This was working fine (weekly backups for four months). But backup external drive filled. When running last backup, got error message that backup failed due to insufficient storage on external drive. Got new drive; opened 'backup and restore", went to "change settings" and I get this error: "The backup application could not start due to an internal error: Server execution failed (0x80080005)." Did a system restore to two days earlier: no change. Did a "clean boot" and tried again: no change Dell 530 running windows 7 x64 3gb RAM. No external HDD was connected during these attempts. Thanks for help.DavidLum

Hi, Please ensure that the "System Volume Information" is owned by correct user / process than the SYSTEM. If not, changing the ownership and deleting the backup catalog. Then try to backup again. The following is a similar cases: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/29bd3fc9-9538-4d82-9b13-96263c4f2f73/

Thanks for the reply, and link to the other case. Based on the other case, I also have these problems: event log services and event viewer is not running. Cannot run. Get error, "Windows could not start the Windows Event Log service on Local Computer. Error 4201: The instance name passed was not recognized as valid by a WMI data provider." have scanned for viruses using malwarebytes, superantispyware, and MS security essentials: zero positives. have run sfc, with no errors Connot run "repair" on MS Office 2007 (probably unrelated, but maybe not). Also cannot start Block Level Backup Engine Service. Get message: "Error 0x800700b7: Cannot create a file when that file already exists." Can you help me understand this comment on the linked thread: "This worked for me as well. Solved my long time Server execution failed (0x80080001) error. I gave full control to SYSTEM for all three folders "Windows Backup," "WindowsImageBackup," and lastly "System Volume Information." I did not have to delete the backup catalog. Thanks Soudamini!" Is this what you recommend I do? If so, how do I give "full control to SYSTEM" for these three folders? I hope this added info helps. Thank you. I really want to back up my system regularly. DavidLumDavidLum

YOUR ADVISE IS VERY BAD. THE LINK YOU PROVIDED HAD INSTRUCTIONS THAT RESULTED IN ERASING OF MY C DRIVE. VERY POOR AND DANGEREOUS INFORMATION, MR. ZENG. STAY OFF OF MICROSOFT'S WEBSITE.DavidLum