In Windows 7, trying to do backup, getting error code 0x8078002A

Anonymous
2011-02-13T19:17:33+00:00

when I try backing up with a system image, using windows7 professional.  Backing up to WD 3TB usb drive I get error code 0x8078002A

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Anonymous
2013-03-25T11:37:49+00:00

I had this problem, too, with Windows 7, trying to use Windows Backup to two new Western Digitial 3TB drives, pre-formatted with NTFS for Windows. It's very frustrating because each attempt takes many hours before the error occurs so you don't know until it succeeds whether it will.

I found what worked for me here:

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6618/

You can download WD Quick Formatter from that site. However, don't follow the instructions on that page for formatting a HD under Windows 7, because it tells you how to use MS Disk Management, which will make a 2TB partition and not recognize the remainder of the drive. You must use WD Quick Formatter as described here:

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/search/1/a_id/3868

Good luck!

[I think it's unconscionable that MS hasn't fixed this with their built-in tools.]

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Anonymous
2011-12-04T15:47:34+00:00

Hello David JJones,

 If you have followed the steps within this thread but are still having a problem, I would suggest reposting this as a new question at the link below.  Please include any steps you have tried and any additional information that will be helpful.

Microsoft Answers:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows

Also, I would suggest looking through the thread below. 

Microsoft TechNet Forum:  http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprogeneral/thread/d5937704-da8c-44b3-87ef-8d6ad25e0e17

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Anonymous
2011-02-14T21:33:29+00:00

Google provides quite a number of cases involving the same problem you are experiencing. None seemed to be resolved. A number refer to USB external drives.

My research has led me to the two sites mentioned below. On the Petri site I found the quotes extracted as they may point to a possible solution.

Are you using an Enterprise or Ultimate version of Windows as these include Bit Locker Drive Encryption

As a general recommendation in regard to using Windows 7 as a client operating system, use either internal hard disks, separate from the one Windows is installed on. Alternatively, use an external USB hard disk and make sure you disconnect it after you perform your backup.

You cannot use any of the following destinations:

•The destination is locked by BitLocker Drive Encryption.

Source:http://www.petri.co.il/where-to-save-your-windows-7-backup.htm

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/4681-bitlocker-drive-encryption-windows-7-drive-turn-off-no-tpm.html

If the above does not solve the problem can you tell me what security software and firewall you are using as these have proved to cause problems for System Restore in the past?


Hope this helps, Gerry Cornell

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-04-24T17:45:09+00:00

    So i have this issue with a Seagate Expansion 3TB.They started off saying: "Seagate does not support using our 3 or 4TB drives in a 512 byte sector size, as the physical sector size is 4k, and attempting to emulate 512 for a drive this large causes degradation of the drive.  Other manufacturers may be willing to damage their drives to do this, Seagate is not willing to do so. Our 2TB and lower are capable of doing this(and are actually set that way from the factory), but the 3 and 4TB drives rapidly degrade when attempting to use in the fashion you describe.  To achieve 3 or 4TB on a drive it must use the 4k sector size.  For this reason, 3 and 4TB drives are not supported by Windows 7 backup at all." and followed that up with: "I am sorry that you are having this problem with your drive. Your drive is compatible with windows 7 because you can store information on the drive via copy and paste. However a 3 TB or larger hard drive like yours use a sector size of 4 KB which is currently unsupported by Windows 7 Image Backup.  I believe there is an update however for windows 7. Windows has been working to get their windows 7 image backup up to date. Please use the link below for more information from Microsoft on this issue.

    Please see the following link:

    http://support.microsoft.com/

    You may download and use our Seagate DiscWizard software to manually create a disk image backup without this limitation. See more information at this Knowledge Base article:

    http://knowledge.seagate.com/

    Here is a helpful article on how to create an image backup using Seagate DiscWizard:

    http://knowledge.seagate.com/

    For additional assistance, feel free to contact us at: www.seagate.com/about/contact- "

    Hope this helps someone. Didn't Help Me.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-04-24T18:04:37+00:00

    when I try backing up with a system image, using windows7 professional.  Backing up to WD 3TB usb drive I get error code 0x8078002A

    I had the exact same problem.

    As MathewJones101 just posted links to MSKBs here, thank you. It appears that the hard drive manufacturers will be creating these larger hard drives with a newer sector size, which is the problem that windows has in reading these larger sizes (4k).

    According to the link that they listed http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2510009 has a reference to a fix for Win7 here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982018.

    If you have Win 8 this is probably not an issue for you.

    This has helped me with my Win7 install.

    thank you for the post!

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