Windows 10: System Restore, Error 0x81000203

I said screw it and reformatted, was unfixable.


So for some reason I cannot get the restore to even read my disks. It just shows this error box:





It says "Searching" in the Disk list.

I have both "Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider" and "Volume Shadow Copy" Enable and set to Automatic. They WERE manual but I set them right.

sfc /scannow returned no integrity violations.

I do have multiple HDD's, only one of them has an OS. The others are pure storage. This is a relatively new Windows installation [Couple of months]. I am at a loss here at what to do.

:)

 

error 0x81000203

error 0x81000203 system restore not working. how do i fix?

 

When trying to access system restore I get an error message saying unexpected error on the properties page: 0x81000203.

* Original Title: System restore

When trying to access system restore I get an error message saying unexpected error on the properties page: 0x81000203 therefore not allowing me to turn on system restore. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi, it looks like you've done what this suggests
Actual Solution for System Restore Error Code 0x81000203 | Windows Forum
Note this (obviously older post) indicates some 3rd party software can interact adversely with system restore.
Please help re: System Restore encountered an error (0x81000203) Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums

A VERY long post where this error message was generated ended up with an in-place upgrade repair install
Macrium Reflect Backup Failures

Noting your comments about services, it may be something's been changed there: you could try
Tweaking.com's free cautious repair tool and run just the repairs related to services.

 

Sorry you wasted a post, thanks anyway. I had to reformat. I did all the "Fixes" but something was permanently messed up.

 

Thanks for advising that.

An in-place upgrade repair install - keeps your data and programs and most settings- would probably have solved it as it has in other cases related to VSS.

Recommended - use disk imaging routinely - e.g. Macrium Reflect (free).

 

This works for me
Like Volume Shadow Copy, the service Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider must also be started and set to automatic. With both of these services active, the System Protection tab will work. Then select the drive, click the Configuration button, and set the Maximum Disk Space usage to something more than zero (depending on how many generations of restore points you want, this should be at least a few GB and could benefit from substantially more).
Thanks