Windows 10: Can't Create System Image

I'm using Windows 10 Home on another computer in the house and backing up to a NAS using Windows Backup, and I'm unable to create a system image.

I'm getting an error about the virtual disk being compressed or encrypted (which it is not) and it stops with a failed backup. I have a 64 GB SSD main drive for booting and a spinner for programs and User files. I'm using about 45 GB on the SSD.

Is the reason that I can't create the system image because there is not enough space on the boot drive to accommodate it? This is my best guess anyway, but I would appreciate any other theories.

:)

 

Creating a System Image

at my age I'm not so sure about a "great (technical) learning experience. If I do nothing will I be OK?

You're the best, thanks

 

Creating a System Image

My usual backup/restore software is Acronis True Image. Three days ago the software failed during a backup attempt because it couldn't read the disk (bad clusters). Dell diagnostics confirmed the hard drive was bad which started this whole journey for
me. That led to a call to Microsoft where a tech was
able to successfully create an image for me. And that led to the installation of a new HDD and a fresh install of Windows 10. And you know the rest. You two are my hero's. The PC is back to the way it was. Thank you so much. I'll send the screenshot
tomorrow.

 

You cannot create image to save drive you boot from. Even if you could, there is not enough free space to backup 45GB anyway.

 

@Gurn Blanston clearly stated they weren't, the backup was to be to a NAS drive. However, the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is. It is trying to create a shadow copy of the drive in order to create the system image from it.

That would appear to be exactly the problem that VSS is encountering.

The solution would be to free up some space on the system drive. If you have not already done so, use Disk Clean up and clean up the system files. Make sure you also use Option One, Step 7 'To Delete all but the most recent Restore Point' in this tutorial.
Open and Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 10

Turn off hibernation (you can turn it back on again when you're done, if you wish). This will remove the hiberfil.sys file it uses. In an elevated command prompt:
POWERCFG /HIBERNATE OFF

Configure virtual memory so that there is no page file on the system drive.

Manage Virtual Memory Pagefile in Windows 10

The above may be sufficient to allow VSS to work. I believe the shadow copy is compressed, so you probably don't need a full 50% of the drive free.

 

Thank you Bree. Very helpful. I'll try those things and post back.

 

If it still fails after a clean up, post the full error message you get. A screenshot will do...
How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums

 

Hi Bree. I tried all of the suggestion you made, and I was able to increase the drive space to 24 GB, but it still seems to be not enough. It failed.

This is the error message that I got:





I'm still learning my way around in Windows 10, but if this happened to me in Windows 7, I would assume that I don't have enough drive space to make the System Image VHD file.

And I think that is the case here.

I'm thinking that I might have to do this with Macrium.

 

Googling those error codes the common factor is trying to back up the system image to a NAS....

https://social.technet.microsoft.com...10itprogeneral

http://tqaforum.net/discussion/33376...01a-0x807800c5

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/for...-system-image/

Apparently....

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...9-e3d6f86b71c5

Or try putting the system image on an external USB HDD instead... or you could just use Macrium *Smile

 

As far as I know Windows 10 System Images to a NAS box does not work.
I discussed it back in October 2016 with the NAS box manufacturer(Synology) and MS. The latter finally came back and said you can't use a NAS box despite being able to specify a suitable location on the NAS box.

I had similar error boxes as in post #6.

There have been updates to Windows 10 and the NAS box. I have not tried since. I now use Macrium which does work.

This used to work under Windows 8.1, I still have 2 Images on the NAS box from June 2016 done just prior to the Windows 10 install, also same date 2 Macrium Images as I used both back then.

 

Thanks for the help everyone. I am going to use Macrium to make an image. Maybe I can get it to work. In the meantime, I'm going to mark the thread as solved.

Thanks again for your efforts. *Smile