Common Windows Image Backup Errors and How to Fix Them

This guide explores some of the most frequent and persistent Windows Image Backup errors and associated error codes, actively highlighting practical solutions for enterprise environments.

As is often the case with ensuring stable recovery processes as organizational infrastructure scales and adapts, backups don’t always go smoothly. Many routine backups can indeed fail, meaning IT professionals may encounter a wealth of error codes, each signaling a specific type of issue. Let’s look at some of the most common Windows Image Backup error codes and how to solve them.

Critical Windows Image Backup errors, codes, and solutions

Storage and space issues

Error 0x807800A1 OR 0x80780081 – Insufficient Storage Space

• Occurs when the destination drive lacks adequate free space
• Solution: Ensure the destination drive has more storage space than that of the source data.
• Pro tip: Implement monitoring to alert when backup destinations approach capacity thresholds.

Error 0x81000033 – Destination Unavailable or Moved

• Typically occurs when network destinations are adjusted or moved
• Solution: Check network connectivity and permissions, and verify the UNC path accessibility from the backup source.
• Pro tip: Consider configuring backup retry logic in enterprise environments

VSS-related errors

Error 0x80780166 OR 0x800423F3 – VSS Service Failures

File issues

Error 0x80070002 – File or Folder Not Found

• This indicates that a folder or file specified for Windows backup cannot be located
• Solution: Locate the correct destination file or folder, and ensure that it is specified in the Windows Image Backup settings.

Error 0x80070015 – File Locked or In Use

• This occurs when a file is either being used by another process or is (permanently or temporarily) locked down, preventing it from being backed up.
• Solution: Confirm with system administrators that the file(s) should be locked or that they are no longer in use before running the backup.

Access and permission issues

Error 0x807800C5 – Network Access Denied

• This error often appears in domain environments with strict security policies or
• Solution: Ensure the incumbent backup service account has:
  • Local administrator rights on the source machine
  • Full control permissions on the destination
  • Proper network share access rights

Error 0x81000036 OR 0x80780119 – Location Not Accessible

• Often occurs when the backup location is not accessible or when there is an issue with the source destination.
• Solution: Ensure that the backup location is correct or that the file path has changed. Confirm with network administrators that access permissions are not restricted for users responsible for running and deploying backups.

Best practices for enterprise environments

Pre-backup verification

1. Run the System File Checker utility to scan and repair any corrupted system files. Type sfc/scannow and press Enter, following any on-screen instructions as needed.
2. Check for disk errors to ensure there are no incumbent errors on source or destination drives. Open a Command Prompt with admin privileges and run the chkdsk /f command to verify, restarting your system if necessary.
3. Test and verify the VSS Service is running and set to automatic.
   • Press Win+R to open the Run dialog
   • Type services.msc and press Enter
   • Find the VSS service
   • Go into Properties
   • Set the Startup type to “Automatic” if not already implemented
   • Start the service if not running

Monitoring and maintenance

• Create and test new user profiles to see if any issues in Windows Image Backup persist across the organization.
• Check to see if any third-party software is interfering with or disrupting Windows Backup. Uninstall or disable any recently installed software to see if the issues continue.
• Check Windows Event Viewer for detailed error messages and information related to backup and hardware failures.
• Incompatible or outdated drivers can also lead to backup errors. Ensure that all system software and drivers are patched with relevant Windows updates to safeguard them from external attack vectors or integration failures.
• Configure a backup repository for your backup images. Local storage, cloud storage, or Network Attached Storage (NAS) drives are suitable backup locations.

Other potential issues

Network storage considerations

Sometimes, the network infrastructure may not hold sufficient space for regular backups. Validate network bandwidth and capacity for regular and automated backups while configuring appropriate timeout values for larger backups. If necessary, deploy dedicated backup servers or test environments to confirm that the backups work before implementing them live in a live environment.

Security software interference

Be sure to whitelist backup processes in security software, configure any native antivirus or firewall exclusions for backup locations, and document any backup-related rules for system administrators.

Troubleshooting methodology

When encountering backup errors, follow this systematic approach as a loose guide:

1. Collect information
   • Review Event Viewer logs
   • Check backup software logs
   • Document recent system changes
   • Refer to data retention policies
     
2. Analyze environment
   • Verify system resources
   • Check network connectivity
   • Review security policies
     
3. Test and verify
4. Run the backup with verbose logging
   • Test alternative backup paths
   • Verify restored data integrity

Understanding Windows Image Backup Architecture

Before delving deeper into specific error codes and rectification steps, it’s essential to understand some of the critical underlying architecture that Windows Image Backup requires to run.

Windows Image Backup relies on the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) for creating point-in-time copies. This service coordinates with other system components to ensure all data, including open files is properly captured during the backup process.

IT professionals can enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and then recover Windows from a system image, which contains the current Windows system settings, programs, and personal files.

For organizations that have accrued a convoluted and intricate web of system resources, including internal and client data, all preserved with varying user access privileges, additional care is necessary to maintain data integrity.

Need more information related to Windows Image Backup?

Successful Windows Image Backup operations require careful attention to system configuration, resource allocation, and proper troubleshooting procedures. Understanding these common error codes and implementing appropriate solutions allows IT professionals to maintain reliable backup operations across their infrastructure.

If you need further help with Windows Image Backup configuration, deployment, and testing, refer to Petri’s extensive resources for more information, verification steps and redundancy measures to give your organization complete reassurance of successful backups and recoveries when needed.