Macrium Reflect Backup Failures

simrick said:

I think it could be that reparse point.

I don't think it's that any more.

I didn't like the Reparse Points which were 'Unknown Target'. But, for whatever reason, they seem to have disappeared now, and it's normal to have some Reparse Points.
For instance C:\Users -> C:\Documents and Settings is normal on everyone's PCs, and VSS and Macrium cope OK.
Go to your root directory on your C: drive, type DIR /AL /S and I bet you'll find some <JUNCTION> entries in the results.

Also, if it's a particular file or folder entry on the drive itself which was failing, then that might also have prevented the backup from the Rescue Media. But that didn't fail.

So my feeling is it's a clash on a file or Registry entry which Windows or some other software is keeping open while Windows is running.

Or it could be a bug in VSS itself - there was a recent thread from another member who was having trouble with Macrium and Windows built in System Image Backup, and Macrium support came back to him saying they thought it was a VSS bug.

Actually that triggers a thought- what would happen if you tried to make a backup using Windows' built-in System Image feature? It insists on creating a backup in the root folder so I'd use that spare Seagate disk.

I don't think it will actually work , but maybe the error message will be helpful?

Also, another question - when it fails, how quickly does it fail? Does it fail immediately, or does it spend some time and then trip up over whatever it is.

simrick said:

I am thinking, I would like to see the list of installed programs, (Ccleaner), just to see if anything stands out, and a winver screenshot.

If we had the list of Programs and Features from Control Panel, sorted in Date order, and the same for "View Installed Updates", it would be good to see, and it might also be good to see if any software or update was installed around the time it started failing.

simrick said:

Then, perhaps we should look at a repair install with an in-place upgrade. Your thoughts @DavidY?

I did an in-place upgrade/repair recently to try to repair a problem on my old laptop; my feeling is it made one or two things worse on the driver front. My webcam stopped working and I couldn't fix it - I'll need to clean install it to fix it properly I think. So I have slightly mixed feelings about them. But this is an OLD laptop.

The other option I came across is to download the Windows SDK, because this contains a tool called VSSTrace which might give more information on what's happening in VSS. But I think that's a hard-core developer tool, and there's no guarantee any of us would understand the results. If we did though, there's more chance of finding the issue for future reference in case it comes back.

The Repair Install might be the simplest option to try next though.

simrick said:

Why not use BleachBit? Hillary swears by it! j/k
Actually, there is a program I use called FileShredder, which has different options of cleaning algorithms, one of which is the Gutman algorithm, which is quite robust.

There's also DBAN, but I've never used it.

Yet again, I reach for the Sysinternals toolbox, and use SDelete. I don't know if it has the latest algorithms but I suspect you'd have to be up against serious forensic data analysts/code-breakers for that to matter. It also has a mode to zero out free space, which is very handy when trying to shrink virtual disks.

But to be honest I would keep the external drive in any case. Unless it's known to be failing, it's always handy to have some spare disk space around.

=DavidY;794243]I don't think it's that any more.

I didn't like the Reparse Points which were 'Unknown Target'. But, for whatever reason, they seem to have disappeared now, and it's normal to have some Reparse Points.
For instance C:\Users -> C:\Documents and Settings is normal on everyone's PCs, and VSS and Macrium cope OK.
Go to your root directory on your C: drive, type DIR /AL /S and I bet you'll find some <JUNCTION> entries in the results.

I hope I got this correctly; the Snagit scroll feature indicated that it was working, but did not, so I had to take three shots and paste them together.

Also, if it's a particular file or folder entry on the drive itself which was failing, then that might also have prevented the backup from the Rescue Media. But that didn't fail.

So my feeling is it's a clash on a file or Registry entry which Windows or some other software is keeping open while Windows is running.

Or it could be a bug in VSS itself - there was a recent thread from another member who was having trouble with Macrium and Windows built in System Image Backup, and Macrium support came back to him saying they thought it was a VSS bug.

Actually that triggers a thought- what would happen if you tried to make a backup using Windows' built-in System Image feature? It insists on creating a backup in the root folder so I'd use that spare Seagate disk.
I don't think it will actually work , but maybe the error message will be helpful?

Worked correctly.

Also, another question - when it fails, how quickly does it fail? Does it fail immediately, or does it spend some time and then trip up over whatever it is.

Fails nearly instaneously, if you are referring to Macrium; if to System Image, see reply above.

If we had the list of Programs and Features from Control Panel, sorted in Date order, and the same for "View Installed Updates", it would be good to see, and it might also be good to see if any software or update was installed around the time it started failing.

I did an in-place upgrade/repair recently to try to repair a problem on my old laptop; my feeling is it made one or two things worse on the driver front. My webcam stopped working and I couldn't fix it - I'll need to clean install it to fix it properly I think. So I have slightly mixed feelings about them. But this is an OLD laptop.

The other option I came across is to download the Windows SDK, because this contains a tool called VSSTrace which might give more information on what's happening in VSS. But I think that's a hard-core developer tool, and there's no guarantee any of us would understand the results. If we did though, there's more chance of finding the issue for future reference in case it comes back.

The Repair Install might be the simplest option to try next though.

Yet again, I reach for the Sysinternals toolbox, and use SDelete. I don't know if it has the latest algorithms but I suspect you'd have to be up against serious forensic data analysts/code-breakers for that to matter. It also has a mode to zero out free space, which is very handy when trying to shrink virtual disks.

But to be honest I would keep the external drive in any case. Unless it's known to be failing, it's always handy to have some spare disk space around.

One success today: FedEx did not show up yesterday until around 1800 local; the delivery vehicle broke down some twenty miles (32 km) from the FedEx facility, so the driver had to wait until a tow truck brought a replacement, then the FexEx driver had to move all the packages, and then resume his route.

I could tell as soon as I opened the box that this, the third shipment, contained the proper part. This morning, using the Repair Manual, I opened up the computer, removed the suspect USB cable, whereupon I found that the manual did not state how to remove the cable from its housing. A bit of pondering led me to get a small flat-blade screwdriver,and bend the two metal prongs on the metal housing up just enough to clear the depressions on the sides of the cable, depressions I could see on the replacement cable.

I put the new cable into the housing, bent the prongs downwards to engage the depressions, threaded the cable through the chassis hole for the housing, replaced the small screw that attaches the housing to the chassis, and connected the cable to the motherboard, then put the machine back together.

Hoping for the best, after attaching the various cables, I turned the computer on, and was pleased to see it boot properly. Once the startup procedure had progressed sufficiently, with some trepidation I plugged a mouse into the left-hand USB port, and was pleased to see that the sensor light on the bottom was lit up; repeated the process with the right-hand port, and declared that at least one problem had been solved.

To celebrate, I put on my work clothes, went outside, and stacked a cord or more of piñon pine.

Not Myself said:

I hope I got this correctly; the Snagit scroll feature indicated that it was working, but did not, so I had to take three shots and paste them together.

Thanks for that.
Not that it was what I was looking to find, but I do notice that it complains some folder names are too long, which might be significant. On the other hand that could be a red herring because the offline backup worked, and those folders may not be in the scope of the failing System Restore in any case.

Not Myself said:

Worked correctly.

So Microsoft's System Restore won't backup part of the disk, but System Image will backup the full disk - but Macrium can't. I wasn't expecting that.
Interesting although I've no idea what this means.

Not Myself said:

Fails nearly instaneously, if you are referring to Macrium; if to System Image, see reply above.

Thanks (I was referring to Macrium).

Not Myself said:

Ah I'd forgotten the AU was on there so there would be hardly any updates.

There's a lot of software on there which I don't recognise. Maybe @simrick will have some ideas based on that list?

One I did recognise is TrueCrypt - is that being used actively?

