Confused about Win7 backup/restore

[Raargh]

Hi All!

After seeing glowing reports about Win7 backup on this forum, I thought I would give it a try, even though I've used Symantec GHOST for years and years.

I connected one of my 500 GB external drives that I have used reliably with GHOST for about 6 months, ran through the initial wizard setup, let it do a system image backup and then a files backup where I told it to backup the entire contents of my Win7 drive. It worked OK and reported that about 100GB was free. I keep my backup drive(s) at other locations in case of fire or theft, so I disconnected it and turned off the schedule.

Last night I wanted to refresh the backup. I innocently assumed it would do an incremental. I had not added many files so there should have been plenty of space. I re-connected it and hit the Backup Now button and the backup started. After a few hours it failed, complaining there was not enough space. I deleted all the backup files and folders from the external drive and tried again. It kept failing with a cryptic error code:



So, thought I would try to do a system image backup from scratch. That completed OK, and there are files on the external drive that look OK from my ignorant viewpoint:



I want to see what is in them, perhaps test a restore of a file or two, yes? The Microsoft KB says the way to do this is to use Restore. But when I click on the "restore my files button:



It fails with this error window:



I have no idea how to specify another location, or edit the options that were setup with the Wizzer last week. Manage Space shows this:



I'm frustrated with the dumbed-down interface - is there an "Advanced" option? Perhaps I'm asking too much for Windows 7 restore to be able to look inside an image backup the way GHOST has always been able to do. But, if the only way to see individual files is to do both a system image and then a files backup, and they both won't fit on a 500 GB drive - then I'm not sure how useful Win7 backup really is ... that combined with the cryptic error is not giving me a lot of confidence...

Thanks,

Raargh

 

[gregrocker]

Are you formatting Primary? This is what I have found is required to detect the Backup Image when I store it on drives. Maybe that would help.

Before deleting I would boot from Win7 DVD Repair>Restore Using An Image to see if it will auto-detect WindowsImageBackup and proceed with reimage.

I only backup images with Win7 so don't know about files. I know you can select which ones to backup, and tried browsing in to pick ones for recovery but didnt' like the interface so I just copy folders myself to external.

I would open a Tech Support ticket with MS if this is a retail purchase. You paid for it. They will resolve it if it requires a research team.

 

[Raargh]

Hi;

Thanks for the reply, GregR. I'm not trying to do a restore, just trying to verify that something useful was actually backed up. Not sure what you mean by "formatting primary".

I'm intrigued by your suggestion that I contact MS tech support. The last time I called them was in 1997 - at that time, they pretty much were clueless and I gave up. You think they will talk to me and not ask for a credit card?

Thanks,

Raargh

 

[gregrocker]

Hi;

Thanks for the reply, GregR. I'm not trying to do a restore, just trying to verify that something useful was actually backed up. Not sure what you mean by "formatting primary".

I'm intrigued by your suggestion that I contact MS tech support. The last time I called them was in 1997 - at that time, they pretty much were clueless and I gave up. You think they will talk to me and not ask for a credit card?

Thanks,

Raargh

This might be helpful. Just posted for same error message (answer back at yellow link):

Navigate to C:\Windows\Logs\WindowsBackup and find there any *.log files -if these files exist post here

additional:

Open Event Viewer locate to Application and Service Logs\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsBackup\ActionCenter and read all errors in that and post here

classic sections: Applications and System you should also view

The image at least is detected on a drive that is Primary formatted (use Disk Management). I always test the Backup Image by cueing it up using DVD Repair console, not reimaging but testing that it is ready.

If you bought the copy retail then it comes with tech support. MS tech support is the most highly funded in business. But like any, it can have lazy agents (for awhile) so I always call right back if I don't like the support I'm getting.

They have a policy that they are to see any case through to solution as long as the client is cooperative, which agents can interpret subjectively. So I am always amiable and eager to learn, which helps.

With a copy of XP retail, I got a graduate education in troubleshooting, debugging, cleanest reinstalls, optimizing, etc. over 5 years. So I have an appreciation for them.

Let us know how it goes.