Cannot create a system image - Keep getting the message "A system image backup is in progress. Please wait while it completes."

Question

I tried to Create a system image by [clicking "Create a system image" on the left on Backup and Restore (Window 7), the PC is Window 10], but I always getting the message "A system image backup is in progress. Please wait while it completes." every time.

Answer 1

I tried to Create a system image by [clicking "Create a system image" on the left on Backup and Restore (Window 7) ...

There's your problem.

In the first place, Backup and Restore (Windows 7) is not supported for creating new backups. It was included in Windows 10 for people who were upgrading from Windows 7 and wanted to restore a backup made with Windows 7 to Windows 10.

More to the point: Windows 10 doesn't have a supported image backup utility. There's nothing to stop you from making a backup image with Windows 10, but there's no guarantee that it will work properly, and if you do run into a problem, there's no official solution. That sort of goes against the whole idea of making an image in the first place.

No need to take my word for it. Here's what Microsoft has to say about it:

"We recommend that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors."

Finally, the whole point of making an image is being able to reliably restore that image when you need it. So perhaps try this test: After you've finished making an image with Backup and Restore (Windows 7) - if you succeed in doing that - try restoring that image. Next, do the same thing with commercial image backup software. Now compare the two experiences and decide for yourself which method is more convenient and likely to be more reliable in the future, when you'll need to restore your backup. That's how to make the choice that's right for you.

Answer 2

Thank you.

Answer 3

Thank you.

Answer 4

Hi Karen

My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.

The information below I provide is thorough and verbose, but its the truth regarding Backup in Windows 10. and the alternatives you will need to consider.

File History, System Image, Backup and Restore in Windows 10 are partially broken and they are not being actively maintained or developed. Microsoft is planning to remove them in a future release. You are seeing the effects of this. You should switch to a third party solution such as Macrium Reflect (Free).

Learn more: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/create-windows...

If you prefer to use System Image in Windows 10, you can try the following:

Open Start, type: CMD

Right click CMD

Click Run as administrator

Type in at the prompt OR Copy and Paste these one at a time : (Hit enter after each)

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Also run the System File Checker utility:

Open Start, type: CMD

Right click CMD

Click Run as administrator

At the Command Prompt, type: sfc/scannow

This will check for any integrity violations

Restart your system

Check your hard disk for any errors:

Click Start

Type: CMD, from the results, right click Command prompt

Click 'Run as Administrator'

At the Command Prompt, type: chkdsk /r /f

Hit Enter

When you restart your system, your computer will be scanned for errors and attempts will be made to correct them.

Then following the steps:

How to: Create a system image in Windows 10

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

How to restore a Windows 10 system image to an existing or larger storage device

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Information in the above link is sourced from a trusted Microsoft MVP blog.

Answer 5

Have you checked the Task Manager to see if anything might be running? 

If there is something familiar and you are not or have not recently done an image backup, you might right click and end that task.  Just make sure you are looking at the correct process.

Or, shut your system all the way down then reboot.