Hello,
Thank you for your question and for reaching out with your question today.
The File Replication Service (FRS) is a critical component of Active Directory and is responsible for replicating sysvol and netlogon shares among domain controllers in an Active Directory domain. When the FRS encounters issues and fails to start, it can lead to significant problems with domain controller replication and overall domain functionality.
The error message "Windows cannot start file replication. Error 1053: The service did not respond to the start or control request in time." typically indicates that the File Replication Service failed to start within the expected time limit. This could be due to various reasons, and here are some common causes and steps to troubleshoot the issue:
- Check Event Logs: Examine the Windows Event Logs, specifically the System and Application logs, for any related error or warning messages that provide more details about why the FRS failed to start.
- Disk Space: Ensure that there is sufficient free disk space on the system drive and the drives hosting the sysvol and netlogon shares. Insufficient disk space can prevent FRS from starting.
- Antivirus and Security Software: Some antivirus or security software may interfere with the FRS service. Temporarily disable any third-party antivirus or security software and try starting the FRS service again.
- Journal Wrap Error: The FRS service could fail to start due to a Journal Wrap error. In such cases, you may need to perform a non-authoritative restore of the FRS replication database.
- Replica Set Inconsistency: If there are inconsistencies between the replica sets of different domain controllers, it can lead to FRS issues. Check the health of the domain controllers' replication using tools like "repadmin" and resolve any replication problems.
- Restore from Backup: If the FRS database is corrupt, you may need to restore the system state from a backup that was taken when FRS was in a healthy state.
- Check Dependencies: Ensure that the dependencies of the File Replication Service, such as RPC service and NTLM Security Support Provider service, are running correctly.
- Verify File and Folder Permissions: Check the file and folder permissions of the FRS-related folders, such as the sysvol and netlogon shares, to ensure they are correct.
- Check Registry Entries: Verify that the relevant registry entries for FRS are correct. Incorrect registry settings can cause issues with FRS startup.
- Reinstall FRS: As a last resort, you may consider reinstalling the File Replication Service. However, this should only be done after exhausting all other troubleshooting steps and should be done with caution.
Before making any significant changes or reinstalling FRS, it is recommended to perform a full backup of the domain controller and its system state. Additionally, consider seeking assistance from experienced IT professionals or Microsoft support to help diagnose and resolve the FRS startup issue effectively.
Keep in mind that the File Replication Service is an older technology, and modern Active Directory environments typically use Distributed File System Replication (DFSR) for replicating sysvol and other data. Consider upgrading your domain to use DFSR for sysvol replication if possible.
I used AI provided by ChatGPT to formulate part of this response. I have verified that the information is accurate before sharing it with you.
If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept as answer.
Best regards.