Windows Backup failures
Does anyone know how to increase logging or completely reset configuration information for the Windows Backup software?I ask because I think Windows is confused about my system, and it refuses to backup my C:\ drive anymore.When I first installed Windows 7, I installed it into a 15GB partition, which I later decided was too small. I resized the partition using gparted under Ubuntu. It relocated the partition "left" on the disk and extended it. After this, Windows wouldn't boot anymore. I used the recovery option on the installation DVD, and it fixed the problem. Windows boots fine and everything else works normally now.The only problem is that the backup refuses to run when I include anything in C:\ in the files to backup. If I back up other partitions on the same physical disk, it works fine. I get two error messages. From Windows Backup, I get: Backup failed. The error is: Windows Backup had to skip all the drives included in backup. Make sure that the drives are plugged in and working correctly. (0x810000FF).If I dig into the Event Viewer, immediately before this error, I see: Drive C:\ was not backed up. The error is: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. (0x8007007B).I'm fairly confident that Windows Backup is trying to find something about my old partition configuration and it doesn't like what it's seeing. The backup always fails at 6%, just after successfully creating a shadow copy. I can tell it's there with a vssadmin list shadows. I've also confirmed that I can access files from the shadow with no problem. If I copy one from the shadow, it is the correct version.I either want to see more details about what it's doing at 6% that's causing it to fail, or find some way (without reinstalling) to completely wipe out the backup config and start over.Any thoughts?
January 17th, 2009 1:09am

I have this same problem. The action center constantly reports a backup is in progress, even when no backup is running. Any attempt to manually backup or perform a scheduled backup leaves it hung at 7%.I know that 'backup and restore' is listed in the 'things we can't discuss' section of the sticky, but I'm hoping some other clever folks have maybe found a solution to this.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
March 9th, 2009 5:25am

Hi,Sorry for the late reply. Are you still facing this issue? If so, can you zip and pass on the contents of C:\Windows\Logs\WindowsBackup and a screenshot of your disk management UI to sneham_at_microsoft_dot_com (Remove the underscores and replace the words with symbols wherever applicable). We will take a look into this.Thanks,Sneha [MSFT]
May 25th, 2009 2:47pm

Hi fredsan42,I would need the backup tracesto investigate this. Could you pl. collect them from under %windir%\Logs\WindowsBackup and send them to lokkum_at_microsoft_dot_com (fudged my mail-ID to avoid spam, pl. remove the under-scores and replace the extraneous words with corresponding symbols).asfaraslarry,The two issues('backup showing in progress' and 'backup stuck at 7%') have been discussed in the below thread. See if that helps.http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprogeneral/thread/bff99342-48b6-4a6b-8f81-423e7a992ecd/?prof=required&ppud=4Thanks,Lokesh [MSFT]
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
May 25th, 2009 4:59pm

Thank you for addressing me specifically. Actually, my issue went away after the RC was released and I did a fresh install. My backups have been humming along ever since.
May 25th, 2009 6:43pm

For what it's worth this error was caused for me by my shared Video and Music libraries from another computer in my house. As soon as I broke the library link in Media Player the 0x8007007B error went away.... oh and it took me hours and hours and hours to find!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
May 27th, 2009 4:01am

Hi Matt,Regret the inconvenience caused to you. I am assuming you are running Windows 7 Beta build (7000). This is a known issue with backup - If a library contains a network path as one of its locations, backup fails with "The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. (0x8007007B)". This issue has been fixed in the later builds. As a workaround, please exclude the library from backup and include the necessary locations part of the library through the folder selection treeview through the Advanced configuration option. Thanks,Sneha [MSFT]
May 27th, 2009 12:51pm

Well, Im having the very same issue with the RTM version. "Windows Backup had to skip all the drives included in backup. Make sure that the drives are plugged in and working correctly" While traying to backup folfers from drive C.I also say:"Windows Backup skipped C:\Users\user\Favorites\ because is it on corrupted drive C:\."How can C: be corrupt and all is working well? Udi Burg www.unisfair.com
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
October 13th, 2009 8:14pm

Hello Udi,There could be a potential issue with the volume C:,butdid not surface as yet.I would recommend you to check the volume(C:) for errors.Steps:My Computer->right click on C:->Properties->Tools->"Error-Checking->"Check now"->Reboot. During reboot, it should do error-checking and fix errors if any.After this, run "Backup now". Should succeed.If backup fails still, please collect the logs from under C:\windows\logs\windowsbackup*.etl, zip them and send them across to lokkum"at"microsoft"dot"com.Thanks,Lokesh [MSFT]
October 20th, 2009 9:17am

Hello Lokesh, Will try that and update. Udi Burg www.unisfair.com
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
October 22nd, 2009 11:41am

I am having the same problem on a friend's computer running Windows Vista Home Premium - after some time Windows Backup stops with error message 0x8007007B. I looked through the eventmgr.msc-list, so windows-protocol/applications says: Event 4104 - Windows Backup Die Syntax fr den Dateinamen, Verzeichnisnamen oder die Datentrgerbezeichnung ist falsch. (0x8007007B) 7B000780E0040000F10600000D070000420ED1665C2BEE174B64529CB14610EA71000000 Binary data: In Words 0000: 8007007B 000004E0 000006F1 0000070D 0008: 66D10E42 17EE2B5C 9C52644B EA1046B1 0010: 00000071 In Bytes 0000: 7B 00 07 80 E0 04 00 00 {..... 0008: F1 06 00 00 0D 07 00 00 ....... 0010: 42 0E D1 66 5C 2B EE 17 B.f\+. 0018: 4B 64 52 9C B1 46 10 EA KdRF. 0020: 71 00 00 00 q... Windows Backup HAD worked in February 2011 though - I had made a "good" backup with the same equipment. mah - I tried deleting the 'observed' folders in Windows Media Player - that did not work for me (although some "old"/nonpresent folders were there) then I did this Windows Backup Service to "Allow service to interact with desktop". Stop and restart -thing, then again it did not work - I don't know what to do - maybe I will make a whole backup with disk copier (it's free and easy) thanks inspite of all :_)
June 29th, 2011 6:21am

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics