Windows 10: Unable to create system image backup

I am running Windows 11 Pro latest update on a Dell XPS-8960 with an Intel i9 processor and 64 GB of memory. I have tried repeatedly to create a system image backup on a several USB hard drives, on the second 1 TB hard drive in the system, and on one of my network servers. For the first two I keep getting an error message that the backup failed as shadow copy on source volume got deleted. I ran vssadmin resize shadowstorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=20% and tried again, but the error persists. When I tried to save to a network server location, I get an error that the specified network location c

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Creating a System Image backup - keeps looping

Hi,

Thank you for giving us an opportunity to assist you with the query.

I understand the inconvenience caused, now that you have me with you let me take care of this.

The system image is exactly like the mirrored copy of the Operating System which contains the configuration of the Operating System. When you create backup system image your windows 10 comes back to the same position at when the image was created earlier.

As an initial step, I suggest you to make sure that the services required for backup to run successfully is enabled. Refer to these steps:

• 
  Press Windows + R
  keys, type services.msc and press Enter.
  
• 
  In the services window, locate the services
  File history service and the Volume shadow copy service and check if they are running.
  
• 
  If they are not running, right-click and select
  Start to manually start the service.
  
• 
  Check if you are able to create a backup now.
  

Step 1: I suggest you to follow the steps from the below article created by

Andre Da Costa and check if it helps.

How to: Create a system image in Windows 10

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Step 2: If the issue still persists, I suggest you to boot the computer in a clean boot state and then check.

Booting the computer in a clean boot state can reduce software conflicts and help identify the root cause of the issue. You can refer to this article for more information:

How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support

Note: After troubleshooting, reset the computer to start as usual. Refer to the step
How to set the computer to start as usual after clean boot troubleshooting under more information.

Hope it helps.

Let us know the status, we are glad to assist you further.

 

Having trouble creating a backup image

Hello Shane,

Thank you for your interest in Windows 10 and for being a part of Windows 10 family.

As per the issue description you are unable to create a system image of your computer. I would suggest you to refer the steps provided below and see if it helps you to create a system image.

• Press Windows key + X.
• Select Control panel from the list.
• Select large icons under view by option.
• Open File history.
• Click the System Image Backup link in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
• Connect an external USB hard drive with enough free space.
• In the backup wizard, you'll be prompted to choose from one of the three options to save the backup. For this example, we are going select the hard drive you just connected. However, keep in mind that you can backup to DVD blanks and a network share, but
  these options will slow down the backup process.

• Click Next.
• Confirm and begin the process by clicking Start backup.

• The backup could take anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours, it all depends on the amount of data to be backed up.
• And yes, during the backup process, you can use your computer as you would normally do.

Hope the information provided is helpful. Do let us know if you have any more concern related to Windows. We will be more than happy to assist you.

Regards,

 

Unable to create a system image backup

Hi and thanks for reaching out. My name is Anthony.

I'm Independent Advisor and I'm happy to assist you.

I understand how difficult it is, when the device or app won't work in the way it should.

.

Do you have any third party antivirus software installed on the system?

This error occurs if there is no enough disk space in the storage location where you are trying to create the system image backup.

Let’s try the following steps and check if it helps.

Method 1:

Check the disk usage in disk management.

According to the error message, it indicated that there is not enough disk space to do a system image backup on the computer. So, I would first suggest you to check the disk usage in disk management carefully and make sure all the partitions have enough space
to do system backup image.

To open the Disk Management, you can follow these steps:

a. Press Windows key + R, type diskmgmt.msc and click OK.

Here, you can see the usage of the whole hard drive. Please check it carefully and make sure all partitions have enough space.

Notice: if you have some hidden partition on the computer, please also make sure the hidden partition has the enough rest space to do the system image on the computer.

If there is enough space on the hard disk, then you may try the next method to check if there are any errors with the disk.

Method 2:

Check the disk where you are trying to backup or create the system image and make sure that the disk is error free. Press Windows key + X, click Command Prompt (Admin) and follow the below provided steps:

a. In the command prompt, type chkdsk followed by one or a combination of switches listed in step b and c.

Note 1: You need to perform check disk operation on C: drive. So, the command to switch to C: drive would be chkdsk c: and followed by switches as given in the steps further.

b. /f = The /f switch is the most common of the chkdsk switches. It tells chkdsk to try and fix any errors it finds.

EX Type: chkdsk C:/f

Note 2: Answer Y when chkdsk asks you if you want to check the drive next time Windows 7 boots (restarts).

c. /r = The /r switch tells chkdsk to attempt to recover any bad sectors of the hard drive if any are found. A bad sector is a spot on the hard drive that cannot hold saved data anymore.

EX Type: chkdsk c:/r

Note: Answer Y when chkdsk asks you if you want to check the drive next time Windows 10 boots.

Warning: If check disk finds any bad sector, the data on the sector would be lost.

Important: While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when chkdsk tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost.

Hope it will help.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Thank you and Keep Safe.