I'm trying to use the backup tool in Windows 7 (home premium) and keep getting a 0x8007007B error ('The file name, directory name or volume label syntax is incorrect.' I have made sure that the 'Volume shadow service' was started and that there are no special chars in my volume name ('Windows7'). I can create a system image, and if I run a backup with a system image, but no files, it works. Any time that I add files though, I get this error. Thinking that it might be a file name that was being backed up, I have tried to add files from my user and from just a directory from the system ('Program Files/Windows Mail' I think). Backing up to the same external HD in all cases. The first time that I ran it, it took forever (several hours), before failing. Now, the backups fail pretty quickly. I just started a backup of another machine and the detail page is listing files by name... never see that on my machine. Only difference I can think of is the fact that I have installed the WD SmartWare tool on my machine, but not the other, and I have (using Windows) renamed my partition. The volume used to contain a Vista install and was named Vista or something. Kind of infuriating, should be such a simple thing.... any ideas?

Volume Shadow Copy and Block Level Backup services are both set to manual, but can be seen to be started during the backup. If they didn't start, wouldn't the system image portion of the backup fail? I don't know if I saw a Windows Backup service or not (away from the machine right now), but will check. Every time that I run a backup, even when I include files and it fails, I seem to get a new system image. It does not seem to be keeping any old ones, which I think it should based on the amount of space remaining on the device though. I've read countless posts stating the chars that are not allowed, but not allowed in what? My drive volume label is 'Windows7' (as shown in explorer) and my machine name is 'mambo'. Neither of which names have special chars in it. The files that I include in the backup seem to make no difference, any file selection causes the backup to fail. I'm not trying to declare a filename for the backup, it does that on it's own I believe (using the machine name it seems). My other machine (who's backup worked) saved the backup using the machine name without any selection on my part. What items do I need to check for special chars? EDIT: The Windows Backup service is running as well (again set to manual, but starts when the backup tool does). I've also checked that the system is creating restore points without issue, which it is.

Before my old server crapped out, I used to backup to it. Now I use a USB disk as the server is limited. Typically Windows 7 backup wants a disk 1.5x bigger than the system disk. I have a page on my site about disk cloning which is an alternative solution. Vote if answered or helpful, I am running for Office (joke)! IT/Developer, Windows/Linux/Mainframe Need a some parts finish the new server, see the site for remaining items needed

Thanks for the info. The disk that I'm backing up to is 1TB with ~700GB free, many times larger than the backup file set. I can also backup my wife's machine to the same device with no issue. If it comes to disk cloning, I have the system image portion working just fine. I like having some file-by-file revision history as well. Used hard link copies and rsync when I was using suse on this machine. Went back to windows after 10 years thinking that I'd put an end to this type of tinkering.... oh well.

One of those cheap USB docks seems to make the cloning idea the best choice looking forward. I simply use a notebook disk in a case. Vote if answered or helpful, I am running for Office (joke)! IT/Developer, Windows/Linux/Mainframe Need a some parts finish the new server, see the site for remaining items needed

I'm trying to use the backup tool in Windows 7 (home premium) and keep getting a 0x8007007B error ('The file name, directory name or volume label syntax is incorrect.' I have made sure that the 'Volume shadow service' was started and that there are no special chars in my volume name ('Windows7'). I can create a system image, and if I run a backup with a system image, but no files, it works. Any time that I add files though, I get this error. Thinking that it might be a file name that was being backed up, I have tried to add files from my user and from just a directory from the system ('Program Files/Windows Mail' I think). Backing up to the same external HD in all cases. The first time that I ran it, it took forever (several hours), before failing. Now, the backups fail pretty quickly. I just started a backup of another machine and the detail page is listing files by name... never see that on my machine. Only difference I can think of is the fact that I have installed the WD SmartWare tool on my machine, but not the other, and I have (using Windows) renamed my partition. The volume used to contain a Vista install and was named Vista or something. Kind of infuriating, should be such a simple thing.... any ideas? Error 0x8007007B occurs because the Windows Block Level Backup Engine service (Wbengine.exe) handles file paths that are longer than 260 characters incorrectly. To resolve it, please obtain the following hotfix: You cannot back up a file in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows 7 if the path length is longer than 260 characters Best Regards Dale

I'm going out of mind with this error. I've tried the following: Applied the hotfix mentioned, Backing up with a System (C:\) image included, Backing up without a System (C:\) image included, Backing up just backing up 2 files in a folder (c:\Book\ which contains just 2 PDFs) I stopped and restarted the services mentioned above, Created another login and tried as that user, all of the above, What else can I do? FYI. I work as Senior Software Tester and to throw back the error 0x8007007B to an end-user is just inexcusable!

If you cannot get the Windows backup to work, I suggest 7-zip which is a free archive tool. You can also indulge in disk cloning My MVP is for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 IT, and I am getting increasingly good with Visual Studio. Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Hardcore Games | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews