Windows Backup - The system cannot find the file specified

Vahryx

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12:43 PM
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Location
Australia
Hi,

For quite a while I was having a problem with windows backup coming up with the error "The system cannot find the file specified." I tried using other programs to backup but they all either had an error or hung. I could not find a solution. So, yesterday I decided to reinstall Windows 7 Home Premium to try and solve the problem. I finally got all my core programs and drivers and decided to try a backup. I get the exact same error as I did before the re-installation. This has made me super frustrated that I reinstalled with no backup for absolutely no reason.

After the re-installation there was a windows.old folder in my c drive which I deleted (This might be causing the error this time?)

TL;DR
Fresh install of Windows 7 Home Premium has error "The system cannot find the file specified" when trying to use Windows Backup. Deletion of windows.old folder might be the cause.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3330 CPU @ 3.00GHz
Motherboard
Alienware 06G6JW
Memory
6.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Intel(R) HD Graphics (2) NVIDIA GeForce GT 545
Sound Card
(1) Realtek High Definition Audio (2) Intel(R) Display Aud
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
(1) WDC WD1003FZEX-00RLFA0 ATA Device (2) Seagate Expansion USB Device
Internet Speed
http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/56380
Antivirus
Bitdefender + Malwarebytes Anti Malware
Browser
Mozilla Firefox
Hello and welcome Vahryx now did you just reinstall - without wiping the drive first ? because personally I save all my data and then use clean in DISKPART to wipe the drive and then reinstall it is of course a pain to have to reinstall the programs and the updates but the data is easily installed from wherever you store it on. Doing it that way removes any remnants from the drive that may cause issues.

To see how clean is done in DISKPART see this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Own build (new) Desk1 / Asus ROG Win 7 / Desk2 1st build
OS
Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
CPU
Desk1 i5 3750K / Laptop i7 GTX 860M / Desk2 i5 2500
Motherboard
Desk1 Asus P877-V / Desk2 Gigabyte H67 UD3H / Laptop ?
Memory
Desk1 8GB (1866) / Desk2 16GB (1333) / Laptop 8Gb DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
Desk 1& 2NVidia GTX 650 & Laptops on board Intel
Sound Card
Desk 1 & 2 -XONAR DG Realtek High Def audio Laptop
Monitor(s) Displays
Desk 1 Benq HD 2450 / Desk2 Philips 24" / Laptop 17.5"
Screen Resolution
1920x1080 D1 & D2 & Laptop 1
Hard Drives
Desk1 Samsung 120GB 830 SSD
Asus ROG 256GB 850 Pro SSD
Desk2 Samsung 840 256 SSD
Toshiba 120GB EVO
PSU
Desk 1 Corsair HX 1050/ Laptop ? / Desk 2 Corsair HX 650
Case
Desk 1 Cooler HAF XM ? Toshiba laptop / Desk2 Coolermaster
Cooling
Fans on all Desk1 -2 Desk2 - all Coolermasters 5 Laptop ?
Keyboard
Desk 1 MS Sidewinder X6 Desk 2 MS Sidewinder X 4
Mouse
Desk 1&2 - Gigabyte MS 900 gamer - laptop - Logitec wireless
Internet Speed
ADSL2+
Other Info
One other Desktop (tester) and spare Toshba laptop both with SSD's
Running Kaspersky 2016 ISS on all machines config'd identically
Logitec audio stereo systems on each machine (x3)
Canon MG5250MFC
Router/modem TP-Link running WPA2SK
If you had a windows.old file on the C: drive, then you didn't do a clean install. You did an Upgrade install, or what some call a non-destructive install that saves all your programs and documents. Seems like it saved your problem, also. Copy all your docs, etc to an ext hard drive or USB thumb drive, then wipe the C: drive.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
CPU
Intel I5-4440 3.10
Motherboard
Asus
Memory
4 GB
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon HD 6900
Hard Drives
one, 500GB, 7200 RPM
Antivirus
MS Security Essentials
Browser
IE 11, Chrome
Yep Holmes that is basically what I was telling the OP maybe I wasn't explicit enough as I try to make things as simplistic as possible .
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Own build (new) Desk1 / Asus ROG Win 7 / Desk2 1st build
OS
Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
CPU
Desk1 i5 3750K / Laptop i7 GTX 860M / Desk2 i5 2500
Motherboard
Desk1 Asus P877-V / Desk2 Gigabyte H67 UD3H / Laptop ?
Memory
Desk1 8GB (1866) / Desk2 16GB (1333) / Laptop 8Gb DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
Desk 1& 2NVidia GTX 650 & Laptops on board Intel
Sound Card
Desk 1 & 2 -XONAR DG Realtek High Def audio Laptop
Monitor(s) Displays
Desk 1 Benq HD 2450 / Desk2 Philips 24" / Laptop 17.5"
Screen Resolution
1920x1080 D1 & D2 & Laptop 1
Hard Drives
Desk1 Samsung 120GB 830 SSD
Asus ROG 256GB 850 Pro SSD
Desk2 Samsung 840 256 SSD
Toshiba 120GB EVO
PSU
Desk 1 Corsair HX 1050/ Laptop ? / Desk 2 Corsair HX 650
Case
Desk 1 Cooler HAF XM ? Toshiba laptop / Desk2 Coolermaster
Cooling
Fans on all Desk1 -2 Desk2 - all Coolermasters 5 Laptop ?
Keyboard
Desk 1 MS Sidewinder X6 Desk 2 MS Sidewinder X 4
Mouse
Desk 1&2 - Gigabyte MS 900 gamer - laptop - Logitec wireless
Internet Speed
ADSL2+
Other Info
One other Desktop (tester) and spare Toshba laptop both with SSD's
Running Kaspersky 2016 ISS on all machines config'd identically
Logitec audio stereo systems on each machine (x3)
Canon MG5250MFC
Router/modem TP-Link running WPA2SK
And when you say backup, exactly what do you mean ? Are you just backing up data (which should not even be stored on the same drive or partition as windows) or are you talking about creating a disk image ?

You have to delete your entire drive to unallocated space, then either create an install partition for windows or just click next if you want to use the entire drive for windows.

Make sure you don`t have any other drives connected when you install windows.


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Skylake Special #666
OS
Windows 10 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i7 6700K
Motherboard
Asus Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1
Memory
GSkill TridentZ RGB 16GB 3600 16-16-16-36
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC x2
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition
Monitor(s) Displays
AOC G2460PG
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 144Hz
Hard Drives
Samsung 860 Pro 256GB, Seagate Barracuda 4TB x2
PSU
EVGA 1000 P2, EVGA White Custom Braided Cables
Case
Corsair Vengeance C70 Gunmetal Black
Cooling
Corsair H100i v2, Corsair ML120 x2, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
Keyboard
Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum
Mouse
Logitech G700s
Internet Speed
Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway 75/75
Antivirus
Windows Defender, Malwarebytes Free 3.8.3
Browser
Chrome
Other Info
Corsair SP120 x4, LG Blu-ray Drive, Durabrand HT-395 100 Watt Dolby Digital Amp, Corsair H2100 Wireless 7.1 Headset
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