Windows 7 Backup error "The system cannot find the file specified. (0x80070002)"

Question

** Note that I was never able to resolve this issue. In the long run, I ended up reinstalling the operating system (for different reasons) but this particular issue remained unresolved. Thanks to those who tried to help. (January 30, 2011)

I suddenly seem to have a problem with Windows 7 Backup. I'm receiving the message "The system cannot find the file specified. (0x80070002)" at the point in the process when the backup is supposed to begin. This has disabled my ability to make a backup, obviously, except to directly copy files on to another hard drive. I've been able to use the same USB hard drive in the past, so I'm not sure what happened.  

I thought it might be a corrupt user profile causing the problem, but I am still receiving the same message on the new profile. I thought it might be the drive, but I get the same message when attempting to use the DVD writer.

I believe my Windows software is up to date, and I've searched in various places to find an answer to no avail. Any help you could give me would be appreciated. Thanks. I'd be happy to provide any further info you might need.

Answer 1

Hi Cuzzlor,

I finally solved the problem last week; I'd been getting the same error message for 4 months.

Even though the error message, when opened on notepad kept naming a "missing" pdf file that I had long deleted from my desktop, and the computer.  I could never find the file back.

I noticed that the Pictures Library tends to scan and add locations; it had made a location out of the folder, because it was a file created with a scanner.

I deleted the "empty" location, I don't know how I hadn't noticed it,  from the Pictures Library and my backups are error free since.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I think I've finally solved the problem once and for all.

After my reply from 31 May, the shadow deletion solution only worked intermittently.

It never occurred to me that having the external USB HD plugged into an unpowered USB hub would cause the problem. Why should it; absolutely nothing in the KB or anything I've seen discussed anywhere made any mention of this being a possible cause.

But simply freeing up a USB port on my computer so I could directly connect the HD solved it for me. I've been able to continue my weekly backups with no problem whatsoever and with no need to delete shadows.

Don't know if this applies to you. Maybe it does and it'll be a quick fix for you, or it'll help someone else.

Answer 3

I've also tried all the suggestions I can find. This problem has forced my to delete everything off my external HDD (format) trying to get backup working again, so now I have no backups at all, not even my old ones, and can't back up anything.

It's strange this is after successfully using Windows backup for 12 months on the same drive...

Even when I change the backup to just one single folder with some pics it still fails.

There is no problem writing to the drive, I can manually copy whatever i want to the drive with no probs.

I can't believe there is nothing in the Windows Backup log file, only the cryptic message not actually saying WHICH FREAKING FILE it can't find. Which freaking file is it?

What a poor bit of software. I really hope Windows 8 comes out and sorts this out, I can't believe in 2012 I can't run a backup using the built in software, nor even diagnose the issue.

Please Microsoft what's going on?

Answer 4

Dear Mpattison

I am not an expert and have struggled with this error for a long time. Recently, due to the existence of a Trojan I had to re-install Windows 7. As an exercise I needed to 'Clean up' my drive. Openproperties for C:** clean up is an option. Prior to this I had researched the removal of'system.old'** and could see no reason to keep the file. By all means read the help advice on the system covering  clean up unwanted files from the properties. Anyway by removing the old system files suddenly I can run backup.

Rob Evans

Answer 5

Hi, Please let me know how you got on and also how do I prevent my hard drive going into power save, it's a Seagate Expansion external drive. Many thanks