How to get windows 7 System Image Backup to work in Windows 10

Reggie49 · 15 Dec 2020

G'Day all from OZ,
I have received a lot of help from the Sevenforum in the past, so I hope the same type of assistance happens here. :)

Some time back I watched a Youtube clip, on how to backup Windows 10 and create a System image, using the Windows 7 Backup and Restore utility.

Since then I've had many tries to complete this task, but they all failed at the end, when the System Image completes. There have been a few different error messages, but latest ones, I thought related to Library files, (according to Microsoft's interpretation of the error code.)

I wasn't aware Windows 10 even had Library files, as they were never visible in File Explorer, but sure enough they were are. So after opening each Folder in the library, they were either empty or contained some files. So I went through the process of removing the contents of these folders, and tried another backup - Unfortunately the outcome.

The error given on the Windows Backup Troubleshooing Options window was: "The backup completed but some files were skipped", the error displayed in this window was 0x8100002F.

Under "The backup completed but some files were skipped" was a hyperlink to "View skipped Files".

When you click on "View Skipped Files" the following was displayed: "Backup encountered a problem while backing up file C:\Users\User\Pictures\Saved Pictures. Error: (STATUS_WAIT_2 ((0x800700002))".

When I went to the Pictures folder there's about 50 .jpg files in there and a couple of .png files. Apart from that, they all have thumbnail images and don't look suspect, so I have no idea now on what to try next.

I've reached the limit of my ability to blunder around trying to fix this, so it's time to ask for help, from people who may have a solution for me.

My desktop computer is fairly new so I'm pretty confident there's no issue there, and there are no issues with the operation of Windows 10 version 1909

If someone has encountered the same problem as this, and has come up with a solution, I love to hear how you sorted this out please.

Best Regards

Reggie49

dalchina · 15 Dec 2020

Hi, simple answer which has been repeatedly given here - just try searching for Backup and Restore (Windows 7)- is 'don't'.

Don't use it. It's legacy, unsupported, and you're very unlikely to get meanngful support for it here.

MS itself recommends using current maintained capable 3rd party programs.

Macrium reflect (free/paid) + external storage for image files is recommended here time and again.

Try3 · 15 Dec 2020

Reggie,

I agree with dalchina and so does MS.

The built-in system imaging facility should not be used

How to get windows 7 System Image Backup to work in Windows 10-imaging-deprecated-ver-1709-tenforums.png

Taken from Features removed or Deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update [Version 1709]

Macrium Reflect is often recommended in this forum for making system images. Other utilities are available but this one is so commonplace that you can get plenty of help for it.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect - TenForumsTutorials
Macrium Software Macrium Reflect Free
Macrium USB - TenForums
Macrium Reflect KnowledgeBase - user guide [version-independent link]

It can also make bootable system images. This facility is called viBoot and it requires Win10 Pro.
Macrium viBoot - Macrium KB
Macrium viBoot - Create Virtual Machine using Macrium Image - TenForumsTutorials

Denis

kado897 · 15 Dec 2020

Even the free version of MR will give you more facilities than the built in imaging. MR is recommended by many people here because it is fast, super reliable, and the support given by Paramount (MR supplier) is second to none.

Bree · 15 Dec 2020

Reggie49 said:

....The error given on the Windows Backup Troubleshooing Options window was: "The backup completed but some files were skipped"

Backup and Restore (Windows 7) has two quite independent functions, one is to create a system image, the other is to back up files and folders. MS say that you cannot retrieve individual files from their system image, so you need the separate files/folders backup. That error is the 'files and folders part of the backup.

The MS system imaging is a deprecated feature that MS say you shouldn't use, while for files and folders Microsoft recommend you use File History.

With Macrium you can mount a system image and browse it in Explorer to find and copy any file it contains. Not only is Macrium Reflect more reliable than a MS system image, it's more versatile too. Do yourself a favour and follow the MS recommendation to use something else.

kado897 · 15 Dec 2020

Bree said:

Backup &v Restore (Windows 7) has two quite independent functions, one is to create a system image, the other is to back up files and folders. That error is the 'files and folders part of the backup.

The system imaging is a deprecated feature, while for files and folders Microsoft recommend you use File History.

MS say that you cannot retrieve individual files from their system image, so you need the separate files/folders backup. With Macrium you can mount a system image and browse it in Explorer to find and copy any file it contains.

Microsoft say you can't retrieve individual files but in fact you can. If you dig deep enough into the image you will find it composed of vhd files which you can mount to retrieve individual files. There is a tutorial on SF System Image - Extract Files Using Disk Management - Windows 7 Help Forums

Bree · 15 Dec 2020

kado897 said:

Microsoft say you can't retrieve individual files but in fact you can. If you dig deep enough into the image you will find it composed of vhd files which you can mount to retrieve individual files. There is a tutorial on SF System Image - Extract Files Using Disk Management - Windows 7 Help Forums

While that is true, it's also a lot of work for something that's easier to do with offerings from other vendors

Also, you'll be mounting the .vhd files as read/write, with the risk that you may change something that then makes the system image no longer restorable.

kado897 · 15 Dec 2020

Bree said:

While that is true, it's also a lot of work for something that's easier to do with offerings from other vendors

Also, you'll be mounting the .vhd files as read/write, with the risk that you may change something that then makes the system image no longer restorable.

Agreed.

T J · 15 Dec 2020

I use both Backup and Restore (Windows 7) AND Macrium Reflex 7 Free on my 2012 Dell 660 W10 v2004.
Did you click on (a) Create a system image (in upper left corner of window) OR (b) Backup Change settings (in center of window)?
(a) I use this, works great. I restored 2 different images earlier in December 2020 due to working with Norton NRnR tool and Symantec VSS provider in Registry (W10, v2004; 12/4 image restored on Dec 7 & 12/7 image restored on Dec 8; later deleted 12/7 image). I currently have 4 Backup and Restore (W7) images on my 1 TB My Passport. Don't forget to Create a system repair disc (will need this to restore an image).
(b) I don't use this. Creates a system image AND backs up data files saved in libraries, on the desktop, and in default Windows folders [or Let me choose].
For file backups I just use Backup / Back up using File History; good enough for my needs.
I create/restore an image when necessary. The 12/9 is latest image; if I wanted to save the 12/9 image and make a NEW 12/15 image, I would need to first OPEN file explorer and change the 12/9 file name to something like the other ones shown before creating the NEW image. Then the NEW 12/15 image would have same name as my latest one now. I have to do this because my Dell has 1TB hard drive and I have 1TB My Passport. If you have a smaller PC hard drive and larger USB drive; may be different.

How to get windows 7 System Image Backup to work in Windows 10-br7b.jpg

Reggie49 · 15 Dec 2020

It seems the tradition continues on this site as for the SevenForum, (probably due to the fact that most of you were on the Seven forum :)) Once again you guys have come through for me again.

I don't like taking a punt on installing free software, for an important job as this based on my own searching, and I'm too tight to pay an annual fee for just the basic things I want to do, even though the software can do so much more.

So thank you for the overwhelming recommendation for Macrium Reflect. I didn't realise that MS recommended using 3rd party software for this important task, so much for thinking that I spent so much time trying to get this to work.

Again, thank you for you help and advice, much appreciated.

Reggie49