Cannot enable System Restore- possible VSS problem?

Question

I'm having issues uninstalling and installing apps with Windows Installer and I've also seen Volume Shadow Copy errors in the Event viewer and I believe these are related.
I tried installing Gigabyte RGB Fusion after downloading the latest version, and the Window installer runs, says its "Preparing to install" and sits there hung.
Same problem when uninstalling apps. Some apps I can uninstall and I don't think those used the Windows Installer but I may be wrong?
I tried to enable System Restore however the Protection Settings show Available Devices "Searching" and Configure is greyed out and Create is greyed out. It eventually errored with "There was an unexpected error in the property page. System Restore encountered an error. Please try to run System Restore again (0x81000203)."
I ran MSConfig and disabled most of the STartup items and stopped most of the non-Windows services and rebooted.

Checked services:
Services related to System Restore are: - Volume shadow copy - Multimedia Class Scheduler - Remote Procedure Call (RPC) - DCOM Server Process Launcher - Plug and Play.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.26100.1150
 Image Version: 10.0.26100.3194
 No component store corruption detected.
The operation completed successfully.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.26100.1150
 Image Version: 10.0.26100.3194
 [==========================100.0%==========================] No component store corruption detected.
The operation completed successfully.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
 Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.26100.1150
 Image Version: 10.0.26100.3194
 [==========================100.0%==========================] The restore operation completed successfully.
The operation completed successfully.

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.

Event viewer shows:

Log Name: System
Source: Volsnap
Date: 15/02/2025 5:50:35 PM
Event ID: 67
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: JDMILS02
Description:
The shadow copy of volume C: being created failed to install.

I'm thinking the Windows Installer issue is related to the VSS service as I assume it will create a restore point before any install/uninstall.

In Task Manager, I had a Background Process for Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service \ Volume Shadows Copy, which I Killed Task, and when I did, the Windows Installer for RGBFusion came to life and is now showing "Please wait while Windows configures RGB Fusion. Gathering required information." I think it's hung again.

Event viewer shows:
Log Name: Application
Source: System Restore
Date: 15/02/2025 6:17:07 PM
Event ID: 8193
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: JDMILS02
Description:
Failed to create restore point (Process = C:\WINDOWS\system32\msiexec.exe /V; Description = Installed RGB Fusion.; Error = 0x80010108).

....and....

Log Name: Application
Source: VSS
Date: 15/02/2025 6:18:07 PM
Event ID: 24
Task Category: None
Level: Warning
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: JDMILS02
Description:
Volume Shadow Copy Service Warning: The Volume Shadow Copy Service is shutting down and is experiencing delay while waiting for in-progress calls to complete.

My system is:

OS Name: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
OS Version: 10.0.26100 N/A Build 26100
OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration: Standalone Workstation
OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner: Me
Registered Organization:
Product ID: 00330-80000-00000-AA462
Original Install Date: 19/01/2025, 1:00:30 PM
System Boot Time: 15/02/2025, 5:54:50 PM
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: B360M AORUS Gaming 3
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.
[01]: Intel64 Family 6 Model 158 Stepping 13 GenuineIntel ~3600 Mhz
BIOS Version: American Megatrends Inc. F14, 7/07/2020
Windows Directory: C:\WINDOWS
System Directory: C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume4
System Locale: en-us;English (United States)
Input Locale: en-us;English (United States)
Time Zone: (UTC+10:00) Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Total Physical Memory: 16,315 MB
Available Physical Memory: 9,311 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size: 37,819 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 27,637 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use: 10,182 MB
Page File Location(s): C:\pagefile.sys

***Moved from Windows / Windows 11 / Performance and system failures***

Answer 1

Please try a repair installation.

Open Settings, select System> Recovery.

Under Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now.

This does a repair installation, keeping your files, apps, and settings.

Answer 2

It seems like you are experiencing issues related to Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and System Restore on your Windows system. To troubleshoot this problem, you can try the following steps:

1. Restart the Volume Shadow Copy Service:
   • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
   • Locate the Volume Shadow Copy service, right-click on it, and select Restart.
2. Check VSS Writers status:
   • Open an elevated Command Prompt (Run as Administrator).
   • Type vssadmin list writers and press Enter to check the status of VSS writers. Ensure all writers are stable.
3. Check System Restore settings:
   • Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
   • Go to the System Protection tab and check if protection is turned on for your system drive.
   • If it's off, turn it on and try enabling System Restore again.