Not Myself said:

To celebrate, I put on my work clothes, went outside, and stacked a cord or more of piñon pine.

Sounds much more productive than battling computers! :)

DavidY said:

Thanks for that.
Not that it was what I was looking to find, but I do notice that it complains some folder names are too long, which might be significant. On the other hand that could be a red herring because the offline backup worked, and those folders may not be in the scope of the failing System Restore in any case.

So Microsoft's System Restore won't backup part of the disk, but System Image will backup the full disk - but Macrium can't. I wasn't expecting that.
Interesting although I've no idea what this means.

Thanks (I was referring to Macrium).
Ah I'd forgotten the AU was on there so there would be hardly any updates.

There's a lot of software on there which I don't recognise. Maybe @simrick will have some ideas based on that list?

One I did recognise is TrueCrypt - is that being used actively?

Sounds much more productive than battling computers! :)

I know that TrueCrypt is deprecated, but as I have only added one file this year, giving a total of perhaps ten files there, I see no reason to bother stop using it.

simrick said:

That's great news about your USB "adventure"! :)

RE: Reparse Points
I know there are normally a bunch of reparse points/junctions in a Windows OS. I think, (and I am not positive), but I think, that RKILL only lists those which are not necessarily normal, or appear to be a problem. But, the Windows Backup function completed successfully, so maybe the one that's left is not a problem.

RE: Installed Programs @Not Myself - if you would, please open Ccleaner, navigate to the installed programs, and then click on the bottom right-hand button which says "Save to text file", and upload that file here. Even though the list will not be sorted by date, the screen shots are just too small for my old eyes.




RE: KB3176934 & KB3176936
They don't appear to be related to our problem, but I'll defer to @DavidY's excellent evaluation of these. :)


That's an odd way to celebrate....I think I'd prefer a beer!

I posted in that fashion, in order to keep my program list secret, and did wonder if, even after I greatly increased the size of the screen shot, if the resultant file would be readable.

Code:

