# Windows 10 backups always fail **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-backups-always-fail/844180 "2019-11-29T19:50:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oglomott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oglomott/32/3543_2.png) [@Oglomott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oglomott)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-backups-always-fail/844180/1 "2019-11-29T19:50:17Z")
I have set the Windows 10 built-in backup utility to make automatic file backups. I always get error messages that the “last backup did not complete successfully”, or words to that effect. Today I attempted to do a system image backup; it also failed. The error message: “Volume shadow copy service operation failed. Try checking the VSS and SPP application event logs for more information”. "The writer experienced a transient failure. If the backup process is retried, the error may not reoccur. " (wrong.) I Googled the issue, and found a fix, which I tried, but it didn’t work. (It involved going into “Windows Administrative Tools”, and “Services” and restarting the SPP Service) Much of the information I found on this issue is several years out of date, so it may be of no use to me. I am running the latest version of Windows 10 Professional. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-backups-always-fail/844180/2 "2019-11-29T21:16:44Z")
Use third party backups. I use Macrium Reflect to make a disk image of my C drive and Syncback Free to make data backups (both free): > **[Macrium Reflect Free Trial](https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree)** > > Macrium Reflect - Incredibly powerful software that allows you to create and schedule effective backups > **[Backup software - free and commercial versions available](https://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/freeware-hub.html)** > > The best backup software. Backup and synchronize your files to local or network drives, FTP, cloud backups or removable media. Easy to use, reliable software. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-backups-always-fail/844180/3 "2019-11-29T21:25:41Z")
If you’re okay with not have an actual image, Google Backup & Sync works very well. Tell it which folders to keep synced and everything you do in those folders is reflected in the cloud within a few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Oglomott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oglomott/32/3543_2.png) [@Oglomott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oglomott)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-backups-always-fail/844180/4 "2019-11-29T21:57:52Z")
Thanks for the replies. My next question was going to be if I used third party backup software, would I still get these error messages. My ultimate goal: Make a backup or image of my C drive, which is an HDD, onto an external USB drive. Replace my HDD “C” drive with an SSD drive. restore the image to the new SSD drive. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-backups-always-fail/844180/5 "2019-11-29T22:00:47Z")
You might need to do a repair “installation” of Windows, in effect, rewriting the core rules to correct any errors on the hard drive. ---
**Author:** ![Oglomott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oglomott/32/3543_2.png) [@Oglomott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oglomott)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-backups-always-fail/844180/6 "2019-11-29T22:09:25Z")
> [@Kimera757](#): > > You might need to do a repair “installation” of Windows, in effect, rewriting the core rules to correct any errors on the hard drive. I ran chkdsk, and it said the disk was fine. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-backups-always-fail/844180/7 "2019-11-29T22:35:10Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Use third party backups. **I use Macrium Reflect to make a disk image of my C drive** and Syncback Free to make data backups (both free): > [Macrium Reflect Free Trials](https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree) > [Free Backup Software - commercial versions also available](https://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/freeware-hub.html) Same here. I’m still on Win7, Backup never worked right from the start.