persistent error when making system restore point (0x80041321)

I get an error message when trying to make a system restore point: "The planned task cannot be performed because off following reason: 'the task image is damaged and or corrupted' (0x80041321)" and also after the download of some driver update it says 'File access error' etc. System restore itself still works. I removed allready iTunes but this did not solve the problem. I did run Malwarebytes mbam scanner (ok). I restarted stopped service DefaultTabSearch and also stopped service VolumeShadowCopyService and also made a system restore to the oldest restore point available but got no solution until now.

Try this System backup error [0x80041321] - Microsoft Community

The proposed solution doesn't work really in my case. There are in the replies ±2 positive and ±9 negative. I also tried the manufacturer (Acer) provided system restore from a 19 days old full back-up, the restore didn't give problems but then at retrying making a Windows system recovery point, I still got the same error (0x80041321), tried also different other suggestions from the internet but no one worked in this case.

Also there was even no folder WindowsBackup available in Windows/System32/Tasks/Microsoft/Windows, so I runned a full Windows Back-up succesfully and then the missing folder was visible but after deleting the 2 tasks asked for and at trying to reconfigure the Windows Back-up procedure, it failed and gives an additional error 0x800700B7.

The Taskscheduler itself should open with the command taskschd.msc but it gives the same error (taskimage damaged or tampered) and also crashes when proceeding ok (+OptinNotification).

The System Restore still works perfectly apparently and the creation of new restorepoints by other programs works also perfectly.

So this seems to be a ±unsolvable Vista bug until now, actually it's not so important, the computer works fine, but may be other functions are hampered, don't know.

They say this error is mostly caused by some suspicious registercleaners like Regcure, I use ARO and WinOptimizer9 sometimes with no problems at first view, ARO can also create easily system restore points by system back-up.

May be the best solution is to upgrade from Vista to Windows7. In Windows7 by the way, there seems to be also a ±good and workable solution available for the same problem (0x80041321), see:

task backgroundconfigsurveyor:The task image is corrupt - Windows 7 Support Forums

Common problem, due to virus
Make a full anti virus scan. Download and make a full scan with the free Malwarebytes.

If they are negative, turn off SR, boot and turn on again. Any better, now?

You might also take a look at this- system restore problem error code 0x80041321 - Microsoft Community

richc46 said:

Common problem, due to virus
Make a full anti virus scan. Download and make a full scan with the free Malwarebytes.

If they are negative, turn off SR, boot and turn on again. Any better, now?

Click to expand...

Well, the result was negative:
I made a full AV scan with: - Malwarebytes Antimalware: no malicious objects found
- Spybot S&D: 1 object found and repaired
- SAS: 5 tracking cookies found and removed
- Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool: infected files 0 (no malicious software found)
So there is most probably no virus or spyware that causes the SR problem
Turning off SR and turning on SR gave again the same error 0x80041321. Also could not make any more a new restore point at all.
It's obvious it must be a system software default caused by certain system file(s) damage.

wither 3 said:

You might also take a look at this- system restore problem error code 0x80041321 - Microsoft Community

Click to expand...

schtasks/query showed indeed some (±8) loading or run errors
1)SystemTask -- Consolidator, OptinNotification
2)ScheduledDefrag
3)Microsoft-Windows -- DiskDiagnosticDataCollector
4)DiskDiagnosticResolver turned off -- mcupdate
5)Hotstart TMM -- LPRemove
6)Sideshow -- SR
7)WSHReset
8)MP Scheduled Scan

The SR file (sr.txt) looks quite normal and no damage is visible at first view.

I tried also the proposed solution by Wither 3 (# 5) namely the step by step by Setsunaa (July 3, 2011) but I got stuck at the very last step 'Windows fixed itself, nearly automatically' -- He didn't elaborate nor explained clearly how to proceed for this ultimate fix!

So the problem is still ±entirely unsolved. I still cannot make manually a system restore point.

Any additional hint?

Did you try any of the other possible fixes?

In #5, the last comment about fixes itself automatically is just a comment. You have to perform all the stuff before it. It's not easy to understand.

For situations such as this, you might try something that RichC46 puts people onto-

Go to Start, Programs, Windows Accessories and find the Command Prompt. Right click on it and select "run as administrator".

Type in SFC /scannow. Run it three times. Does it show that anything on the system has been fixed?

I tried sfc right from the beginning, it clearly cannot handle this, may be a bit too much damage, the suggestions of Praseetha K were tried out also but gave no real progress. More precision may be needed: f.e. they start now usually with a step by step procedure but then comes suddenly 'For more information refer to following link etc'! According to Windows Help the services do have repair and config functions but that's pretty sophisticated stuff for ict-pro's may be, we wish if possible a fully workable step by step repair procedure right to the end. Thanx anyway for the efforts for trying to solve this little nasty but merely minor sr problem.

Take a look at this- "The task image is corrupt or has been Tampered with. Servicename." error after installing [url]http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-092.mspx patch for Vulnerability in Task Scheduler Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (2305420)[/URL]

It appears that one specific update causes this problem. Although the above is written in December of 2010, my update history indicates this update was installed on 12/3/2011. So, if you review your update history, sort it by date and look for that date. Try uninstalling it, then reboot. If it allows you to manually create a restore point, you should do so. I'm not sure when to allow the update to be installed.