pyotr filipivich wrote:

[Myriad of problems when using robocopy to make backup of C:.]

It seems to me that robocopy is not the best tool for making backup of
a system drive (C.

I've always used a real backup program, i.e. a program designed for
that purpose - for the last five years Cobian Backup - and I have never
had the kind of problems you describe.

robocopy ('Robust File Copy for Windows') is a copy program, not a
backup program.

Perhaps using the right tool for the job will result in less
"screaming", "the way Microsoft rolls", "Fnord", "Arrgh.", etc.! :-)