Windows 7: Back up failure....

I am trying to do a back up of my windows 7 professional system to a external hard drive, it gets to 50% done and then fails with this error:

The backup was not successful. The error is: One of the backup files could not be created. (0x8078002A).

The strange thing is, that a laptop I have running Vista backed up without no problems.

Can anyone help?

Hello angeleyes, welcome to the forum
Do you have SP1 installed?

I find the Windows backup utility rather buggy and uncomfortable to use.

You might like to try this;

Free Backup Software for home users. Hard Drive System Backup and Restore in Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7.

<http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/>

Regards....Mike Connor

Thanks both, pooch will check if I have SP1, should have though. Cheers Mike, will look at the link...

I ask as that is the conclusion of this thread; Backup display message 0x8078002a You might want to look at it anyway, and as Mike says there are good free alternatives to be found

Microsoft does not seem to have a fix for that error;

Unable to create image: 0x8078002A and I/O device - Microsoft Answers

I also have a couple of Samsung drives in this machine, perhaps that is why I kept having problems on this machine with Windows backup? ( Although I didn't get that precise error). I have also had problems on other machines with the windows backup.

Anyway, I use the backup software I posted, and I have no problems with it.

Regards....Mike Connor

This is all new to me

Apparently it is caused by Advanced Format Disks that have a 4KB physical sector size

Note Advanced Format disks introduce a larger physical sector (4 KB). However, to make initial versions more compatible with current computer systems, they maintain a 512 byte logical addressing interface. Therefore, they are known as “512-byte emulation disks

I have found evidence of a hotfix which I didn't want to post and also confirmation that this fix is integrated in SP1

Also reformatting is not supposed to work

Thanks both for all your help, Mike your software was successful in completing a back up

That's useful to know. I thought this low level format is done at the factory unlike the old days. After a bit of a look it appear there are moves to make this a standard.
New disk sector size to shake up drive capacity - Techworld.com
I wonder how you find out the low level formatting before purchasing the disk.

"They are known as “512-byte emulation disks,” or “512e” for short" dunno if they are going to put this on the package lol

When you have the disc its easy enough to find out tho :-p