Have found reproducible cause for this error. Multi-boot from wrong drive! If Win 7 is on Disk 0 Linux (or other bootable system) is on Disk 1 Backup is on Disk 2 Boot from Disk 0 to Win 7, everything works fine. Boot from Disk 1 and chain to Win 7, shadow copy fails with following error: Source: VSS Event ID: 8193 Level: Error Description: Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Unexpected error calling routine IVssAsrWriterBackup::GetAsrMetadata. hr = 0x80042416, System partition (partition marked "active") is hidden or contains an unrecognized file system. Backup does not support this configuration. . Operation: PrepareForBackup event Context: Execution Context: ASR Writer Execution Context: Writer Writer Class Id: {be000cbe-11fe-4426-9c58-531aa6355fc4} Writer Name: ASR Writer Writer Instance ID: {73379187-a3dd-4d1c-a7dd-462e97707a28} Error-specific details: ASR Writer: System partition (partition marked "active") is hidden or contains an unrecognized file system. Backup does not support this configuration. (0x80042416) This seems to be the same problem. http://www.winvistatips.com/solved-t820957.html and this too http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproappcompat/thread/5f16c9c6-3c8f-4540-8c6e-63c132325816

This error may be caused by the system image backup configuration incorrect on the computer or some related components or services corrupt on the computer, you can follow the below steps to solve this issue: 1. Run “vssadmin list writers” to check if there is any error. 2. Register related dll files (we can ignore error messages if there is any) cd /d %windir%\system32 Net stop vss Net stop swprv regsvr32 ole32.dll regsvr32 vss_ps.dll regsvr32 es.dll regsvr32 stdprov.dll regsvr32 msxml3.dll regsvr32 msxml.dll regsvr32 msxml4.dll 3. Stop related services a) Volume Shadow Copy Service. b) Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider. c) COM+ event system d) COM+ System Application 4. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software\Microsoft\EventSystem\{26c409cc-ae86-11d1-b616-00805fc79216}\Subscript, delete the "Subscriptions" key and leave the EventClasses key 5. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VolSnap add MinDiffAreaFileSize (DWORD) and set the value to 3000 6. Restart above services 7. Restart the computer And then, please run the Backup and Restore Utility again by following the below configuration: Click Start->Control Panel->Backup and Restore->Change Settings Choose the Backup Destination on your local hard drive, not on an external USB drive Choose Let me Choose option Choose which files you want to backup and uncheck the checkbox “Include a system image of drives: OS (C:)” in the bottom of the window And then run the backup If the problem exists, please locate C:\Windows\Logs\WindowsBackup. There is a log named "Backup Files*_error.log" will be created when starting backup. We can check the detail error about the backup errors. For More Information and Help related to windows 7 backup error

Hi, It seems that windows Backup won’t work with GRUB boot loader. It is suggested to download the latest version of EasyBCD and put the Windows drive as the boot drive in the BIOS boot priority. For more details, please refer to http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_linux_linux_is_already_installed.htm?page=5. Note: The third-party product discussed here is manufactured by a company that is independent of Microsoft. We make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability. Regards,Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.