Cant backup 8.1 using system image backup! Error 0x80780119, Cant optimise system partition, (this is why i cant backup) please read. . .

Hi Everyone.  I corrected the Image Creation Process on my Windows 8.1 PC, and I can make images now with no problems.  Since some you think it is much too difficult, I am posting some notes from my experience.  I want you to know that I did not devise this procedure, instead I just followed it as posted by Jobongo, who posts to this community.  By the way *** I would suggest that you do not download just any-guy's OS system patches, etc., or you may be installing a root kit or some other crafty spyware.  So, my notes:  The method I used is not exactly beginner reading but it was not difficult to do and actually went OK (it is posted below my text).  The only knots were when I deleted the original EFI partition and then rebooted (scary).  The minitool partition editor is not only amazing it is free and installs cleanly, I downloaded from CNET downloads.  After changes, Windows 8.1 starts up a GUI interface at reboot and give you a choice to start a command prompt window.  Following the directions below, exactly, works.   I wish I wrote down the size of each partition before beginning the process because knowing the size of all partitions makes it easy to identify which one is boot and which one has the EFI replacement partition (which you will create).  It is that partition which has to be labeled as an EFI partition.  So I typed in the commands, excluding quotation marks, in order to designate the new partition space I created as the new EFI partition.  Then reboot and presto-change-o Windows appears and the System Image works again.  Basically you shrink C-data and create a partition to the left of C-data (it is very important because partitions grow from space directly beside of it and using only the unassigned storage space (the minitool partition manager allows placing the new partition to the left or to the right of its source partition).  Take your time with the minitool partition editor, its relatively simple to use and it's idiot proof, you use the sliders to reside the disk, just take your time it works perfectly.  After making changes you must click on "apply" before any changes are made to the HDD, so if you 'X" exit the program because the partitions are messed up - no changes are made to your HDD partitions.  Anyway, you will copy the contents of the original EFI partition's contents into the newly created partition, which is located beside the C data partition--easy enough.  Then, you will delete the original EFI partition, which is beside of the Recovery partition.  Since the original EFI partition space is now unassiged and it is beside the Recovery Partition, you can stretch the Recovery partition to include the extra space --thus, solving the error message problem of not having 50mb of space, minimum.  OK.  Also, be sure that the new partition you created as the EFI partition replacement has at least 101mb of total space, or it can be larger.  My original EFI partition was 99mb - which seemed funny since I understood that it must be at least 100mb.  I'll leave that for another argument.  Now you are done with 1) shrink C; 2) create and partition out of the unassigned spacce; 3) Copy contents of EFI into the newly created partition; 4) delete the original EFI partition; 5) stretch the Recovery partition by the space left from deleting original EFI.  Then you have to restart your PC you will get a GUI, so navigate to the link to a DOS (command prompt) window.  Then, type in the commands that start an editor to change the new partition to be type EFI.  While that part seems a little bit harry, it's pretty easy.  You will want to write down all of the partition sizes, since you need to identify the boot partition and the new EFI partition while using the editor.  The editor requires to identify the drive (boot drive) and the partition you want to use as the EFI partition.  Knowing the sizes will help and your choices are 0, 1, 2, 3 and their sizes.  But the boot drive is usually 0.  Follow the instruction to designate the new EFI partition.  There,  done.  Now, reboot and Windows will work once again.  At that point I created a system image, but I noticed that the image creation allowed me to select only the C: and EFI partitions (66mb), but not the restore partition.  The image creation was successful.  So then I rebooted and I also ran a restore point and rebooted.  When I tried to create the system image again, all 3 partitions were available and the image size was about 75mb. 

..... Here is the Original Suggestion:

Jobongo replied on October 20, 2013

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I have found a way around this getting Windows System Image Backup working again. I did this on my laptop and desktop confirming that I could recover from the images. It is actually pretty easy but should not be necessary. The reason that the backup would not work was because the recovery partition was using 284MB of the 300MB available. There was not 50MB available for shadow copy. Here are the steps I took on an EUFI GPT disk:

Note: All commands are without quotes. 

Disclaimer: I would recommend backing up all of you important data as any time you mess with partitions, there is the possibility to lose data. This process was done one both my laptop (Win8.1 Home) and desktop (Win8.1 Pro). I cannot take responsibility if this causes any damage. With that being said, I hope this helps.

Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html Note that none of the changes will take effect until you hit apply. I am sure others may work but this is the one that I used and it is free. 

