Vista - No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!!

05-15-2009

I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the
first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just gave
up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back
up, it says "last backup failed".

I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at the
D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in
the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start
from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the little
RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to!

I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd
be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for
Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up my
laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!!

THANK YOU!!

05-15-2009

Cassie wrote:

Quote:

> I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the
> first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just gave
> up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back
> up, it says "last backup failed".
>
> I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at the
> D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in
> the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start
> from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the little
> RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to!
>
> I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd
> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for
> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up my
> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!!
>
> THANK YOU!!

Do you have trash can set for each drive? Perhaps purging trash can will give
you back your space?

Jan M. Nelken

05-15-2009

"Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:76697632-D0E7-4A05-9599-C28D33756DB5@xxxxxx

Quote:

> I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the
> first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just
> gave
> up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back
> up, it says "last backup failed".
>
> I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at
> the
> D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in
> the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start
> from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the
> little
> RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to!
>
> I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd
> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for
> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up
> my
> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!!
>
> THANK YOU!!

DO NOT TOUCH THE D DRIVE!!!!!!!!
This is the hidden partition set by your computer vendor to enable you to
restore your computer to factory specification.
Purchase a USB external disk drive from Amazon or similar and do your
backups to that.

--
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Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about,
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05-15-2009

"Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:76697632-D0E7-4A05-9599-C28D33756DB5@xxxxxx

Quote:

> I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the
> first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just
> gave
> up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back
> up, it says "last backup failed".
>
> I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at
> the
> D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in
> the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start
> from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the
> little
> RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to!
>
> I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd
> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for
> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up
> my
> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!!
>
> THANK YOU!!

Do not try to back it up toyour D drive. That is used to restore your
computer to its original condition.

Instead get a USB drive or an external drive and use that.

05-16-2009

> I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the

Quote:

> first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just
> gave
> up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back
> up, it says "last backup failed".
>
> I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at
> the
> D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in
> the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start
> from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the
> little
> RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to!
>
> I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd
> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for
> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up
> my
> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!!
>

..
This is a common problem. The D: drive is actually a partition (a reserved
space) on the hard drive where all of the original software that came with
your computer is stored. This makes it possible to restore the computer to
"factory fresh" condition if the operating system gets corrupted. The Vista
backup program attempts to backup to a location other then C: and chooses
D:, but there is very little free space in the recovery partition, so the
backup fails. You need to either disable the automatic backup or
reconfigure it to use a different drive. That would mean getting an
external hard disk or a large flash drive.

05-24-2009

Gordon wrote:

Quote:

>
> "Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:76697632-D0E7-4A05-9599-C28D33756DB5@xxxxxx

Quote:

>> I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but
>> the
>> first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why,
>> just gave
>> up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to
>> back
>> up, it says "last backup failed".
>>
>> I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked
>> at the
>> D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I
>> looked in
>> the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start
>> from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the
>> little
>> RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going
>> to!
>>
>> I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!!
>> I'd
>> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for
>> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back
>> up my
>> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!!
>>
>> THANK YOU!!

>
> DO NOT TOUCH THE D DRIVE!!!!!!!!
> This is the hidden partition set by your computer vendor to enable you
> to restore your computer to factory specification.

......how would the OP be seeing that the hidden partition without using
partitioning software? As she states "I am completely computer
deficient". :-)

05-24-2009

"propman" <propman@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:gvbsv3$edt$1@xxxxxx-september.org...

Quote:

> Gordon wrote:

Quote:

>>
>> "Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:76697632-D0E7-4A05-9599-C28D33756DB5@xxxxxx

Quote:

>>> I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but
>>> the
>>> first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why,
>>> just gave
>>> up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to
>>> back
>>> up, it says "last backup failed".
>>>
>>> I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked
>>> at the
>>> D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I
>>> looked in
>>> the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start
>>> from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the
>>> little
>>> RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going
>>> to!
>>>
>>> I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!!
>>> I'd
>>> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for
>>> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back
>>> up my
>>> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!!
>>>
>>> THANK YOU!!

