What’s causing the 0x80780166 error code?
We investigated this particular issue by looking at various user reports and by trying out the different repair strategies that are recommended by other users that have successfully managed to resolve the issue. As it turns out, several different scenarios might trigger this error code. Here’s a shortlist of potential culprits:
Method 1: Setting the status of the VSS service to Automatic
The most common cause that will cause the 0x80780166 error code is an improper instance of the Volume Shadow Copy service (commonly referred to as VSS service). Most likely, the backup procedure can’t complete because the startup type of the VSS service is set to Manual. Several users that also had this issue have reported that they finally managed to resolve the issue by changing the startup type of the Volume Shadow Copy service to Automatically from Manual. After doing this, most affected users have reported that they were able to complete the backup process without encountering the 0x80780166 error code. Here’s a quick guide on modifying the status type of the Volume Shadow Copy Service to Automatic: Note: These instructions will work regardless of the operating system version that you’re encountering the issue on. If the same issue is still occurring, move down to the next method below.
Method 2: Cleaning the WindowsImageBackup folder
As it turns out, this particular issue can occur in instances where the drive where the user tries to store the backup already contains leftover files from a previous backup. In most cases, this error code will occur in case the previous backup procedure was interrupted or didn’t have enough space to complete. Several users that found themselves in a similar situation have confirmed that they managed to resolve the issue by accessing the drive where they tried to store the backup on and cleared the contents of the windows image backup windowsimagebackup folder. After doing this and retrying the procedure, most affected users have reported that the issue was no longer occurring. Here are a few steps that will allow you to clear the windowsimagebackup folder to resolve the 0x80780166 error code: If the same 0x80780166 error code is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.
Method 3: Running SFC and DISM scans
According to several different user reports, this issue can also occur due to some type of system file corruption that is somehow interfering with the backup procedure. As it turns out, in situations such as this one, you should be able to resolve the 0x80780166 error by running a couple of utilities capable of fixing logical errors and system file corruption instances: DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and SFC (System File Checker). Keep in mind that both tools are useful for situations that are caused by system file errors, but they have different approaches to the way they approach file corruption. For example, SFC is better fixing logical errors since it relies on a locally cached copy when having to replace corrupted items with healthy copies. On the other hand, DISM is better at resolving broken OS component and it uses the WU (Windows Update) component to download fresh copies that will be used to replace corrupted files. Both utilities are useful in their way, so we advise you to run both if you’re facing the 0x80780166 error and the previous fixes didn’t help. Here’s what you need to do: If the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.
Method 4: Using the System Restore utility
If the 0x80780166 error is still and the problem only started occurring after you performed a certain action that ended up prematurely (with an unexpected shutdown, critical error, etc.), you might be able to fix the issue by utilizing the System Restore utility to restore your computer state back to a healthy point when the error was not occurring. This tool is capable of utilizing snapshots to restore the machine state to a previous point in time. Keep in mind that by default, Windows is configured to create new snapshots at every important PC event ( app installation, major update, security scan, etc.) If you’re didn’t change the default behavior, chances are you will have plenty of snapshots to choose from. Before you start following the instructions below to get your machine to a previous point in time, keep in mind that all changes that you’ve made since you created it will be lost. This means that any application, user preference or anything else that was enforced during that time will be reverted. If you decide to go forward with the system restore, here’s a step-by-step guide through the whole thing: If you’re still seeing the 0x80780166 error when during the late stages of backing up your Windows version, move down to the next method below.
Method 5: Performing a Repair/Clean install
If none of the potential fixes featured above have allowed you to resolve the issue, chances are you’re dealing with an underlying system file corruption issue that cannot be resolved conventionally. If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to resolve the issue by resetting every operating system component to make sure that every instance of system file corruption is completely eradicated. Several Windows users that were also struggling to resolve the 0x80780166 error have confirmed that the problem stopped occurring and they were able to create backups without issues after performing a repair install or a clean install procedure. If you want the quickest possible procedure and you are not concerned about data loss, the best way to go is a clean install. This focused approach will reset every Windows component that might be affected by corruption. But the major downside is that all personal files including apps, games, user preferences, and personal data are also lost (if you don’t back up your data with a 3rd party utility). A more lengthy but more efficient approach that will allow you to keep most of your files (including apps, games and personal data) is to perform a repair install (in-place repair). But keep in mind that you need an installation media or create one in case you don’t already have one.
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