Sudden refusal to make a System Image

[Stevekir]

I'm sorry this is a long post but its best to get all the facts out. I'm new to Windows.

My System- C: is an SSD (256 GB). X: is a 1 TB conventional hard drive in the computer's box. It holds W7's backups.

Since buying the computer in March my W7's Backup routine has been set to backup regularly every day on to the X: drive. I was able to see the daily backups listed and I could see WindowsImageBackup which was new every day (I looked inside its folders).

I have just inspected the X: drive and found that no WindowsImageBackups have been made since 23rd June. On going to Start > Backup and Restore > Change Settings > Backup and Restore your files, the last Backup is today, on time, and I see at Contents: "Files and libraries and personal folders for all users" but no mention of the usual "... and your System". (I can't remember the exact wording).

I click on Change settings and get the window "Select where you want to save your backup". My X: drive is still selected as the backup but there is a new warning triangle "A system image cannot be saved on this location". "More information" states "A system image cannot be saved on a drive that your computer boots form or that Windows is installed on."

My computer boots from the C: drive, and the X: drive does not have Windows on it.

Also, I have just connected an external USB drive and after refreshing the window. It is listed. But if I select it as the backup drive (this is just to do checks) I get "This drive does not have enough space to store a system image." More information leads to "This drive does not have enough free space to store a system image. It is recommended to have 917.22 GB of free space." This is odd. In an earlier window it said it would not save a System Image so why does it mention it now? Also, that drive has 465 GB and is empty. Sutely that is enough for a Backup of the 256 GB SSD and a System Image!

The last date of a WindowsImageBackup is on 23rd of June (I looked at the actual image rather then the earlier enclosing folder date). So what might have happened around that time. Nothing I know of. However, about 25th June I installed @MAC SyncUp backup program (recommended by someone on the forum) but it failed to backup some files. On 27th when waking up from sleep I got several black screens with "Start Windows Normally " (amongst other things) which I accepted. On investigation I got a message from Windows with a red triangle saying that @Mac SyncUp was incompatible so yesterday I uninstalled it (using its own uninstaller). The waking up problem has gone.

Therefore, Backup and Restore is apparently continuing but has stopped making a System Image; despite that, it says that two drives cannot be used for a Syst. Image for seemingle irrevelant reasons. Something is odd here.

(I don't have a System Repair Disc because my machine can't make one. My local shop is investigating that).

So what can I do please to get a system image being saved again regularly? Grateful for help.

PS: I have just noticed that Control Panels > Troubleshooting > History > Program Compatibility (3 of them, dated today) say "An unexpected error has occurred. The Troubleshooting wizard can't continue." Also, I tried System Restore > Scan for affected programs. Nothing found. And Action Centre found nothing.

I have just started a manual backup on the above mentioned 465 GB external and under contents it says "Files and libraries and personal folders of all users and system image!! But it has failed (terminated).

 

[Layback Bear]

I'm no back up expert but I think if you do this tutorial by Golden and post here it will help others help you.

Make sure your back up drive is plugged in.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[Stevekir]

Here it is:

By the way, I have looked at the external HD 465 BG drive (Disc 3 on the attached Disc Management file)to see whether anything had been put on it after it terminated the attempted backup and it has what looks very like a system image (other attached file-the text on the icon is the name of my computer). Its Properties shows it (there is nothing else on the drive) to be 14.8 GB in size. Is this about the right size for a System Image? If so, it seems Backup and Restore succeeded in finding it on my computer!

 

[mjf]

I can't explain your specific problem except "A system image cannot be saved on a drive that your computer boots form or that Windows is installed on." normally means you have a system file of some description on the destination drive.

Have you tried to manually create a system image using the "Create a system image" button? For Windows backup I select "let me choose" and manage my Windows system images manually. I only make one system image then rename it before making another. See the tutorial
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

 

[Layback Bear]

Where exactly are you trying to put a backup of disk "0" to?

Where do you want the backup installed?

 

[Stevekir]

I can't explain your specific problem except "A system image cannot be saved on a drive that your computer boots form or that Windows is installed on." normally means you have a system file of some description on the destination drive.

Have you tried to manually create a system image using the "Create a system image" button? For Windows backup I select "let me choose" and manage my Windows system images manually. I only make one system image then rename it before making another. See the tutorial
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

My underlining of your brilliant logic! I weeded out some programs no longer needed and one, Nitro 10 (a program to allow editing of existing PDFs). There was no uninstall routine and when I tried to Delete it nothing happened except a message about it being in use. I tried to destroy it with my AVG antivirus. I got a message that it was being used by another application (not to my knowledge). Then I discovered Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program, which got rid of it. Since then I have been able to Backup with a System Image.

Many thanks for your insight.

 

[Layback Bear]

Glad things are working again.

Thanks for the information about Nitro 10. That just might be helpful to others.

 

[mjf]

Glad to help and see you have resolved your problem Stevekir. You may want to still think about your imaging strategy.

 

[AddRAM]

AVG

 

[Stevekir]

Glad to help and see you have resolved your problem Stevekir. You may want to still think about your imaging strategy.

"Imaging Strategy"? Any advice?

My present strategy is: I have set up W7's Backup and Restore to do a backup at 16:00 every day. It (now and until 3 weeks ago) includes a System Image automatically. This is saved at X:\ (an internal HD, my C: drive is an SSD) with the filename WindowsImageBackup . I also create a System Restore Point now and again and before doing something like installing a program.

What particular Imaging Strategy are you thinking of?

Could you please help with another point? Until 3 weeks ago (before Backup and Restore refused to make a system image, see earlier in this thread) I was able to find the location of that automatic system image and occasionally change its name (to add the date), so forcing Backup and Restore to create a new system image there rather than overwriting the previous on. I than moved the altered image to another place in case I needed it. But I have forgotten how to do the bit underlined above. sevenforums' tutorial "Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup" tells me how but I can't anymore remember the path name to get at the actual image to change its name and then move it. I don't remember having to enter the 14 character date.

Any ideas? Thanks.

EDIT: For clarification, what I used to be able to do was to go to X:\WindowsImageBackup (perhaps with an additional \) and straight away see the image as it sits in X\, and change its name there from WidowsImageBackup (just that, no date) to WidowsImageBackup xyz. That is what I am aiming to do.

How can I do that please?

 

[mjf]

Make images manually and separate from your data/file backups. MS confuses this.
Consider other imaging software (eg. (free) Macrium Reflect which I and many others now use most of the time). Windows inbuit imaging is quite restrictive in many ways.

Make an image before installing Windows updates and after an install of paid software.

Know that images are different to file/folder backups. Use Windows here if you like plus other software if you like plus old drag and drop.

 

[Stevekir]

After some experimenting I have found a simple and reliable way of locating the automatic System Images made by Windows Backup and Restore routines, and how to preserve one of them:

 

[mjf]

Just be aware that making multiple images using MS uses "differencing vhds". A form of differential imaging as far I can see.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHD_(file_format)
It involves parent/child images and I still feel more confident in single standalone images. Make as many as you like on as many drives as you like.