Ask a new question

Backup error 0x80780119

Just received my brand new Dell XPS 8500 Desktop with Windows 8. Wanted to do the very simple task and Backup my system using the built in Backup software of windows 8, and figured out to do this I need a PHD in computer science.

1. First Backup in Windows “8” is called “Windows “7” Backup and Restore”. If you search for Backup you just find the file history which isn’t a backup –> so this is very confusing.

2. I have a 2TB hard disk.  Just 160 GB used. My system-recovery partition (which is used by windows to repair the system) is 500MB and almost free.  Have 12GB Ram and 5GB Virtual Ram. Wanted to create a Backup on a 2TB USB 3.0 external drive.

3. If I ran the backup it crashes with this error: 0x80780119. I use bing and google to figure out what it means. And here the nightmare starts. On Microsoft answeres I find 3 answers which I try.

1. The first answer was there is not enough virtaual RAM. So I increase the 5GB (which was set by windows automatically) to 20GB. But that doesn’t help. Same error.

2. The second answer was to delete the system recovery files except for the last one (by using clear hard-drive). Doesn’t help. Same error.

3. The third answer I found was to increase the Sytem-recovery partition. The error should be due to less than 50MB on the 100MB recovery drive. But I have 500MB on this drive with almost 500MB free.. And to do this I should stop several tasks and use some command using the cmd.exe which they recommend only to experts.

What should I do, there are no answers anymore regarding this error? You find the Backup tool in the menu, so it seems not to be a tool just experts so why is it programed that way no one can use it??? I love Microsoft and Windows 8 and I do even own a surface tablet and Venue Pro, but I don’t understand how a simple Backup could be so damn difficult to use. And you wonder why Backup is used by less than 5% of the users? (Just read about it in TechNet where they introduce file-history). BTW: Forgive my bad English….

 

Answer
Answer

I spent hours figuring this out. But I've been able to get it to work a few times now.

 

When error code #80780119 occurs on a Dell machine running Windows 8(not enough disk space to create a shadow copy), the fix is listed below. The reason is Dell w8 includes a 500mb hidden recovery partition labeled WINRETOOLS.

 

1. Go to http://download.cnet.com/MiniTool-Partition-Wizard-Home-Edition/3000-2094_4-10962200.html and download Partition Wizard. Install and open.

 

2. Find the 500mb partition called WINRETOOLS

3. Right-click, and click move/resize, and reduce the size to 490.00mb

4. Apply the changes

5. Open Windows 7 File Recovery, and Create System Image



*This works as a workaround instead of needing to use Acronis or Dell Backup and Recovery software

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Answer
Answer

I have the same problem with a Windows 8 ASUS laptop but I have been able to solve it very easily. It seems that the problem is the 600 MB recovery partition which Windows refuses to backup because it has less than the 320 MB of free space that is required for partitions bigger than 500 MB. In my laptop this partition has 274 MB of free space.


The trick here is that Windows requires only 50 MB of free space for partitions under 500 MB therefore it is possible to shrink the partition by 100 MB and still have 174 MB free. That is what I did and it worked!


Before shrinking the partition it is a good idea to make a backup. I have used Macrium Reflect 5.1 free edition to make an image of the partition. Probably at this point you will be wondering why bother with the Windows image utility when this one is so great but let’s finish what we have started. First I tried EaseUS Todo Backup Free 5.8 but it complained about the partition not having assigned a drive letter.


After the backup is done we can shrink the partition. I used the Mini Tool Partition Wizard Home Edition v7.8. Here you just have to select the 600 MB recovery partition and click on the Move/Resize operation. A window will pop up where you can decrease the Partition Size. Keep clicking on the down arrow until the partition is right under 500 MB. I decreased it to 496 MB leaving 104 MB of unallocated space on the disk. Click Ok and then Apply the changes. That’s all.


After rebooting the computer I tried to create a Windows system image and it completed successfully.

I have not tried to make a recovery so I’m not 100% sure that this method works. In any case it is very easy to undo the changes with Partition Wizard.

1 person found this reply helpful

·

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

 
 

Question Info

Last updated April 29, 2023 Views 13,873 Applies to: