Windows 7 backup fails with Error code: 0x8078012D

Anonymous
2009-12-21T01:28:35+00:00

Vista backups worked fine till I upgraded to Windows 7.

Now every backup fails with the same I/O error code 0x8078012D.

This is on a Toshiba laptop manually backing up over USB to external 500 GB harddrive.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2009-12-21T22:42:55+00:00

Hi Searey,

Welcome to Microsoft answers.

The error might have occurred if the services related to Windows backup might have been disable, you may try restarting the service, follow the steps below:

1.      Click Start.

2.      Type Services in the Start Search.

3.      In the Services Windows search for Volume Shadow Copy in the list.

4.      Right click on the Service.

5.      Click on Properties.

6.      Select the Startup Type to Manual.

7.      Click OK.

8.      Now repeat the same for Windows Backup service.

If the issue persists, then I suggest that you run the chkdsk which repairs the chkdsk errors, follow the steps below:

i. Click on start

ii. Type cmd in start search box.

 iii. Right click on cmd.exe in the Program list and then select the option Run as administrator.

iv. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue.

 v. In the command prompt window, type the following command and press enter Chkdsk /R 

 vi. Press Y when you are prompted to check the disk the next time that the system restarts.

vii. Close all applications, and then restart the computer.

 Note: During the restart process, Windows checks the disk for errors, and then Windows starts. Now run the check disk in command prompt, follow the steps below:

Now when you try to perform backup, I recommend that you may try disabling the security software temporarily on the computer and perform a backup, make sure to enable the security software back on the computer.

Swathi B 

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-07-25T05:49:28+00:00

    Hey Microsoft: how about checking for available space (at least 2x what's needed) BEFORE creating the

    system images??

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-07-25T04:53:15+00:00

    Also noticed the presence of two sets of 3 large .VHD files ... all on my external (USB) drive.

    It turns out these are produced when you specify "make a System Image" during backup.  (I dimly recall discovering that, years ago, and deciding not to create more system images...)

    Any risks associated with simply deleting the older set? (They're only a week apart.)

    Any "gotchas" about the fact that they are, after all, system images?

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-07-25T04:40:10+00:00

    (unlike searey in 2009, my case is NOT related to an upgrade.)

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-07-25T04:35:29+00:00

    Interesting, the problem I'm having is also with a relatively new WD drive, but it works flawlessly otherwise (copying files to-and-fro), so I'm not inclined to blame the drive.  Will also check out the WD community online,

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