Macrium reflect (free) error when backing up on Windows 10

I am using macrium reflect and am getting an error while backing up c drive. The error is "Backup aborted - Unable to read from disk - Error code 21 - The device is not ready." "Saving Partition - OS(C:) Reading file system bitmap, saving partition, gathering Windows Events - Please Wait". And that is when the Backup is Aborted.

Any ideas that can help me get through this problem?

I have a new Dell laptop with intel Core i5. Running Windows 10 home.
Macrium backup works on my old XP Dell computer.

In file explorer, right click on C: drive, and select Properties. Then the Tools tab. Then the Check button:



Usually that error means exactly what it says, it can't read from C: drive because the drive might be bad.

This solved thread on the Macrium forum had the same error.
https://forum.macrium.com/Topic16952-1.aspx

The OP was pointed to a solution in an older thread that suggested VSS problems. That old thread in turn pointed to a VSS troubleshooting guide that no longer appears to exist on Macrium's site, but this seems to be it's replacement. https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/di...oft+VSS+errors

To NavyLCDR: Thank you for your response.
I ran the error check on C drive and the check was successful. I am still getting an error code 21 when I try to back up.

I would look at @Bree's solution and/or also make a Macrium Reflect rescue drive (USB flash drive or DVD), boot the computer from the rescue drive and try making your backup from that.

NavyLCDR said:

I would look at @Bree's solution and/or also make a Macrium Reflect rescue drive (USB flash drive or DVD), boot the computer from the rescue drive and try making your backup from that.

Thank you for your help. I now have a successful image backup of my computer. Yea!

Peter9876 said:

Thank you for your help. I now have a successful image backup of my computer. Yea!

Did you find a cause for your problems? Or did it just start working on its own?

RolandJS said:

Would MR having VSS problems be an indicator that something will break within Windows / VSS sooner or later?

Yep. It indicates something is already broken.