HDD backup not fully restoring

[Eisenholt]

So I created a backup of my HDD as I was planning on factory resetting so I could tranfer my OS to an SSD. Backup went fine and according to windows the backup HDD has all of my approx 900GB data on it. I factory reset my main HDD, transfered the OS and then went to system restore to transfer all the data from the backup HDD to my main HDD. Problem is it only seems to have restored my user folder and everything else like program files, steam games (about 400Gb), etc. doesn't seem to have made it.

Considering that the backup HDD has 900GB on it, why has only about 50GB been restored and how do I get at the other 850GB? Thanks.

 

[Neur0nauT]

So I created a backup of my HDD as I was planning on factory resetting so I could tranfer my OS to an SSD. Backup went fine and according to windows the backup HDD has all of my approx 900GB data on it. I factory reset my main HDD, transfered the OS and then went to system restore to transfer all the data from the backup HDD to my main HDD. Problem is it only seems to have restored my user folder and everything else like program files, steam games (about 400Gb), etc. doesn't seem to have made it.

Considering that the backup HDD has 900GB on it, why has only about 50GB been restored and how do I get at the other 850GB? Thanks.

It sounds like the backup image has been corrupted or it may be because you are attempting to restore a full image of the partitions onto a different drive.

If you can still see the 900GB of data and access it, I would just make a point of reformatting your new main HDD and install the OS, then try to restore your backup data back to the fresh drive individually, rather than the whole image. What did you use to create the backup image? Where is it stored at the moment?

What I do instead of using full images in order to clean up my hard drives. I would only tend to back up My Documents, My Downloads from the User folder or any other precious data in there, and also any game installs to another drive. Reformat and reinstall the OS, then move these folders onto the same locations the fresh install afterwards.

It works like a charm usually. I only have to install some apps, and drivers, run updates. Sometimes the games need reinstalled to get them back into the registry and reinstall any required redistributables such as DirectX or Framework, but because the original My Documents folder is there, it picks up the previous keybinds, graphics and savegames. All only takes me around 25mins with 8.1.

I've had to do it twice in the last two weeks due to a suspected faulty SSD and Witcher 3 crashing and messing up the MBR.

 

[Eisenholt]

So I created a backup of my HDD as I was planning on factory resetting so I could tranfer my OS to an SSD. Backup went fine and according to windows the backup HDD has all of my approx 900GB data on it. I factory reset my main HDD, transfered the OS and then went to system restore to transfer all the data from the backup HDD to my main HDD. Problem is it only seems to have restored my user folder and everything else like program files, steam games (about 400Gb), etc. doesn't seem to have made it.

Considering that the backup HDD has 900GB on it, why has only about 50GB been restored and how do I get at the other 850GB? Thanks.

It sounds like the backup image has been corrupted or it may be because you are attempting to restore a full image of the partitions onto a different drive.

If you can still see the 900GB of data and access it, I would just make a point of reformatting your new main HDD and install the OS, then try to restore your backup data back to the fresh drive individually, rather than the whole image. What did you use to create the backup image? Where is it stored at the moment?

What I do instead of using full images in order to clean up my hard drives. I would only tend to back up My Documents, My Downloads from the User folder or any other precious data in there, and also any game installs to another drive. Reformat and reinstall the OS, then move these folders onto the same locations the fresh install afterwards.

It works like a charm usually. I only have to install some apps, and drivers, run updates. Sometimes the games need reinstalled to get them back into the registry and reinstall any required redistributables such as DirectX or Framework, but because the original My Documents folder is there, it picks up the previous keybinds, graphics and savegames. All only takes me around 25mins with 8.1.

I've had to do it twice in the last two weeks due to a suspected faulty SSD and Witcher 3 crashing and messing up the MBR.

In doing a little bit more research to reply to your answer I found that the file type of the unaccessable stuff on the HDD was VHD and a google search pointed me to a potential fix for the problem. Trying it now but I think the issue may be solved. Thanks for helping me.