incomplete backup

coolnewyorker · 30 May 2023

I tried three times to back up with creating system image, and failed each time (with no explanation. No error). The back up cancelled itself in three different time-segments of the process, the first two before completion. The third backup completed but somehow just cancelled itself before I could eject the external HD. So, the fourth try did not cancel but finished with two files not backed up = incomplete backup. My last successful complete backup was 5 months ago. What happened? What's with the version I always used for years: (control panel > backup and restore W7). Btw, are you guys still backing up to external HD?

Paul Black · 30 May 2023

Hello @coolnewyorker,

Probably NOT the answer that you are looking for, but personally, I would stay clear of the Windows Built-In Imaging & Backup option for the reasons I have given below, because they just do NOT work most of the time. You might be better off considering a Third-Party [ FREE ] Imaging program.

Here is some information I put together regarding Windows Built-In Imaging & Backup.

Windows Built-In Imaging & Backup:

DOWNSIDE:

It is common knowledge that most of the time you CAN'T trust ANY of the MS built-in Backup or Image facilities because they just do NOT work. The System Imaging facility is a deprecated feature which is NO longer being developed or updated [ it used the same executables in every version of W10 ]. Even MS say that the built-in System Imaging facility should NOT be used . . .

System Image Backup (SIB) Solution:

We recommend that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors.

SOURCE: > Features Removed or Deprecated in Windows 10

UPSIDE:

If you do use the built-in MS System Imaging facility, then a Recovery Drive USB from almost any version of Win 10 is capable of restoring any other version of a Win 10 MS System Image. A Recovery Drive USB and the System Repair Disk DVD are functionally identical. The only requirement is that it is the same Win 10 bit type [ x86 or x64 ] as the System Image to be restored.

I hope this helps.

coolnewyorker · 30 May 2023

Oh, the last backup (5 months ago) was actually in my other PC (three months older and still W10). That's why I thought the issue was with W11. So, which 3rd party backup system do you recommend? I hope it is free.

Paul Black · 30 May 2023

Hello @coolnewyorker,

coolnewyorker said:

Oh, the last backup (5 months ago) was actually in my other PC (three months older and still W10). That's why I thought the issue was with W11. So, which 3rd party backup system do you recommend? I hope it is free.

There are two that are regularly mentioned. Macrium Reflect - FREE [ still vailable with a bit of searching ], and AOMEI Backupper Standard - FREE.

Macrium Reflect - FREE seems to be the most popular so there will be lots of help available if needed once you are familiar with it.

There are quite a few others available depending on whether you want to backup files/folders or create a System Image.

I hope this helps.

coolnewyorker · 30 May 2023

For nearly two decades, I have been backing up regularly (every three months?). I just realized I have not used any backup to restore "acting up" system or missing/corrupt files. A few times, I shut down from Trojan infection and had to restore with the two DVD's of factory image and repair kit we were told to create with brand new PC. (I was not told to do that with W10 and W11). Just now, I remember that my last successful backup (5 months ago) was with Macrium Reflect ... and it was too complicated for me. I do not want to do it again. I have to admit the built in MSN backup/restore W7 is as simple as it gets (or got). Too bad it has been deprecated. Do you still backup? To where ...external HD or Cloud?

SIW2 · 30 May 2023

It should still work. I did it recently in win11.

something broken on your system perhaps.

you can run the command which might tell you what is wrong

type this line into administrator command prompt:

WBADMIN START BACKUP -backupTarget:T: -allcritical

change the letter T to the letter of the partition you want to store the backup on

coolnewyorker · 31 May 2023

Where is the backup downloaded to? If it is in my system (like download file), it is counterproductive because part of the reasons I back up is to have system image in external drive in case I collapse (I did a few times from Trojan infection before W10). How do I backup to One Drive or Cloud?

SIW2 · 31 May 2023

downloaded?

coolnewyorker · 31 May 2023

SIW2 said:

downloaded?

The command prompt scan will download backup. So, where is the downloaded backup file be? It is not in external drive. Where?

SIW2 · 31 May 2023

it doesn't download anything from the internet.

It creates a backup image on the backuptarget you specify

-backupTarget:T

tells it to store the image on partition T

to have system image in external drive

you can use the drive letter of your external disk partition instead of T