3D Builder    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        11.1.9.0
Adobe Flash Player 22 NPAPI    Adobe Systems Incorporated    04-Aug-16    19.1 MB    22.0.0.209
Alarms & Clock    Microsoft Corporation    26-Aug-16        10.1608.2312.0
Alcor Micro USB Card Reader Driver    Alcor Micro Corp.    18-Feb-16        18.6.1844.34416
All My Books 4.8    Bolide Software    23-Jun-16    15.3 MB    4.8
All My Movies    Bolide Software    15-Jun-16    18.0 MB    8.8
App connector    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        1.3.3.0
App Installer    Microsoft Corporation    10-Aug-16        1.0.2181.0
Avast Free Antivirus    AVAST Software    30-Aug-16    530 MB    12.3.2280
Brother HL-5370DW    Brother    03-Mar-16    12.5 MB    1.00
BurnAware Free 9.3    Burnaware    08-Jul-16    40.1 MB    
Calculator    Microsoft Corporation    25-Aug-16        10.1608.2213.0
Camera    Microsoft Corporation    24-Aug-16        2016.816.20.0
Candy Crush Soda Saga    king.com    05-Aug-16        1.68.500.0
CCleaner    Piriform    29-Aug-16    18.3 MB    5.21
Cisco Connect    Cisco Consumer Products LLC    04-Aug-16    56.7 MB    1.3.11027.1
Cisco EAP-FAST Module    Cisco Systems, Inc.    18-Feb-16    1.54 MB    2.2.14
Cisco LEAP Module    Cisco Systems, Inc.    18-Feb-16    845 KB    1.0.19
Cisco PEAP Module    Cisco Systems, Inc.    18-Feb-16    1.28 MB    1.1.6
Citrix Online Launcher    Citrix    03-Mar-16    296 KB    1.0.408
Classic Shell    IvoSoft    01-Aug-16    23.9 MB    4.3.0
Clean Master    Cheetah Mobile    30-Aug-16    21.3 MB    1.0
CoffeeCup HTML Editor        04-Aug-16        
COMODO Firewall    COMODO Security Solutions Inc.    02-Mar-16    224 MB    8.2.0.4792
CyberLink LabelPrint 2.5    CyberLink Corp.    31-Dec-15    45.0 MB    2.5.0.5415
CyberLink Media Suite Essentials    CyberLink Corp.    04-Aug-16    131 MB    12
Dell Customer Connect    Dell Inc.    09-Mar-16    11.2 MB    1.3.28.0
Dell Data Vault        17-Nov-15    46.4 MB    
Dell Digital Delivery    Dell Products, LP    18-Feb-16    5.09 MB    3.1.1018.0
Dell Foundation Services    Dell Inc.    08-Jun-16    20.7 MB    3.3.7200.0
Dell Help & Support    Dell Inc.    23-Jul-16    6.35 MB    2.2.26.0
Dell Product Registration    Dell Inc.    20-Jun-16    15.1 MB    3.0.97.0
Dell Shop    Dell Inc    05-Aug-16        2.2.1.0
Dell SupportAssist    Dell    04-Aug-16    109 MB    1.3.6817.133
Dell SupportAssistAgent    Dell    04-May-16    30.4 MB    1.2.2.8
Dell System Detect    Dell    26-Aug-16        7.6.0.17
Dell Update    Dell Inc.    02-Mar-16    5.82 MB    1.7.1015.0
DetectorTools    Escort    20-Aug-16    76.3 MB    1.11.87
Dropbox    Dropbox, Inc.    24-Aug-16    171 MB    8.4.21
DS Clock    Duality Software    19-Nov-15    4.75 MB    2.6.3
Epson Customer Participation    SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION    30-Nov-15    6.55 MB    1.0.0.0
Epson Event Manager    SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION    30-Nov-15    45.2 MB    2.50.0001
Epson FAX Utility    SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION    12-Apr-16    25.9 MB    1.46.00
EPSON Scan    Seiko Epson Corporation    04-Aug-16        
EPSON WorkForce 845 Series Printer Uninstall    SEIKO EPSON Corporation    04-Aug-16        
EpsonNet Print    SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION    30-Nov-15    4.36 MB    2.4j
EssentialPIM    Astonsoft Ltd    29-Aug-16    32.1 MB    7.11
Etron USB3.0 Host Controller    Etron Technology    17-Nov-15    2.62 MB    0.107
Everything 1.3.4.686 (x64)        04-Aug-16        
Feedback Hub    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        1.3.1741.0
FileZilla Client 3.21.0    Tim Kosse    26-Aug-16    22.3 MB    3.21.0
Flux Player        04-Aug-16        6.5.1.6211
Foxit Reader    Foxit Software Inc.    23-Aug-16    147 MB    8.0.2.805
Free Download Manager    FreeDownloadManager.ORG    25-Aug-16    167 MB    5.1.17.4597
Genie Backup Manager    Genie9    04-Aug-16    92.3 MB    9.0
