Backup Failed, Has Always Failed, HELP!

[Guest]

Running Vista Home Premium. I want to create a backup (not a full system
restore) of doc's, Windows Mail, Favorites, yadiyada (read: DATA). When I go
to Computer, the C drive has 224 GB of free space out of 288 GB, which I
figure means I'm using about 64 GB, and that should include programs and
system files, which I don't want to back up. So what I AM backing up should
be significantly less.

I tried selecting the Recovery D: drive. However, there's only 9.82 GB of
total space on that drive, and SOMETHING is using 5.4 GB. The error I'm
getting is: 0x81000005. It says there's not enough space available.

So I selected to backup to DVD. After disk 6, I'd had enough, and it was
only like 1/3 complete according to the status bar. Where can I find the
files and sizes of what it's backing up?

I used to be able to do a backup (on the old computer) with 1 CD - what
gives???

Any recommendations on either expanding the Recovery drive to something like
50GB, or being able to back up onto DVD (max 3 -4 discs)? I'm getting really
nervous without having anything backed up! Thanks!

 

[John Hanley]

Running Vista Home Premium. I want to create a backup (not a full system
restore) of doc's, Windows Mail, Favorites, yadiyada (read: DATA). When I
go
to Computer, the C drive has 224 GB of free space out of 288 GB, which I
figure means I'm using about 64 GB, and that should include programs and
system files, which I don't want to back up. So what I AM backing up
should
be significantly less.

I tried selecting the Recovery D: drive. However, there's only 9.82 GB of
total space on that drive, and SOMETHING is using 5.4 GB. The error I'm
getting is: 0x81000005. It says there's not enough space available.

So I selected to backup to DVD. After disk 6, I'd had enough, and it was
only like 1/3 complete according to the status bar. Where can I find the
files and sizes of what it's backing up?

I used to be able to do a backup (on the old computer) with 1 CD - what
gives???

Any recommendations on either expanding the Recovery drive to something
like
50GB, or being able to back up onto DVD (max 3 -4 discs)? I'm getting
really
nervous without having anything backed up! Thanks!

I also had some initial frustration with backups in Vista. What I think I
learned was:
-Vista will not let you back up to your main hard drive, not even to the
Recovery partition; this is to ensure an independent location for the
backup.
- Vista backs up a lot more files than XP did.
- I never did get a backup to DVD to work; it was taking literally hours and
never finished.
- I decided to 'bite the bullet' and bought myself a separate external 160
GB USB hard drive for $60; I am making regular backups to this drive and
they go very fast and completed just fine. The size of my first full backup
was approx. 7.9 GB. Subsequent backups are almost as large as the first
one; I will eventually have to remove some of the old backups or the
external drive will fill up. I have also successfully restored a few files
from the backup, so it works.
- Along the way I also used a tool called SyncToy to make some partial
backups of selected personal files to a CD; that worked also. Still
experimenting.

Hope this helps.

 

[AJR]

You cannot "compute" file backup sizes by comparing free and used disk
space. File backup utility gives you the option to select files to backup

Start>Backup and restore center>Under backup files select "change settings">
At bottom select "Change backup settings">After backup device is indicated
select "next" - your on your own!
there files whcih are not backed up including system files.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Mon, 2 Jul 2007 18:14:00 -0700, cdaniel

Running Vista Home Premium. I want to create a backup (not a full system
restore) of doc's, Windows Mail, Favorites, yadiyada (read: DATA).

How do you select what you want to have backed up?

C drive has 224 GB of free space out of 288 GB, which I figure means
I'm using about 64 GB

I'd check that assumption, using a free handy tool called WinDirStat

http://windirstat.info/

I have that added as a non-default action for Drive and File Folder,
so it's on the rt-click, but you can use it through the front door.
It will show you "everything", so don't go detete-happy !!

and that should include programs and system files, which I don't
want to back up. So what I AM backing up should be significantly less.

Should be, yes. But if you haven't explicitly selected what is to be
backed up, you won't know for sure.

I tried selecting the Recovery D: drive. However, there's only 9.82 GB of
total space on that drive, and SOMETHING is using 5.4 GB.

Is that 5G used on an otherwise empty 10G volume?

One factor that could magnify the data bulk (if we assume there asn't
not-data included in the backup, such as indexes) is "Previous
Version", which is to data files what System Restore is to system
files. The same shadow copy engine powers both services equally, but
they are UI'd differently - it is the UI that determines how you can
use the backup copies, or if you can use them at all.

Some editions of Vista, e.g. Home Basic (dunno about Home Premium) do
not offer "previous versions", yet the shadow copy still wastes space
and activity in keeping these copies. They can be revealed by
upgrading Vista to an edition that supporets "previous versions", at
which point you'd have access to versions of data files that predate
the upgrade to hte new OS edition.

