Windows 8 backup error code 0x81000033

Anonymous
2012-12-26T01:51:15+00:00

I am attempting to create a system image from Windows 8 on a external USB drive. I have a Seagate expansion drive with 1.81 Tb capacity that I am attempting to put the backup on. In Control Panel/Windows 7 file recovery I am selecting 'back up now' The backup appears to proceed normally... but eventually fails with error code 0x81000033

There is plenty of free space on the Seagate external drive - so space should not be an issue.

How do I correct this issue?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Recovery and backup

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Anonymous
2012-12-26T14:25:44+00:00

Hi Conrad,

Welcome to Microsoft Community and thank you for giving us an opportunity to assist you with this issue.

It looks that, you are getting error 0x81000033 when you are trying to create a system image from Windows 8 on an external USB drive.

Let me ask you few question:

  1. What is the complete error message?
  2. When do you exactly get this error message?
  3. Have you installed any third party Antivirus or security software?

Please follow the steps given in the methods given here.

Method 1: Check for Volume shadow copy service and Windows backup service.

I would suggest you to check if the Volume shadow copy service and Windows backup services are running on you r computer.

Follow these steps:

a) Press Windows key +R Key and type "services.**msc"**without quotes.

b) Search for the Volume shadow copy service and Windows back up serviceand check their status.

c) If they are not automatic, then right click on them and select start.

Please move to the next method if you still face the issue.

Method 2: Run check disk

I would suggest you to go through the section ‘Repair a drive’ of the article to perform check disk. Here is the link for your reference.

One of the best ways you can improve your PC's performance is by optimizing the hard drive. Windows includes features to help optimize the different types of drives that PCs use today. No matter which type of drive your PC uses, Windows automatically chooses the optimization that's right for your drive.

Please refer to the section "To repair a drive to perform check disk".

Improve performance by optimizing your hard drive

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/improve-performance-optimizing-hard-drive

Important Note: While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when chkdsk tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost.

Now try to create system image.

Please move to the next method if you still face the issue.

Method 3: Temporarily disable Security Software

I would suggest you to disable the security software temporarily and then try to create a system image.

Note: Antivirus software can help protect your computer against viruses and other security threats. In most cases, you shouldn't disable your antivirus software. If you have to temporarily disable it to install other software, you should re-enable it as soon as you're done. If you're connected to the Internet or a network while your antivirus software is disabled, your computer is vulnerable to attacks.

I hope your issue gets resolved by now. Please write to us if you have any Windows related issue.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-02-01T16:50:19+00:00

    If you're looking for a solution for this problem, go somewhere else.  Microsoft is helpless.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-02-25T20:23:38+00:00

    Hi! I have this identical problem with a Dell PC and a back up 2 TB Seagate hard drive.  I've followed all of  the Microsoft response recommendations and it doesn't solve the problem; it backs up the files but doesn't create a system image.

    I've looked at the various suggested solutions, which seem to involve a partition resizing and I'm not sure which of the partitions need to be fixed in my configuration and whether they need to be increased or decreased and by how much.

    My partitions are:

    EFI System Partition, 500MB 100% free

    OEM Partition, 40 MB 100% free

    Recovery Partition 12.84GB 100% free

    Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition, 1849.03GB 80% free

    Primary Partition, 1863.02GB, 83% free

    I'd certainly appreciate a Microsoft based response, as I've tried following some of the other responses on this thread and seem to follow endless trails mainly for W7 and I don't really want to spend $40 on fixing a Microsoft problem with Third Party software if I can help it!

    Thanks for your help

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-02-25T22:34:13+00:00

    You need to shrink your EFI 500 BM Sys partition down to 490 MB.  The Microsoft supplied diskmgmt partition manager would not do it for me, but it might work for you.  If diskmgmt won't work, download the free MinitTool Partiton Wizard Home Edition, which you can get here:  http://www.partitionwizard.com

    This solved my problem.  Good luck.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-02-26T17:03:23+00:00

    Many thanks for your suggestion. As I too could not get W8 to do any resizing, I downloaded the suggested MiniPartition tool and successfully resized the partition to 490MB. I followed all he other suggestions about turning off virus protection and enabling the Shadow Copy and Back Up Service. Also tried a reboot but it still fails to create a system image on the back up drive.

    MICROSOFT please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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