Windows Backup cannot find the shadow copy

[Green Lantern]

Greetings! I have been using Windows Backup for years with no problems. Today I got a new Buffalo external harddrive with USB V3. I started the backup, then remembered something and stopped the backup in the middle. I have no idea if this has anything to do with my problem. When I was ready to restart the backup I first went to the new drive and deleted the folder that had been created by Windows Backup. Then I restarted the backup. It backed up all the data without a hitch, but when it started to work on the System Image the whole thing stopped and I got the error message: Windows Backup cannot find the shadow copy of the source volume. I tried removing programs, I did a System Restore to a point before I did the first backup. Nothing helped. I attempted backups at least four times with the same result. I haven't a clue how to proceed. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh yes, I wanted to also mention that I've been doing backups to my old Seagate drive and have no idea if these are stored on catalog files somewhere that are conflicting. As a test I reconnect the Seagate and tried a backup but it failed with the same error.

I have an HP notebook with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I have no idea what else to do at this point.

GL

 

[not so gray matter]

Not sure about the main problem, but you can download a program like Macrium Reflect Free Edition to make a system image and boot disk to use for backups. It's actually more reliable for backups if you test the boot disk to make sure you'll be able to access your system images.

 

[Green Lantern]

Thanks for the suggestion. Right now my main interest is finding out what's wrong here to correct any misstep I may have made or system error that could impact the use of a tool such as you mention.

GL

 

[whs]

Best would be to delete all the stuff from the Win7 imaging and go with Macrium as suggested. I use it all the time and it is rock solid, easy, fast and transparent. Made a tutorial which you find here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I From all I have seen, the Win7 imaging is just too messy to bother with it. But there are some experts around that seem to know it inside out. Send a PM to Karlsnooks, he may be able to help.

 

[Jacee]

Look in services (type services.msc in the start search box) and see if Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider is disabled.

 

[Green Lantern]

Thank you Jacee. I had a look and that process was started. It was set to be started manually.

GL

 

[Green Lantern]

I am attaching (if I can figure out how) a screen shot of the error message and number.

GL

 

[Sanvean]

There is a known issue that having anti virus real time protection on while backing up will give this error code. Also if a file is in quarantine or a user program "secures" it's operation files, permissions won't be granted, thus not backed up and giving this error code also.

 

[Green Lantern]

Hello Sanvean, thanks for the information. I'll try again while disabling the antivirus software. This is a new pc. I've been using the Microsoft Backup Utility for years with other systems, all with AV SW installed. But new is new. Who knows. I'll try. As for the other point you mention, I considered that myself and turned off Synch Toy and another online backup program that I felt might "lock files" in some way. It had no effect. I couldn't think of any other programs in that category. Certainly none that I haven't been using for years in this context with no difficulties.

Thanks again!

GL

 

[Sanvean]

Your welcome, another cause can be compressed files.
A pain isn't it?

Win7 is about permissions now, which can be good or ummm well you get the picture..!

PS: Just remembered in the backup options, manual settings uncheck App data, that can be one sore point (Programs not giving file/folder permissions). This is off the top of my head, so I apologise if it isn't more precise.

Also check your permissions on your new backup drive, you might not have control/permission (there's that word again lol).

I have to do some stuff, but I'll be back in a bit, to check on your progress.

You can also clean out bad backups with this:
Type 'vssadmin delete shadows /all' from an elevated command prompt.

 

[Green Lantern]

Your welcome, another cause can be compressed files.
A pain isn't it?

Win7 is about permissions now, which can be good or ummm well you get the picture..!

PS: Just remembered in the backup options, manual settings uncheck App data, that can be one sore point (Programs not giving file/folder permissions). This is off the top of my head, so I apologise if it isn't more precise.

Also check your permissions on your new backup drive, you might not have control/permission (there's that word again lol).

I have to do some stuff, but I'll be back in a bit, to check on your progress.

You can also clean out bad backups with this:
Type 'vssadmin delete shadows /all' from an elevated command prompt.

Thanks Savean, I really appreciate the tips. I told you I'd try turning off the AV and see what happens. Well, it worked! Ran the whole backup including system image creation without a hitch. I hope it's not a coincidence, just when I'm getting excited here.

One thing you mentioned interests me a great deal. I have often wondered if these "system images" are stored anywhere and if it wouldn't be smart to clear them out once in a while, especially when you start a whole new backup set or move to a new HD. Is there anywhere I could look to get more of an education on that point? Also you mention running from an "elevated command prompt". I confess I have no clue what that is unless you mean I should do it on a mountaintop.:sarc:

Thanks again.

GL

 

[Sanvean]

Cool glad it worked, AV is the general cause, but sometimes app permissions come into play.

As you know, backup is targeted/selected user files, while Imaging is a "snapshot" of a hard disk (everything).
The system doesn't by default save images, unless you did it manually or schedule it. There is a confusion, because the term "back up" is generally applied to a group of processes that copy files for secure storage.

Thru that backup/imaging wizard, you can manually delete older copies. If a scheduled task is applied, windows will continue to fill the drive, then overwrite the oldest copy when it becomes full, ect..,

An elevated command prompt is a prompt with admin permissions. Right click the prompt and select "run as administrator" this will elevate the process thus giving control/ permission at a higher level. Lol and yes run it from a mountain.

Glad I could help and welcome to sevenforums!

 

[Green Lantern]

Thank you again Sanvean. I'm of course pleased that I have the security of a back up again but it is a bit of a pain to not be able to schedule the task. I can't imagine that everyone running Microsoft Secuity Essentials has this conflict with the Windows Backup Utility. Do you have any idea how I could rig things so it would just roll off like in the good ole days?

GL

 

[Zig]

Green Lantern,
Sorry to rain on your parade; I'm currently looking for/evaluating other solutions to the backup problem, including scheduling of both full & incremental or differential backups. I've also run into the "37" error caused by AV programs quarantining suspect files, so don't feel alone there. MS has been rather unresponsive in this regard, their attitude seemingly being, "It works fine."
You might look at a message I posted to this forum & to the MS forum in Jan. without getting a reply; other messages in this thread also might be of help:

http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...ws-backup-vs-3rd-party-backup-solution-4.html

Zig

 

[Green Lantern]

Interesting post Zig. Thanks. I'll have to take a look at Macronis.

GL

 

[Green Lantern]

Oops. Macrium!

GL

 

[Zig]

Green Lantern,
I just found this review site:

Best Free Drive Imaging Program

Everyone likes Macrium, but I'd prefer to have incremental and/or differential backups, as well as full
(or image) backups.

Zig

 

[Green Lantern]

Absolutely! Incremental and Full are what I use as well as weekly image backups.

 

[Sanvean]

Thanks Zig for your input.
Yes Windows 7 backup isn't perfect, just like it's default defragger, movie maker, etc.., all basic tools.
Third party apps are more developed and specific/ focused.

 

[blacklex]

solf problem shadow copy

Hello everyone,

First sorry for my poor english.
The solution for the image problem is very simple.

Use acronis to resize the 100MB partition to 200 MB, after that your system is telling you that it can not boot, use your win 7 DVD to repair this problem, just follow the on screen commands and voila everithing is OK.
Your pc will boot again and your back up is working to.