windows 7 not keeping backup schedule once computer restarted after shutdown

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I run Win7 Pro and Win7 Home on two laptops, each running Windows Backup. A schedule is set to run backup every day at 2 a.m. I normally keep both laptops on 24/7. Frequently I shut down the laptops and unplug everything including monitors, routers, etc when lightning is threatened for the area or for any other reason. When I restart everything, the schedule shows next backup scheduled for 12/30/99 (I know this is 1899!). I click “turn off schedule”, and then “turn on schedule” which brings back the originally set schedule for 2 a.m. the next day.
When clicking “turn off schedule” an error window pops up that says “Windows could not disable the automatic backup job for the following reason: Element not found (0x80070490) Try again.” But the schedule is disabled. Then when clicking “turn on schedule” an error windows pops up that says “Windows could not enable the automatic backup job for the following reason: Element not found (0x80070490) Try again.” But the schedule IS reset to what it should be.
If I do not remember to check the schedule settings and turn them off and on, I can go many days without backing up. Is there a way to avoid this, so that scheduler keeps the schedule even though everything was shut down for some time, even if a scheduled backup is skipped when it is shut down?

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Can you delete the schedule and re-create it?
You could attempt to delete it from Task Scheduler instead of backup.

cheers, Paul

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Can you delete the schedule and re-create it?
You could attempt to delete it from Task Scheduler instead of backup.

cheers, Paul

As I mentioned, despite the error message when turning the schedule off, the schedule is turned off, and similarly despite the error message when turning it on, it does turn on.
I am mostly concerned that the scheduler does not return to the originally programmed schedule after a shut-down, without having to go through the process of turning it off and on.

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That’s why I suggested deleting it from Task Scheduler.

cheers, Paul

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Tried this: deleted all tasks in Windows Backup, set up new backup and schedule. Then rebooted ( not shut down, just rebooted), schedule back to 12/30/99.
Now what?

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When the schedule has been set, export the schedule key from the registry and re-boot. Compare the registry key with your export.

cheers, Paul

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When the schedule has been set, export the schedule key from the registry and re-boot. Compare the registry key with your export.

cheers, Paul

I don’t understand….. please walk me through this.

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What date does your computer have in time properties?

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Not sure what you mean….. the date on both computers is August 17, 2015

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just covering all bases:rolleyes:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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To compare the tasks the easy way.
1. Run Task Scheduler.
2. Right click on the task you want.
3. Select Export.
4. Save it to your Desktop.
5. Open it in Notepad.
You can export the task after a re-boot, saving as a different name and comparing.

cheers, Paul

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To compare the tasks the easy way.
1. Run Task Scheduler.
2. Right click on the task you want.
3. Select Export.
4. Save it to your Desktop.
5. Open it in Notepad.
You can export the task after a re-boot, saving as a different name and comparing.

cheers, Paul

What am I comparing this to?

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As the schedule is OK until you re-boot you need to compare before re-boot and after.

cheers, Paul

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OK, I exported before and after rebooting. After rebooting the schedule was back to 1899. These are from my wife’s laptop where the schedule is to run at 11.00pm daily. There was another task there, called Windows Backup Monitor, so I exported this one too. I attach all four of the exported items, without a number being before rebooting, and with a 2 added being the items after rebooting. But can’t find the link for attaching files.

I have only been able to attach the files before the reboot. Will send another message with the other two.

I have no idea what any of this means.

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here, I hope, are the other two files.

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Here are the files from my own laptop: only one shown in task scheduler…. one at a time.

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here is the second

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The time from both files is the same:

2015-08-17T23:00:00
true

1

This means the error is not with the schedule, but with Windows backup interpretation. This may indicate a problem with the Windows system files.
Run SFC /scannow from an elevated Command Prompt – right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

cheers, Paul

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The time from both files is the same:

2015-08-17T23:00:00
true

1

This means the error is not with the schedule, but with Windows backup interpretation. This may indicate a problem with the Windows system files.
Run SFC /scannow from an elevated Command Prompt – right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

cheers, Paul

Ran SFC /scannow on both laptops. both results were ” Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations”.