You should have 3 Windows partitions; Recovery - 300 MB, EFI System - 100 MB, and your system Volume to start off with. 

1. Once installed, Open Partition Wizard and Shrink your system volume, C: in my case, by 101MB at the beginning of the partition. (I had to put 101MB as when I tried 100 it said that the space was too small when doing the next step) To do this, Right Click the C: Drive, select, Move/Resize, and the put 101 in box named "Unallocated Space Before:" and click OK.
2. Copy the EFI System partition (100 MB FAT32) to this new Free Space by right clicking, selecting copy, and then selecting the unallocated space. Then next the OK.
3. Delete the 100MB EFI System Partition after the Recovery Partition. 

After this is done, you will see 100MB unallocated space after the Recovery Partition. 

4. Right click on Recovery partition and select Extend. Drag the bar to take up all of the extra free space. This will change the recovery partition from 300MB to 400MB allowing for enough space (50MB) for the shadow copy. Click OK. 
5. Next Click Apply. I received an error stating that it could not make changes due to C: being in use. I clicked restart. 

When the computer restarts, Partition Wizard will do its thing. Once it is done you should boot into Windows again.

This next part is essential, because, windows now does not recognize the partition that was moved before as an EFI System Partition. If you try and do a backup image now, only the system partition will show and not the Recovery or EFI System

6. Open a cmd prompt with administrator privileges. Press Start Key, Type cmd, right click, select run as administrator. 
7. Type diskpart to start windows command line disk manager. 
8. Find the disk that Windows is installed on by typing List disk. This will be different on each machine but for illustration mine was disk 0
9. Select that disk by typing the command "select disk" and the disk number.
10. Next, determine the EFI partition that was moved earlier. This is the partition that was moved earlier and should be 100MB. Type in the command "list part" to see a list of the partitions on the disk. Mine was Partition 3. This may be different on your system. 
11. Once you have determined the partition number, type "select partition " and your partition number
12. Next you have to set this partition as an EFI System volume. Type in this command - "set id = c12a7328-f81f-11d2-ba4b-00a0c93ec93b" This changes the partition type to an EFI system volume.
13. After all of this is done, restart your computer and you should now be able to back up you system using the System Image Backup in File History.

I know some of this may seem a little elementary to some but you never know who needs help and their technical knowledge. 

I hope that this helps and let me know if you have any questions. ‏

Last chance, I am uploading "Windows 8.1 pro x64 update 1.zip".This is an original Microsoft download install DVD with only the install aspects removed. I don't think Microsoft would want me to upload a complete image. This boots as if you were going to do a install but when you get to the "install now" that button will error, you just go to the lower left corner and choose the link "repair my computer" to access the same 8.1 repair tools. If that does not work you will have to find a complete ISO in the internet or maybe use your key with the method I described before at this link...

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

Click on the "install windows 8" button, insert your key, if it likes it click next and if download starts (Microsoft has been having problems with their servers) let it get to 1% and cancel. then immediately click on the "install windows 8.1" button and the download of windiws 8.1 will start without a key. When download completed choose create media - ISO. that way you have it to burn to a DVD or USB later. You could even use it for a clean install but you would have to get a generic key to make install run or after is is a usb you put a file in the sources folder you create first..."ei.cfg" using notepad.

[EditionID]

Professional

[Channel]

Retail

[VL]

0

 You may have to do a little research to change the text to fit your version. This would get the install to complete so when it is done you activate it with your key.

Harry I burned the new dvd and still get no operating system when booting from that dvd.  I went into bios setup and was not able to locate eufi legacy booting.  So I searched on the internet and saw where a fellow using win 8 on a sony vaio duo.  Unfortunately for him his pc would not boot up under legacy bootup.  So he had to jump through some hoops to get his system back to reset to factory specs.  Maybe I should not try to change the boot to legacy based on what I just read.  Anyway Im sorry to say Harry the latest dvd still does not boot up.  It says op system not found.

I just now burned to a usb with the rufus program and also burned it to a DVD with Nero and both worked. I re packaged the ISO, maybe you could download it and try again. I don't have an UEFI system to test it on but it has all the files necessary and Win 8 was designed to boot on UEFI. All other win 8 devices I create boot just fine on UEFI systems that I encounter. I noticed on UEFI systems when you evoke the GGS screen to manually select a boot device usb's and DVD drive have selection for EFI and legacy bios selections. Check your bios settings and try enabling legacy mode.