System Image erroneous space error

[Deepblue]

Dear All,

I am attempting to take a system image of my C drive (which is Programs only, RAID) on to a spare drive with over a terrabite of free space. However, I receive the message:

There is not enough space to create the volume shadow copy on the storage location... and it ends with the code Ox80780119.

A while back I found and then lost a post elsewhere that referred to a known problem in that within the programs partition it required at least X amount of spare space to initiate the system image. At the time the solution was too complex for me but I am now anxious to move ahead.

Has anyone encountered this and is a quick fixz to buy e.g. Norton Ghost or would I hit the same problem?

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized full Disk Mgmt drive map with listings showing all columns, using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

You may not have enough free space on the 100mb System Reserved boot partition, because something has written to it if it has a drive letter. We can help you expand it.

If you have WD or Seagate HD's in the mix, you can also use the free version of Acronis' premium imaging app, which is recommended by many here while Norton Ghost isn't recommended by any I've seen.

 

[Deepblue]

System Image Problem - map opf

Dear Gregrocker,

Thanks for such a swift response. I am having difficulty pasting the snip in and have therefore attached it. Is the attached the map you refer to?

The HDs are Samsung, put in by the engineer who put RAID on for me (I am very much a novice).

I am grateful for your assistance.

Best regards,

Deepblue

 

[essenbe]

A system image requires a minimum of 40MB of free space in system reserved. Your screenshot shows 34MB free. There are several options as gregrocker suggested, The free version of macrium is another option.

 

[gregrocker]

You can temporarily assign a letter to System Reserved partition in Disk Management, then open it in Explorer and post back a screenshot of its contents so we can help you explore the files to see what is there that shouldn't be.

Or you can fix it now by using free Partition Wizard bootable CD: rightclick C, select Resize, drag the left grey border to the right 100mb to make more space for the SysReserved partition, click OK. Then rightclick System Reserved, drag it's right grey border to the right to include the space you made, OK, Apply steps. You should now be able to make the image.

Or you can use one of the other suggested free imaging apps and not be bothered - up to you.,

 

[Deepblue]

System Image Problem - map of System Reserved

Dear Gregrocker,

Thanks for yours. I have assigned a drive letter and the only folder showing is 'Users', which although it has subfolders with my name (and then sub folders My Docs and Desktop) these are empty and show as using zero space.

I can see that there must be hidden folders because of the space used by the System Reserved as a whole but having explored options I am unclear as to how to show hidden folders within this partition.

I would like (subject to your patience) to explore this investigation because having previously relied on third parties it would be good to build my knowledge.

If you are able to indicate how I can reveal the contents I will post a further map. Thank you also for the other fixes, which I am storing as knowledge.

Best regards and thank you again,

Deepblue

 

[Deepblue]

Re Macrium

A system image requires a minimum of 40MB of free space in system reserved. Your screenshot shows 34MB free. There are several options as gregrocker suggested, The free version of macrium is another option.

Dear Essenbe,

I am grateful to you also for such assistance. Thsi is the first time I have ever used an IT forum and already I feel as if I have gone from lost and bewildered to having some options. I will hold your fix along with thsoe suggested by Gregrocker on the basis that, as an absolute novice, the more knowledge acquired the better.

In the meantime it is warming that there are such altruistic people about.

Best regards,

Deepblue

 

[essenbe]

Try this. Go back and open up system reserved in windows explorer. In the top left of the box click on organize and a dropdown will appear.

Next click on folder and search options

Next click on the view tab. click on show hidden in the middle and click on apply


Please Post a screenshot of the contents of system reserved for gregrocker.

 

[Deepblue]

Dear essenbe and Gregrocker,

I have ticked to show hidden files and when this only showed 'User' (which occupies only 6kb on the disc) I also ncecked 'hide operating system files (recommended) to reveal the rest of the files there. Thus the two screen captures.

I would be interested to knwo what this tells the informed.

