People reported system restore error 0x81000204 while attempting to restore a previous working state of the system using Restore Utility of Windows. The complete error message reads as:
‘System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer’s system files and settings were not changed’.
We have analyzed the issue and concluded that there are various possible reasons that could cause the issue. These include system inconsistency, issues within the hard drive and problematic Restore settings.
No matter what leads to this issue, we have mentioned below the effective solution that you should apply to fix the problem and restore the system in time.
Possible fixes for system restore error 0x81000204
Fix 1: Scan your system using built-in utilities
Very first thing you should in this case is to use the built-in troubleshooting utilities comes up with Windows version. Microsoft has developed this utility to scan the different components within system for inconsistence and potential issues.
In this method, we will demonstrate how to use CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM tools one-by-one and resolve the problem. Running these scans require using Command Prompt. The process is likely to be time-consuming. So, work on these when you have enough time.
CHKDSK Scan
This is a system tool to check and repair hard drive related errors. In a simple form, the CHKDSK scan checks for the integrity of a disk volume’s file system and its metadata, providing the fixes for the issues that it identifies.
Some of the possible issues include corrupted entries in a volume’s master file table, incorrect security descriptors for individuals’ files or incomplete or incorrect information about the size or timestamp of a particular file.
Also, it looks for the bad sectors on a disk volume. This bad sector can be soft or hard that depends on which type was created. Soft sectors are caused due to incorrect data writing, whereas a hard sector is a result of physical damage. CHKDSK would check for such issues and provide the possible fixes:
- Press Win+ R, type cmd and hit Ctrl + Shift+ Enter to open Command Prompt as Admin,
- Once in the Command Prompt, type the below command and hit Enter:
- chkdsk /x /f /r
- if the confirmation page appears asking you when the computer boots the next time, type Y,
- once done, reboot the PC and on the next Windows startup, the chkdsk should begin scanning,
- let the process to complete, and repeat the action that was causing the error previously and check if the problem is now resolved.
SFC scan
The next area you should look into the problem that is causing system restore error 0x81000204, if the previous method does not work is to the protected system files. The system files are the files that the Windows depend on to work correctly.
These files include the hardware drivers, configuration files and DLL files and all the files that make up the administrative tools such as Windows registry. If any such essential system files become corrupt or faulty, you are likely to run the error under discussion.
In that case, you should use SFC or System File Checker. It is another built-in utility that scans the system for corrupted files and replace the ones identified with their counterparts. If this does not provide you the fix, you should try with running DISM scan.
DISM scan
DISM scan is to be used to obtain new copies of system files and substitute them for the damaged, missing or corrupted ones. You should in fact use SFC and DISM together. After performing the steps, you should repeat the action that was causing the previous problem and see if you get the fix for it.
Fix 2: Perform system Restore in Safe Mode
The possible reason for the system restore error 0x81000204 could be the interference of the process by other programs on your OS. In that case, you should try performing the system restore in Safe Mode. Here is how you can launch Windows in Safe Mode:
- Click on Start menu on the taskbar and click on Restart button by holding the Shift key,
- In the list of the options you see, click on Troubleshoot> Advanced options,
- Click on the Startup settings, and restart your PC,
- Upon reboot, press F4 and your PC will launch in Safe Mode,
- Once inside Safe Mode, perform system restore and see if this makes any differences.
Fix 3: Reset System Restore Settings
Another fix for system restore error 0x81000204 is to reset the System Restore settings to the default. This solution works for so many users. Follow the steps below:
- Run Command Prompt as Admin,
- Click Yes on the confirmation prompt,
- Inside Command Prompt, type the below commands and hit Enter:
reg delete “HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\SystemRestore” /v “DisableSR” /f
reg delete “HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\SystemRestore” /v “DisableConfig” /f
reg delete “HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\SystemRestore” /v “DisableSR” /f
schtasks /Change /TN “Microsoft\\Windows\\SystemRestore\\SR” /Enable
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=25GB
sc config wbengine start= demand
sc config swprv start= demand
sc config vds start= demand
sc config VSS start= demand
- Close the command prompt window after executing the command and restart your PC,
- If the problem continues even after the restart, run Command Prompt (Admin) again and this type use the below command to deactivate Windows Management Instrumentation service:
net stop winmgmt
- Next to this, launch File Explorer and navigate to below location:
C:\Windows\System32\wbem
- Right-click on the repository folder and rename it as repositoryold,
- Then, launch Command Prompt as Admin again and use the below commands one by one:
net stop winmgmt
winmgmt /resetRepository
- Finally, reboot the device and check if these steps resolve the issue for you.
Fix 4: Reset your PC
If nothing works, you should go with the option to reset your PC to the default. This process will remove all the data and changes that you made to the Windows like all installing apps and downloading stuff. The process is lengthy and so you should be patient while performing the steps.
Conclusion
That’s all! We have provided all possible fixes for system restore error 0x81000204. Hope so, these methods are helpful for you and you get the required fix. if the problem continues, we recommend you use PC Repair Tool to check for possible Windows related issues to eradicate them automatically.
