Windows 7: 'Unspecified Error' with Backup and Restore

Thanks for the suggestions; I should have thought to try this. I did the full-blown Chkdsk including the restart scan and when I came back to my computer it had restarted with no indication of pass or fail or anything for that matter; it just restarted like it normally would. I then opened backup and clicked on Set up backup and the error occurred again. It is quite unfortunate that Microsoft seems to have not provided a method for simply replacing 1 system file regardless of whether or not it appears to have its integrity violated.

%systemdrive%\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-safedocs-main_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_80feadf380799a73

d/l this zip:

amd64_microsoft-windows-safedocs-main_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_80feadf380799a73.zip

It should be here as well - copy it in from the above .zip:

"%systemdrive%\Windows\System32\sdclt.exe"

Didn't work...

Your post was extremely helpful in my attempts to resolve this matter. However, after deleting the existing sdclt.exe file, copy/pasting the file in the .zip into the System32 folder, and resetting the configuration settings of backup and restore, and then restarting the computer, I opened backup and restore and clicked on 'Set up backup' and got the same error as before, seen here:


Unless anyone else is dead set on solving this I think now is a good time to put this to rest. It seems the only solution is to do either a fresh reinstall of my Toshiba Windows 7 upgrade disc or do a saved image restore. Either way I'll have to start from scratch with regard to installing programs, getting the settings just right, and moving my user files back onto the computer. Thank you for all the help on this, my first sevenforums posting

Boot into 7, put the upgrade dvd in the drive , run setup and select Upgrade - that should be the same as a "Repair Install".

With luck, all your installed apps. and docs will be fine.

You have a backup image , just in case, so you have nothing to lose by trying the Repair/Upgrade install.

You will need to re enter the product key.

The problem is fixed and, in hindsight, it would have been much easier to just start over with a fresh install of Windows (which is how I ended up fixing it); I would have saved myself a lot of time and effort. I ended up getting a full retail version of Windows 7 Home Premium and I used the product key from my Windows Vista to 7 upgrade disc to complete the install. After reinstalling all of my Toshiba laptop drivers, from their website, I was back up and running without any errors. The lessons I learned here are:

1) Avoid using any kind of 'registry cleaner' or 'registry defrag' software
2) Always try to have a full version of your OS with a valid product key in case you have to reinstall everything
3) Make sure to do regular backups and set system restore points
4) Know when to throw in the towel and start from scratch (reinstall the OS)

Thanks again for all of the help.

I apologize for necroing this thread, but I had the same problem and this was the first result I came across on Google. After reinstalling my OS to fix this the first time, I proceeded to reinstall all my programs, checking after each to ensure that backup was still working. It was not until I began applying OS tweaks with Auslogics BoostSpeed that it stopped working. I narrowed it down to one specific option, and this may or may not be the cause for you (or anyone who comes across this thread).

BoostSpeed > Advanced Tools tab > System tweaks > Windows Explorer > Context menu > Show "Run as administrator" being unchecked was what was causing the issue. Re-checking it and applying the setting immediately stopped the unspecified error with sdclt.exe from occurring.

Hope this helped.

Oddly enough, that worked for me too! I use AVG PC Tuneup 2011 and going into system tweaks fixed the sdclt.exe unspecified error issue. Thanks a lot