Windows Vista auto backup not working

Please move if this is in the wrong place.
A search didn't turn up any help.
I am using Vista Home Premium, and the automatic backup has been working previuosly.
I have Windows auto backup configured to run every early AM, but it quit working.
I have rechecked the settings and they're correct, and it's turned on.
It will run if started manually, but not at the scheduled time. Any ideas? Thanks

 

Are you receiving any error messages? Have you looked in Event viewer for error reports?

Open Event Viewer by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, clicking Administrative Tools, and then double-clicking Event Viewer. This guide will help you find your way around:

http://www.petri.co.il/vista-event-viewer.htm

Have a look for an event around the time the back up was scheduled and report back with your findings, please include as much information as possible.

What are you backing up to, an internal or external storage device?

 

I forgot to mention, so thanks. I'm backing up to an external hard drive. There is nothing for nearly 5 hrs after the last scheduled backup time in the event log.

 

The event log should have a record of the back up at the time of the schedule whether it took place or failed. This tells me that something is wrong with the schedule settings. I would suggest you make a new schedule. To test it, set it for ten minutes time and see if it works. Then reset it for the time required and report back. Check your system clock and date are correct.

 

I'm not that familiar with the event log, but I didn't see anything at that time. The system time and date are correct. I'll try rescheduling, and get back to you. Since it's hourly, the next closest time will be in about 45 mins. Thanks

 

The backup didn't run at the scheduled time of 9AM. I just reset it to run at 1AM daily again. I'm going to try to reboot the CPU; sometimes a simple reboot fixes problems. We lost power about a week back (about the time the symptom showed up), but it seemed to reboot normally.

 

If that fails to do anything and you still can't find any trace of the error in the event viewer you could then try a system restore.

Click 'Start' and type rstrui into the search box and hit enter, this will bring up the restore facility. Take it back to a time before the problem occured.

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Your last post jumped infront of mine, so was there still no sign of the event in the event viewer. That power loss may have something to do with it.

Try the above first and then try.

Click 'Start' type cmd in the search box, right click the CMD logo in the box that opens and click 'Run as Administrator'. At the command prompt type sfc /scannow and enter (note the gap before the /). This will scan and repair all your system files. It may ask for the OS disc during the process.

 

I'm not 100% sure of the exact day it didn't run. Would it be OK to try the scan mentioned in your last paragraph now? By ask for OS do you mean a disc with it on? I have mine on a recovery partition, as well as on recovery discs. No actual disc from MS. Thanks

 

I would try the restore first and just take it back to a week or so before you think the problem started.

When you run sfc /scannow it doesn't often ask for the disc as most system files are backed up on the hard drive. You'll have to run it and see.

 

Thanks for the help. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow.

 

Thanks to markmadras for help on this one. The system restore did it. Many thanks.

 

Your welcome