I think it could be that reparse point.
I know we did try that once; I did not specify to try that on this test run.
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. Then, perhaps we should look at a repair install with an in-place upgrade. Your thoughts @DavidY?
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.
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.
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.
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.Why not use BleachBit? Hillary swears by it!
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.
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.
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.=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.
Worked correctly.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
Fails nearly instaneously, if you are referring to Macrium; if to System Image, see reply above.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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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! :)
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.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 did not know that I had Xbox programs installed; I wonder if I can find a use for them.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 Movies & TV Microsoft Corporation 25-Aug-16 3.6.23941.0 Mozilla Firefox 48.0.2 (x86 en-US) Mozilla 24-Aug-16 90.4 MB 48.0.2 Mozilla Thunderbird 45.3.0 (x86 en-US) Mozilla 30-Aug-16 83.8 MB 45.3.0 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 TrueCrypt TrueCrypt Foundation 04-Aug-16 7.2 Twitter Twitter Inc. 06-Aug-16 5.2.0.0 Unchecky v1.0.1 RaMMicHaeL 24-Aug-16 5.17 MB 1.0.1 Unlocker 1.9.2 Cedrick Collomb 04-Aug-16 1.9.2 Vista Shortcut Manager x64 Frameworkx 19-Nov-15 2.26 MB 2.0 VLC media player VideoLAN 04-Aug-16 131 MB 2.2.4 Voice Recorder Microsoft Corporation 25-Aug-16 10.1608.2211.0 VueScan x64 04-Aug-16 WD Drive Utilities Western Digital Technologies, Inc. 26-Aug-16 67.0 MB 1.3.2.2 WD Quick View Western Digital Technologies, Inc. 25-Aug-16 26.3 MB 2.4.16.16 WD Security Western Digital Technologies, Inc. 26-Aug-16 92.8 MB 1.3.1.2 WD SmartWare Western Digital Technologies, Inc. 30-Aug-16 72.6 MB 2.4.16.16 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 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.
I don't believe that is the case at all, I have used Macrium for a long time now, and it has never given me any problems, and has NO effect on Windows Restore Points. But ....you can always remove Macrium Reflect, and then see if your restore points magically work... My guess it is one of those long list of app's you do have installed, or a deleted app, that is still leaving parts of itself on your computer. But.....I'm sure simrick will help you find your problem. She is VERY good at this. :)
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