Task image is corrupt or has been tampered with 0x80041321

Question

When I try to do a monthly back up it want do it. It gives me Task image is corrupt or has been tampered with 0x80041321. I checked for virures & they come back clean. Can some one please help me out?????????

Answer 1

hi,

i just thought that this solution given by mouneshwar on page 2 of this thread (about three entries down) was too broad based. especially the part where he suggests deleting all the subkeys.

i had a similar issue with my task sched/ corrupted tasks, and the steps you suggested wouldn't have re-created clean tasks to replace the corrupt ones.

BY FAR the most thorough way to solve the issue is using regedit for the tasks, as well as correcting the corrupted tasks in system32 file.

all the steps can be thoroughly described to get the correct solution in the following microsoft support article:

MS10-092, specifically this support page: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2305420

although it deals with a problem in the task sched caused by a windows update, the actual problem is exactly the same, with the same corrupt task messages.

this is the correct way to solve the issue, it takes a few steps but it's not difficult. just follow it closely, and only fix the tasks which are an issue in your system.

this is the most thorough way to fix this issue.

Answer 2

Hi espbrian,

I would suggest you to try the steps mentioned below.

Steps to re-create Task Scheduler

Registry Disclaimer: The steps mentioned below includes system registry modification. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

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a.    Click on Start; in the start search type regedit.exe and press Enter.

If you get a consent prompt, click on Yes.

b.    Browse through the following location.

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Schedule key and then delete its subkeys.

c.    Save the changes and then exit out of the registry editor.

Now check if Task Scheduler works.

Hope this information is helpful and let me know if you need any further assistance.

Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support

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Answer 3

Hi espbrian,

1. What type of backup are you rrying to run?

I believe the backup task that you have got corrupted somehow and is causing this issue.

**Method 1.**I suggest you try the following:

a. Go to task scheduler (run taskschd.msc from RUN dialog OR from a command-prompt)

b. Navigate under Task Scheduler Library->Microsoft->Windows->WindowsBackup folder

c. Delete AutomaticBackup task

d. Delete Windows Backup Monitor task

e. Try to re-configure file backup

**Method 2.**In case you do not find these tasks in task scheduler UI, suggest doing the following:

a. Open an elevated command-prompt

b. cd %windir%\system32\tasks\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsBackup

c. del AutomaticBackup

d. del "Windows Backup Monitor"

e. Try to re-configure file backup.

Hope this helps.

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Thanks and Regards:

Shekhar S - Microsoft Support. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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Answer 4

Hi Mouneshwar R

I have the same issue described above. Using a Lenovo desktop running Windows 7. Ran the last backup before Christmas then went away. Returned to this issue just this week.

I had backup task set up that I used regularly. When I went into the backups, this seemed to have disappeared with the message that Windows Backups have not been set up. This is where I first encountered this issue. I selected backup, the external drive to send it to and started the backup - where I then got the error message

I have tried both methods above to address the issue.

Method 1 had no effect.

Method 2 was more interesting. When I entered the Task Scheduler it gave me the same style of error messages for every task it could find - it went through about 64 screens where I had to select OK to move to the next error. (I have screenshots of some if this.)

Once in, after going through all this, I could only find 'Windows Backup monitor'. And I couldn't find anywhere to try to delete this. (screenshots available)

I then went to the command prompt and into the tasks. There are no error messages in this list. (screenshot if needed)

Virus scan and Defender all ok.

Do you have any further solutions?

Answer 5

Hi mfloyd04,

This issue occurs if the scheduled backup task is corrupt. Task Scheduler service is responsible for the actual scheduling of tasks. Since Task Scheduler uses the file system to store task information, it is possible to enumerate and prepare tasks without the help of the service, but you won't get very far without it. Task Scheduler may not recognize tasks that are written directly to the file system and will likely refuse to run tasks that have been tampered with.

Method 1: Perform a System File Checker

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212

Now check if you’ve issues while attempting to take a backup

Method 2: Recreate the task by deleting the corrupted task

a. Click Start, type task scheduler and hit enter.

b. In the left pane, click on "Task scheduler library" and select the backup task in the middle pane and delete it.

If you’ve trouble finding the corrupted task, follow the steps mentioned below.

     i.       Click on Start; in the start search type cmd. In the programs list, right click on cmd and run as administrator.

    ii.       Now execute the following command.

schtasks /query | findstr /i

Look for

ERROR: The task image is corrupt or has been tampered with.

ERROR: Task cannot be loaded: task name

Now schedule a New Backup Task and check if the issue persists.

Hope this information is helpful and let me know if you need any further assistance.

Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support

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