>>
>> DO NOT TOUCH THE D DRIVE!!!!!!!!
>> This is the hidden partition set by your computer vendor to enable you
>> to restore your computer to factory specification.

>
> .....how would the OP be seeing that the hidden partition without using
> partitioning software? As she states "I am completely computer
> deficient". :-)
>

The restore partition is not always hidden. On HP machines it is frequently visible and can be accessed.
(another dumb HP feature)

05-24-2009

"propman" <propman@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:gvbsv3$edt$1@xxxxxx-september.org...

Quote:

>
> .....how would the OP be seeing that the hidden partition without using
> partitioning software?

Because the backup app sees it.

As she states "I am completely computer

Quote:

> deficient". :-)
>

Well if that's the case then she should have RTFM!

--
Asking a question?
Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about,
your OS, Service Pack level
and the FULL contents of any error message(s)

05-25-2009

Richard in AZ wrote:

Quote:

> "propman" <propman@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:gvbsv3$edt$1@xxxxxx-september.org...

Quote:

>> Gordon wrote:

Quote:

>>> "Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message
>>>> I'd
>>>> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for
>>>> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back
>>>> up my
>>>> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!!
>>>>
>>>> THANK YOU!!
>>> DO NOT TOUCH THE D DRIVE!!!!!!!!
>>> This is the hidden partition set by your computer vendor to enable you
>>> to restore your computer to factory specification.

>> .....how would the OP be seeing that the hidden partition without using
>> partitioning software? As she states "I am completely computer
>> deficient". :-)
>>

>
> The restore partition is not always hidden. On HP machines it is frequently visible and can be accessed.
> (another dumb HP feature)

Thanks for the update....:-)

05-15-2009	#1 (permalink)
Cassie n/a posts	No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!! I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just gave up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back up, it says "last backup failed". I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at the D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the little RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to! I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up my laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!! THANK YOU!!
My System Specs

05-15-2009	#2 (permalink)
Jan M. Nelken n/a posts	Re: No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!! Cassie wrote: Quote: > I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the > first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just gave > up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back > up, it says "last backup failed". > > I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at the > D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in > the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start > from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the little > RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to! > > I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd > be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for > Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up my > laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!! > > THANK YOU!! Do you have trash can set for each drive? Perhaps purging trash can will give you back your space? Jan M. Nelken
My System Specs

05-15-2009	#3 (permalink)
Gordon n/a posts	Re: No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!! "Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:76697632-D0E7-4A05-9599-C28D33756DB5@xxxxxx Quote: > I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the > first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just > gave > up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back > up, it says "last backup failed". > > I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at > the > D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in > the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start > from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the > little > RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to! > > I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd > be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for > Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up > my > laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!! > > THANK YOU!! DO NOT TOUCH THE D DRIVE!!!!!!!! This is the hidden partition set by your computer vendor to enable you to restore your computer to factory specification. Purchase a USB external disk drive from Amazon or similar and do your backups to that. -- Asking a question? Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about, your OS, Service Pack level and the FULL contents of any error message(s)
My System Specs

05-15-2009	#4 (permalink)
Anne n/a posts	Re: No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!! "Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:76697632-D0E7-4A05-9599-C28D33756DB5@xxxxxx Quote: > I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the > first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just > gave > up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back > up, it says "last backup failed". > > I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at > the > D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in > the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start > from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the > little > RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to! > > I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd > be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for > Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up > my > laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!! > > THANK YOU!! Do not try to back it up toyour D drive. That is used to restore your computer to its original condition. Instead get a USB drive or an external drive and use that.
My System Specs

05-16-2009	#5 (permalink)
Victek n/a posts	Re: No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!! > I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but the Quote: > first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, just > gave > up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to back > up, it says "last backup failed". > > I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked at > the > D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I looked in > the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start > from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the > little > RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going to! > > I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! I'd > be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for > Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back up > my > laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!! > .. This is a common problem. The D: drive is actually a partition (a reserved space) on the hard drive where all of the original software that came with your computer is stored. This makes it possible to restore the computer to "factory fresh" condition if the operating system gets corrupted. The Vista backup program attempts to backup to a location other then C: and chooses D:, but there is very little free space in the recovery partition, so the backup fails. You need to either disable the automatic backup or reconfigure it to use a different drive. That would mean getting an external hard disk or a large flash drive.
My System Specs

