I'm running into an issue with my Windows 2008 Server 64 bit version. We have Windows SP1 installed. When opening the Computer Manager or Server Manager I am unable to connect to Disk Management. I get the error: Unable to connect to Virtual Disk Service. The service will run and stay running but I am still unable to connect. I've found a lot of issues with Hyper-V but we are not running Hyper-V on this server at all. Additional software installed: -ShadowProtect 4.2.5 which uses VDS so this is broken. - Symantec 2010 Agent, Running full successful backups - SQL Server 2008 - 3-4 3rd party apps which shouldn't be causing issues. - Below is my $vds$.log which we enabled trying to troubleshoot why I can't connect. - VMWare vCenter Converer Standalone. We aren't running VMWare here and I'm not sure why this would be installed. The VMWare services are disabled. Additional Troubleshooting: - Installed Windows Server Backup. It installed but when you try to run a manual job I get "windows server backup unknown error 0x80042401" I've worked with StorageCraft as far as I can go and the next step is going to be to contact microsoft. Brady (PID:3456,TID:11764,14:29:50) ERROR: CVdsPnPNotificationBase::NotificationThread, 2, 2 (PID:3456,TID:11760,14:29:50) ERROR: CVdsPnPNotificationBase::CreateListenThread: notification thread failed. (PID:11732,TID:11744,14:29:50) ERROR: CVdsLoader::LoadService, 5, hr=80042401 (PID:3456,TID:3476,14:29:50) ERROR: ~CVdsPnPNotificationBase: PostThreadMessage failed: 5A4 (PID:3456,TID:3476,14:29:50) INFO: Event logged: 42000004 (PID:11424,TID:11680,14:38:30) INFO: Event logged: 42000003 (PID:11424,TID:11944,14:38:30) ERROR: CVdsPnPNotificationBase::NotificationThread, 2, 2 (PID:11424,TID:1412,14:38:30) ERROR: CVdsPnPNotificationBase::CreateListenThread: notification thread failed. (PID:11720,TID:10712,14:38:40) ERROR: CVdsLoader::LoadService, 5, hr=80042401 (PID:11720,TID:10712,14:38:55) ERROR: CVdsLoader::LoadService, 5, hr=80042401 (PID:11720,TID:10712,14:39:10) ERROR: CVdsLoader::LoadService, 5, hr=80042401 (PID:11720,TID:10712,14:39:25) ERROR: CVdsLoader::LoadService, 5, hr=80042401 (PID:11720,TID:10712,14:39:40) ERROR: CVdsLoader::LoadService, 5, hr=80042401 (PID:11424,TID:11680,14:49:40) ERROR: ~CVdsPnPNotificationBase: PostThreadMessage failed: 5A4 (PID:11424,TID:11680,14:49:40) INFO: Event logged: 42000004 (PID:12076,TID:11192,14:49:41) INFO: Event logged: 42000003

looks like a system problem if you cannot access the disk manager can you access it in safe mode? Windows MVP 2011-12, XP, Vista, 7 and 8. More people have climbed Everest than having 2 MVP's on the wall. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

We haven't tried it in Safe Mode. The system is in production and would require an after hours weekend outage for the server to be down longer then a system reboot.

setup a second server then and get it ready to take over the workload with a clean install then switch over, easier than trying to debug a production machine without the usual tools Windows MVP 2011-12, XP, Vista, 7 and 8. More people have climbed Everest than having 2 MVP's on the wall. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

Assuming I don't have a second box to move to what would the usual tools be to troubleshoot the issue?

We had similar issues on one of our servers and the root cause was Symantec Endpoint Protection AV. Disable the AV services if applicable and check if that works. You might need to restart the server once.Thanks !

We have Symantec Backup Exec 2010 installed but that's the only Symantec product. Currently the system is running with no AV.

Here's a new twist. If I allow the VDS service to Interact with the desktop it will start and I'm able to connect to my Disks. My backups via ShadowProtect are still failing but it's a step closer.....

As a smaller shop I am using Microsoft Security Essentials on my server and it seems to be OK, no issues I could find. What all is in your software stack? If everyone using RDP to work with a virtual desktop? Windows MVP 2011-12, XP, Vista, 7 and 8. More people have climbed Everest than having 2 MVP's on the wall. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

after adding a hard disk to my server i brought up the server manager program so that I could create another shared hard disk took a rather long time to have the server manage come up, let alone the storage module I wonder if your setup is sluggish too? Windows MVP 2011-12, XP, Vista, 7 and 8. More people have climbed Everest than having 2 MVP's on the wall. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

We usually use AVG but there is no AV on this system at all. No one is using RDP to connect to the server except when I remotely manage the system. I'm not sure what you asking or assisting with.

after adding a hard disk to my server i brought up the server manager program so that I could create another shared hard disk took a rather long time to have the server manage come up, let alone the storage module I wonder if your setup is sluggish too? Windows MVP 2011-12, XP, Vista, 7 and 8. More people have climbed Everest than having 2 MVP's on the wall. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews