Backup - Insufficient Storage (0x8004231F)

lordbob75 · Mar 1, 2009

Hello all (again)

This has been driving me crazy. After spending about 4 hours trying to get it to work, Vista refuses to back up my computer. I keep getting this box:

I have done all I know how to do, including creating a partition bigger than the one my OS is housed on (500gbs) and it is still not big enough apparently. The Seven backup worked amazingly, but Vista seems to not like it.

Any suggestions? I believe I need to reset the size of the Shadow Copy or something, but VSSAdmin did not recognize the partition....

~Lordbob

Barman58 · Mar 1, 2009

Hi David,

Just an idea but could this be more to do with the free space you have on the drive you are backing up from, (where the temp files are built), rather than the space on the drive you are backing up to.

Just an idea - I've had the same sort of error but only when the backup drive is almost full

Update

not sure if this may help ...

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080925043710AAqklgN

lordbob75 · Mar 1, 2009

Nigel,

The reason I was at a loss was that I created a brand new partition (500gbs) that would not work.

I also just reinstalled and the partition Vista is on is like 25% full at most, and that much less than 500 gigs.

~Lordbob

EDIT: Nothing I have found can help either, because there is no shadow copies tab on the properties menu of ANY of my partitions!

rive0108 · Mar 13, 2009

I know what your problem is, and it has nothing to do with the location of your Backup- you adjusted the shadow copy storage limit didnt you? Its too small to contain the full backup image now.

Shadow Storage info in command prompt:
vssadmin list shadowstorage

Change max size (command prompt):
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=xxGB and press enter.
Maxsize= Size you want to limit it to, # + GB or MB

note- change your value to whatever you want, but keep in mind the newly created data backup is roughly 20GB in size

lordbob75 · Mar 13, 2009

LOL. Okay so I have now gotten the same suggestion from about 10 different people (no offense, it is just frustrating) and it still doesn't work.

When I try to use VSSAdmin, my backup partition is not even listed:
All my Partitions:

What VSSAdmin lists:

Also, when I open up properties on that partition, there is no shadow copy option anywhere that I can find (no tab as well)

Any other ideas? There is no shadow copy option on ANY partition btw.... :mad:

:sa::sa::sa::sa::sa::sa::sa: :devil:

~Lordbob

rive0108 · Mar 13, 2009

I know from experience that I can only create a data backup on removable media, but I only have 1 partition that is spanned across 2 hard drives.
Your created partition should work similiar to an external partition/drive. I dont think this is your problem though.

15GB of shadowstorage is too small for Vista for the Data file backup. the data file backup is usually no less than 20GB for the initial backup, and then further backups are incremental.
allocate max shadowcopy storage to at least 30GB

Shadowcopy can only be placed on the Vista partition, and has to be configured through the admin command prompt. It can only be for the C: drive, and on the C: drive. You cannot place the shadowcopy on any other partition, or shadow copy any partition but the c: drive (drive vista is installed on). (for C, on C)

copy/paste into Admin:cmd/hit enter:
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=30GB

lordbob75 · Mar 13, 2009

My backup partition is currently at 100 gigs, though when I extended it to 500, it still didn't work.....

~Lordbob

rive0108 · Mar 13, 2009

lordbob75 said:
My backup partition is currently at 100 gigs, though when I extended it to 500, it still didn't work.....

~Lordbob

Because shadowcopy max size is too small. 15GB is too small to shadow the 20GB+ Data file backup. see above edited post #6.

There is no shadowcopy option anywhere but through the Admin command prompt, and again, it can only be placed on the Vista partition, and can only shadow the Vista partition-in your case the C: drive.

copy/paste into Admin:cmd utility/hit enter:
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=30GB

rive0108 · Mar 13, 2009

In File Backup, Volume Shadow Copy Service is used to create consistent copies of files that are open or in use by applications. During the backup process, the backup app reads from these consistent copies. This is handy, for example, when backing up a .pst file that is constantly opened by Microsoft Outlook®. Volume Shadow Copy Service ensures the backed-up .pst file is in a consistent state so that it can be accessed upon restore.

If shadowcopy max size is smaller than the backup size, the backup will fail

lordbob75 · Mar 13, 2009

Alright, that worked (and now makes more sense). How come it can only be placed on the Vista Partition? That seems stupid (and seven does it the way I want it....)

And when I try to set up the backup to go to the C: drive, IT ISN'T THERE!?!?!?!?!

~Lordbob

rive0108 · Mar 14, 2009

lordbob75 said:
Alright, that worked (and now makes more sense). How come it can only be placed on the Vista Partition? That seems stupid (and seven does it the way I want it....)

And when I try to set up the backup to go to the C: drive, IT ISN'T THERE!?!?!?!?!

~Lordbob

You cannot set the file backup to backup to the same partition for obvious reasons- if the vista installation becomes corrupted and/or unaccessable, your data backup is also corrupted/unacessable. It must be placed on a disk/partition other than the backed up source it is coming from.

lordbob75 · Mar 14, 2009

But it won't let me...... *beats head on wall*

~Lordbob

rive0108 · Mar 14, 2009

lordbob75 said:
But it won't let me...... *beats head on wall*

~Lordbob

Wont let you what? If the backup location wont allow you to backup to another partition other than C:, then use a removable media source (a DVD/BD or external HDD). Make sure you adjust your c: drive shadowcopy maxsize to 30GB.

The whole point of the data backup is to place it on a media seperate from your Hard drive in the event of failure or corruption of that drive.

lordbob75 · Mar 14, 2009

Can you post an exact step by step process? My mind is dying right now, and I have SAT's tomorrow.... Hopefully it will work.

~Lordbob

rive0108 · Mar 14, 2009

lordbob75 said:
Can you post an exact step by step process? My mind is dying right now, and I have SAT's tomorrow.... Hopefully it will work.

~Lordbob

tell me what you need... did you adjust shadowcopy max size?
start> in search, type cmd>right click, and "run as admin"> copy and paste the following command, and then hit enter. Close command prompt.

vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=30GB

Now you can use the backup utility. Search for acceptable backup location (you may have to place a DVD in optical drive, or use a usb Hard drive). Commence backup.

lordbob75 · Mar 14, 2009

OK. I did the resize. So if I start it, and have it go to a external HDD. Then I can move it to another partition. Right?

~Lordbob

rive0108 · Mar 14, 2009

lordbob75 said:
OK. I did the resize. So if I start it, and have it go to a external HDD. Then I can move it to another partition. Right?

~Lordbob

It will be a file, that yes, you can manually move to a different location. But if you do so, you may have a problem when it tries to do an incremental backup at a later point in time, as the file will be gone.

lordbob75 · Mar 14, 2009

Ugh... This could be a problem then. Maybe I will just skip it... Nothing important on here anyways.

~Lordbob

rive0108 · Mar 14, 2009

lordbob75 said:
Ugh... This could be a problem then. Maybe I will just skip it... Nothing important on here anyways.

~Lordbob

Try this:
move the file to your partition, but leave an empty "shell folder" with the same name as the one you moved. It will see the exisiting file folder, and back up any recently changed files that occured from the time the original backup was performed (file size will be relatively small), then just cut/paste that into the original backup folder

lordbob75 · Mar 14, 2009

Alright, I will. It might be tough though because I have no external HDD, and it wont let you use network drives to backup to.... :/

~Lordbob

Backup - Insufficient Storage (0x8004231F)

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