I don't like the privacy implications of that.

-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Tip Of The Day:
To disable the 'Tip of the Day' feature...

 

[retexan599]

"cdaniel" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Running Vista Home Premium. I want to create a backup (not a full system
> restore) of doc's, Windows Mail, Favorites, yadiyada (read: DATA). When I
> go
> to Computer, the C drive has 224 GB of free space out of 288 GB, which I
> figure means I'm using about 64 GB, and that should include programs and
> system files, which I don't want to back up. So what I AM backing up
> should
> be significantly less.
>
> I tried selecting the Recovery D: drive. However, there's only 9.82 GB of
> total space on that drive, and SOMETHING is using 5.4 GB. The error I'm
> getting is: 0x81000005. It says there's not enough space available.
>
> So I selected to backup to DVD. After disk 6, I'd had enough, and it was
> only like 1/3 complete according to the status bar. Where can I find the
> files and sizes of what it's backing up?
>
> I used to be able to do a backup (on the old computer) with 1 CD - what
> gives???
>
> Any recommendations on either expanding the Recovery drive to something
> like
> 50GB, or being able to back up onto DVD (max 3 -4 discs)? I'm getting
> really
> nervous without having anything backed up! Thanks!
>
>

I also had some initial frustration with backups in Vista. What I think I
learned was:
-Vista will not let you back up to your main hard drive, not even to the
Recovery partition; this is to ensure an independent location for the
backup.
- Vista backs up a lot more files than XP did.
- I never did get a backup to DVD to work; it was taking literally hours and
never finished.
- I decided to 'bite the bullet' and bought myself a separate external 160
GB USB hard drive for $60; I am making regular backups to this drive and
they go very fast and completed just fine. The size of my first full backup
was approx. 7.9 GB. Subsequent backups are almost as large as the first
one; I will eventually have to remove some of the old backups or the
external drive will fill up. I have also successfully restored a few files
from the backup, so it works.
- Along the way I also used a tool called SyncToy to make some partial
backups of selected personal files to a CD; that worked also. Still
experimenting.

Hope this helps.

Am posting again to correct something I said above which I now believe to have been in error. I said: "Vista will not let you back up to your main hard drive, not even to the Recovery partition". I recently realized that although Vista will not let you backup to your main hard drive (C: on my computer), it *will* let you (try) to back up to the Recovery partition (D: on my computer); i.e. in the drop down list of backup destination devices, the Recovery 'drive' is listed as an option. I think anyone is unwise to use the Recovery drive as a destination for Backup, because that 'drive' is there for purposes of *system* Recovery and Restore, and not for general use. In fact, if you try to explore the Recovery drive files, you will get a stern warning about messing with this drive. Furthermore, any backups you try to put on there will run out of space very quickly, it is not a big partition. I have only recently learned that the Recovery drive setup is not really a part of Vista, per se, but is a feature provided by the computer manufacturer (in my case HP). So Vista thinks it is fair game for a backup destination. Anyway, best not to go there.

 

[Guest]

I need help also...Vista Home Premium..comes with built in system disc drive
C. Automatic Wizard is supposed to back up onto the system Drive C isn't
it??? There is no C or D drive and now the backup wants me to put in a disc
for the E drive????? I shouldn't have to put in any disc. I just want to do
the automatic wizard on my C drive. What or where is my C drive??? it
disappeared???? where is the D drive?? it disappeared also??? The only
thing I have is E drive and again it is asking that I put in a disc??? I
never did this before but I thought that this computer automatically did it
itself with the wizard??? Help please

 

[John Hanley]

"I would like easy step to step direction"

I need help also...Vista Home Premium..comes with built in system disc
drive
C. Automatic Wizard is supposed to back up onto the system Drive C isn't
it??? There is no C or D drive and now the backup wants me to put in a
disc
for the E drive????? I shouldn't have to put in any disc. I just want to
do
the automatic wizard on my C drive. What or where is my C drive??? it
disappeared???? where is the D drive?? it disappeared also??? The only
thing I have is E drive and again it is asking that I put in a disc??? I
never did this before but I thought that this computer automatically did
it
itself with the wizard??? Help please

1. You really should not backup to the same physical disk as your C: or D:
drive; that would not be an independent backup location; Automatic Backup
will not allow you to backup to the C: drive. The D: drive (provided by
your computer manufacturer, not Windows) is not intended to be the backup
location; it is not big enough anyway.
2. I tried the backup to DVD route, but it is too cumbersome and takes too
many discs with Automatic Backup.
3. You could use a tool like SyncToy to copy selected files to one or more
DVD's, but that is not Automatic.
4. I bought a separate, external 160 GB USB hard drive for about $60 for my
Automatic Backup location and that works very well for me.

 

[Jamir \(MSFT\)]

Backup will never backup into the system drive. It will try to backup on
another drive and you can actually customize that and point to where you
want to back up to. Your E: drive is probably your CD or DVD drive and that
is why is asking you for a disc. Just go to the Backup and Restore Center
and change your settings to point to where you want to backup, but please
consider what I just wrote and also the below (Basically no backups to the
System Drive or Recovery Drive)

In addition it is never recommended that you backup into your Recovery
Drive. That is not what is used for and you should not be putting backups
into that or messing with it. Don't try to expand it. You should consult
your PC manufacturer if you are considering doing that. Either use CDs/DVDs
or an external or additional drive.

If you believe you are backing up too much just go through the backup wizard
and configure what you want or not, to backup.

Thank you.

--
Jamir Correa [MSFT]
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
"I would like easy step to step direction"

 

[Guest]

I K.I.S.S. by highlighting the files I want to save, right click, properties
- and it gives me the amount of KB or MB. When you know the total of all the
files, you then choose a CD or DVD "R". Save them on the "R". That way, you
can not overwrite them. "R's" are cheap enough to do that. "RW" are too
unreliable. As for a separate HD, that's good, If You Have the Room. Now, one
of these days, I'll buy a LCD monitor -- LOL.

Backup will never backup into the system drive. It will try to backup on
another drive and you can actually customize that and point to where you
want to back up to. Your E: drive is probably your CD or DVD drive and that
is why is asking you for a disc. Just go to the Backup and Restore Center
and change your settings to point to where you want to backup, but please
consider what I just wrote and also the below (Basically no backups to the
System Drive or Recovery Drive)

In addition it is never recommended that you backup into your Recovery
Drive. That is not what is used for and you should not be putting backups
into that or messing with it. Don't try to expand it. You should consult
your PC manufacturer if you are considering doing that. Either use CDs/DVDs
or an external or additional drive.

If you believe you are backing up too much just go through the backup wizard
and configure what you want or not, to backup.

Thank you.

--
Jamir Correa [MSFT]
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
"I would like easy step to step direction"

I need help also...Vista Home Premium..comes with built in system disc
drive
C. Automatic Wizard is supposed to back up onto the system Drive C isn't
it??? There is no C or D drive and now the backup wants me to put in a
disc
for the E drive????? I shouldn't have to put in any disc. I just want to
do
the automatic wizard on my C drive. What or where is my C drive??? it
disappeared???? where is the D drive?? it disappeared also??? The only
thing I have is E drive and again it is asking that I put in a disc??? I
never did this before but I thought that this computer automatically did
it
itself with the wizard??? Help please

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Tue, 7 Aug 2007 16:06:00 -0700, PennsyNut

I K.I.S.S. by highlighting the files I want to save, right click, properties
- and it gives me the amount of KB or MB. Save them on the "R".
"R's" are cheap enough to do that. "RW" are too unreliable.

I used to think so, too (that RW disks were flaky), but at least in
the case of CDRWs, it is not the disks that are flaky, but the packet
writing (f)utilities one may use with them (e.g. InCD, DirectCD).

I build new Bart CDRWs on a regular basis, and have done for some
years now. Every time I use these to formally scan a system, I build
a new one with updated av signatures, etc.

When I was first developing my Bart project, I was writing several
builds a day, and CDRs weren't cheap enough anymore ;-)

So I switched to CDRWs, but (this is the crucial bit) treating them as
if they were CDRs, either wiping and burning them in a single formal
session from Bart PE Builder's own tools, or using Nero.

Once I did that, I found them almost identical to CDRs in reliability.
The only difference is laser compatibility with old (say, 8-speed)
CD-ROM drives, which often read CDRs but not CDRWs.

These disks travel with me, get bumped around etc. and I just keep on
re-using them, erasing and rewriting them at least once a week. In
the last 2 years, I think I've had to throw away about three, one of
which because it had holes chipped through the data paint.

I don't think I could expect better mileage from CDRs!

"Jamir (MSFT)" wrote:

I'd prefer a PC manufacturer who doesn't waste MY resources solving
THEIR problems. If a $10 LAN card can afford to ship with a driver
CD, I don't see why OEMs can't ship proper installation disks.

So let's see; I have "the" system drive, the OEM's restoration space,
and now have to find a third HD for my backups. And I have no control
over what these comprise or how large they might be - or at the very
least, will find it hard to predict how much space I'll need.

No thanks; I'll go back to doing what Ive done since Win95...
- keep the data set clean, small, and off C: on volume D:
- batch a CLI archiver to zip this to volume F:
- batch logic keeps last 5 backups on FIFO basis
- create a Task to do this 02:00 daily
- dump the whole of F:\Backups to USB stick or R(W)

--------------- ---- --- -- - - - -

Saws are too hard to use.
Be easier to use!