Full PC restore not working

[Guest]

To test this vista 'feature' I did a full PC backup from vista (sata drive)
to an IDE drive. Ok, the full pc backup finished and I can see the backup in
the IDE drive.

Now I erased (the only way to really test this feature) the drive where my
vista partition was and tried to do a complete pc restore. I boot the DVD and
from the 'system recovery options' I selected 'windows complete pc restore'
this is where the fun part begins.

A window 'restore your entire computer from a backup' opens and I can see
the restore volume in one of the entry fields. One odd thing is that the
restore will be done from drive C to drive C. I have no way to change this so
I press next. 'Windows is ready to restore...' I press finish. A window opens
and I check the box informing me that the restore will format the drive and
WHAM!

'The windows complete PC restore operation failed There are too few disks on
this computer or one or more of the disks is too small. Add or change disks
so they match the disks in the backup and try the restore again. Error
0x80042401' I'm glad I'm doing this as a test.

Neither disk is too small or to large they are the same disks used in
the original backup.

I did a google search and this came up:
http://professionalinsight.net/VistaBackup.aspx

I followed the instructions in the above link and failed.

Any ideas? If you are thinking of restoring from the IDE drive to another
IDE drive forget it. My computer has only one IDE port and I need the DVD to
boot the vista installation/recovery DVD (perhaps MS didn't think about this
possibility?)

So my question is simple. Should I mark the 'Complete PC backup/restore' as
something not functional in Vista or there is hope to restore the volume in
my backup IDE drive?

Thank you

 

[AJR]

Just speculation here - but regarding "...Now I erased (the only way to
really test this feature) the drive where my vista partition was ..." - what
exactly does "erase' indicate - file deletions, format, reformat ?

If the Vista drive was originally "C" and, for discussion, backup drive was
"D" - getting "rid" of the Vista drive may have redesignated "D" as "C" as
indicated by "...One odd thing is that the restore will be done from drive C
to drive C...." which of course it cannot do.

 

[Guest]

Forgive me for not being more especific.

By erase I mean wiping out all partitions. It is like going out to best buy
and buy a new HDD because your old one was destroyed by a lightining strike.
This is the whole concept of a full PC restore right? To recover from a
catastrophic event.

In regards to your second paragraph.
1. I thought about this too so using 'diskpart' I repartitioned and formated
the SATA drive (working drive) to the original configuration. ie. create
partition and format fs=ntfs label='help' quick.
2. I executed a 'list disk' to see my newly formated drive.
3. 'select disk x' and 'list volume' in my working disk.
4. I can see the volume for both the backup drive and working drives (IDE
and SATA)
5. The backup drive has letter 'C' assigned to it and working drive have
letter 'D'

Maybe it will work if I switch drive letters, I thought? So I temporarirly
assigned letter 'J' (an unused letter) to my backup drive by issuing 'select
volume x' and 'assign letter=J' now I can change my working drive letter to
'C' right? So I do a 'select volume x' and 'assign letter=C' It worked!

Now, I have my backup drive as D and my working drive as C, my ORIGINAL
configuration just before the lighting strike that fried my dead co-worker's
mission critical computer.

Ok I say, lets do a full PC restore and let's continue spying on Americans.
I go trough all the full pc restore process. I can see in one of the restore
windows restoring from drive 'D' to drive 'C'... good news! Proceed to start
the restore process and WHAM! again. Same error as before.

Seems that MS needs more H1-B visa applicants after all. This full PC backup
'feature' is not operational. I just want to find one single combination of
drives that actually work with this feature.

We bought vista ultimate for these 'added' features and this one and many
others are not working.

Just speculation here - but regarding "...Now I erased (the only way to
really test this feature) the drive where my vista partition was ..." - what
exactly does "erase' indicate - file deletions, format, reformat ?

If the Vista drive was originally "C" and, for discussion, backup drive was
"D" - getting "rid" of the Vista drive may have redesignated "D" as "C" as
indicated by "...One odd thing is that the restore will be done from drive C
to drive C...." which of course it cannot do.

To test this vista 'feature' I did a full PC backup from vista (sata
drive)
to an IDE drive. Ok, the full pc backup finished and I can see the backup
in
the IDE drive.

Now I erased (the only way to really test this feature) the drive where my
vista partition was and tried to do a complete pc restore. I boot the DVD
and
from the 'system recovery options' I selected 'windows complete pc
restore'
this is where the fun part begins.

A window 'restore your entire computer from a backup' opens and I can see
the restore volume in one of the entry fields. One odd thing is that the
restore will be done from drive C to drive C. I have no way to change this
so
I press next. 'Windows is ready to restore...' I press finish. A window
opens
and I check the box informing me that the restore will format the drive
and
WHAM!

'The windows complete PC restore operation failed There are too few disks
on
this computer or one or more of the disks is too small. Add or change
disks
so they match the disks in the backup and try the restore again. Error
0x80042401' I'm glad I'm doing this as a test.

Neither disk is too small or to large they are the same disks used
in
the original backup.

I did a google search and this came up:
http://professionalinsight.net/VistaBackup.aspx

I followed the instructions in the above link and failed.

Any ideas? If you are thinking of restoring from the IDE drive to another
IDE drive forget it. My computer has only one IDE port and I need the DVD
to
boot the vista installation/recovery DVD (perhaps MS didn't think about
this
possibility?)