Get Office    Microsoft Corporation    24-Aug-16        17.7319.23511.0
Get Started    Microsoft Corporation    31-Aug-16        4.0.12.0
Groove Music    Microsoft Corporation    26-Aug-16        3.6.23981.0
Intel(R) Management Engine Components    Intel Corporation    18-Feb-16        11.0.0.1167
Intel(R) Network Connections Drivers    Intel    04-Aug-16    1.78 MB    20.2
Intel(R) Processor Graphics    Intel Corporation    24-Jun-16        20.19.15.4390
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology    Intel Corporation    18-Feb-16        14.5.0.1081
Intel(R) Ready Mode Technology    Intel Corporation    18-Feb-16    16.5 MB    1.1.70.506
Intel® Security Assist    Intel Corporation    18-Feb-16    2.36 MB    1.0.0.532
IrfanView 64 (remove only)    Irfan Skiljan    04-Aug-16    5.00 MB    4.40
iSEEK AnswerWorks English Runtime    Vantage Linguistics    18-Nov-15    9.54 MB    010.000.0101
KC Softwares SUMo    KC Softwares    23-Aug-16    3.60 MB    4.5.0.325
KeePass Password Safe 2.34    Dominik Reichl    11-Jun-16    6.51 MB    2.34
LibreOffice 5.0.3.2    The Document Foundation    17-Nov-15    1.13 GB    5.0.3.2
Logitech Options    Logitech    04-Aug-16    50.8 MB    
Macrium Reflect Free Edition    Paramount Software (UK) Ltd.    26-Aug-16        6.1
Mail and Calendar    Microsoft Corporation    24-Aug-16        17.7167.40727.0
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware version 2.2.1.1043    Malwarebytes    29-Mar-16    56.7 MB    2.2.1.1043
Maps    Microsoft Corporation    23-Aug-16        5.1608.2311.0
Messaging    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        3.19.1001.0
Microsoft Silverlight    Microsoft Corporation    10-Feb-16    45.3 MB    5.1.41212.0
Microsoft Solitaire Collection    Microsoft Studios    17-Aug-16        3.11.7293.0
Microsoft Sticky Notes    Microsoft Corporation    30-Aug-16        1.1.24.0
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable    Microsoft Corporation    22-May-16    4.22 MB    8.0.61001
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (x64)    Microsoft Corporation    02-Mar-16    12.0 MB    8.0.61000
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.4148    Microsoft Corporation    18-Feb-16    226 KB    9.0.30729.4148
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.17    Microsoft Corporation    18-Feb-16    1.27 MB    9.0.30729
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.4148    Microsoft Corporation    18-Feb-16    640 KB    9.0.30729.4148
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010  x64 Redistributable - 10.0.30319    Microsoft Corporation    02-Mar-16    2.95 MB    10.0.30319
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010  x86 Redistributable - 10.0.30319    Microsoft Corporation    02-Mar-16    2.59 MB    10.0.30319
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x64) - 11.0.51106    Microsoft Corporation    04-Aug-16    20.5 MB    11.0.51106.1
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x86) - 11.0.61030    Microsoft Corporation    04-Aug-16    17.3 MB    11.0.61030.0
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x86) - 12.0.21005    Microsoft Corporation    18-Aug-16    17.1 MB    12.0.21005.1
Microsoft Wi-Fi    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        1.1604.4.0
Money    Microsoft Corporation    23-Aug-16        4.13.47.0
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MyHarmony    Logitech    04-Aug-16        1.0.1.257
News    Microsoft Corporation    23-Aug-16        4.13.47.0
NVIDIA 3D Vision Controller Driver 352.65    NVIDIA Corporation    18-Feb-16    8.52 MB    352.65
NVIDIA 3D Vision Driver 353.82    NVIDIA Corporation    18-Feb-16    33.1 MB    353.82
NVIDIA Graphics Driver 353.82    NVIDIA Corporation    18-Feb-16    472 MB    353.82
NVIDIA HD Audio Driver 1.3.34.3    NVIDIA Corporation    18-Feb-16    8.40 MB    1.3.34.3
NVIDIA PhysX System Software 9.15.0428    NVIDIA Corporation    18-Feb-16    348 MB    9.15.0428
