I used Windows Complete Backup to restore my computer to an earlier date.
After makiing many changes I decided to do a new complete backup. I noticed
that the projected backup size was much smaller than before, because only
changes would have to be backed up. Thinking it would be better to have a
complete backup in one place, I deleted the prior backup file. Yet the new
backup was still the reduced size.

I'm afraid Vista thinks that earlier backup is still there and now I've got
an incomplete backup. How can I get the Complete Backup Utility to reset and
do a full backup?

(I'm new to this forum and the Edit My Profile button keeps returning an
error message.)

Out of curiosity, how did you delete the prior backup file? Complete PC
Backup always stores the most recent full backup as a.vhd file. The
subsequent Complete PC backups are just the changes stored as shadow copies.
So, your .vhd file should be a full backup.

--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Want to learn more about Windows file and storage technologies? Visit our
team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.


"Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:67694BBB-9652-42C0-8F10-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I used Windows Complete Backup to restore my computer to an earlier date.
> After makiing many changes I decided to do a new complete backup. I
> noticed
> that the projected backup size was much smaller than before, because only
> changes would have to be backed up. Thinking it would be better to have a
> complete backup in one place, I deleted the prior backup file. Yet the new
> backup was still the reduced size.
>
> I'm afraid Vista thinks that earlier backup is still there and now I've
> got
> an incomplete backup. How can I get the Complete Backup Utility to reset
> and
> do a full backup?
>
> (I'm new to this forum and the Edit My Profile button keeps returning an
> error message.)
>

I backed up to a USB external drive. The file was called "Windows Image.."
or something like that with a date. I simply deleted the file. I had to
confirm my choice a couple times, I think. But the file disappeared and the
free space on my external drive increased dramatically. Then the new Complete
Backup required a lot less space than the one I deleted. So I'm pretty sure
it's gone.

How can I confirm that my .vhd file is a complete backup? Based on the
dramatic decrease in space required, I doubt that everything is included.

Back to my original question, how can I reset to do a backup that I know
will include everything?

By the way, I have four partitions and only C and D are included. Every time
I tried to include either or both of the other partitions, the backup failed.

"Jill Zoeller [MSFT]" wrote:

> Out of curiosity, how did you delete the prior backup file? Complete PC
> Backup always stores the most recent full backup as a.vhd file. The
> subsequent Complete PC backups are just the changes stored as shadow copies.
> So, your .vhd file should be a full backup.
>
> --
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> Want to learn more about Windows file and storage technologies? Visit our
> team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.
>
>
> "Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:67694BBB-9652-42C0-8F10-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I used Windows Complete Backup to restore my computer to an earlier date.
> > After makiing many changes I decided to do a new complete backup. I
> > noticed
> > that the projected backup size was much smaller than before, because only
> > changes would have to be backed up. Thinking it would be better to have a
> > complete backup in one place, I deleted the prior backup file. Yet the new
> > backup was still the reduced size.
> >
> > I'm afraid Vista thinks that earlier backup is still there and now I've
> > got
> > an incomplete backup. How can I get the Complete Backup Utility to reset
> > and
> > do a full backup?
> >
> > (I'm new to this forum and the Edit My Profile button keeps returning an
> > error message.)
> >
>
>

Delete WindowsImageBackup folder with all files inside.

P.S. You can run CompleteBackup from more flexible command line tool
wbadmin.exe.
--
Michal Kawecki [Windows - Shell/User MVP]
Warsaw, PL

"Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:911F1049-3A32-473C-A50A-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I backed up to a USB external drive. The file was called "Windows
>Image.."
> or something like that with a date. I simply deleted the file. I had
> to
> confirm my choice a couple times, I think. But the file disappeared
> and the
> free space on my external drive increased dramatically. Then the new
> Complete
> Backup required a lot less space than the one I deleted. So I'm pretty
> sure
> it's gone.
>
> How can I confirm that my .vhd file is a complete backup? Based on the
> dramatic decrease in space required, I doubt that everything is
> included.
>
> Back to my original question, how can I reset to do a backup that I
> know
> will include everything?
>
> By the way, I have four partitions and only C and D are included.
> Every time
> I tried to include either or both of the other partitions, the backup
> failed.
>
> "Jill Zoeller [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> Out of curiosity, how did you delete the prior backup file? Complete
>> PC
>> Backup always stores the most recent full backup as a.vhd file. The
>> subsequent Complete PC backups are just the changes stored as shadow
>> copies.
>> So, your .vhd file should be a full backup.
>>
>> --
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>>
>> Want to learn more about Windows file and storage technologies? Visit
>> our
>> team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.
>>
>>
>> "Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:67694BBB-9652-42C0-8F10-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I used Windows Complete Backup to restore my computer to an earlier
>> >date.
>> > After makiing many changes I decided to do a new complete backup. I
>> > noticed
>> > that the projected backup size was much smaller than before,
>> > because only
>> > changes would have to be backed up. Thinking it would be better to
>> > have a
>> > complete backup in one place, I deleted the prior backup file. Yet
>> > the new
>> > backup was still the reduced size.
>> >
>> > I'm afraid Vista thinks that earlier backup is still there and now
>> > I've
>> > got
>> > an incomplete backup. How can I get the Complete Backup Utility to
>> > reset
>> > and
>> > do a full backup?
>> >
>> > (I'm new to this forum and the Edit My Profile button keeps
>> > returning an
>> > error message.)
>> >
>>
>>

I did delete the folder. But my next backup was only half the size of the
first. The wording I saw during the backup operation implied this was
because I had done an earlier backup and only files with differences would be
saved this time.

