Drive containing Vista is NTFS formatted, I think that's one of the requirement to install it. Also, the backup destination is an empty NTFS formatted external USB harddrive that I've used to backup a CompletePC image before so I know it's not a problem with the harddrive. I had to format it after the last backup which was over a month ago.

Message Edited by fumanju on 05-09-2007 12:37 PM

yes, it did changed the drive letter as I also have other NTFS formatted drive connected to the computer via USB port. I used Vista to format my drive, it can be seen in My Computer, I can read and write to it. I don't remember if I had mentioned this, but I am using a Dell Inspiron E1405 notebook. I should have also mentioned that the harddrive is partitioned into 2 partitions (done via Vista Computer/Disk Management). First partition, the one containing Vista, is NTFS formatted, the second is FAT32. Prior to the last backup, the second partition (FAT32) was not formatted and was simply unallocated space, thus it did not have a drive letter. After the last backup, I formatted the second partition to FAT32 and thus assign drive letter D: to it. Prior to the backup, my external was assigned drive letter D:, I don't remember why it wasn't E: as the DVD drive should have been D:. Regardless, second partition is now D:, DVD is now E: and external harddrive, when it's connected is F:. Anyway, right now, every time I run Backup and Restore Center, it shows my drive D: as the location of the LAST backup. I assume that it keeps trying to fine the backup image in D: and gives me an error when it doesn't. What I'd like to do is create a BRAND SPANKING NEW backup image. I haven't been able to do it since Windows is not allowing me to even choose a new location. It is too stubborn to let go of the last backup.

Message Edited by C3PO5 on 05-09-2007 01:32 PM

With or without the second external USB harddrive, I still cannot backup. The second partition on the notebook harddrive is smaller than the first one. However, I'm not trying to back up to the second partition on the notebook, rather, i'm trying to back up to the external harddrive. The external harddrive is way bigger than the Vista partition that I'm trying to backup. I've been trying to backup for about a month now, I have rebooted many many times.

Vista partition is about 40GB, second partition on notebook harddrive is about 15GB, external harddrive is an empty 200GB NTFS formatted single partition harddrive connected via USB.

The problem also is the fact that I cannot even backup to DVD-R, which is really a kick while you're down. Even if the external harddrive is not suitable for backup, which I don't believe is the case here, it should still let me choose to backup via DVD-R, which was an option prior to the last backup before Backup and Restore Center locked me out of the whole process.

Like I had mentioned before, the error I'm getting is a result of Backup and Restore Center not being able to find the previous backup. But instead of letting me do a brand spanking new backup of the drive to a new location, it simply errors out and die.

Thank you so much for taking your time to help me. Sorry if I seem a bit frustrated.

Message Edited by fumanju on 05-09-2007 04:30 PM

Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.

I'll probably format my HDD and repartition everything so I can reinstall Win XP MCE that originally came with the laptop. I didn't think it'd be this much problem. I actually installed Vista RC1 and was using it for a while and had decide to buy Vista Ultimate because RC1 expires in June. Now, I'm gonna have to dual boot Vista and XP because a program that I need to use is not Vista compatible, as well as a webcam that I had bought only a few months ago.

Microsoft really knows how to make people mad. If only they don't have the majority of market shares on computer OS I don't think ppl would buy their stuffs.

On a related note, I just heard that Dell is offering XP on new computers now...kudos for sticking it to Microsoft where it hurts.

Message Edited by fumanju on 05-09-2007 05:38 PM

No, I was using RC1 prior to Vista official release. With RC1, everything had worked fine, I don't remember if Backup and Restore Center was included with RC1.

Right now I am using a retail version of Windows Vista Ultimate. Perhaps I should have waited until RC1 had expired before buying it.