System Restore Error Code: 0x81000203

Anonymous
2009-11-24T08:06:52+00:00

When I open system restore tab from system properties where we can switch system restore on or off it says Sys restore unexpectected error occur . Cannot scan drives The error code is as above > OS is Win 7

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2011-05-15T09:52:22+00:00

This problem persist @ users who had instaled TuneUp Utilities 2009 / 2010 / 2011, 

TuneUp Utilities 2009 / 2010 / 2011 Turbo Mode block system protection / restore.

Which Turbo Mode is on, turn off Turbo Mode and go to Windows / Control Panel / System and Security / System Protection and these not anymore " error code 0x81000203 "

Problem fixed.

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Anonymous
2009-11-24T23:41:17+00:00

Hi svk1234,

Thanks for posting in Microsoft answers!

Check if Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider service is disabled.

This behavior is by design. Disabling System Restore will limits the ongoing usefulness of System Restore on the computer.

To re-enable, please try:

  1. Open gpedit.msc from Start Search box.
  2. Navigate to the following branch.

Computer Configuration\Administrative Template\System\System Restore.

  1. In the right pane, please configure the “Turn off system restore” policy. Please set it to Not Configured.

See the following link for similar issue : http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprosecurity/thread/0f2eebbe-6cdf-4ecc-93af-9249b7339ec9

Hope this helped

Azeez Nadeem - Microsoft Support

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-10-13T13:41:33+00:00

    Hi FBFB321, I posted the solution that worked for me, it wasn't Vaibhav-Pandey.

    What do you mean you do not receive any error code? This forum post is only discussing error code 0x81000203. What is happening with yours?

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-10-13T15:04:31+00:00

    Hello RJC-UK 

    When I click on System Restore, it goes through its normal process.  At the end, I get the message that the system was not successful. I am further advised either to try again or choose a different Restore point.

    When I try again, the result is exactly the same.

    If you could help, I would be grateful.

    FB321

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-10-13T16:08:54+00:00

    Hi FB321,

    That sounds like either the system restore files are corrupt or infected, there is not enough free space, something is using system restore, or the mechanism is failing.

    Try these steps:

    1. Delete all existing restore points. If you hit an error when you do this then you'll know if it's a bigger issue with the mechanism in general.
    2. Increase the size allocated to system restore to at least 5GB.
    3. After reproducing the error, open Event Viewer and check the System or Application logs for any warnings, info or error messages about system restore.
    4. If you still have issues then run some offline antivirus products to ensure your system restore is not infected. See here for suggestions: https://rjcuk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/fix-most-common-windows-problems.html
    5. You may want to try and repair Windows - the steps in that blog will help, and also try sfc and dism restore-health.
    6. If it is still going wrong then try disabling your antivirus product as it may be interfering
    7. If Windows cannot repair it and no products are affecting it then a reset or reinstall of Windows would be the best option.

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