Thanks again,



Deepblue

 

[essenbe]

Deepblue, This is gregrockers area of expertise. We will have to wait for Greg. The best I could do is get you there. Greg is excellent in this area. But I might suggest yoy backup all of your personal information before any alterations are made to this partition and I believe you will need to remove the letter you assigned system reserved before you turn the computer off.

 

[Deepblue]

Dear essenbe,

Thank you for yours and your assistance in getting thus far. I went to remove the drive letter but am noit sure how. I am sorry to seem so lame but could you guide mas to how to revert. I cannot seem to even see how I added it in the first place.

Best regards,

deepblue

 

[essenbe]

If you have rebooted with the drive letter in place and it works don't worry about it. To remove the letter go to disk management, right click on the system reserved partition, select 'change drive letter and path' in the drop down box select remove. that will remove the drive letter.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Not related to your image problem, but ...

I ALWAYS uncheck, "Hide extensions for known file types".

IMO that has got to be one of the most foolish default settings that I have ever seen.
What were MS thinking?
Why is it still a default setting in Windows 7? :shock:

I wonder how many people have been "nailed" by malware because of that.

I also use Macrium Free Edition and it has always "done the job" for me.

See this post for a link about how to use Macrium (Thanks to Bare Foot Kid):
http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-restore/166248-there-way-clone-windows.html#post1423106

 

[essenbe]

I ALWAYS uncheck, "Hide extensions for known file types".

IMO that has got to be one of the most foolish default settings that I have ever seen.
What were MS thinking?
Why is it still a default setting in Windows 7? :shock:

I wonder how many people have been "nailed" by malware because of that.

I also use Macrium Free Edition and it has always "done the job" for me.

See this post for a link about how to use Macrium (Thanks to Bare Foot Kid):
http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-restore/166248-there-way-clone-windows.html#post1423106

I agree about free Macrium. That is what I use along with Acronis. I always use at least 2 backup programs-better safe than sorry. Macrium is one of the easiest backup programs there is.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Or you can fix it now by using free Partition Wizard bootable CD: rightclick C, select Resize, drag the left grey border to the right 100mb to make more space for the SysReserved partition, click OK. Then rightclick System Reserved, drag it's right grey border to the right to include the space you made, OK, Apply steps. You should now be able to make the image.

Hello Deepblue, welcome to Seven Forums!


If you want to enlarge the System Reserved partition as Greg has suggested, you would need to "Move/Resize" (shrink) the left side of the Boot[Mirror] C: partition by at least 100MB using the outline in Step 1 of this tutorial at the link below as a guide.

I would suggest a system restart after the shrink just to make sure all is well, before you continue.

System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot

Then you could you could just use Windows 7 disk management to extend the existing SysResv to include the newly created unallocated space.

 

[gregrocker]

I have never seen a User folder in System Reserved before. Do you know how it got there? It would have to have had a letter assigned at the time to copy it in there, or for some backup to copy it in.

Once you unhide the files as you did, what is inside the User folder now? Please post back the contents of each folder and subfolder, and the total size.

Do you have your complete User folder on C and are these the files you are working from now? Open some of your active files and look at their Properties to see what the location of the User folder is - it needs to be C.

It's possible the User folder on System Reserved is the cause of the imaging error and it's removal will solve it once we see it's inactive, and if it brings the size of the partition below 34 mb used space. If not, we need to look in the other folders to see if something got written there erroneously as well.

At any point you can also use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Resize C from the left by 100mb and add that space to System Reserved from the right - an easier fix although I wouldn't want to have a set of User folders in my System Reserved either way.

 

[mjf]

A Users folder doesn't belong in the system reserved partition and I have no idea what it is doing there. The system reserved is the OS domain and no other application should use it. Space is tight in this little system reserved partition and 50MB is required by the OS for shadow copies during the imaging process.

I would suggest you install the Partition Wizard mini Tool (link given earlier). The explore partition function of the tool will give greater insight than simply assigning sys res a letter and using explorer.
Have a look inside this Users folder and post back the result.