup

i use Macrium reflect to back up entire C partition and works well, i shrunk my WinRe Vista partition which ment the C partition was bigger, from the Macrium recovery disk i reinstalled the partition no problems, as it asks if i want to extend the recovery partition to fit Volume C,easy to use and back up i frequently, just reboot and its like nothing had happened (defragging the drive 1st seems to help speed up the process)

 

[imacken]

Thanks for that.
The thing is, I don't want to back up whole partitions, just selected files and folders across several partitions.
As I said earlier, I already use Geniesoft Timeline 2.1 for my main backup. It is excellent. Very similar to Time Machine on OS X.
Has no-one got any further thoughts on the original problem?

 

[karlsnooks]

Step 1:

Run Disk Management and make a snapshot of output thereof.
Be sure to maximize the output before making the snapshot.
You can use the Snipping Tool which comes with Win 7 or use MS Paint to make the snapshot.
Include the snapshot in your next post.
Be sure that the external drive is connected when you run Disk Management.

To run Disk Management:
WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER

To run Snipping Tool:
WIN | type SNIP | ENTER

WIN is that key with the wavy flag on it.

How to Post a Screenshot

 

[gregrocker]

You have more serious issues than the backup if Repair Install is erroring out.

Backup your files externally by click n drag, Disable your AV, unplug any USB devices, try again.

Next do a Clean Boot Procedure to try install: How to Troubleshoot a Problem by Performing a Clean Startup in Windows 7 or Vista

Next test your memory using memtest86 for 5-6 passes, reseat your RAM, swap sticks.

Next test your HD using maker's full diag/repair CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

Update your SATA controller driver, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

If you are still unable to do a Repair Install, wipe your HD before clean reinstalling from booted DVD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-optimize-windows-re-installation.html

 

[imacken]

Run Disk Management and make a snapshot of output thereof.

FWIW
External M: is the drive I'm trying to backup to.

gregrocker, thanks for your input. I'll look into what you suggest. However, I don't have any problems at all with my system except for Windows Backup not working. For many months, I've had no crashes or problems at all.
I use Timeline as my main backup which does selected files from c: and d: and continually backs them up to Backup (f.
Also, since the Windows Backup issue, I've gone back to my old Acronis True Image 2009 to perform the secondary backups to the External m: drive with no problem at all.

 

[karlsnooks]

imacken,

Although I find some inconsistencies in some of the posts and your disk management snapshot,

I agree with Greg: if Repair Install is failing, you have more serious problems.

I recommend following his advice.

 

[gregrocker]

If you're happy with performance then monitor it closely for further problems.

Check Event Viewer>Admin View to google repeat errors to eventual resolution.

Click through WEI score link at Computer>Properties to choose Advanced Tools, look for cued issues, check Performance log, Generate a System Health Report.

Run sfc /scannow to see if System Files have been corrupted which could explain why backup fails only on built-in backup.

If further problems arise work through the checklist given to absolve hardware, then Repair Install which is the next best thing to clean reinstall and keeps all your programs, files and settings in place.

 

[imacken]

Thanks guys.

karlsnooks: Can you explain what you mean by inconsistencies in my posts and screenshots?

gregrocker: I've done the WDigital diagnostic on all drives (including the external usb) and they are all OK. I did a MEMTEST yesterday and it was absolutely fine.

The DVD setup error. I'm wondering if it has to do with some stuff I did months ago to get rid of the annoying 'System Reserved' partition that W7 put on. What do you think?

 

[gregrocker]

The inconsistency I see is that the 200mb EFI System partition is highlighted as the booted partition (by diagonal lines) while it is not denoted as System Active Boot - the Win7 partition (correctly) is.

Confirm DISK2 is set as first HD to boot in BIOS setup to be sure.

I would want to work through the error blocking Repair Install to run it as it should solve all problems unless one is related to settings which it reimports (rare).

Google the exact text and number of the error to read all about it and work through to solution.

 

[imacken]

The info is correct.
I have a boot partition that allows me to select whether I boot into Windows or other OSs.
I did a system diagnostics report and it was fine.
See attached an Event Viewer error report. Those VSS errors are similar to what I was getting from Windows backup.

 

[gregrocker]

It would have been nice to know all along that you are multi-booting as it suddenly becomes clear that you likely have creeping corruption from your bootloader.

The procedure is to google the error text and identifying numbers to read how others have resolved the issue. The VSS errors are likely related to your backup failure and especially need to be resolved. Do you even have System Restore points now and do they work?

 

[imacken]

Thanks again.
Sorry, I didn't think that the multi-boot thing was relevant to having problems with Windows Backup.
I did Google the error code and message before posting here and couldn't find anything useful to my case.
I think the setup.exe error is to do with the boot partition issue and isn't anything to worry about. (Agree?)
The Windows Backup problem - subject of the post! - is more odd. I haven't changed anything on my system at all, and it had worked without a problem for many months. Only in the last few days has it become an issue.

 

[gregrocker]

What I would do is boot your OS's on separate HD's via the BIOS boot order and one-time BIOS Boot Menu key, which makes them independent and avoids GRUB or other boot loader corruption of WIn7.

By all appearances Win7 is already independent to be booted via BIOS and removing it from GRUB or whatever is messing it up should help a lot.

Even better, Reinstalling it to wiped HD with all other HD's unplugged would give you a fresh start free from the previous corruption.

 

[imacken]

OK, ALL PROBLEMS SOLVED!
Booting from the Windows drive has solved the 1) Repair Install problem and 2) the Windows Backup problem.
I guess Windows was trying to write to the boot partition in 1) and couldn't.
I can't quite understand the Windows Backup thing though.
Any ideas?
Also, any ideas on how to get it working with Chameleon boot partition? I do seem to remember that all my drives got re-ordered in BIOS for some reason a few weeks ago.

 

[karlsnooks]

Glad to hear that all problems are solved.
Greg is without equal when it comes to diagnosing boot-related problems.

 

[gregrocker]

The backup was likely hamstrung by VSS corruption from the 3rd party boot manager, as was the Repair Install.

I do not recommend you boot Win7 from the manager again, as it is unnecessary since you have separate HD's and can boot much cleaner via the BIOS boot order and BIOS one-time Boot Menu key, which keeps the HD's independent.

You would probably do better to boot your other OS's via BIOS as well and drop the boot manager. But at the very least I wouldn't involve Win7 in that mess again.

Good catch on the Disk Mgmt screenie, Karl.

 

[imacken]

Thanks a lot guys.
I'm still confused however by why Windows Backup used to work OK, and also why other backup applications (True Image and Timeline) work OK booting from Chameleon. Do they not use VSS?

 

[imacken]

No further thoughts on that, guys?