Windows 8.1 Backup

[WandererOfWorlds]

Hello everyone. I have tried to do a full system backup of my Windows 8.1 computer to an external HDD and I get the shadow copy error. I have almost 600 GB free on my external HDD and the backup image takes up less than 200. The external HDD is formated as NTFS.

 

It says: "There is not enough disk space to create the volume shadow copy on the storage location. Make sure that, for all volumes to be backed up, the minimum required disk space for shadow copy creation is available. This applies to both the backup storage destination and the volumes included in the backup."

 

My partitions are as follows: C with 115 GB free and D with 167 GB free. The system reserved partitions are a 300MB recovery partition and a 100MB EFI System Partition. The disk manager says that both these are 100% free. Even though I am logged in as admin, the 100MB partition has every option except help greyed out when I right click on it.

 

I have tried to do the backup with PowerShell and I get the same error. Looking on the Windows forums only turned up some pretty vague solutions. Do you guys have any ideas on how to solve this?

 

[JLCitadel]

You can always try the old copy & paste. Works whenever I do it, just duplicate every file overnight

[WandererOfWorlds]

Well, I want to create an image of the entire computer, with the programmes intact. Data is easy to save, but it's a pain to have to reinstall and reconfigure everything.

[ross06187]

if this was me i would use a boot disk and run some hard drive image making software. i have never been a fan of the online windows built in solution.  offline is generally faster as well, provided you back up disk is not over usb and is on a sata on the board.

 

i would recommend the hirens boot disk and Seagate DiscWizard.  works good for me.