How to Fix the Windows Backup 0x8078012D Error
Windows Backup and Restore is a handy way to quickly and easily create backups of your system. However, the utility doesn’t always work as expected. For example, users on operating systems ranging from 7 to 11 will sometimes encounter the 0x8078012D error with Windows Backup and Restore.
The 0x8078012D error arises when users try to create a backup and is accompanied by an “operation failed” message. And until the error gets fixed, afflicted users can’t create a backup using the tool. As such, here is how you could fix the 0x8078012D error in Windows 10 and 11.
1. Run a System File Check
Some corrupted system files might be affecting Backup and Restore’s backup process. Fortunately, the System File Checker (SFC) tool is one of the best built-in Windows utilities for solving such problems.
However, before you jump into performing an SFC scan, we recommend running a Deployment Image Servicing beforehand to check for system image issues. Here is how you can run both of those scans in the Command Prompt:
2. Run a Check Disk Scan
The 0x8078012D error can arise because of corrupted hard drive sectors. So, you may need to run a Check Disk scan (otherwise known as CHKDSK) to resolve error 0x8078012D. You can run a CHKDSK scan like this:
3. Try Selecting a Different Backup Location
If you have a different storage device you can back up to, try using that backup location instead. The Windows Backup tool may carry out the system backup without issues when you select a different location.
You can choose a different location option on the Create a system issue window shown directly below.
4. Check If the Windows Backup and Shadow Services are Enabled
The system image backup operation could be failing because a service required for it is disabled. Both the Windows Backup and Volume Shadow Copy services need to be running for the backup operation to complete without issue.
Here is how you may enable and start those Windows services:
5. Disable Any Third-Party Antivirus Tools
Conflicting third-party antivirus suites are another common cause for the 0x8078012D error. If you have third-party antivirus installed on your PC, disable its protection via its context menu or settings tab.
To turn off real-time scanning, right-click the antivirus software icon you’ll see in your system tray and select the option to disable the shield. The options will vary depending on which antivirus you download, so explore the app or consult the program’s official support pages to learn how to do this.
Windows Security is less likely to conflict with Backup and Restore than third-party alternatives. However, you can still temporarily disable that utility’s antivirus scanning just to make sure. You can disable that tool as outlined in our guide forturning off Windows Defender.
6. Set Windows to Clean Boot
Third-party software conflicts can cause the 0x8078012D error. One of the best ways to prevent program conflicts is to configure Windows to boot without any third-party startup items or services, which is called a “clean boot.”
Clean-booting Windows will stop any programs or services that were conflicting with Backup and Restore. So, try clean booting your Windows PC like this:
You can easily restore the original boot configuration by reversing the selected setting in MSConfig. Re-enable disabled startup programs by selecting MSConfig’sLoad startup itemsoption again. ClickEnable allto restore the third-party startup services.
7. Uninstall the Shark007 Codec
Shark007 is a codec known to conflict with the Windows backup process and cause the 0x8078012D error. Is Shark007 installed on your PC? If so, uninstall the software as follows:
8. Reset Windows Components
If none of the above work for you, you may have to reset Windows components. The Reset this PC utility will restore Windows to factory settings and repair corrupted system files. Yet, resetting Windows will also remove user-installed software, but you may select to keep user files intact. You can apply this potential resolution as covered within ourWindows factory reset guide.
Create Your Windows System Image Backup
Error 0x8078012D is not a new error, and those resolutions are tried and confirmed methods for fixing that issue. However, note that there are plenty of freely available alternative third-party backup utilities to Backup and Restore. So, you don’t necessarily need to fix the 0x8078012D error to create a Windows system image backup.
Backing up your files doesn’t need to be complex. In fact, Windows 11 makes creating a USB storage backup a breeze.
Unlock a world of entertainment possibilities with this clever TV hack.
Some subscriptions are worth the recurring cost, but not these ones.
Sometimes the smallest cleaning habit makes the biggest mess.
You can’t call this offline, Notion.
So much time invested, and for what?
