Windows 8 backup error code 0x81000033

Anonymous

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?

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Anonymous

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:

What is the complete error message?
When do you exactly get this error message?
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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63 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-01-27T21:52:09+00:00

Hold down the "Windows" key and press the "e" key once. When the explorer window comes up, click on the blue "Ctrl Panel" icon.

When the control panel comes up, click on "Admin Tools".

Then click on Computer Management

Then click on Disk Management.

When the DM window comes up, make it full screen..

Then look for any 300 mb or 500 mb partitions on drive 0.

If you find any, close out "Disk Mangement" and download and install a disk tool here:

http://download.cnet.com/MiniTool-Partition-Wizard-Home-Edition/3000-2094_4-10962200.html?part=dl-6285158&subj=dl&tag=button

After installing this tool, open it and use to see if any of the 300 or 500 mb partitions have at least 10 mb of free space. If so, use the tool to "shrink" the partition by 10 mb. (300 mb to 290 or 500 mb to 490).

After shrink is complete. reboot your pc and re-try the backup. If this solves your problem, please consider making a donation to the tool author. (I am NOT affiliated with the tool author in any way).

Hi JackMackSr,

Thank you so much for helping me. In my Disk 0, these are the partitions:

-EFI System Partition>>503Mb

-DIAGS, (Primary Partition)>>40Mb

-Recovery Partition>>500Mb

-Recovery Partiition>>12.81Gb.

Which is the one I should shrink by 10Mb?? Thank you.

Spencer.
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Anonymous

2013-01-26T17:50:08+00:00

The trueimage software backs everything up like a charm... "hidden" partitions and everything.

I haven't tried a restore yet, but from my experience backing up, this should also be a breeze.

Here's the URL again:

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

I'd say spend the $39.99 and have a working solution...

Waiting on MS/Dell for an answer appears to be a fruitless endeavor.
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Anonymous

2013-01-26T17:37:16+00:00

Hold down the "Windows" key and press the "e" key once. When the explorer window comes up, click on the blue "Ctrl Panel" icon.

When the control panel comes up, click on "Admin Tools".

Then click on Computer Management

Then click on Disk Management.

When the DM window comes up, make it full screen..

Then look for any 300 mb or 500 mb partitions on drive 0.

If you find any, close out "Disk Mangement" and download and install a disk tool here:

http://download.cnet.com/MiniTool-Partition-Wizard-Home-Edition/3000-2094_4-10962200.html?part=dl-6285158&subj=dl&tag=button

After installing this tool, open it and use to see if any of the 300 or 500 mb partitions have at least 10 mb of free space. If so, use the tool to "shrink" the partition by 10 mb. (300 mb to 290 or 500 mb to 490).

After shrink is complete. reboot your pc and re-try the backup. If this solves your problem, please consider making a donation to the tool author. (I am NOT affiliated with the tool author in any way).
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Anonymous

2013-01-26T16:47:12+00:00

wo20467

I got my new dell XPS8500 with win 8 OS 2 weeks ago. I am experiencing the same problem when using the built-in Window 7 Recovery to backup the system image. I followed the suggestions from Microsoft support engineer to modify the Volume Shadow copy service to "Automatic" and restarted it. Also, modified the Window Back Up Service to "Automatic" and restarted it. The same issue persisted.

My backup drive is a WD 1.5 TB USB connected drive. I did the disk check and reformatted it. Having tried several times, still I cannot backup the system image.

I am not a good technchie. appreciate someone can help with solution in a step by step approach in plain English.
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