Windows Backup Did Not Complete Successfully-Explained

Problem

When using Windows' built-in backup utility, a one-time backup or scheduled backup may fail with the error "Windows Backup did not complete successfully." To gain more detailed error information, you can click the "Option" button or check the Event Log.

Cause

Backing up to an external USB hard drive may result in timeouts, causing incomplete backups. This can also occur if the files being backed up have issues, unless indicated otherwise by the Event Log. The Event Log may reveal that the system cannot find a file, possibly due to a virus affecting the backup files. Another factor contributing to backup failures is I/O device errors.

solution

To address the issue of Windows Backup not working, you can try one or more of the following steps based on the information found in the Event Log. Firstly, verify that the Windows Backup service is running and that the backup location is accessible.

1. To check and fix disk errors on both the source and destination drives, you can use the command "chkdsk" in a command prompt. For example, to check drive C:, you would type "chkdsk C: /f". Alternatively, you can right-click on the partition, go to Properties, then Tools, and select Error-checking. This will scan and repair any disk errors on both drives.

2. Make sure the backup drive is well connected to your computer and that its status in Disk Management is Online.

3. Run a full scan with anti-virus software to delete untrusted files, and consider downloading Microsoft Security Essentials for free to help with the process.

4. To resolve the issue, delete any old backups or volume shadow copies and then attempt the backup again. This can help resolve the problem.

If Windows 7 backup fails despite trying all the above steps, you can consider using third-party backup software as a last resort.

Backup with free backup software

Qiling Disk Master Standard is a free backup and recovery software for Windows 10/8/7 that allows for block level backups, scheduled backups, and full/incremental/differential backups, making it a suitable alternative to Windows backup when it fails to complete successfully.

To backup with Qiling Disk Master Standard:

1. Download and run this freeware. Once launched, click on the "backup" option in the Home screen to initiate a backup job.

2. To start a backup, click on "Disk Backup" to include the entire hard drive, or select a specific type of backup, such as system, partition, or file backup, based on your needs.

3. The program will automatically include the backup source if you choose "System backup" in the last step, making the process more convenient.

4. Specify a location where to store the image backup.

5. To schedule a backup, click the "Schedule" button to configure the backup settings, and then click "Proceed" to initiate the backup process.

Windows Backup utility still performs file-by-file backups, which can lead to issues if any files have problems, causing the backup to fail. In contrast, Qiling Disk Master uses block-by-block technology, making it faster and more secure. Additionally, it allows for OS migration to SSD, synchronization of files between folders to create a data copy, and can even be used for command-line backups or dissimilar hardware restores with the Professional Edition.

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