Solved Sudden 0x800704B3 error, multiple backup servers

[Mellon Head]

Just recently, I've had four PC's fail their backups (Windows 7 backup) with a 0x800704B3 error when trying to save the backup to a networked file server. Only two of the machines have a common server, the other two are elsewhere.

I just noticed, since they normally backup on the weekend. Reconfiguring the backup doesn't work, nor does re-running the backup. Windows Backup reports that the location, or user details are invalid, or that the server cannot be found. In all cases I can use Windows Explorer and navigate right to the actual servers, and I can look at, edit, or copy files - Yet Backup can't access the server, even though it shows up as a valid backup device.

Has anyone else had this problem? A busted recent update maybe?

 

[brady]

These errors are on the desktops or on the backup server(s)?
I assume there were no reboots involved during these backups?
What backup software are you using?

 

[Mellon Head]

These errors are on the desktops or on the backup server(s)?
I assume there were no reboots involved during these backups?
What backup software are you using?

The error is coming from the desktops. I'm using plain old Windows Backup.

I don't think a reboot happened, but these backups run late at night. All four have been working fine up until this last weekend. Now none of the desktops can find their servers. Really bizarre. I've checked the servers and they're fine too. The backup program can't find the server network location because it's invalid, doesn't exist, or the logon info is wrong. None of that is true, because I can navigate there manually, and none of the IP addressing has changed.

 

[brady]

weirdness for sure. Can you re-map the network drives via IP Address and edit the jobs to push to said network drive? Do you have a moment to force start one of the backups manually?

 

[Mellon Head]

weirdness for sure. Can you re-map the network drives via IP Address and edit the jobs to push to said network drive? Do you have a moment to force start one of the backups manually?

Good ideas both. I'll give that a try this evening and report back.

Thanks!

 

[Mellon Head]

Update:

It seems that we had an area-wide brownout during the backups. The servers are on a UPS, but the power blip seems to have messed with the network switches and routers. After resetting them all, Windows was able to do the backups last night.

I don't quite understand, but I'll take what I can get.

I'm marking this one as solved.