Windows Backup Fails with Error Code 0x800700E1

Some Windows users are reporting that every attempt at creating a Windows backup ends up failing with the 0x800700E1 error code. The error message accompanying this the error code is signaling a virus or potentially unwanted software.

If you’re encountering this error code every time you attempt to create a Windows backup, you should start by using a powerful AV scan to locate and eliminate any malware, adware, or spyware that might cause this problem.

Next, you should focus on resolving any type of system file corruption that prevents you from mounting or creating a windows backup. In this case, utilize SFC and DISM scans to ensure that you remove any corrupted system files.

However, it’s also possible that you are actually dealing with a false positive. In this case, you need to disable the real-time protection of your security suite (3rd party or otherwise).

Performing a Deep Malwarebytes scan

First things first, start by ensuring that you’re not actually dealing with malware, adware, or spyware that Windows is reluctant to include in your backup. You need to ensure that you remove the virus infection before you concentrate on repairing any system file corruption or ignoring any false positive that might cause this problem.

From our testing, the most effective way of doing this is via a Threat Malwarebytes scan. This operation will do a complete system inspection (and look outside your OS drive) and quarantine and delete any infected files or dependencies.

If you’re not exactly sure how to do this, here’s how to run a Deep Malwarebytes scan.

In case the same 0x800700E1 error code is still occurring even after you ve ensure that you’re not dealing with any viruses, move down to the next potential fix below.

Performing SFC and DISM Scans

If you have performed the necessary scans to ensure that you are not actually dealing with a virus or other type of malware, it’s likely that some type of system file corruption is stoping your OS from mounting or creating Windows backups.

In this case, you should be able to fix the issue by running a couple of corruption-fixing utilities that are built-in into every recent Windows version: DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and SFC (System File Checker)

Our recommendation is to start by performing a System File Checker scan since it’s entirely local (it uses a locally stored archive to replace corrupted instances. Initiate and SFC scan and wait patiently until the operation is complete, then reboot your machine.

Once you’re computer boots back up, prepare for the second phase – a DISM scan. This operation is different from an SFC scan since it’s using Windows Update to download fresh files that will be used to replace corruption.

But before you initiate a DISM scan, make sure that you’re currently connected to a stable network with Internet access.

Once the DISM scan is completed successfully, reboot your computer and see if the problem is fixed at the next startup.

In case you still end up seeing the 0x800700E1 error code when you try to mount or create a backup, move down to the next potential fix below.

Disabling the Security Suite

Windows Defender or a different 3rd party suite might end up stopping the backup process and trigger the 0x800700E1 error code due to a false positive – this is regularly caused by unsigned applications, cracked executables, and game mods.

In case you’re absolutely certain that this particular problem is not being caused by malware or a PuP, you can simply disable Windows Defender before initiating the backup in order to stop the security scan from triggering this error code.

This operation was confirmed to work on Windows 10 by a number of affected users. If you are using a 3rd party AV suite, disable the real-time protection or uninstall the security program along with any remnant files.

If you are not using a 3rd party security suite, follow the instructions below to disable Windows Defender + Firewall in order to resolve the issue:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type “ms-settings:windowsdefender” and press Enter to open up the Windows Defender Security Center window.

   

2. Once you’re inside the Windows Security window, use the left-hand pane to click on Virus & Threat Protection.

   

3. Once you’re inside the Virus & Threat protection screen click on Manage settings (under Virus & threat protection settings)

   

4. From the Virus & Threat protection settings menu, uncheck the box associated with Real-Time Protection so that it’s set to Off.

   

5. Once the real-time protection has been disabled, return to the initial Windows Security menu, move over to the right-hand section, and click on Firewall & network protection.

   

6. Once you’re inside the Firewall & Network protection menu, click on the network that is currently active. Next, scroll down through the list of settings and set the toggle associated with Windows Defender Firewall to Off.

   

7. Open Windows Backup, initiate another procedure and see if you are still seeing the 0x800700e1 error.

In case the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.