Now what?

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Use a 3rd party backup utility? Plenty of good free ones.

cheers, Paul

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Use a 3rd party backup utility? Plenty of good free ones.

cheers, Paul

After Windows Secrets reviewed some of the third party backup utilities a few months ago, I bought EaseUS Todo Backup Home (not the free version), but I could not figure out how to set it up to to what I want: full backup once a week and differential (?) or incremental (?) backups every day in between, with an image backup at least once week or every day. Firstly, I do not know the difference between differential and incremental backups. I gave up, though I still have it. Can you guide me in this, since it looks like nobody really has a solution to Windows Backup problems? The “help” in the program is really no help. Or suggest another better one, does not have to be free?

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Full backup: backup everything and mark the files as backed up. Biggest backup.
Incremental: backup files not marked as backed up and then mark them backed up. Smallest backup, only changed files.
Differential: backup files not marked as backed up but do NOT mark them backed up. Bigger backup, changed files since last full backup, multiple copies of the same file.

You need to set up two backups, one for the full / incremental (data) backup and one for the image backup.
Image backups are not required more often that the OS is updated, once a month tops, once every six months if you don’t mind re-installing recent apps and updates. You can perform incremental image backups to only pick up changes.
Full backups are good for data and can be done as often as you like, but you can survive happily on a full every six months and then incremental.

What is your disk and data layout. This will determine the most effective backup strategy?

cheers, Paul

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Not sure what you mean by disk and data layout, but I will give it a try:

Computer A: Drive C: 74.5GB total, 16.7GB free. Drive D (data): 206Gb total, 190 Gb free. External drive (where I save backups) 232Gb total, 69.3GB free currently.

Computer B: Drive C: 116Gb total, 23Gb free, drive D (data): 334Gb total, 306Gb free. External drive 931 Gb total, 324 Gb free currently.

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You can create image backups of C: to D: with EaseUS. I’d suggest a non-scheduled image backup, then you can run it when required.
Next set up a backup schedule from D: to the external disk using a Full / Incremental.
This will give you a quick method to restore the OS if it goes pear shaped, and anything else can be recovered from the external.

Don’t forget to create EaseUS recovery media.

cheers, Paul

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How come you suggest the image backup onto D:? Why not the external drive? Windows Backup did this daily (when it ran) and just overwrote the previous image. If the drive is too full, I delete one or two of the oldest backups.
EaseUS has various options: Disk/Partition backup; File Backup; System Backup; Smart Backup; Mail Backup. Can you explain the differences and which I use for what, please?
In the tools settings, they show: Create Emergency Disk (which I guess is what you call recovery media); wipe data; iSCSI Initiator; enable PreOS; mount/unmount. What are these all?

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Creating the image backup on D: means you can restore the OS from D: quickly and easily, and you can have multiple images. It also gives you more flexibility on the external disk as it’s a bit small to contain multiple backups.

System backup will be an image backup, the same as performing a Disk Backup of C:. Use this for your image backup.
File backup allows you to select files from a specific location(s), e.g. My Documents. Use this as the daily backup.
Smart Backup. Not required in your case.
Mail backup is as it says.

cheers, Paul

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Creating the image backup on D: means you can restore the OS from D: quickly and easily, and you can have multiple images. It also gives you more flexibility on the external disk as it’s a bit small to contain multiple backups.

System backup will be an image backup, the same as performing a Disk Backup of C:. Use this for your image backup.
File backup allows you to select files from a specific location(s), e.g. My Documents. Use this as the daily backup.
Smart Backup. Not required in your case.
Mail backup is as it says.

cheers, Paul

Thank you for your guidance. I will set it up today. Can you explain the various tools also, please? I have read the explanation in the EaseUS website, but it is incomprehensible!

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In creating the EaseUS boot disc, what is “compatibility mode”? Should I check this or not?

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IIRC, compatibility mode is for 32-bit systems.

Zig

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