0X81000037 Windows 10 – Fix backup or restore error
0x81000037, 0x80070001, and 0x80070003 are errors caused by Windows finding a “reparse point” within a folder that it tries to back up.
Microsoft mentions that “reparse points” are the Windows equivalent of symlinks on Linux. They allow you to “link” a folder to a different location on your hard drive, without having to move the folder.
The reason you’re getting the error is because when Windows tries to “back up” the folder in question, it can’t find the file that’s linked within it. This causes Windows to think that the file does not exist, is inaccessible, or is corrupted.
Errors will usually appear with these messages:
0x81000037 – Windows Backup failed when trying to read the snapshot on one of the volumes being backed up
0x80070001: (Invalid function)
0x80070003
To fix them, you should delete any reparse points inside the folders you are trying to back up.
Cause
The main cause of the problem is that Windows does not recognize the location of a file.
The error can show up when using Windows Update, scheduling a restore point, or generally show up when you’re using your system.
To fully understand the problem, you need to keep in mind that every time you use a personal computer, all it does is process billions of lines of code, much of which is stored in “files” on your persistent storage device ( either HDD or SSD) .
On most operating systems, you can allow applications to load specific files by “linking” them to other locations on your hard drive.
For example, you might have a save game file in your “Saved Games” folder, which you can “symlink” into your actual game folder.
SymLink functionality is native to Linux and Mac uses it as well. Windows being Windows, it doesn’t use “symbolic links”, but “reparse points”. The functionality is the same in both cases.
The errors you are experiencing are caused by your system not being able to load particular files, due to their lack of physical presence on disk. To fix it, you need to fix the underlying bugs that are causing the error to be displayed.
Solution
The way to fix the problem is to make sure you can clean up any of the folders that might be causing “reparse points” issues.
Microsoft gives 3 ways to solve the problem:
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The repair point points to a volume that uses FAT as its file system.
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The reparse point is a “mounted volume” containing compressed files (EG zip files, etc.)
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Direct repair point to the “root” of another volume
To resolve it, you need to follow the steps below:
1. Delete any “Mounted Volumes” / “Reparse Points”
The first step is to make sure that you do not have “mounted volumes” or “reparse points” on your system.
This may sound complicated, but it’s actually relatively simple:
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On your keyboard, press the “Windows” + “R” keys
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This will open the “Run” dialog; in it, type “cmd” and press “Enter”
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From the cmd prompt that appears, type “DIR /AL /S” and press “Enter”
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This should display a list of directories classified as “Analysis Points”
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From the list, take the ones that you think are corrupting the backup, find them in “File Explorer”
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When you identify the folder, right click on the volume and check if it says “Mounted Volume”
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If so, delete it by holding SHIFT and pressing DELETE
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Once this is complete, restart your computer
After the reboot, you should be able to test what you were trying to do before.
If the error disappears, it means that the problem has been solved; if not, you will need to continue with the next steps.
2. Secure permissions
Next, the other problem you may have lies with system permissions. Permissions are used in computing to determine which users can (and cannot) manage various resources within the system, and are typically based on “user roles” (administrator, etc.).
To ensure that errors do not reproduce, you may be experiencing issues with how your user account can access certain files/settings.
To fix this, you should be able to fix any permissions issues your system may have:
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Go to the folder(s) you are trying to backup/restore
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Right click on the folder and select “Properties”
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In the “properties” dialog, select “Security”
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Here, press “Edit”
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In the window that appears, type “Everyone” in the box and click “Verify names”
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If the text “All” is underlined, click “OK”.
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With “Everyone” selected, click “Allow” for “Full Control” in the bottom panel
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Click OK”
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Try to backup/restore again
If this doesn’t work, be sure to repeat the process for any other folders you’re trying to back up. While it shouldn’t be a problem for most users, it is likely to cause problems *if* your system gets a lot of use (permissions not working, etc.). Other problems are likely caused by some kind of “blocking” on the folders, either by an antivirus or perhaps a virus infection in the system.
3. Clean Viruses/Malware
Then your computer *may* have problems with virus/malware infections.
While this may not seem like a cause of a file system error, the problem lies in the way many newer viruses end up targeting underlying files/folders, to either block user access OR ensure the infection has the ability to to do his nefarious job.
The point is that if you are still experiencing the errors, it may be caused by a virus infection that temporarily overwrote certain files/folders on your hard drive.
To fix this, you need to make sure you have adequate virus/malware protection:
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Download MalwareBytes (Free)
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Save it and install it on your PC
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Open the zip file and then run the software inside
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When the software runs, set it to perform a full scan
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After the scan is complete, reboot your system
Unlike viruses, “malware” (malicious software) often disguises itself as legitimate software applications and only causes problems *after* they gain access to your PC.
MalwareBytes is the only tool completely dedicated to removing malicious infections from Windows systems. If after performing the steps above and removing any potential malware threats, you find that Windows is still unable to back up, you’d better seek advice from someone with more specific knowledge of your system. You may also want to disable any antivirus applications you may be running, as they might conflict with (block) the backup process.
4. Run the “Troubleshooter” tools
If you are still experiencing the error, you should run one of the “troubleshooters” within Windows 10.
The troubleshooting systems within W10 are actually relatively effective and work as follows:
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Click the “Start” button (bottom left taskbar)
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Select the “cog” / “Settings” icon in the “charms” menu on the left (just above the power button)
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When the “Settings” screen loads, click “Update & Security”
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In the menu on the left, select “Troubleshoot”
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From the list that appears, you must first click on “Windows Update” and then any other that relates to what you are trying to do.
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A small applet will load – let it run and then just let it clear any of the problems it finds.
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Once complete, restart your PC
This will usually resolve any major issues Windows 10 is having that are preventing Windows Update from working. It’s not guaranteed to work, but it does work for many common bugs that inhibit core functionality of W10.
5.Run SFC/DISM
Finally, if you are unsuccessful with the above, running the SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tools are a great way to ensure that your core Windows system is running most effectively. possible.
To do this, you need to follow the steps outlined here:
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Press the “Windows” + “S” keys on your keyboard
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Type “CMD” in the search box
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From the list that appears, right click on the top list and select “Run as administrator”
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When the CMD window loads, type “SFC /scannow” and press “Enter”
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Once this is complete, type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” and press “Enter”
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Once this is complete, reboot your system
If the errors persist beyond these steps, it suggests a more specific problem with your particular system, which an internet article won’t be able to resolve on its own.
Additional steps to resolve the error should involve someone who has specific access to your specific Windows system. To do this, there are a number of online services that can help, including SuperUser and Microsoft Answers. If you need more specific support, you may want to contact a dedicated tech, but that will mean paying someone.
