Unable to create system image backup

Question

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 cannot be used. However, the system image for my MSI laptop was successfully saved to this server. I never had any problems creating the system image on my previous Dell XPS-8940.

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Hi Martin,

Thanks for your post. Before moving on, can I know if you are using Win 11's built-in backup app or 3rd party backup software?

Click Start > Run > services.msc and click OK. When services.msc opens, find Volume Shadow Copy and double-click it. Make sure its Startup type is set to Automatic. And if listed in services.msc, make sure Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider is also set to Automatic startup.

Then exit services.msc and reboot.  Go back into services.msc and confirm that those services are running. Next, manually set a System Restore point for the boot drive. Then see if you can run the backup now.

Best Regards,

Ian Xue

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