Windows 10: Macrium Reflect Backup Failures (problema resolutum est)

Again, only a partial reply, as I'm trying to do more than one-half of one thing at a time....

I'm not sure about encryption on the WD drive, I will have to check the documentation. That aside, yes, I was directing Macrium to the H drive, and did try once to direct it to the WD drive, which as unfortunately was expected, failed.

I did finally figure out where backups are stored on the WD. I noticed that there was two files, dated 25Aug2016, so I went into SmartWare Pro, Retrieve, and looked at what was there. I think one file is for my trial of backing up with the supplied backup program; the other is clearly for SmartWare Pro, and shows that the files I chose are being backed up as requested. In addition, one of the nice features of the Pro version is that it automatically updates DropBox; it will use other Cloud locations if you so specify.

 

*Roflmao2*Roflmao2Okay sorry about that......not enough coffee yet today.....

I have a bushel of tomatoes waiting for me, so I shall be AFK (away from keyboard) for some time now. I hope you can get a complete backup of your hard drive completed and verified. *Smile

 

I quit.

Why?

Simple: I figured out how to change the boot sequence, and on my second try, the computer booted into the Macrium Rescue Disk (not sure why the machine ignore my keypress to boot from DVD as instructed on-screen, and quickly backed up WINRETOOLS.

As I could not recall what else you had asked me to do, and as I needed to take some time to do a few other things, I reset the bios, rebooted, and posted what to me is good news, namely that, yes, Macrium appears to work properly.

I will try to back up the C partition to the WD, as it is 2TB disk, meaning that there is plenty of room for that.

 

Here is the screen shot. The Seagate external drive is still installed; I downloaded Seagate's disk tools, tried to use its disk wiping module, which failed; I suspect that it is outdated, so I will find another program for this, as I intend to give the drive away.

 

Verified complete backup of C drive has been done, thanks to the Macrium Rescue Disk.

Next step?

If you harvested any Romas, would you please email me 2#; I will get some Italian sausage and mushrooms, and make pasta sauce.

 

Great! So Macrium is working independent of the OS, as suspected. I don't know about you, but I feel better knowing we have a current backup in our back pocket.

Actually, no Romas. We grew an Heirloom variety this year, called Black Brandywine, which almost looks purple in color. It makes a wonderful sauce! Unfortunately, I got off to a late start today, and I fear I will be canning well into the night hours....*Sleepy

Okay let's try this:

• Remove any Seagate backup software
• Remove any WD backup software
• Disconnect the WD K: drive (let's use the Seagate H for now).
• Reboot the machine.
• Run Ccleaner Free on the registry (only) - check every box except Help Files. Clean everything it finds, saving a backup first. Run it a second time to get any leftovers.
• Change Volume Shadow Copy (in Services) to Automatic. Start the service, if Start is available.
• Change Microsoft Software Shadow Provider (in Services) to Automatic. Start the service, if Start is available.
• Check COM+ Event System is set to automatic and running.
• See if System Restore is available to turn on. If so, do it, and set the available space to 20%, then create a Restore Point.
• Open Macrium

• Select Other Tasks>Check for updates (install, if any)
• Select Partition WINRETOOLS
• Select Image this disk
• Point Destination folder to H; make a new folder called Test
• Check box Use the Image ID as the filename
• Select Advanced Options
  • Compression = Medium, Intelligent Sector Copy
  • File size = Automatic
  • Password = none
  • Auto Verify Image = no
  • Comments = test
  • Shutdown = no
• Do not add a schedule
• Uncheck full and differential retention rules
• Finish - save the xml if you like, and Run Now.

Report back. *Smile

 

I'm quoting your entire reply, just to try to keep this branch of this lengthy thread together.

Bad: System Restore is not available, with the same 0x810000203 error code.

Good: The Macrium Reflect test was successful, even if I did manage to create the Test folder inside the User Guides folder. It would appear that I was not together.

Very Bad: An attempt to run a regular Macrium backup failed instantly. I still believe that the failure of System Restore is the fundament of the problem, admitting that I cannot prove that to be correct.

 

*Sad

Restore Point issue aside, now what would happen if you followed the same instructions, only this time, select C partition as the test?

It could be, but are you trying to run your existing backup instructions?

 

C partition failure:, using a new instruction set:

 

This says to me that the issue is something on the C: drive; either a file with strange properties (like those Reparse Points mentioned by RKILL) or a file or Registry key which is being locked somehow by an application or process, which VSS isn't coping with.

Remind me - did you try the option to 'Exclude all VSS writers to resolve specific snapshot failures' in Macrium? (I've an idea it was tried and didn't help.)