Answer 3

I've tried restarting the vss services.

I've listed the VSS writers with no errors showing.

sysdm.cpl just shows "Searching" and does nothing else.

I tried uninstalling one of my apps, which runs Windows Installer however that seems to hang, so I find the VSS task in Task Manager, kill it, and the uninstall continues. Definitely a problem with VSS.

I tried running vssadmin list shoadowstorage and that hangs.

Answer 4

Please run:

reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}" /s

sc.exe qc swprv & sc.exe query swprv

Post the output.

See also:

System protection tab error (0x81000203) - Microsoft Community: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_11-wintop_backup/system-protection-tab-error-0x81000203/09107b28-3669-4ef1-bafe-1a8af9fd5d84?messageId=66d5a6c6-fe02-4402-be81-b453167bb6e4

Acronis VSS Doctor - Diagnostic tool:

https://www.acronis.com/en-sg/products/vss-doctor/#download

Answer 5

Thank you for your reply. Details as requested:

C:\Windows\System32>reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}" /s

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}
Class REG_SZ Volume
ClassDesc REG_SZ @c_volume.inf,%ClassDesc%;Storage volumes
IconPath REG_MULTI_SZ %SystemRoot%\System32\setupapi.dll,-53
NoInstallClass REG_SZ 1
SilentInstall REG_SZ 1
LowerFilters REG_MULTI_SZ fvevol\0iorate\0rdyboost
UpperFilters REG_MULTI_SZ volsnap

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}\0000
DriverDesc REG_SZ Volume
ProviderName REG_SZ Microsoft
DriverDateData REG_BINARY 00808CA3C594C601
DriverDate REG_SZ 6-21-2006
DriverVersion REG_SZ 10.0.26100.1
InfPath REG_SZ volume.inf
InfSection REG_SZ volume_install.NT
MatchingDeviceId REG_SZ STORAGE\Volume

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}\0001
DriverDesc REG_SZ Volume
ProviderName REG_SZ Microsoft
DriverDateData REG_BINARY 00808CA3C594C601
DriverDate REG_SZ 6-21-2006
DriverVersion REG_SZ 10.0.26100.1
InfPath REG_SZ volume.inf
InfSection REG_SZ volume_install.NT
MatchingDeviceId REG_SZ STORAGE\Volume

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}\0002
DriverDesc REG_SZ Volume
ProviderName REG_SZ Microsoft
DriverDateData REG_BINARY 00808CA3C594C601
DriverDate REG_SZ 6-21-2006
DriverVersion REG_SZ 10.0.26100.1
InfPath REG_SZ volume.inf
InfSection REG_SZ volume_install.NT
MatchingDeviceId REG_SZ STORAGE\Volume

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}\0003
DriverDesc REG_SZ Volume
ProviderName REG_SZ Microsoft
DriverDateData REG_BINARY 00808CA3C594C601
DriverDate REG_SZ 6-21-2006
DriverVersion REG_SZ 10.0.26100.1
InfPath REG_SZ volume.inf
InfSection REG_SZ volume_install.NT
MatchingDeviceId REG_SZ STORAGE\Volume

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}\0004
DriverDesc REG_SZ Volume
ProviderName REG_SZ Microsoft
DriverDateData REG_BINARY 00808CA3C594C601
DriverDate REG_SZ 6-21-2006
DriverVersion REG_SZ 10.0.26100.1
InfPath REG_SZ volume.inf
InfSection REG_SZ volume_install.NT
MatchingDeviceId REG_SZ STORAGE\Volume

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class{71a27cdd-812a-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f}\Properties

....and....

C:\Windows\System32>sc.exe qc swprv & sc.exe query swprv
[SC] QueryServiceConfig SUCCESS

SERVICE_NAME: swprv
TYPE : 10 WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
START_TYPE : 3 DEMAND_START
ERROR_CONTROL : 1 NORMAL
BINARY_PATH_NAME : C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k swprv
LOAD_ORDER_GROUP :
TAG : 0
DISPLAY_NAME : Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider
DEPENDENCIES : RPCSS
SERVICE_START_NAME : LocalSystem

SERVICE_NAME: swprv
TYPE : 10 WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
STATE : 4 RUNNING
(STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, ACCEPTS_SHUTDOWN)
WIN32_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0)
SERVICE_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0)
CHECKPOINT : 0x0
WAIT_HINT : 0x0

C:\Windows\System32>

I'll let you know how I go with the links you sent.