Can the program Windows 7 backup be restored to its orginal state?

[sharpy]

I currently have a problem with the Windows backup program which prevents it from completing a backup of folders. Its down to deleting the backup which was on a external drive. This was the only backup location so all references in backup are to this drive. I had backed up the Users folder in the C drive. The result of this is files in the User directory when I right click and select restore previous versions point to the backup location which has been deleted! Backup fails when creating a shadow copy with the system cannot find the file specified error code.

Is there any way to purge all thess references in backup and restore it to a default state?

[bludgard]

... Its down to deleting the backup which was on a external drive. This was the only backup location ...Is there any way to purge all thess references in backup and restore it to a default state?

This backup was on the external disk?

It was deleted and you want a clean disc?

Previous versions as well as shadow copy reside within system restore function if I'm not mistaken.If this backup media is deleted or overwritten,some versions may no longer exist,If there is a problem with creating new backup,the a wiping and reformatting of the hard dive should fix any file corruption.

If I misunderstood your post completely,please advise.

[sharpy]

Can I rephase the problem.

The backup on a external drive was deleted by accident this contains the backups of the folder Users. Now I had pior to deleting the backup restored the most recent backup so although some files cannot be over wriiten most of the files where replaced. So now in the folder Users right clicking on a file and selecting 'Restore previous versions' it always displays the most recent file that was in the backup.

Its the fact that these links to the missing backup are causing backup to fail when I try to use it again to back up folders. Just selecting the create a system backup still works. So somewhere in the system directory or in the registry these links exist to the deleted backup. So is their a way to purge these from the most recent file versions in the shadow copy volume? Deleting the system restore points and using cleanup to delete shadow copies deletes all but the most recent shadow copies. I somehow need to remove these most recent shadow copies.

[bludgard]

Deleting the system restore points and using cleanup to delete shadow copies deletes all but the most recent shadow copies. I somehow need to remove these most recent shadow copies.

To delete all restore backup follow path in screenshot below.

You will have to re-enable through the same path to turn on system protection again.

EDIT:Attatchments not working....

Start>right-click Computer>Properties>System protection>Configure>tick Turn off system protection>Apply>OK.

Note the default setting before making any changes.

[sharpy]

Thanks for the extra advice.

In fact I forgot to shut down system restore. I also have tried turning off the services Shadow Volume and Windows Backup and rebooting the computer. As expected there are no recent shadow copies in the folder effected so the next step I will do is to turn these sevices back on and check if the traces of the deleted backup are still presence. I'am laying a few bets here that the problem will return and so this will probably then point to a link to the deleted backup either in the registry and/or a system file some where. I'll report back on the progress of this since the plan is to iron out this problem. Of course the alternative is to pay Microsoft support £45 to fix this, when they should be offering free support on this area as it a source of alot of problems. The backup error log is normally blank so its difficult to trace errors relating to deleted files whose links in the registry are still present and of course my problem.

Anyway I leave off here and will try again later.

[bludgard]

... errors relating to deleted files whose links in the registry are still present and of course my problem.

To be rid of the obsolete referrences,try running CCleaner to clean them up.There is a prompt to backup the deleted registry entries before "fixing" them.I always create various backups when "fiddlin'" with files and whatnot.It's a good habit to get into and can save a ton of time and pure aggravation.CCleaner also rids the system and browser(s) of un-needed/wanted hangers on.(Make sure the option to install Yahoo toolbar is unticked if you opt to install the program.;) )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCleaner