How to fix a Diskpart Virtual Disk Service Errors
Although superseded by the Windows Storage Management API starting from Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, the DiskPart Virtual Disk Service was the default Microsoft API interface that managed quite various storage configurations for Windows OS.
However, there have been many errors identified by Windows OS users relating to the DiskPart Virtual Disk Service. This article looks to explain and provide solutions to most of these errors in the best way possible.
What is Virtual Disk Service?
Windows OS allows you to create multiple virtual disks – pretty as many as you deem fit for your storage needs. These virtual disks can be managed easily using the DiskPart utility, which is a built-in tool in Windows OS. The DiskPart utility is able to provide information about your virtual disks through an API called Virtual Disk Service (VDS).
Virtual Disk Service (VDS) is a Windows OS API that manages a disk management and storage configurations. It is able to provide information about single-disk desktops, virtual disks, and external storage arrays. This API service was introduced with Windows Server 2003 and was replaced by Windows Storage Management API starting from Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012.
Basically, the VDS API integrates Windows’ Disk Management tool, DiskPart tool, and DiskRAID tool, providing a unified environment to carry out any disk management action. VDS was available for managing (Windows) disks, storage subsystems, partitions, and volumes before its discontinuation.
What Is DiskPart Virtual Disk Service Error
A DiskPart Virtual Disk Service error simply refers to the error message printed on your screen when you try to launch the utility. These errors vary, and as such, how to fix them varies too, but majorly, you’ll need a third-party tool for the fix. Meanwhile, hereunder are some common reasons why you’re getting a DiskPart VDS error message.
Why are you getting a Virtual Disk Service error?
Yes, there are pretty many reasons for you to get the error, but the ones mentioned below are the commonest. So, you should watch when your PC starts showing up errors relating to what is being listed here.
- The VDS is not running, maybe you forcefully closed the service from running in the background.
- Corrupt registry entries – could be that the VDS registry key security descriptor got corrupted due to a conflicting third-party storage program you installed on your PC recently.
- Missing Dynamic-Link Library (DLL) files – probably due to a virus or malware attack on the system.
- Storage device incompatibility with the VDS (Note: VDS was discontinued with Windows 8).
Looking at the points above, when you’re encountering a VDS error message, you should check the DLL files and storage device; these are majorly where the problems come from. Custom configurations that require registry edits can also affect the VDS utility – if you ever make such changes and the VDS stops working fine, try undoing the changes or roll back your PC to a “Restore Point.” Learn how to fix Virtual Disk Service Error "The object is not found error" or Virtual Disk Error "Clean Is Not Allowed".
Common DiskPart Virtual Disk Service Errors and their solutions
Hereunder are up to ten common error messages that could pop up while carrying out a disk management action using the VDS.
Error 1: Clean is Not Allowed on the Disk Containing the Current Boot, System, Pagefile, Crashdump, or Hibernation Volume
You will get this error message when you attempt to run the DiskPart clean command on a system disk that is corrupt or already has bad sectors. Also, it is not possible to run the clean command on the system disk. To be able to do this, you will need to create bootable bootable media using any tool of your preference, then boot the PC using the external media disc and proceed with cleaning the system partition.
Solution:
- To create bootable media, you need an external media, maybe a disc, flash drive, or hard drive, and then you need a software program that supports creating Windows bootable media.
- Plug in or connect the external drive to the computer, then launch the bootable media creation software. The procedure to turn your external media into a bootable media varies based on the tool you’re using to create it. When you’re done creating the bootable media, boot the PC using the bootable media.
- Launch your partition management software after the PC boots from the bootable media, then select the system drive and wipe its data.
Error 2: The Volume Size is Too Big
You will mostly get this error response when you try to format a large volume or partition to FAT32 using DiskPart. FAT32 has a storage limit for formatting, you can’t format drives larger than 32GB into FAT32 using DiskPart, in most cases, you’ll get this error response.
Solution:
Use a third-party software to format the partition. When you download and install the software on your PC, launch it, then right-click on the drive you want to format and choose your options.
Error 3: There Is Not Enough Usable Space for This Operation
This error message is simple, it means that the drive you’re trying to work on does not have sufficient free space on it. Usually, this error comes on when you want to extend an existing partition or create a new one.
Solution:
To fix this, you need to shrink the drive’s volume. Right-click on the Start/Windows icon on the taskbar, select Disk Management, select the drive/partition, right-click on it, and choose “Shrink Volume.”
Error 4: The Specified Disk is Not Convertible. CDROMs and DVDs are Examples of Disks That are Not Convertible
You will get this error when trying to convert a hard drive’s file table from GPT to MBR or vice versa. This happens because using DiskPart for this action, you’ll need to first delete all partitions on that drive before proceeding with the conversion. Alternatively, you can use third-party tools that allow instant GPR to MBR conversion with no loss of file.
Solution
Using DiskPart, here’s the right command sequence to convert your disks. But before then, it is advisable to back up your data – you can use DiskInternals Partition Recovery for the backup.
- Launch the DiskPart utility and enter the commands below:
- List disk
- Select the drive letter of the target disk
- Clean
- Convert MBR (or convert GPT)
Error 5: Only the first 2TB are usable on large MBR disks.
MBR disks have a 2TB limit, so you cannot extend them beyond that. This error message will pop up when you try to convert or extend MBR disks to more than 2TB. But if you really want to extend the drive, you have to convert the disk to GPT.
Solution
Follow the same steps as explained in Error 4 to convert your disk. Remember to back up your data first – before proceeding.
Error 6: The volume requires contiguous disk extents.
This error appears when you want to extend a volume on a dynamic disk. DiskPart is used to extend simple and spanned volumes with unallocated space, regardless of whether the drive is contiguous or not. So, if you’re getting this error, try the solution below.
Solution
You will need a professional third-party program for formatting partitions. The software should support the extension of simple and spanned volumes.
Error 7: The Extended Partition Is Not Empty
Basically, this error is only trying to remind you that the extended partition you’re trying to delete contains data or logical partitions that may be useful. To get around this, you need to first delete any logical partition(s) available, and then delete the extended partition.
Solution
Just as you delete other partitions using DiskPart – when you launch the utility, select the logical partition(s) first, and delete it(them). After that, you can delete the extended partition.
Error 8: Assigning or Removing Drive Letters On The Current Boot Or Pagefile Volume Is Not Allowed.
DiskPart can be used to change drive letters, but there are sometimes it may throw this error response when you try to change a drive letter or edit the current boot volume/pagefile volume.
Solution
Sometimes, changing drive letters may affect your system’s performance and even make the drive inaccessible. So, if you must change that, back your files first and try again. If the error persists, use a third-party partition management software.
Error 9: There is No Media in the Device
Trying to access a media file using DiskPart? Maybe the media file does not exist on the drive you selected or DiskPart could not load the device. Well, there are a few fixes for this.
Solution
You can remove the external drive and connect it through another port on your computer and see if DiskPart can read it well to load your media file. Alternatively, you may need to update your media device drive driver through the “Device Management” page.
Error 10: The Media Is Write Protected
Some media drives are write-protected, which means you cannot edit the content or delete anything from them. Notwithstanding, some drives become write-protected due to physical damage or logical errors.
Solution
Remove the write protection from the drive and go on the action. The procedure to remove write protection from drives differs.
Conclusion
The Virtual Disk Service (VDS) API allows you to carry out many disk management actions on your Windows PC. However, it is important that you make regular backups of your drives and partition data using professional solutions like DiskInternals Partition Recovery. This allows you to have a failsafe for the disaster days. P.S. Learn How to repair Virtual Disk in VMDK!