Windows 10 System Restore AND Windows Backup won't work at all

After the LONG reluctance in getting Windows 10 from 7, I now find myself regretting my choice..I used Win7 for 8 YEARS with ZERO issues with Windows Backup and Restore and Backup. I just installed Windows 10 a week ago and spent the past days reinstalling and re-configuring everything.

So after 15 hours of Googling I try to get help on this. Suddenly, yesterday, all my restore points were deleted after I tried to create one. No, it hasn't been 90 days since I had them, they just suddenly all got deleted. I can't even create one with it instantly deleting it self.

I've gone through at least 20 guides I can't even remember what anymore. Mainly checking services, disabling 3rd party startup apps, wiping the System Volume Information folder, running chkdisk (zero errors found), running sfc /scannow (zero errors found), deleting registry entries (restored them after) etc. I also when through Capn Jack Sparrows guide for Win7 on this forum out of desperate. Nothing worked though..

My prime suspects are the Winaero Tweaker or Windows Ultimate Tweaker (which I used on 7 in the past with no issues), because after I started using them everything seemed to stopped working. I don't know though, I only disabled anti privacy things, ads, and Cortana.

System Restore takes a good 2 minutes to even load up anymore, when before it was instant in Win7. I am honestly incredible frustrated and I would like to avoid having to 100% reinstall Windows 10 again if someone could help I'd be very happy..

Anyways, these are the errors:





I have several errors in the event viewer as well. I went through. I can provide any info as needed. I have little hope left for Win10 ..heh.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the inplace upgrade didn't solve the problem, still can't open system restore or windows backup. Same errors in Event Viewer too..

-The description for Event ID 7023 from source Service Control Manager cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.

If the event originated on another computer, the display information had to be saved with the event.

The following information was included with the event:

Block Level Backup Engine Service
%%2147942583

The locale specific resource for the desired message is not present

- "The server {37734C4D-FFA8-4139-9AAC-60FBE55BF3DF} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout."

- The shadow copies of volume C: were deleted because the shadow copy storage could not grow in time. Consider reducing the IO load on the system or choose a shadow copy storage volume that is not being shadow copied.

- The system failed to flush data to the transaction log. Corruption may occur in VolumeId: ??, DeviceName: \Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy2.
(A device which does not exist was specified.)

I have a Windows 7 to 10 upgrade going, is there anything else I can do to save my PC? I suppose it's not essential that windows backup or restore work, but it's worrisome knowing that it is gone for good. I guess my only chance probably is "nuclear option", to just buy Windows 10 and completely format everything?

dalchina said:

Hi, System Restore is great if it works. Most of us have learnt to recognise that perhaps MS have it off by default for a reason- it's not reliable when restoring, and can fail for reasons which can be very hard to identify.
Windows Backup and Restore is likewise problematic- MS itself recommends using 3rd party tools.
Many here prefer disk imaging, using Macrium Reflect (free) - or licensed- for preference...

I concur with all dalchina's comments, particularly the recommendation for Macrium Reflect. However, System Restore and MS System Imaging should be functional for you (they are for me). In fact, I suspect Macrium may well also be non-functional for you as it relies on the same VSS shadow copy services that system restore/MS imaging use. Your VSS seems broken, that wouid be the main area I'd look at.

MarkSteel said:

...I have a Windows 7 to 10 upgrade going, is there anything else I can do to save my PC? I suppose it's not essential that windows backup or restore work, but it's worrisome knowing that it is gone for good. I guess my only chance probably is "nuclear option", to just buy Windows 10 and completely format everything?

My understanding of what you say is that you have upgraded from W7 to W10 (relatively) successfully. If so, you should now have a digital licence for Windows 10 linked to the hardware ID of your PC and stored on the Microsoft activation servers. Check in 'Settings > Update & Security > Activation', it should say 'activated with a digital licence...'.

