Windows Image Backup sees my drive G as a sytem drive same as C:

Hi,

I am trying to create an image of the system installation that was done by the store where I bought the PC but my Drive G is showing as a system drive same as my drive C: . How do I fix thiis issue. I am using the Back & Restore (Windows 7) option of Windows 10 version 21H1 (OS Build 19403.985).

Then I click on the create a system image then I see that my G: drive (it is as different disk not a partition on my C: drive) is not available for the back-up. So when I look is what I see in the selection of the drive to back-up and no way to remove the G: drvie. Since my G: drive is seeen as a system drive, same as my C: drive. How do I fix this problem, please???

Is G a partition on your main hard drive which also contains Windows? If so then this is probably why it’s not accepting it as a backup destination. Only separate hard drives are acceptable.
I would forgo the inbuilt backup software for Windows as it’s no longer being supported & use Macrium Reflect free.
Macrium Software | Reflect Free

See post #2. The Windows native (win 7 old method) is not supported and really not worth trying to figure out. You'll never use it going forward. Best advice, stop right where you are and spend a few minutes looking at the Macrium Backup (free). There are many threads here on usage, but it should be intuitive enough that you can get it up and running with minimal questions. Ask right here if you like.

The author, Kari, may still be updating his tutorial, but it is excellent and should answer a lot of questions, also.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

fastfinger said:

my G Drive is on a separate disk from my C: drive. I have one SSD disk and 3 regulard drive in my PC. Only the SSD and the G: drive are showing as 'system" in that back up option

I would move to Macrium.

fastfinger said:

… my Drive G is showing as a system drive same as my drive C: . How do I fix thiis issue.

1 It is telling you that there is some element of the system on that drive. When you make your system image [#5 below] you ought to include the G drive or your image will be incomplete.
2 Have you 'customised' your system in any way that includes the G drive such as enabling applications to be installed there or moving the whole of the C:\Users\%UserName% folder there?
3 If you have not and if it is a very recent purchase, you could go back to the store you bought it from and demand to know why the 'system' includes your G drive. There might be a good reason such as the computer needing it to boot [i.e. it cannot boot from the disk that your C:\ drive is on]. If it is not a recent purchase then perhaps the computer maker's support site / forums can explain this for you.
4 I suggest you post a Disk mgmt. diagram. I've gone on to suggest other steps in #6 below just to show you a full reply but I advise you not to start doing action #6 until the status of G:\ has been explained.
Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of - TenForumsTutorials

fastfinger said:

…Then I click on the create a system image then I see that my G: drive (it is as different disk not a partition on my C: drive) is not available for the back-up.

4 No, it's telling you that the G drive is included in the system image and cannot be omitted.

fastfinger said:

… I am using the Back & Restore (Windows 7) ...

5 I agree with the others - install Macrium Reflect and make your system image [you ought to include all your disks for this first one]. Don't use the built-in Windows utility for images. MS said not to in their announcement of Windows 10 Version 1709 and have never withdrawn that warning

imaging deprecated in Ver 1709 - TenForums

Macrium Reflect [free edition] is an imaging utility that is often recommended in this forum and is so well-known here that you can get plenty of help for it.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect - TenForumsTutorials
Macrium USB - TenForums

Macrium Software Macrium Reflect Free
Macrium Reflect KnowledgeBase - user guide [version-independent link]

It can also make bootable system images. This facility is called viBoot^^^.
Macrium viBoot - Macrium KB
Macrium viBoot - Create Virtual Machine using Macrium Image - TenForumsTutorials

^^^ viBoot used to require Windows 10 Pro because of the virtualisation method it worked with but v8 is more flexible. To find out if it really will work with Windows 10 Home, watch out for any progress made in New viBoot VM Options - TenForums

6 I also think that, once you have the protection of a system image & have tested your Macrium boot USB, you should reinstall Windows 10 whilst G and all other disks are disconnected so they cannot be used as part of the system.
- If somebody suggests how you can manually create the necessary partitions on the C:\ drive's disk instead of reinstalling then this would be much quicker.
- You could reinstall Windows 10 [which entails deleting all partitions on the disk then recreating just the ones Windows 10 needs].
- You can then restore just the C:\ drive portion of your system image over the C:\ drive of the new installation.
This image, installation & restore procedure will have the effect of transferring what you have now onto a single disk with no spillover onto other disks. You can then reconnect drive G and delete the unwanted partition on it.
Clean Install - TenForumsTutorials
Personally, I would take the additional step of backing up my drivers beforehand even though it is somewhat redundant.
Backup and Restore Device Drivers - TenForumsTutorials

Denis

fastfinger said:

Thanks for all the recommendations...

Just tried the Macrium Reflect 7 free version and was able to do a back in less then 10 minutes..... Now, I just have to buy a new USB key to create a rescue media and I will be all set.

Thanks all, much appreciated

Excellent! I'm really glad that worked out for you. Yeah, the small thumb drive for the Rescue. 8GB is more than enough.

fastfinger said:

Thanks for all the recommendations...

Just tried the Macrium Reflect 7 free version and was able to do a back in less then 10 minutes..... Now, I just have to buy a new USB key to create a rescue media and I will be all set.

Thanks all, much appreciated

Glad to hear. :)