Is there a description of command line instructions for this process?

Thanks.

"Michal Kawecki" wrote:

> Delete WindowsImageBackup folder with all files inside.
>
> P.S. You can run CompleteBackup from more flexible command line tool
> wbadmin.exe.
> --
> Michal Kawecki [Windows - Shell/User MVP]
> Warsaw, PL
>
> "Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:911F1049-3A32-473C-A50A-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I backed up to a USB external drive. The file was called "Windows
> >Image.."
> > or something like that with a date. I simply deleted the file. I had
> > to
> > confirm my choice a couple times, I think. But the file disappeared
> > and the
> > free space on my external drive increased dramatically. Then the new
> > Complete
> > Backup required a lot less space than the one I deleted. So I'm pretty
> > sure
> > it's gone.
> >
> > How can I confirm that my .vhd file is a complete backup? Based on the
> > dramatic decrease in space required, I doubt that everything is
> > included.
> >
> > Back to my original question, how can I reset to do a backup that I
> > know
> > will include everything?
> >
> > By the way, I have four partitions and only C and D are included.
> > Every time
> > I tried to include either or both of the other partitions, the backup
> > failed.
> >
> > "Jill Zoeller [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> Out of curiosity, how did you delete the prior backup file? Complete
> >> PC
> >> Backup always stores the most recent full backup as a.vhd file. The
> >> subsequent Complete PC backups are just the changes stored as shadow
> >> copies.
> >> So, your .vhd file should be a full backup.
> >>
> >> --
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >>
> >> Want to learn more about Windows file and storage technologies? Visit
> >> our
> >> team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.
> >>
> >>
> >> "Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >> news:67694BBB-9652-42C0-8F10-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> >I used Windows Complete Backup to restore my computer to an earlier
> >> >date.
> >> > After makiing many changes I decided to do a new complete backup. I
> >> > noticed
> >> > that the projected backup size was much smaller than before,
> >> > because only
> >> > changes would have to be backed up. Thinking it would be better to
> >> > have a
> >> > complete backup in one place, I deleted the prior backup file. Yet
> >> > the new
> >> > backup was still the reduced size.
> >> >
> >> > I'm afraid Vista thinks that earlier backup is still there and now
> >> > I've
> >> > got
> >> > an incomplete backup. How can I get the Complete Backup Utility to
> >> > reset
> >> > and
> >> > do a full backup?
> >> >
> >> > (I'm new to this forum and the Edit My Profile button keeps
> >> > returning an
> >> > error message.)
> >> >
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

I have runned twice a full backup with wbadmin tool. After first backup
I've removed WindowsImageBackup folder. The second backup size was
exactly same as the first.

You can list available commands with wbadmin /? (in cmd.exe command line
window). Or you can study it here:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true
--
Michal Kawecki [Windows - Shell/User MVP]
Warsaw, PL

"Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:21F60A84-E1B4-48B0-9AA2-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I did delete the folder. But my next backup was only half the size of
>the
> first. The wording I saw during the backup operation implied this was
> because I had done an earlier backup and only files with differences
> would be
> saved this time.
>
> Is there a description of command line instructions for this process?
>
> Thanks.
>
> "Michal Kawecki" wrote:
>
>> Delete WindowsImageBackup folder with all files inside.
>>
>> P.S. You can run CompleteBackup from more flexible command line tool
>> wbadmin.exe.
>> --
>> Michal Kawecki [Windows - Shell/User MVP]
>> Warsaw, PL
>>
>> "Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:911F1049-3A32-473C-A50A-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I backed up to a USB external drive. The file was called "Windows
>> >Image.."
>> > or something like that with a date. I simply deleted the file. I
>> > had
>> > to
>> > confirm my choice a couple times, I think. But the file disappeared
>> > and the
>> > free space on my external drive increased dramatically. Then the
>> > new
>> > Complete
>> > Backup required a lot less space than the one I deleted. So I'm
>> > pretty
>> > sure
>> > it's gone.
>> >
>> > How can I confirm that my .vhd file is a complete backup? Based on
>> > the
>> > dramatic decrease in space required, I doubt that everything is
>> > included.
>> >
>> > Back to my original question, how can I reset to do a backup that I
>> > know
>> > will include everything?
>> >
>> > By the way, I have four partitions and only C and D are included.
>> > Every time
>> > I tried to include either or both of the other partitions, the
>> > backup
>> > failed.
>> >
>> > "Jill Zoeller [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Out of curiosity, how did you delete the prior backup file?
>> >> Complete
>> >> PC
>> >> Backup always stores the most recent full backup as a.vhd file.
>> >> The
>> >> subsequent Complete PC backups are just the changes stored as
>> >> shadow
>> >> copies.
>> >> So, your .vhd file should be a full backup.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
>> >> no
>> >> rights.
>> >>
>> >> Want to learn more about Windows file and storage technologies?
>> >> Visit
>> >> our
>> >> team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> >> news:67694BBB-9652-42C0-8F10-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >> >I used Windows Complete Backup to restore my computer to an
>> >> >earlier
>> >> >date.
>> >> > After makiing many changes I decided to do a new complete
>> >> > backup. I
>> >> > noticed
>> >> > that the projected backup size was much smaller than before,
>> >> > because only
>> >> > changes would have to be backed up. Thinking it would be better
>> >> > to
>> >> > have a
>> >> > complete backup in one place, I deleted the prior backup file.
>> >> > Yet
>> >> > the new
>> >> > backup was still the reduced size.
>> >> >
>> >> > I'm afraid Vista thinks that earlier backup is still there and
>> >> > now
>> >> > I've
>> >> > got
>> >> > an incomplete backup. How can I get the Complete Backup Utility
>> >> > to
>> >> > reset
>> >> > and
>> >> > do a full backup?
>> >> >
>> >> > (I'm new to this forum and the Edit My Profile button keeps
>> >> > returning an
>> >> > error message.)
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

