Windows 10: Win10: How to set up external HDD to be used for system image backups

How do I set up an external HDD to be used for system image backups? For example, specify how many images to keep, schedule the backup, etc. also, can I use the drive for anything else other than image copies?

:)

 

Image backup error -- Windows backup failed to create the shadow copy ... (0x80780034)

I'm following all the instructions to create a full system image backup on an external HDD. The backup seems to run fine until the end, but when it tries to create the shadow copy, I get -- Windows backup failed to create the shadow copy ... (0x80780034).
Additional info says the shadow copy provider had error (0x80042306). Seems like this errors are ongoing all over the web since 2012 or so, but I have been unable to find a solution. Several posts say that a special shadow partition is needed on the external
HDD, but I have no idea how to do that.

I just upgraded to Win10 from an XP machine where I had full image backups going for a long time using Acronis True Image 2009. I would prefer to use the internal Win10 backup if I can get it to work like it says in the "manual". Anyone have a good fix for
this. If a showdow partition is needed, can it be created in Win10?

Seems to be a lot of 3rd party providers hawking software to fix this problem, but I hope MS has a way.

All help appreciated ...... DrJim

 

Install Windows 10 backup (.VHDX) on Windows 8.1

Update:

I managed to create a recovery drive on USB using the tool in windows.

Booted up from USB,selected "recover using system image" and then using the same steps i do not get any error,as of now i'm recovering fully everything (that win10 backup with all apps and drivers and files) from external HDD - so everything in the folder
in first post screen is fine.

 

Do you have an laptop or a desktop computer ?

 

Then what you need to get is an external usb hard drive encloser . Once you have such you would make an back up image to this external drive . You can use Windows but their are better third party software companies . I been a long time user of Acronis True Image but I just switch to the free version of Marcium Reflect . I will provide a website for it below . You can use your external hard drive to store whatever you like and it doesn't just have to be a back up images, beside that the backup image wouldn't take up all your spare on the external drive, well usually it wouldn't, it depends how much data you have on the main drive . Normally you would get a external drive big enough to store all your data including backups. If I forgot something I'm sure people here will answer whatever questions you might have . For the website just click on Macrium there below

 

Thanks snooker. I'm interested in the free version of Macrium. I found several sites that have it but they all seem to push other software along with it that I don't want on my machine. Is there a clean download somewhere I can use?

 

Did you try the Download Now option ? I did and have no extra junk trying to get installed

 

Hi,

Just to add to all of the above and with due regard to your original questions

How often you do backups depends on your personal requirements. So, if for example, you had sensitive and essential new documents that could cause financial loss if they were lost then daily auto backups would be good. Or you could do manual backups when you save a whole load of new family photos and videos on your system. Or you could do auto-backup every month just for piece of mind. Or you could do something else that suits your needs.

Either way, it is always a good idea to make an image before major upgrades. This is evidenced by all the angry folks making posts over the last month due to data loss after win10 upgrade


Edit:

Of course you can. I know lots of people who partition the external disk. One partition for backups and the other for some type of data. The problem is, they don't listen to me when I tell them of the risk of having data and backup on the same disk. "It defeats the purpose" I say. If the external drive fails then you will lose the data saved as the backup was on the same disk. A backup disk, in my opinion, should be only for backups and for nothing else. "I should have listened" they say to me, after having lost their data when the dual partitioned backup drive failed.

 

You don't need to do anything to the drive besides plug it in.

Use Macrium Reflect Free and choose a folder on the external drive as the save location, that's it.

You configure all that stuff in Macrium Reflect when you make the backup, it's all very straightforward.

Yes, you can use it like any other drive.

 

You can use any Hard Drive but it is best to use an External one.

 

If you have USB3 on your laptop make sure you get a USB3 ext hdd, makes all the difference in speed.

 

Thanks to all for input. I used the DOWNLOAD NOW from Macrium site. They would have included some PE components had I not clicked their options button and selected Macrium only. Regarding use of the external HDD for purposes other than backup. I agree I should only use it for system images. Regarding how often to do backups. I signed up with Backblaze to handle everything except system images. My HDD has very low volatility so infrequent backups are adequate. I will likely have more questions as time goes on. This forum is a great place for help. Thanks.

 

Hi

The PE components are Windows Preinstallation Environment. You can use this to create a bootable Macrium recovery disk to rescue the situation if/when you are unable to access your system. It would mean you can easily restore your system or files from backups using a bootable Macrium usb flash drive if hdd data was corrupted for instance

 

To WHYME: Creating and maintaining system images and doing restores is new to me. I know these things exist but always had a tech person handling it. Now I'm doing it myself. Never heard of a Windows Pre-Installation Environment. If I don't download these components would I be able to do a complete restore if it became necessary?

 

@Blitzkow

Ideally, you need some method to rescue your system when Windows is unusable. Otherwise you could end not being able to access Macrium to restore your system. A bootable rescue disk created with WinPE is a simple solution *Smile

http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/dis...g+rescue+media

http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/dis...s+PE+USB+stick