Create System Image FAILURE because of the 100MB system reserved partition that Windows automatically created

Question

trying to run:
Control Panel\System and Security\Backup and Restore > Create a system image
failed.  the first attempts produced the error message:
A shadow copy could not be created. Please check "VSS" and "SPP" application event logs for more information. The specified object was not found. Error code: 0x81000019
so I searched around, read several threads from other users encountering the same issue, tried the various solutions suggested, found Volume Shadow Copy and SPP in services and set both to Automatic and started them, and then I tried running Create
a system image again and received a different error message:
Create a system image
The backup failed.
There is not enough disk space to create the volume shadow copy on the storage location. Make sure that, for all volumes to be backed up, the minimum required disk space for shadow copy creation is available. This applies to both the backup storage destination
and volumes incluced in the backup  minimum requirement: For less than 500 megabytes, the minimum is 50 megabytes of free space.  For volumes more than 500 megabites, the minimum is 320 megabites of free space. Recommended: At least 1 gigabyte of
free disk space on each volume if folume size is more than one gigabyte.
(0x87080119)
according to this, a 100MB partition (a drive less than 500 megabytes) must have 50MB of free space.  as you know, Windows automatically creates a hidden partition of 100MB on installation.  that partition contains more than 50MB of data and, therefore,
obviously doesn't have the minimum 50MB of free space required by Windows' Create a system image utility, yet the Create a system image requires that the 100MB partition as well as the C drive and the Recovery partition be included (the checkboxes beside each
one is checked and grayed out, so none of the three can be unchecked).  so it appears that Windows has designed an installation default (automatic creation and filling of that 100-MB partition) that conflicts with Windows' own Create a system image utility
and prevents it from working.
what is the workaround or solution to this problem.  I will be replacing my primary 1TB HDD with a new one and need a way to back up my system to a portable/external USB 2TB HDD and then to transfer the image back to the new internal HDD once it's installed.
 for clarification, this is NOT about backing up my files, so please do not reply with suggestions about archiving my folders and documents.  my system is set up the way I want it, with all my personalized settings and configurations, all of my software
is installed, all of my shortcuts, saved context menu data, folders, etc. are where I want them and installing a fresh copy of Windows and all my other software and then redoing everything I've done to get the system set up the way it is will take DAYS of
exhaustive, laborious, and time-consuming effort.  Microsoft apparently intended to provide a solution by creating the Create a system backup option, but it doesn't work, so what is the solution?

Answer 1

Hi,
In my opinion, about this problem, there is no relationship with 100 system reserved partition. Moreover, according to the error message, it should be the drive which you wanna store system backup image file doesn't have enough space, not 100M system reserved
parition.
System reserved parition used to store system startup bcd file, bootmgr, necessary file of Bitlocker encryption. This drive won't affect system image backup process.
Therefore, please check the shorage drive capacity if it is meet the backup requirements, also you can check Event Log if it identify the problem.
Roger Lu
TechNet Community Support