backups

[mdrnhart]

I can get no backups, either manually or automatically. Vista says the "backup is complete", but there is no backup.

Anybody have any similar experiences?

[BetaPsi]

I don't have a similar experience, but can you explain a bit more about the process that you're using?

• What computer model do you have? 
• What operating system do you have? (hold the windows key down and tap the 'r'butt. Then type 'winver' [without the quotes] and hit enter)
• What backup software are you using? Are you using Vista's built in backup and restore center?
• What options are you using within the backup software? Are you backing up files and folders or an entire image? Where are youtrying to save the backups?

[mdrnhart]

Thanks for your response.

I am using HP Pavillion a6655f desktop with Windows Vista built-in backup system.

I am trying to backup files and documents onto an external hard drive.

I can do it manually, by the copy and paste method, but Vista offers the possibility of automatic backups at regular intervals, but it doesn't work, nor could the HP techs make it work.

[BetaPsi]

Let me be a bit pedantic and run through some things that might sound obvious.

How did you create the backup? Under normal circumstances this is the process that you would go through:

1. Go to the Backup and Restore Center
2. Click the "Back up files" button
3. Choose where to backup your files (in your case to your external hard drive)
4. Select the types of files that you want included in the backup
5. Choose your schedule
6. Done! The backup should proceed and it shold also be on the schedule that you chose.

If you did those things... maybe try it one more time just to see what happens. (Ignoring the maxim that says: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. You have to be a little crazy to work with computers... =) )

Also, check to see if Automatic Backup is on:

• Open the Backup and Restore Center
• Click "Change Settings" just underneath the "Back up files" button
• Look at the bottom of the new window and see if Automatic backup is currently on or off. There is a button there that allows you to change it's status.

Furthermore, you could check your scheduled tasks to see if the backup is even scheduled properly.

• Go to your start menu and type "sche" so that the search function will return with the Task Scheduler. Open Task Scheduler.
• Make sure "Task Scheduler Library" is selected on the left hand pane (EDIT: I originally said it was the right hand pane. Oops.)
• Look in the center top pane and if there are any general scheduled tasks on your machineyou will see them there. For instance, I just createed a backup schedule and I see ascheduled task with the name "Backup S drive to W drive". If you don't see anything to do with backups, then the schedule was not created for some reason.

Once I (we) know how you tried to schedule the backup we can go on a bit further. Hang in there! =)

Message Edited by BetaPsi on 01-21-2009 07:47 AM

[mdrnhart]

Thanks again, but I've done all of your suggestions, multiple times. Each time Vista tells me it was successfully backed up, but it never is.

I also tried your search suggestion, and yes indeed, Vista says it is scheduling regular backups, but they never happen.

HP says to call Microsoft-it's their problem.

I called Microsoft; they say to call HP-it's their problem. But for a fee, Microsoft will help me fix their defective Vista. (this with a computer that's only 6 weeks old)

[BetaPsi]

Could you clarify what you mean when you say "it was never backed up"? Does your external hard drive have less space on it after each backup? When you try to do a backup, is there a dialog box that that says "Backing up files" with a green bar that slowly moves across? Does that green bar take a long time or is it instantaneous?

When you click "Restore Files" from within the Backup and restore center, select "Files form the latest backup" can you then click the "search" button and search for something that you know would have been backed up? Even just type a single letter and search for it... you'll probably get alot of files returned but at least you'll know that something is being backed up if you do.

Next, go back through that process again (click "Restore Files" from within the Backup and restore center), but this time select "Files from an older backup". Do you see any backups that you can select from?

The new Vista backup program doesn't quite have the same leel of granularity that the old NTBackup did.  However, the Complete PC Backup (i.e. image creator) is great! Seems like there was some give and take with this new version. 

[nib]

I had exactly the same problem with a Pavilion and I was advised by my retailer to return the computer to them under warranty because the advice I had been given by email from HP customer services would void my warranty. The advice was taken and HP corrected the fault with no explanation given . The data that had been "supposedly backed up was completely lost but the disks that were stated as holding that data did record as having been filled by that data but it could not be found on the disk. Enquiries to HP proved fruitless.

[nib]

Return the computer to your retailer and, assuming you are in the UK, quote the following consumer protection The sale of Goods Act 1979 Any problems, contact Consumer Direct who have a web site