Problem with Windows 7 Task Scheduler

[Nosmas]

I am running W7 Home Premium SP1, main drive is a Crucial SSD with two partitions - C: for OS and programs and M: for data. Backups are made to an external WD (Western Digital) SATA HDD housed in a docking station. (The HDD is brand new having been replaced by WD under warranty - see my post http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-restore/334841-help-wanted-please-perform-backup.html#post2804118 ) For some years I have used Easeus Todo Backup Free and have always performed manual backups. I have recently been made aware of Macrium Reflect free backup and imaging software which I quite like, and I have ventured into experimenting with Scheduled backups using W7's Task Scheduler.

Yesterday I scheduled (separate) backups of C: and M: to commence at 02:00 and 03:00 respectively. This morning using Windows Explorer I could see the backup of C: on the external HDD but there was no sign of the M: backup. However looking at the Task Scheduler Library, Active Tasks correctly showed the Next Run Time (Thursday a.m.) for each of the scheduled backups. Moreover in the Task Scheduler Library the History tab showed that BOTH backups had run at the scheduled times and each had completed successfully - C: having taken about 30 minutes and M: about 11 minutes to run, so no overlap.

Can someone please suggest what might have happened and why I cannot see the M: backup?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Assuming this is a Macrium image, have you used whatever search tools you have to search all hard drives for .mrimg files?

How much occupied space do you have on the M partition?

Has the occupied space on the external drive increased as much as you guess it might if the image file was on it somewhere?

 

[Nosmas]

Hi ignatzatsonic - Thanks for your response. Clicking Start and entering .mrimg in the search box produces a list of the backups which I can see in Windows Explorer - i.e. there are no 'extra' files disclosed by the search.

The M partition has 14.58GB used out of 17.37GB = 84% used. The occupied space on the external drive has NOT increased by as much as I considered it should have if the backup file had been created.

 

[DavidE]

Can you run the Task backup command in a CMD window ?
(Run the backup not using Task Scheduler)
You might be able to more easily see if there are any errors.

 

[Nosmas]

Thanks David W7ncus - I'm afraid I am a bit uncertain how to run the task from a CMD. I know how to get the CMD window but can you please enlighten me regarding the actual command syntax?

 

[DavidE]

How did you create the actions for the Task ?
Did you read about doing this in the Macrium documentation ?

Can you copy and paste your Task actions into post ?

Or, post screen prints(s) of the Task actions ?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[Nosmas]

Yes I got all the info from the Macrium Documentation. This created one task for each backup - xml files named My Backup(1).xml and My Backup(2).xml. The Task Scheduler will not let me copy and paste the Action so I have typed it -

Action - Start a program Details - c:\program files\macrium\reflect\Reflect.exe -e -w"C:\User\Peter\Documents\Reflect\My Backup(2).xml" - full

Is this sufficient info for you?

 

[DavidE]

Try copying the command you posted and paste it into a CMD window.
Hit enter, and see if it runs, and are any errors are shown.

I copied your command from your post, so this is what you should try run in CMD

c:\program files\macrium\reflect\Reflect.exe -e -w"C:\User\Peter\Documents\Reflect\My Backup(2).xml" - full

 

[Nosmas]

I don't know what is happening here. I copied the command (and I can see it on the Clipboard viewer) but when I key Ctrl v into the CMD window all I see is "^V" without the quotes. Isn't CMD supposed to allow the paste operation?

 

[DavidE]

Right click in the CMD window.
You should then be able to click Paste.

 

[Nosmas]

Thanks, but I now get " 'c:\program' is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file"

 

[DavidE]

It needs the double quotes around the program.
I don't remember all the CMD rules - I'm not sure if everything is within one set of quotes, or you need two sets of quotes.

