Windows 8.1: System Image Backup of C: drive fails, Error 0x8078012D and 0x8007045D

Well, chkdsk /R has been running since 8:30am this morning, it's now 2:57pm in evening same day.

Nothing has changed, it still says: Scanning and repairing drive (C:) 10% complete

I've seen threads that says one should let chkdsk /R run until it completes even if it takes 24+ hours.

There's obviously something wrong with system, maybe disk, maybe OS; whatever, I no longer have patience.

1. I held power button down to force shutdown
2. Powered system on again
3. It's scanning drive again and says: "Scanning and reparing drive (C:) again, stuck at 10% complete"
4. Same as before no change...
5. Powered system on again,
6. Pressed F2
7. Automatic Repair ( blue screen comes up )

8. Selected Advanced

9. Selected exit & continue to Window 8.1
10. System came back up to lock screen
11. Logged into system
12. Took pictures of start screen and system tray
13. Took pictures of desktop screen and system tray ( which is same )
14. Rebooted system
15. Pressed F12 Boot Options
16. Select diagnostics
17. Ran full set of diagnostics ( Dell ePSA Pre-boot System Assessment )

a. pretty thorough & interesting set of tests here

b. when it was checking cpu & video fan, could actually hear rpms rev & stay revved up

c. below is list of test

Cables

Notebook Panel

Hard Drive 0

OS Boot Path 0

USB Devices

Integrated_Webcam_HD

Video Card

Primary Battery

Charger

CPU Fan

Video Fan

Processor

System Management

Memory

Ran an additional set of Hard Drive tests

SMART Status Test

SMART Thresholds Test

Targeted Read Test

Random Seek Test

SMART Short Self Test

Linear Read Test

Linear Read Test - 2

SMART Thresholds Test - 2

While waiting for test to complete, I just ordered another Dell XPS 15 with slightly different specs. 

This system:  i7-4702HQ 2.2 : 16GB : 2GB GT750M & HD4600 : 512GB SSD : 91 Whr Bat

New system: i7-4712HQ 2.3 : 16GB : 2GB GT750M & HD4600 :  32GB SSD + 1TB 5400RPM : 91 Whr Bat

I'm seriously hoping new system does come with 91 Whr battery.  Based on what I've heard and read, it's currently not possible to have a 91 Whr battery and SATA HDD installed at same time.  The 91 Whr battery dimensions are such that it extends all the way across system horizontally.  The 61 Whr battery extends 75% of the way thus permitting installation of 2nd drive SATA HDD.

If this system does come with a 91 Whr battery then I'm gong to change 32GB SSD to 1TB SSD.

I really feel your pain!

I also went through exactly what you are describing about 3 or 4 times and much more before deciding to replace my hard drive.  Of course mine was a HDD and only $45 for a new one.  A 512 SSD would probably cost much much more.

Were you the person that posted that you had the option of returning this computer?  If so, I would highly recommend returning it at this point.

If not - In your case, I would be very reluctant to replace the SSD because of the high cost and not knowing for sure that it is the problem.  On the other hand, an I7 with 16GB of RAM is an outstanding system and a real shame to let go to waste.

At least consider this:  I would at least explore the difficulty of removing the hard drive.  I am not familiar with the XPS 15 but sometimes hard drives are very easy to get to.  Sometimes as simple as removing a single bottom panel then removing a single ribbon cable and 2 bracket screws and out she comes.  

However, I've seen older Dells where everything had to be removed starting with the touch pad panel and keyboard, then on to the motherboard and cooling fan, not to mention numerous small and sensitive ribbon cables  just to access the hard drive.  The hard drive itself (once accessed) is still easy to remove (usually one ribbon cable and 2 bracket screws)

If its easy to get to, I'd probably try it because it is an awesome system.  Of course you'd have to re-install the Windows OS afterwards but that's really an easy menu driven process these days.

Good Luck!

UPSPilot,

Are you actually a UPS Pilot?

Anyway, there are videos on youtube on how to replace the SSD drive and it's not as simple as removing a cover on bottom of laptop.  I think process is as follows:

1. Remove 6 Torx screws
2. Remove 2 Philip head screws
3. Remove bottom cover gently because of some cable connected to cover
4. SSD is covered with some sort of plastic and needs to be gingerly handled
5. Remove and replace SSD
6. Reverse procedures when done

While this has been a very interesting, challenging and extremely time consuming process, it's a good introduction to new PC hardware ( SSDs, Touch Screens, ... ), Software, Windows 8.1, etc...

