How To Fix: Windows Resource Protection Could Not Perform The Requested Operation

31 Oct
Oct , 31 , 2019 Alice Johnson

When your Windows Operating System crashes due to some corrupted system file you generally try to execute the System File Checker utility using SFC command. At times, this scan returns an error message reading:

“Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation”

An SFC command scans the computer for corrupt system files and replaces them with the correct ones. During the scanning process, if it somehow gets stuck, then you may face this problem. There is a multitude of reasons for the occurrence of this error.

If the data within the hard disk starts to malfunction, then there is a possibility for you to face this glitch. Or, if the SFC utility is unable to access the “winsxs” folder, due to some security descriptors problem, then you might meet with this issue. Further, if the WIndows Installation gets corrupt somehow, then also you might face this issue.

Here, we have provided the fixes to this particular error and explained each of them in a step by step manner. So, follow the fixes and apply them, and hopefully, this issue on your Windows system will be fixed quickly.

Fixing: “Windows Resource Protection Could Not Perform the requested Operation” 

In this section of the article, we will discuss the methods which will help you rectify the “Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation” error. Follow them in the order provided and get rid of this error easily.

1: Execute the Check Disk Utility 

If the hard drive of the Windows system has got any corrupt data, then you might get this problem. Now, the only way to resolve this problem is to run the Check Disk utility. The Check Disk or CHKDSK is an inbuilt tool within Windows that inspects the hard disk drive for any kind of issue. 

Follow the steps given below to run this command.

  • First, press the ‘Windows + X’ keys simultaneously to open the ‘Options Menu’.
  • Inside that menu, locate and choose the ‘Command Prompt(Admin)’ option.
  • As soon as you do that, a new window having the name ‘Command Prompt’ with white text and black background will come up.
  • Inside that window, input the command “chkdsk c: /r” and then press the ‘Enter’ command to execute the same.
  • When the command executes, it will prompt you to schedule a check disk scan right after the machine starts up again. Now, in order to accept it, type in “Y” and then press the ‘Enter’ key.
  • Now, the computer will restart and then the Check Disk utility will initiate the scanning process. Now, wait for this process to complete.
  • Lastly, if the chkdsk utility returns an error, then replace the hard disk, otherwise, go to the next method.

2: Execute the DISM Tool

If the execution of the SFC utility gives you this problem, then the best answer to rectify this issue is to run the DISM tool. Like the SFC tool, the DISM or Deployment Image Servicing and Management is a built-in tool that helps you repair the corrupt system files. Here are the steps to run it.

  • First, press the “Windows + R” keys together, to launch the ‘Run’ dialog box.
  • Inside that dialog box, there is a blank space beside the ‘Open:’ label, in it, type the text “cmd”  and then press the ‘OK’ button.
  • As soon as you do that, a new window having the name ‘Command Prompt’ will come up. 
  • Inside that window, input the commands – “dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth”, “dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth”, “dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth”. After each command, tap on the ‘Enter’ key to execute it and run all of them one by one.
  • Once the execution of all the commands is over, close the ‘Command Prompt’ window.
  • Finally, restart the computer and execute the SFC utility again to check for this issue.

3: Change the Security Descriptors of the winsxs Folder

If the winsxs folder cannot be accessed by the System File Checker utility because of some problems with the security descriptors folder, then you might face the “windows resource protection could not perform” error on a Windows 10 OS.

The best answer to resolve this problem is to alter the security descriptors of the winsxs folder. For that to happen, follow the steps below.

  • First, to open the ‘Command Prompt’ window, go to the second method of this section and follow the initial three steps.
  • Once a new window with the name ‘Command Prompt’ comes up, in it, type in the command – “ICACLS C:\Windows\winsxs” and tap on the ‘Enter’ key to execute.
  • Now, wait for the execution of this command to get over. Once over, quit the ‘Command Prompt’ window.
  • At last, reboot the machine and try to run the “sfc /scannow” within the ‘Command Prompt’ window and check whether this issue is still present or not.

4: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Sometimes if the Windows Operating System is not up to date,  you might face this problem. Now, the easiest solution to getting rid of this problem all you have to perform is an update of the OS. The steps to do it are as follows:

  • First, press the keys ‘Windows + I’ simultaneously. This action will open up a new window having the name ‘Windows Settings’.
  • Inside that window, there will be various settings categories specific to the Windows OS that you can change at your will. Now, out of those categories, choose the one that says ‘Update & Security’
  • As soon as you do that, a new page within this window will come up. On that page, go to the left pane and choose the ‘Troubleshoot’ option.
  • Next, move to the right pane of that page and tap on the ‘Windows Update’ option. When you do that, under that option, hit the ‘Run the troubleshooter’ button, under the ‘Get up and running’ subheading.
  • Once a new dialog box having the name ‘Windows Update’ comes up, follow the information that comes on the screen.
  • At last, restart the machine and examine whether this issue is fixed or not.

5: Execute the Automatic Repair Process

If none of the above methods work in solving this problem, then run the ‘Automatic Repair’ as a last resort. Follow these steps below.

  • First, put the installation DVD of the Windows 10 OS into the disk tray. Next, reboot the machine.
  • When you get a prompt message that says ‘Press any key to boot from CD or DVD”, just tap on any key to continue with the process.
  • As soon as the DVD executes, a ‘Windows Installer’ window will come up. Inside that window, choose the language you prefer, keyboard layout, etc. Then, click on the ‘Next’ button.
  • After that, within the new page that comes up, locate and then choose the ‘Repair your computer’ link present at the bottom left corner of the window.
  • Now, a new screen with a blue background will come up. Inside that screen, locate and choose the ‘Troubleshoot’ option. Now, a new screen with the heading ‘Troubleshoot’ will appear.
  • Within that screen, find and select ‘Advanced options’. As soon as you click on that option, another screen with the name ‘Advanced options’ will come up.
  • On this screen, select the ‘Automatic Repair’ option. This action will initiate the automatic repair process, so wait until it completes successfully.
  • At last, when the automatic repair procedure completes, restart the machine and inspect whether the issue is resolved or not.

To fix the “Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation” on a Windows 10 system, just follow the fixes above and implement them correctly. You can leave your feedback in the comments.