NVIDIA Update 10.4.0    NVIDIA Corporation    18-Feb-16    1.66 MB    10.4.0
OneNote    Microsoft Corporation    24-Aug-16        17.7341.57671.0
Paid Wi-Fi & Cellular    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        1.1605.17.0
paint.net    dotPDN LLC    10-Jul-16    56.3 MB    4.0.10
People    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        10.0.11902.0
Phone    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        2.17.27003.0
Phone Companion    Microsoft Corporation    25-Aug-16        10.1608.2211.0
Photos    Microsoft Corporation    16-Aug-16        16.722.10060.0
PowerChute Personal Edition 3.0.2    Schneider Electric    21-Nov-15    160 MB    3.0.2
Process Lasso    Bitsum    25-Aug-16    28.2 MB    8.9.8.42
Q-Dir        04-Aug-16        
Quicken 2015    Intuit    27-Apr-16    272 MB    24.1.11.1
Quicken WillMaker Plus 2016    Nolo    22-Nov-15    76.3 MB    1.0.0.0
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver    Realtek Semiconductor Corp.    06-Aug-16    38.2 MB    6.0.1.7544
Realtek USB Audio    Realtek Semiconductor Corp.    23-Apr-16    756 MB    6.3.9600.41
REALTEK Wireless LAN and Bluetooth Driver    REALTEK Semiconductor Corp.    18-Feb-16    12.1 MB    13.221.243
Recuva    Piriform    04-Aug-16    10.3 MB    1.52
Skype Preview    Skype    30-Aug-16        11.7.113.0
Snagit 13    TechSmith Corporation    23-Aug-16    320 MB    13.0.2
Software Updater    SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION    18-May-16    20.1 MB    4.3.7
Sports    Microsoft Corporation    23-Aug-16        4.13.47.0
SpywareBlaster 5.5    BrightFort LLC    18-May-16    8.08 MB    5.5.0
Store    Microsoft Corporation    23-Aug-16        11607.1001.51.0
Store Purchase App    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        1.0.45.0
SUPERAntiSpyware    SUPERAntiSpyware.com    04-Aug-16    10.4 MB    6.0.1216
Sway    Microsoft Corporation    12-Aug-16        17.7341.45171.0
Total Uninstall 6.16.0    Gavrila Martau    19-Nov-15    17.1 MB    6.16.0
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Twitter    Twitter Inc.    06-Aug-16        5.2.0.0
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Unlocker 1.9.2    Cedrick Collomb    04-Aug-16        1.9.2
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Voice Recorder    Microsoft Corporation    25-Aug-16        10.1608.2211.0
VueScan x64        04-Aug-16        
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WD SmartWare Installer    Western Digital Technologies, Inc.    30-Aug-16    113 MB    2.4.16.16
Weather    Microsoft Corporation    23-Aug-16        4.13.47.0
Windows Driver Package - ESCORT Inc. (WinUSB) MyDeviceClass  (03/01/2016 )    ESCORT Inc.    20-Aug-16        03/01/2016 
Windows Driver Package - ESCORT, Inc. (usbser) Ports  (04/24/2013 1.0.0.0)    ESCORT, Inc.    20-Aug-16        04/24/2013 1.0.0.0
WinPatrol    Ruiware    10-Jun-16    6.12 MB    33.6.2015.18
WinRAR 5.40 (64-bit)    win.rar GmbH    19-Aug-16    5.73 MB    5.40.0
WordPerfect Office IFilter 32-bit    Corel Corporation    27-Jul-16    584 KB    1.5
WordPerfect Office IFilter 64-bit    Corel Corporation    27-Jul-16    784 KB    1.5
WordPerfect Office X7 - Extras    Corel Corporation    22-Nov-15    762 MB    1.00.0000
WordPerfect Office X8    Corel Corporation    04-Aug-16    44.9 MB    18.0.0.200
WordPerfect Office X8 - Extras    Corel Corporation    27-Jul-16    886 MB    1.00.0000
Xbox    Microsoft Corporation    27-Aug-16        19.20.24006.0
Xbox Identity Provider    Microsoft Corporation    05-Aug-16        11.19.19003.0

I did not know that I had Xbox programs installed; I wonder if I can find a use for them.

I have forgotten to mention that all of the installed programs, other than updates, were present before the Macrium, and possibly Restore Point, problem(s) began. I put it that way, given my belief that the Macrium difficulty is directly related to the failure of Restore Point, admitting as always that I have no proof of that conspiracy theory.