System state is excluded from backup, it requires volumes: C:/

SUMMARY

This article discusses how to address an issue that prevents a system state backup from occurring.

ISSUE

Purpose

This article discusses how to address an issue that prevents a system state backup from occurring.

Applies To                                                                           

Windows Server 2003, 2008

Description

A system backup requires that the C volume is not fully excluded.  The error message below is seen when a system state backup cannot be created because the entire C volume is excluded.

 System state is excluded from backup, it requires volumes: C:/

Resolution

Modify the exclusion list for this backup so that the contents of the C volume are excluded but c:\ is not excluded.  For example, your exclusion list may resemble the following:

C:\Program Files

C:\Users

C:\Windows

Additionally, the system state can be excluded on the Advanced tab of the Inclusion/Exclusion list dialog to prevent the backup from failing due to a critical volume being excluded from the backup.