05-24-2009	#6 (permalink)
propman n/a posts	Re: No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!! Gordon wrote: Quote: > > "Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message > news:76697632-D0E7-4A05-9599-C28D33756DB5@xxxxxx Quote: >> I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but >> the >> first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, >> just gave >> up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to >> back >> up, it says "last backup failed". >> >> I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked >> at the >> D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I >> looked in >> the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start >> from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the >> little >> RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going >> to! >> >> I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! >> I'd >> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for >> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back >> up my >> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!! >> >> THANK YOU!! > > DO NOT TOUCH THE D DRIVE!!!!!!!! > This is the hidden partition set by your computer vendor to enable you > to restore your computer to factory specification. ......how would the OP be seeing that the hidden partition without using partitioning software? As she states "I am completely computer deficient". :-)
My System Specs

05-24-2009	#7 (permalink)
Richard in AZ n/a posts	Re: No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!! "propman" <propman@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:gvbsv3$edt$1@xxxxxx-september.org... Quote: > Gordon wrote: Quote: >> >> "Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message >> news:76697632-D0E7-4A05-9599-C28D33756DB5@xxxxxx Quote: >>> I've been trying to back up my laptop since I bought it last year, but >>> the >>> first time I did it, it said "backup failed" (I didn't look at why, >>> just gave >>> up) and since then, every week when it does its sad little attempt to >>> back >>> up, it says "last backup failed". >>> >>> I finally decided to give it another crack tonight, but when I looked >>> at the >>> D drive, it said that I only had 1.28GB free of just over 5GB. I >>> looked in >>> the file to see if there was anything I could get rid of so I could start >>> from scratch, but apparently there's nothing in there apart from the >>> little >>> RECOVERY file (87kb) which it says I shouldn't touch, so I'm not going >>> to! >>> >>> I am completely computer deficient and I have no idea about anything!! >>> I'd >>> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for >>> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back >>> up my >>> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!! >>> >>> THANK YOU!! >> >> DO NOT TOUCH THE D DRIVE!!!!!!!! >> This is the hidden partition set by your computer vendor to enable you >> to restore your computer to factory specification. > > .....how would the OP be seeing that the hidden partition without using > partitioning software? As she states "I am completely computer > deficient". :-) > The restore partition is not always hidden. On HP machines it is frequently visible and can be accessed. (another dumb HP feature)
My System Specs

05-24-2009	#8 (permalink)
Gordon n/a posts	Re: No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!! "propman" <propman@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:gvbsv3$edt$1@xxxxxx-september.org... Quote: > > .....how would the OP be seeing that the hidden partition without using > partitioning software? Because the backup app sees it. As she states "I am completely computer Quote: > deficient". :-) > Well if that's the case then she should have RTFM! -- Asking a question? Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about, your OS, Service Pack level and the FULL contents of any error message(s)
My System Specs

05-25-2009	#9 (permalink)
propman n/a posts	Re: No space to backup, but no files in the D drive!! Richard in AZ wrote: Quote: > "propman" <propman@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:gvbsv3$edt$1@xxxxxx-september.org... Quote: >> Gordon wrote: Quote: >>> "Cassie" <Cassie@xxxxxx> wrote in message >>>> I'd >>>> be really grateful if someone could give me a clue (in Vista Backup for >>>> Dummies terms) as to what's happening here and how I can FINALLY back >>>> up my >>>> laptop, and maybe even begin to love it like I should!! >>>> >>>> THANK YOU!! >>> DO NOT TOUCH THE D DRIVE!!!!!!!! >>> This is the hidden partition set by your computer vendor to enable you >>> to restore your computer to factory specification. >> .....how would the OP be seeing that the hidden partition without using >> partitioning software? As she states "I am completely computer >> deficient". :-) >> > > The restore partition is not always hidden. On HP machines it is frequently visible and can be accessed. > (another dumb HP feature) Thanks for the update....:-)
My System Specs

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