[SOLVED] System Restore Error 0x81000203 and Chkdsk not working

1002 · Jul 4, 2020

I have an issue on Windows 10 - "System Restore Error 0x81000203" (the module cannot see any drive) and chkdsk cannot start "The shadow copy provider had an unexpected error" (all volumes are locked).

I suspect AOMEI Backupper. I was doing system backup but the program did not show any progress for 20 min(1-2min usual) and I restarted the computer. Probably it was waiting for Windows to update or some other process. After the restart, I did the image without a problem. Soon after, I found system restore is not working and then tried to run check disk, which failed too.

I tried many ways described online but non of them worked.
1. Turn On the Shadow Copy Service
services.msc
Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider > "start" and "automatic"
2. boot into the safe mode to stop Windows Management Instrumentation service and to reset it.
net stop winmgmt
and
winmgmt /resetRepository
3. System Restore via the Group Policy Editor
gpedit.msc
Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > System > System Restore
“Turn off System Restore” it was correct “Not Configured”.
5. Disable then Enable System Restore using the Registry
Registry Editor.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT
New > Key > Rename to System Restore > DWORD (32-bit) value > Rename this to DisableConfig
Double-click on this entry and put “1” instead of “0” at its value data to block the System Restore. Restart and then change it back to 0
6. I read the decision of Will Watts for a similar error. I checked in the registry and found "UpperFilters REG_MULTI_SZ ambakdrv volsnap". It looks the problem is different.

Logged through another disk with win7. Chkdsk showed volumes are locked due to another process. Used the option to force unmount and scanned the volume with no error. But when I logged back through the original disk with win10, the volume was locked and there was no option to force unmount it like in win7. I suppose, that force-unmount from DOS could unmount volumes temporarily.

Please advise!

zbook · Jul 4, 2020

What are the status of the important computer files?
a) backup images available
b) backup files available
c) no backup images or files and there are important files that need to be saved
d) no backup images or files and there are no important files that need to be saved

If a reset save files equivalent could be performed would that be a viable fix?
Files would be saved and drivers and applications would need to be installed.

1) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
2) sfc /scannow
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
4) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
5) sfc /scannow
6) chkdsk /scan

7) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

8) Open administrative Powershell > copy and paste this script > click enter to run commands > click OK > post a results share link into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

Sysnative Windows Update · Jul 5, 2020

Hi!

GSmartControl
Follow the instructions below to check your SMART status with GSmartControl:

Download the portable version of GSmartControl and save it on your Desktop;
Extract the zip file to your Desktop. Open the folder gsmartcontrol-1.1.3-win64 which should be located on your Desktop and double-click gsmartcontrol.exe to launch the program.
Identify your drive in the list (if recognized by the tool), and hover your mouse over it.
You should see something called: SMART status. It will either read: Enabled, in which case you should do the following:
Double-click on it to bring up its window (usually you'll find your drive by its size or its brand name);
Go to the Self-Tests tab, then select Extended Self-test in the Test type drop-down list and click on Execute (this test can take a few hours to complete);
Once the test is over, the results will be displayed at the bottom of the window. Please copy and paste these results in your next reply or take a screenshot;
Also, go in the Attributes tab and if you have any entries highlighted in red or pink, take a screenshot of the GSmartControl window and attach it in your next reply;
Please note: If the SMART Status reads: Unsupported, stop and let me know.

1002 · Jul 5, 2020

For clarification, I am posting here the screenshots of both errors and Windows explanations.

"There was a problem scanning this drive" > show details > event viewer> details:
"The shadow copy provider had an unexpected error while trying to process the specified operation. A snapshot error occurred while scanning this drive....if this problem persists, run an offline scan and fix. "

chkdsk C: /f /offlinescanandfix

Cannot lock current drive.
Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another
process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be
checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)

To unmount a drive
mountvol C: /p

The volume is still in use. A force dismount was issued and current handles
to the volume have been invalidated.
Access is denied.

1002 · Jul 5, 2020

softwaremaniac, thank you for the instructions!
It will be good to let me know what is the purpose of this test. I assume it is a test for HDD.
The smart status is ON. In the Attributes tab nothing is in red. I run the short test because I suppose it is a software problem. The disk is brand new.

