I keep getting below error when trying to using "Backup and Restore" functionality in Windows 7, the error shows up within 30 secs after clicking "Backup Now". The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid. Error code: 0x800703EE. I am trying to backup from internal SATA drive to internal IDE drive. I use IDE drive to store other files too and it doesn't give any error and has enough free space to hold the data that I am trying to backup. I tried some of the suggestion on this forum for error codes which are similar to mine. Checked HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders APPData and LocaAppData strings and they seem to be fine. Also tried to configure backup with one folder and no libraries and additional locations, but it still fails with same error. sfc /scannow gives below output C:\windows\system32>sfc /scannow Beginning system scan. This process will take some time. Beginning verification phase of system scan.Verification 100% complete. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log I checked topic 0x800703EE, but that seems to DVD backups and I don't have DVD drive on my computer anyways. Is there a path for hard disk drive upper and lower filters that I can check?. I have uploaded C:\Windows\Logs\CBS.Log and C:\Windows\Logs\WindowsBackup ETL's to below location http://cid-d14c8807a381d9a8.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Public/WindowsError/BackupError Please help me with this issue, I need to fix this to backup my images and videos. Thanks. Windows 7 64bit, AMD Phenom X2 550, 3GB RAM, 1TB SATA, 300GB IDE, Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H motherboard, ATI Radeon 4200 onboard. Windows update is done every week.

You may temporary disable or remove antivirus and check the issue. If the issue persists, please let us know whether the issue occurs if you backup to another drive, such as the internal SATA drive. If backup works, is suggest you enable write caching for the IDE drive. HOW TO: Manually Enable/Disable Disk Write CachingArthur Xie - MSFT

Arthur, The only antivirus I was running was MS Security Essentials, backup still failed even after I uninstalled Security Essentials and rebooted the computer. I tried to back up to the same SATA drive, it still failed. Disk write Cache was already enabled for the IDE drive. I also don't see any other helpful logs in eventviewer, the only error logged is the same error that I see on screen. Thechnocrate, This is the first time I am trying backup, the computer was built 3 months back. Both Volume Shadow Copy and Windows Backup are in manual mode and were started when I click "BackUp Now" button, I checked their default configuration on other box, seems like these are manual by default. I am trying to backup pictures and videos once every week, rest of the information you asked for is in first post. FYI, System Restore was only turned ON on C: drive(SATA) where windows is installed and not on other drives, I tried backup after enabling it on backup drive H: (IDE), still got same error. Let me know if you want me to capture any events with SysInternals "Process Monitor" or any other tool that can help debug this. Thanks for your help... Also tried reformatting H: drive for NTFS, and no files currently exist on H: drive, still gives same error. Uploaded Process Monitor log file from the time Backup Now is clicked till it shows the error. I excluded some process from logs (System, SearchIndexer, Explorer, SearchFilterHost, DLLHost, PROCMon, IE). Captured about 260k events. http://cid-d14c8807a381d9a8.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/WindowsError/BackupError/ProcessMonitor%5E_Logfile%5E_failedBackup.rar

Issue is resolved. The root cause was error in bcd, bcdedit was giving "The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid" when trying to /enumerate active. Fixed it manually by building new BCD and doing a import followed by reboot. I guess windows backup internally tries to enumerate BCD and fails without correct log/message when enumeration is not successful. Backup is running fine now.

Hi RajChu, I'm having the same problem. I'm not sure what you mean by 'building a new BCD' any light you could shed on the topic would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hello, Sad to see no more thorough clarification was given on the resolution. I get this same error. My HW setup has no issues restoring a Windows 7 system to a SATA HDD from a USB thumbdrive. The same script when restoring from a PATA compact flash to the HDD gives the BCDEDIT error. As it turns out the error is in running bcdedit.exe itself, even without any switches or parameters it gives the error.

SoftParade12 it sounds like what RajChu did was BCDEDIT /createstore which gave him a clean BCD to work with. Sean

Sorry but I'm not as computer literate as those above. How the heck does one fix this - step by (simple?) step.

Slave to dog; me neither!! This is my first backup and I am getting the same message! I have no idea how to do what "create a new bcd" means or how to do it! I hope someone answers!

Following worked for me: 1. Open C:\Boot (accept warning) 2. Rename BCD to BCD.bak 3. Open Command Prompt as Administrator 4. Type: bcdedit /import C:\Boot\BCD.bak