Fix 0x8007 System Restore Error: Find the Code First

This guide shows you how to fix the 0x8007 System Restore error, which usually appears as 0x80070005, 0x80070091, or 0x80070057. The key is to first find the exact full error code, because each code points to a different cause—permissions, corrupted files, or disk issues. You’ll learn how to locate the code, then apply the matching fix.

What You’ll Need

Administrator access to the Windows PC (you must be able to run elevated commands).
At least 10–15 minutes of uninterrupted time.
Optional: a USB drive with at least 8GB if you need to create a recovery drive later.

Step-by-Step

Trigger the error again to capture the full code. Open the Start menu, type Create a restore point, and press Enter. In the System Properties window, click System Restore…, then Next. Choose a restore point and click Scan for affected programs. If the error appears, note the exact number—it will look like 0x80070005 or 0x80070091. Write it down or take a screenshot.
Check the Event Viewer for more detail. Press Win + R, type eventvwr.msc, and press Enter. Go to Windows Logs > Application. Look for entries with source volsnap or VSS around the time of the error. The event details often repeat the code and add a description like “Access denied” or “The volume is dirty.”
Run the System File Checker (SFC). Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Wait for it to finish—this can take 10–20 minutes. If it finds corrupted files, it will repair them automatically. Restart if prompted.
Run DISM to repair the system image. In the same elevated terminal, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. This fixes underlying Windows component store corruption that SFC might miss. It can take up to 30 minutes. Once done, restart and try System Restore again.
Check disk errors with CHKDSK. Open an elevated Command Prompt and type chkdsk C: /f /r. You’ll be asked to schedule it for the next restart—type Y and press Enter, then reboot. CHKDSK will scan and repair bad sectors and file system errors. After it completes, log back in and retry System Restore.
If the code is 0x80070005 (Access Denied), fix permissions. This code usually means the System Volume Information folder is locked. In an elevated Command Prompt, type icacls "C:\System Volume Information" /grant "SYSTEM":F and press Enter. Then try System Restore again. If that fails, use the Take Ownership method: right-click the folder in File Explorer (you may need to enable “Show hidden files”), go to Properties > Security > Advanced > Change owner, and set it to your user account.
If the code is 0x80070091 (Directory Not Empty), clear the temp folder. Open File Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\Temp and C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Temp. Delete everything you can (some files may be in use—skip those). Then run cleanmgr from the Start menu, select the drive, and choose Clean up system files. This often resolves the “directory not empty” message.
If the code is 0x80070057 (Invalid Parameter), check the registry. This is rarer, but it can happen after a failed update. Press Win + R, type regedit, and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore. Look for a value named SystemRestorePointCreationFrequency. If it’s missing, right-click and create a new DWORD (32-bit) with that name, set it to 0, and restart.
Disable and re-enable System Protection. Go to Create a restore point, select your system drive, click Configure, then Disable system protection. Click OK, then go back and re-enable it with a reasonable disk usage (e.g., 5%). This resets the restore point storage and can clear corrupted shadow copies.
Run a full antivirus scan. Some malware blocks System Restore. Use Windows Security (or your preferred antivirus) to run a full scan. If anything is found, remove it and restart.
If all else fails, perform a startup repair. Restart your PC, and as it boots, press the power button to force shutdown three times. On the third restart, Windows will enter Automatic Repair. Choose Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. Follow the prompts. This fixes boot-level issues that can cause System Restore to fail.

Common Mistakes

Ignoring the full code. Many people see “0x8007” and stop. The last four digits are critical—0x80070005 and 0x80070091 need completely different fixes.
Running SFC without admin rights. SFC will fail with a message about needing elevation. Always right-click the terminal and choose “Run as administrator.”
Skipping DISM before SFC. If the system image is corrupted, SFC won’t work properly. Always run DISM first, then SFC.
Deleting the System Volume Information folder. This folder holds restore points. Deleting it can break System Restore entirely. Never delete it—only change permissions.

Tips

Write down the exact code and the error message. The message often says “Access denied” or “The volume is dirty,” which tells you exactly what to target.
Create a restore point manually before making changes. Even if System Restore is failing, you can often create a new point after fixing permissions. This gives you a safety net.
Use the “Scan for affected programs” option. It tells you which programs will be removed, so you can back up those files first.
Keep your system drive with at least 10% free space. System Restore needs room to store shadow copies. If the drive is full, it will fail with a generic error.

Troubleshooting

If the steps above don’t resolve the issue, try these additional checks:

Check if System Protection is even enabled. Go to Create a restore point and see if the protection status says “On.” If it’s off, turn it on and try again.
Look for third-party backup software conflicts. Some tools like Acronis or Macrium can lock the Volume Shadow Copy service. Temporarily disable them and retry.
Verify the Volume Shadow Copy service is running. Press Win + R, type services.msc, find Volume Shadow Copy, and ensure it’s set to “Manual” and running. If not, right-click and start it.
If you get 0x80042302 (VSS not found), run vssadmin list writers in an elevated prompt. If any writer shows “Failed,” you may need to re-register the VSS DLLs. Type cd /d %systemroot%\system32 then regsvr32 vssvc.dll and regsvr32 swprv.dll.
As a last resort, use a system restore from a different boot mode. Boot into Safe Mode (Shift + Restart from the login screen) and try System Restore there. Safe Mode loads minimal drivers, which can bypass the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does System Restore give 0x80070005?

This is an “Access Denied” error. It usually means the System Volume Information folder has incorrect permissions, or a security program is blocking System Restore from accessing it.

Can I fix 0x80070091 by just deleting the restore point?

No. The “Directory Not Empty” error often comes from leftover files in the temp folder or a corrupted restore point. Deleting the restore point won’t help—you need to clear temporary files and repair the system.

How long does DISM take?

Typically 10–30 minutes, depending on your hard drive speed and the amount of corruption. If it seems stuck at 20%, wait—it’s normal.

Will these steps delete my personal files?

No. SFC, DISM, and CHKDSK repair system files and disk errors. They do not touch your documents, photos, or other personal data. However, always back up important files before running disk repairs.

What if the error code is 0x800423F4?

That’s a different code—it means “insufficient storage.” You need to free up disk space or increase the amount of disk space allocated to System Protection. This guide focuses on 0x8007 codes, but you can apply the disk cleanup steps.

Is there a way to avoid this error in the future?

Yes. Keep your system drive healthy by running SFC monthly, keeping at least 10% free space, and avoiding third-party disk cleanup tools that might delete shadow copies.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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