Using Backup and Restore (Windows 7), I had been unable to “Create a system image” using Windows Insider Program builds going as far back as build 18850. I am currently running Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18963 (20H1) on a Boot Camp partition on a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012).
Attempting to Create a system Image would bring up the dialog box, “Where do you want to save the backup” and it would fail with another dialog box with the text:
“Windows could not find backup devices on this computer. The following information might explain why this problem occurred:
(0x81000036)
Close Windows Backup and try again.“
I searched the Windows Insider Feedback Hub, googled the web and Microsoft forums and I didn’t find a solution until a few days ago. On the Feedback Hub, in a post with the title, “Cannot create System Image in build 18956 FIX IT!“, CJH suggested disabling Windows Sandbox and virtual machine.
After disabling Windows Sandbox (Control Panel/Programs/Turn Windows features on or off/Windows Sandbox) I was able to create a system image again. I initially disabled Hyper-V Manager but after re-enabling it, system image still worked.
Had the same problem, but to me it was caused by third-party RAMDisk software. Worked after i unmounted RAMDisk volume. If you have some tools that emulate disk volumes, try disabling them as well.
Using Windows 10, version 19041.423, was very frustrated with this error. Glad to realize it’s just now me. Disabled windows sandbox and now system image option is missing. Thanks a ton!
I had the same problem and disabling defender guard as describe here corrected it. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for posting this workaround solution!! I experienced the same problem, but found that disabling just Windows Sandbox did not fix the problem. In my Windows 10 Pro system it was also necessary to disable Microsoft Defender Application Guard as you did. This issue definitely occurred after Windows 10 Pro system update 2004 was installed; prior to that update I was able to create a System Image with no problems.
I implore Microsoft to fix this bug as it’s very annoying and caused me much work cause my PC crashed and would not boot; and my only recourse was to restore from a system image that was last saved weeks before that problem occurred, causing me to lose a week’s work.
Thanks @raymov. That’s very helpful. Somehow I never knew about wbadmin.
Workaround using wbadmin:
Creating A System Image For Back-up By Using the Command Line
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/creating-a-system-image-for-back-up-by-using-the/04246478-b885-48dd-bc81-40190e6c5236
e.g. wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:D: -include:C: -allCritical -quiet
This was using latest Windows 10, version 2004 OS Build 19041.388
https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/4565503
which “Microsoft Recommends” at: Windows 10 release information
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/release-information/
More info:
– wbadmin start backup
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-backup
– How to use wbAdmin to create a Windows 10 system image backup
https://pureinfotech.com/use-wbadmin-create-windows-10-system-image-backup/
Wow! Thank you for publishing this solution to the 0x81000036 error encountered when doing an image back (Windows 10 2004). Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Is Microsoft aware of this bug?
i also got the error “System Image Error 0x81000036” when trying to create a system image backup. disabling the “Windows Defender Guard” did the trick, nocw system image works again.
@Graham B: I had the same problem after update to Win 10 Pro 2004. After disabling the Microsoft Defender Application Guard I can do the backup of a system image now. Thank you very much!
I hit this problem after upgrading to Win 10 2004. The solution above didn’t work for me as I did not have Sandbox installed. However it got me thinking what other virtualisation services were enabled, that could be the cause. Microsoft Defender Application Guard was the answer for me. Temporarily removed (via Turn Windows Features On or Off) and I was able to Crate a Windows System Image to a USB drive again.
Disabling Windows Sandbox worked for me. Thanks!
Together wie Acer Aspire V3 772G and Build 2004 it dosn’t work. The problem still resists.
Preview Build 19041.264 same picture: System Image Error 0x81000036
thank you for this solution!
now problem is solved and system image worked 🙂
Perfect! This problem annoying me for a long time, and it is solved perfectly!