So my question is simple. Should I mark the 'Complete PC backup/restore'
as
something not functional in Vista or there is hope to restore the volume
in
my backup IDE drive?

Thank you

 

[Guest]

I believe what you are experirncing is a VISTA BUG. Mixing SATA and IDE
drives seems to be the problem....

Microsoft is aware of this, but is not responding to the customers on this
issue....

Try replacing the IDE drive with SATA drive, thus having 2 sata drives.

(for more info, search on SATA PATA in WINDOWS VIATA DISCUSSION GROUPS,
where this issue is more detailed..)

Good luck.....

 

[Guest]

A vista bug? no kidding!

I was thinking along the same lines a you but I didn't want to spend the
extra money on another SATA drive. Anyway I gathered some courage and a
credit card and purchased a new sata drive from compusa.

I booted XP and copied the IDE backup directory into my new sata drive.
Reboot and proceed to restore. Now it is working. I hope MS fix this bug soon.

Thanks for your help

I believe what you are experirncing is a VISTA BUG. Mixing SATA and IDE
drives seems to be the problem....

Microsoft is aware of this, but is not responding to the customers on this
issue....

Try replacing the IDE drive with SATA drive, thus having 2 sata drives.

(for more info, search on SATA PATA in WINDOWS VIATA DISCUSSION GROUPS,
where this issue is more detailed..)

Good luck.....

To test this vista 'feature' I did a full PC backup from vista (sata drive)
to an IDE drive. Ok, the full pc backup finished and I can see the backup in
the IDE drive.

Now I erased (the only way to really test this feature) the drive where my
vista partition was and tried to do a complete pc restore. I boot the DVD and
from the 'system recovery options' I selected 'windows complete pc restore'
this is where the fun part begins.

A window 'restore your entire computer from a backup' opens and I can see
the restore volume in one of the entry fields. One odd thing is that the
restore will be done from drive C to drive C. I have no way to change this so
I press next. 'Windows is ready to restore...' I press finish. A window opens
and I check the box informing me that the restore will format the drive and
WHAM!

'The windows complete PC restore operation failed There are too few disks on
this computer or one or more of the disks is too small. Add or change disks
so they match the disks in the backup and try the restore again. Error
0x80042401' I'm glad I'm doing this as a test.

Neither disk is too small or to large they are the same disks used in
the original backup.

I did a google search and this came up:
http://professionalinsight.net/VistaBackup.aspx

I followed the instructions in the above link and failed.

Any ideas? If you are thinking of restoring from the IDE drive to another
IDE drive forget it. My computer has only one IDE port and I need the DVD to
boot the vista installation/recovery DVD (perhaps MS didn't think about this
possibility?)

So my question is simple. Should I mark the 'Complete PC backup/restore' as
something not functional in Vista or there is hope to restore the volume in
my backup IDE drive?

Thank you

 

[Eugene Pinero]

Hi all!

Does that mean that I cannot restore from a USB drive to a SCSI drive?

Cheers,

Gene

--
Gene
Email: (e-mail address removed)

A vista bug? no kidding!

I was thinking along the same lines a you but I didn't want to spend the
extra money on another SATA drive. Anyway I gathered some courage and a
credit card and purchased a new sata drive from compusa.

I booted XP and copied the IDE backup directory into my new sata drive.
Reboot and proceed to restore. Now it is working. I hope MS fix this bug
soon.

Thanks for your help

I believe what you are experirncing is a VISTA BUG. Mixing SATA and IDE
drives seems to be the problem....

Microsoft is aware of this, but is not responding to the customers on
this
issue....

Try replacing the IDE drive with SATA drive, thus having 2 sata drives.

(for more info, search on SATA PATA in WINDOWS VIATA DISCUSSION GROUPS,
where this issue is more detailed..)

Good luck.....

To test this vista 'feature' I did a full PC backup from vista (sata
drive)
to an IDE drive. Ok, the full pc backup finished and I can see the
backup in
the IDE drive.

Now I erased (the only way to really test this feature) the drive where
my
vista partition was and tried to do a complete pc restore. I boot the
DVD and
from the 'system recovery options' I selected 'windows complete pc
restore'
this is where the fun part begins.

A window 'restore your entire computer from a backup' opens and I can
see
the restore volume in one of the entry fields. One odd thing is that
the
restore will be done from drive C to drive C. I have no way to change
this so
I press next. 'Windows is ready to restore...' I press finish. A window
opens
and I check the box informing me that the restore will format the drive
and
WHAM!

'The windows complete PC restore operation failed There are too few
disks on
this computer or one or more of the disks is too small. Add or change
disks
so they match the disks in the backup and try the restore again. Error
0x80042401' I'm glad I'm doing this as a test.

Neither disk is too small or to large they are the same disks
used in
the original backup.

I did a google search and this came up:
http://professionalinsight.net/VistaBackup.aspx

I followed the instructions in the above link and failed.

Any ideas? If you are thinking of restoring from the IDE drive to
another
IDE drive forget it. My computer has only one IDE port and I need the
DVD to
boot the vista installation/recovery DVD (perhaps MS didn't think about
this
possibility?)

So my question is simple. Should I mark the 'Complete PC
backup/restore' as
something not functional in Vista or there is hope to restore the
volume in
my backup IDE drive?

Thank you