Try this - I moved the quote to the beginning
"c:\program files\macrium\reflect\Reflect.exe -e -w C:\User\Peter\Documents\Reflect\My Backup(2).xml" - full

This is what you have now
c:\program files\macrium\reflect\Reflect.exe -e -w"C:\User\Peter\Documents\Reflect\My Backup(2).xml" - full

 

[Nosmas]

Sorry but now I get "The file name, directory name or volume label syntax is incorrect"

 

[DavidE]

Try this - 2 sets of quotes
"c:\program files\macrium\reflect\Reflect.exe" -e -w"C:\User\Peter\Documents\Reflect\My Backup(2).xml" - full

It's a question of getting the quotes in the right place.
I'm looking for an example but haven't been able to find one yet

 

[Nosmas]

After pasting and hitting Enter the usual "warning" with Yes/No buttons to allow Macriun to make changes is displayed, then there follows a "timer" window stating that definition file " (i.e. just the quotation mark seems to be the file name) is about to run. Hitting OK then just comes up with a "command screenfull" of information about running a backup and examples for mounting and un-mounting an image and also the meanings of the various switches, but the backup itself does not run. Sorry but I am now getting a bit confused.

Would what you are trying to achieve be accomplished by right clicking on the task in the Task Scheduler Library and choosing Run from the menu? That brings up a window stating that My Backup(2).xml is about to run in 20 secs and gives the ability to postpone or cancel the running of the program.

 

[DavidE]

You can Run the task in Task Scheduler, but I think it will do the same thing as when it runs as scheduled - not create the backup.
Did you look at every entry in the task history for the task to make sure there is no error reported?
Even if the Task completes successful, there could be an error.

Do you have a "C:\User\Peter\Documents\Reflect\My Backup(2).xml" file ?
Maybe there is a problem with your XML file ?
Can you look at the file and see if looks OK?

You could also try this - i added a space before the 3rd quote:

"c:\program files\macrium\reflect\Reflect.exe" -e -w "C:\User\Peter\Documents\Reflect\My Backup(2).xml" - full

 

[Nosmas]

Whilst waiting for your reply I decided to Run the task manually from Task Scheduler and it immediately created the backup file but with the size of 0KB. The program took just over 18 minutes to complete successfully and then updated the file size which was much the same as shown for previous runs when I was experimenting with Macrium. I was able to mount and unmount the backup file and to access any of the files contained within it.

I did look at all the History entries and no errors were reported.

I do have a C:\User\Peter\Documents\Reflect\My Backup(2).xml file and so far as my limited knowledge of xml files goes it does appear to be OK - and it surely must be since the task was manually successful?

So the puzzle is if it runs OK manually why did it not create the backup when run as scheduled? Even stranger when My Backup(1).xml did run and create a file when scheduled one hour beforehand. Do you know of any other settings that could have prevented the file creation even though the History entries appear to contradict that situation?

 

[DavidE]

The task runs and creates the backup when you manually Run it in Task Scheduler.
The task runs and does not create the backup when it runs as a scheduled task.
Right ?

I have no idea what could cause that.
I was hoping by running in CMD it would show an error that you did not see in the scheduled task.
I don't know if something such as a corrupt file could have caused the task to error and not create the backup ???

You could try changing the schedule so it runs in say an hour from now (or whatever).
See if that scheduled task works correctly.
Maybe it was a one-time glitch and the next run will work ??? Worth a try.

 

[Nosmas]

Since my last post I have had some weird experiences. I used Task Scheduler to run backups of my C: (OS) and M: (Data) drives. I watched the programs start and saw the creation of the relevant backup image files but when I looked for the C: image it was no longer showing. However the History tab of TS recorded all the steps taken by Macrium Reflect to make the backup, the last being 'Task Completed'. The M: image was successfully completed without hitch. On another occasion I watched the C: backup and at the finish a message appeared on the MR window stating there had been an error and something like 'the file could not be found and the job had to be aborted', but the page closed before I could investigate further. There was noting in the TS History log to indicate any error had occurred.

Eventually I decided to delete all previous backups and the MR Backup Definition files and re-start from scratch. Having done a couple of test runs during the day I then amended the Definition files to run at 02:00 and 03:00 this morning. To my delight both backups completed successfully so I will keep my fingers crossed that the next runs, scheduled for Monday morning will also run successfully.

Thank you DavidW7ncus for your suggestions to try to resolve this rather peculiar problem.

 

[DavidE]

You're welcome and thanks for posting back !
Hopefully creating the new tasks will fix the issue.
If not, you can re-open this thread for more help.