This means the 'nuclear option' will cost you nothing but time. You do not need to buy Windows 10, you just need to create an install usb and boot from it to do a clean install. If asked for a key click the 'I don't have one' option. As long as you install the same version as you have now (Home or Pro) it will activate automatically from your digital licence.

Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

Clean Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

Looks like I have no other options then, "pushes the red button". *salute*

- - - Updated - - -

Okay everyone, I'm shocked, completely "reset the PC" and I still have the Windows Backup not loading problem. I'm absolutely, flabbergasted. The problem STILL exists. I literally have a blank drive with Windows 10 only and I cannot run the Windows Backup program. I have the same errors (Server Execution) as before.

However System Restore did run, albeit extremely slowly. Any ideas?

There are other options before the nuclear option needing to clean install.

Why not perform a reset save files equivalent?

This should save files. Drivers and applications need to be reinstalled.

MarkSteel said:

Okay everyone, I'm shocked, completely "reset the PC" and I still have the Windows Backup not loading problem.

A Reset is not the same as a clean install. As I said, you can download the install media from Microsoft and make the bootable install usb. Then boot from it, delete all existing partitions and perform a clean install. See the steps in this tutorial.

Clean Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

But before doing that you should check your HDD for possible errors or signs that it may be failing. You can read the SMART info from the drive with CrystalDiskInfo. There is a portable version that does not require installing on the HDD and can be run from a usb. In particular, look at the Reallocated Sector Count, it should be zero for a healthy disk.

CrystalDiskInfo Portable (disk health monitoring) | PortableApps.com


From a Command Prompt (Admin) you could also type the command CHKDSK C: /F /B which will schedule a full check for bad sectors at the next restart. NB: this check could take a long time if it does find bad sectors.

[QUOTE=MarkSteel;I literally have a blank drive with Windows 10 only and I cannot run the Windows Backup program.[/QUOTE]

Open disk management > by default some columns are compressed > widen each Status and Volume > make sure the contents within the parenthesis are in full view and that no characters are cutoff > reevaluate the disk 0 row and widen as necessary so that all characters are in full view

Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of | Tutorials


Open adinistrative command propt and type or copy and paste: (all commands at one time)

Code:

bcdedit /enum
diskpart
lis dis
lis vol
sel dis 0
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par 
sel par 2
det par 
sel par 3
det par 
sel par 4
det par
sel par 5
det par 
sel dis 1
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par 
sel par 2
det par 
sel par 3
det par
sel par 4
det par
sel par 5
det par

When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

Thanks all everyone for the advice. I was able to solve the problem by:

- using "Reset This PC" and deleting all personal files and applications (I'm wondering if this was really needed now)

- wiping the "System Volume Information" files on my external SSD by performing a force hidden file deletion in an elevated command prompt

(didn't try this before, saw a random unrelated tip that external drives can have corrupted backup info on them)

- reclaiming ownership over the "System Volume Information" folder on my system drive and performing a forced hidden file deletion in an elevated command prompt

- manually stopping the Volume Shadow Copy (Automatic), Windows Backup (Manual) Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider (Automatic) and then reloading System Restore and Windows Backup.

Every is working 100% perfectly now. Now I wonder if I could of avoided the reset. I've done several system restore creations and restores, and made 3 Windows Backups images to test. It seems my older restore points might of gotten corrupted in the "System Volume Information" hidden System Folder somehow, and Windows 10 was panicking when it couldn't access them? I guess I will never really know.

My system has a fairly old i7 3370K CPU setup which has proven to still be reliable, but my Drive is only 2 years old 1 TB SSD Crucial. I had already done an old school Check Disk beforehand, and had zero errors in the log. Actually the main reason I was upgrading was to fully utilize the new Nvidia 2070 graphics card and Direct X 12.

Everything is working as normal now! Just figured I'd report in, in case anyone else has this problem because it was a nightmare to figure out. The "Reset this PC" and delete everything was a good idea, so thanks for telling me. I already had a Windows 10 ISO made from the Media Creation Tool beforehand, so it saved me.

Thanks again, great forum!