I heard a lot of people complaining about layout and functionality of Windows 8.1.  I actually like it and other than this issue with system image backup and hard drive issues, Windows 8.1 & touch screen experience has been great.

I've learned a ton of new things which I believe are beneficial.  Time spent is major issue, rests has been interesting.   Meeting new people like yourself.  Learning about different forums and information resources, etc...

I will say this though: I've " NEVER " had to spend this much time getting a new system up and running.

I probably will be taking bunch of programming classes in the fall and want to get a laptop in tip-top shape as I will be running multiple OSs simultaneously for coding and also testing ( client / server ) stuff all from laptop.

Before returning current system, I'm going to:

1. Reset to factor default - hopefully that includes format of internal SSD
2. Create System image backup - base line
3. Make some changes to system
4. Create System image backup - contains changes
5. Reset to factor default
6. Confirm can successfully restore using image from #4 above
7. Verify changes are intact
8. Repeat steps 3-7 making incremental changes ( Start Screen Layout, Install Software, Apps, etc... )
9. Additionally, I'm going to make note of changes made and where system image backup breaks

Once I confirm and verify system image backup and restore ( recovery ) works 100% of time, then I'll progress to next phase.

Once I get laptop stable, I want to try following, not sure if all items below are possible, but will try:

1. Figure out how to create and boot off / from USB flash stick ( Ubuntu, Windows 8.1 )
2. Figure out how to boot from an external USB drive ( Ubuntu, Windows 8.1 )
3. Booting from either of above shouldn't cause any damage to internal drives
4. Cloning internal SSD boot drive to and external SSD boot drive connected via USB 3

a. I'm going to purchase two or three external SSD enclosures from Amazon

* Mushkin AT-ENCKIT Atlas FLUX USB 3.0 mSATA III SSD Enclosure Kit

* ZTC Sky Board mSATA to USB 3.0 SSD Enclosure Adapter Case. Support UASP High Speed 6Gb/s 520MB/S. Model ZTC-EN002

* MyDigitalSSD Bullet Proof USB 3.0 mSATA SSD Enclosure Adapter - MDMS-BP-USB3

b. Figure out how to clone internal SSD to external SSD, then boot from external

5. Plan to get Microsoft Surface Pro 3 late September.  The i7, 512GB SSD version should be available late August; however, want to wait to see user reviews before making purchase.  I will use Surface Pro 3 as my carry all, take anywhere and everywhere compute device so all this learning about Win 8.1 and issues we've encountered will be useful on that device since it runs Windows 8.1 also and can function as a tablet too.

While Microsoft windows store doesn't have nearly the number of apps Google & Apple store has, the major apps are there and anything that isn't available in an app can typically be accessed via web.

I given up on tablets as carry all because they cannot be backed up adequately and restored.  I had a tablet configured to the hilt, then screen basically started dying.  I lost everything.  I was given a new tablet under warranty; however, installing software, apps, accounts ( user id's & passwords ) and setting everything up again wasn't practical so that is what started me on this path of using Windows 8.1.

Android ( Google & vendors ) needs to devise  a way to not only save and restore all your apps, but also save and restore all screen layouts and configurations.

Going forward I'll use tablet for browsing mostly and watching movies ( youtube, netflix, etc... ).  If I get this laptop and the Surface Pro 3 to work as planned, then I won't need to carry nor use tablet any more.

Last but not least, I purchased three Dell Servers T110II, Cisco unmanaged Switch 24 1GB ports and Synology DS1813+ and five 4TB NAS drives to setup VMware vSphere server.  Want to learn about VMware, vSphere, ESXi and later Software Defined Networks ( SDN ) and Software Defined Data Centers ( SDDC ).

So my next couple of months will be very busy.  These issues we've experience with Windows 8.1 and system image backup has set me back a bit, but I'll try to make it up by spending extra time later on other items...

It's truly been a pleasure interacting with all on forum...

I just setup a Microsoft login account on my system so the Start screen layout, apps and settings will be saved / preserved in the cloud on Microsoft's One Drive.

I don't know if any of those on this forum experienced, this, but this is what I think started all my problems, troubles and issues.

One day while I was working on the system, my system crashed ( BSOD ) Blue Screen of Death.

I got the following message:  bad_system_config_info.

To get system to come up again, had to go to previous "known" good recovery point.

Seems like system has never been stable since...