1002 · Jul 5, 2020

zbook
Thank you for helping me out to resolve the problem.
I would like to know what are these processes which you recommend to run?

What are the status of the important computer files? - Do you mean to prepare to reimage the drive? If Yes, I don't need that. I have an image of the Windows clean installation.
a) backup images available
b) backup files available
c) no backup images or files and there are important files that need to be saved
d) no backup images or files and there are no important files that need to be saved

If a reset save files equivalent could be performed would that be a viable fix?
Files would be saved and drivers and applications would need to be installed.

1) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
2) sfc /scannow scan for system files - I did that before, there are no corrupt files.
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth scan for system files (compared to the online image)- there are no corrupt files.
4) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth - no need if no issues
5) sfc /scannow
6) chkdsk /scan

7) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

8) Open administrative Powershell > copy and paste this script > What is going to do this script? Please explain.

The results.
C:\Windows\system32> sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

C:\Windows\system32>dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.329

Image Version: 10.0.19041.329

[==========================100.0%==========================] No component store corruption detected.
The operation completed successfully.

C:\Windows\system32>chkdsk /scan
The type of the file system is NTFS.
The shadow copy provider had an unexpected error while trying to process the specified operation.

A snapshot error occured while scanning this drive. You can try again, but if this problem persists, run an offline scan and fix.

1002 · Jul 11, 2020

Thanks to Triple Helix and Will Watts, the issues were resolved!

I used a different approach, deinstall Backupper, and believed is some mess with the registry, run the CCleaner to clean and fix.
But nothing was fixed.
After Triple Helix post, I checked in the registry and found UpperFilters empty.

Run the Will Watts script and it shows in the Upperfilters "volsnap". The system restore and chkdsk were working normally.

I reinstalled the Backupper and checked again in the registry - "ambakdrv volsnap" was back and system restore was working.

What is AmBakDrv? Aomei Backupper Driver. I assume Ambakdrv.sys failed and locked the system. The deinstallation of the program didn't help. CCleaner didn't repair the registry with the missing volsnap.

I was wondering do you guys use a better program to fix the registry?

uga · Dec 27, 2020

Great site ! No one else had the answer to this problem......................

Just experienced the exact same issue using Aomei Backupper pro 6.2 and 6.3, great program but left this problem on a laptop and desktop.

Aomei Backupper pro 6.2 and 6.3 led to problems with windows 10 backup and restore, windows 10 system protection and/or with windows 10 create a system image.

VSS · Oct 26, 2021

Hi

Can anyone point me to the 'Triple Helix post' referenced
and to the
'Will Watts script' location (is it 'Windowsupgradetroubleshooting.ps1'?).

Thanks,

VSS

PS: I am trying to resolve a like problem (but on Windows 10 Pro).

VSS · Oct 26, 2021

PS: In my registry key corresponding to the first image in 1002's July 10 post, i.e. {71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}, UpperFilters is not empty, but currently has the value: mrcbt
That could very well refer to 'Macrium Reflect Changed Block Tracker' (I have Reflect 8 installed - it had been working but is now failing due to VSS problems).

Tekno Venus · Oct 26, 2021

VSS said:
Hi

Can anyone point me to the 'Triple Helix post' referenced
and to the
'Will Watts script' location (is it 'Windowsupgradetroubleshooting.ps1'?).

Thanks,

VSS

PS: I am trying to resolve a like problem (but on Windows 10 Pro).

Hi,

Welcome to Sysnative. I believe the script from @Will Watts and posts mentioned are from this thread: [SOLVED] - System Restore not working: error 0x81000203 - Kaspersky Removal Tool

Hope this helps.

VSS · Oct 27, 2021

Thanks, Tekno Venus, for your refreshingly prompt reply (and the welcome)! I'll visit that thread right away.

VSS · Oct 27, 2021

Problem(s) solved!
The script from @Will Watts (see Tekno Venus' post above for the link to the relevant thread) worked wonderfully.
System Protection/System Restore, chkdsk, and Macrium Reflect 8 now all working as they should.
I could not be happier. Great site!

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[SOLVED] System Restore Error 0x81000203 and Chkdsk not working

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