Thanks. I will look into that.

Today I also started a free trial of Acronis True Image 10.0. It appears to
work fine with a ton more options than the Windows product.

"Michal Kawecki" wrote:

> I have runned twice a full backup with wbadmin tool. After first backup
> I've removed WindowsImageBackup folder. The second backup size was
> exactly same as the first.
>
> You can list available commands with wbadmin /? (in cmd.exe command line
> window). Or you can study it here:
> http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true
> --
> Michal Kawecki [Windows - Shell/User MVP]
> Warsaw, PL
>
> "Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:21F60A84-E1B4-48B0-9AA2-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I did delete the folder. But my next backup was only half the size of
> >the
> > first. The wording I saw during the backup operation implied this was
> > because I had done an earlier backup and only files with differences
> > would be
> > saved this time.
> >
> > Is there a description of command line instructions for this process?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > "Michal Kawecki" wrote:
> >
> >> Delete WindowsImageBackup folder with all files inside.
> >>
> >> P.S. You can run CompleteBackup from more flexible command line tool
> >> wbadmin.exe.
> >> --
> >> Michal Kawecki [Windows - Shell/User MVP]
> >> Warsaw, PL
> >>
> >> "Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >> news:911F1049-3A32-473C-A50A-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> >I backed up to a USB external drive. The file was called "Windows
> >> >Image.."
> >> > or something like that with a date. I simply deleted the file. I
> >> > had
> >> > to
> >> > confirm my choice a couple times, I think. But the file disappeared
> >> > and the
> >> > free space on my external drive increased dramatically. Then the
> >> > new
> >> > Complete
> >> > Backup required a lot less space than the one I deleted. So I'm
> >> > pretty
> >> > sure
> >> > it's gone.
> >> >
> >> > How can I confirm that my .vhd file is a complete backup? Based on
> >> > the
> >> > dramatic decrease in space required, I doubt that everything is
> >> > included.
> >> >
> >> > Back to my original question, how can I reset to do a backup that I
> >> > know
> >> > will include everything?
> >> >
> >> > By the way, I have four partitions and only C and D are included.
> >> > Every time
> >> > I tried to include either or both of the other partitions, the
> >> > backup
> >> > failed.
> >> >
> >> > "Jill Zoeller [MSFT]" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Out of curiosity, how did you delete the prior backup file?
> >> >> Complete
> >> >> PC
> >> >> Backup always stores the most recent full backup as a.vhd file.
> >> >> The
> >> >> subsequent Complete PC backups are just the changes stored as
> >> >> shadow
> >> >> copies.
> >> >> So, your .vhd file should be a full backup.
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> >> >> no
> >> >> rights.
> >> >>
> >> >> Want to learn more about Windows file and storage technologies?
> >> >> Visit
> >> >> our
> >> >> team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> "Digitome" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >> >> news:67694BBB-9652-42C0-8F10-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> >> >I used Windows Complete Backup to restore my computer to an
> >> >> >earlier
> >> >> >date.
> >> >> > After makiing many changes I decided to do a new complete
> >> >> > backup. I
> >> >> > noticed
> >> >> > that the projected backup size was much smaller than before,
> >> >> > because only
> >> >> > changes would have to be backed up. Thinking it would be better
> >> >> > to
> >> >> > have a
> >> >> > complete backup in one place, I deleted the prior backup file.
> >> >> > Yet
> >> >> > the new
> >> >> > backup was still the reduced size.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I'm afraid Vista thinks that earlier backup is still there and
> >> >> > now
> >> >> > I've
> >> >> > got
> >> >> > an incomplete backup. How can I get the Complete Backup Utility
> >> >> > to
> >> >> > reset
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > do a full backup?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > (I'm new to this forum and the Edit My Profile button keeps
> >> >> > returning an
> >> >> > error message.)
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>