How to Repair the ‘Windows Resource Protection Was Unable to Complete the Operation’ Message – 2025

How to Repair the ‘Windows Resource Protection Was Unable to Complete the Operation’ Message

If you’ve ever run the System File Checker (SFC) tool in Windows and encountered the error:
“Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation,”
you’re not alone. This message usually appears when Windows is unable to proceed with scanning or repairing system files. The causes can vary—from corrupted system files and disk errors to permission issues or underlying Windows corruption.

In this guide, we’ll walk through multiple methods you can use to solve this error and get your system integrity checks back in working order.

What Causes This Error?

Before diving into solutions, let’s quickly go over some common reasons why this error might appear:

• Corrupt system files

• Disk issues or bad sectors

• Permissions or access problems

• Pending system updates or glitches

• Interference from third-party software

1. Run SFC in Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads only the essential drivers and services, which might help the SFC tool complete its operation without interference.

Steps to Enter Safe Mode and Run SFC:

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.

2. Go to the Boot tab and check Safe boot > Minimal.

3. Click Apply, then OK, and restart your PC.

4. Once in Safe Mode, open Command Prompt as Administrator.

5. Run:

   bash

   sfc /scannow


   

6. Once done, go back to msconfig and uncheck Safe boot to return to normal mode.

2. Run CHKDSK to Fix Disk Errors

A faulty hard drive or corrupted file system can interfere with SFC operations. Use the Check Disk (CHKDSK) tool to check for and fix disk errors.

Steps to Run CHKDSK:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

2. Type:

   bash

   chkdsk C: /f /r


3. Press Enter and type Y if prompted to schedule it during the next restart.

4. Restart your PC and let CHKDSK complete the scan.

3. Use DISM to Repair Windows Image

If SFC is unable to complete its process due to image corruption, the DISM tool (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) can help restore it.

Steps to Use DISM:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

2. Run the following commands one by one:

   swift

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth


3. Wait for each step to complete—it may take a while.

4. After finishing, try running sfc /scannow again.

4. Check Windows Modules Installer Service

This background service must be running for SFC to work properly.

To Enable the Service:

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

2. Find Windows Modules Installer in the list.

3. Right-click and choose Properties.

4. Set Startup type to Manual or Automatic.

5. Click Start if the service is not running.

6. Click OK, and try SFC again..

5. Rename the Pending .XML File

Windows sometimes fails to proceed with SFC due to a stuck update manifest.

To Rename the File:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

2. Run:

   pgsql

   ren C:\Windows\WinSxS\pending.xml pending.old


3. Retry the sfc /scannow command.

6. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot helps eliminate third-party software conflicts that may interfere with system tools.

To Perform a Clean Boot:

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.

2. Under the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.

3. Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.

4. Disable all startup items.

5. Restart your computer and try running SFC again.

7. Perform a System Restore

If the problem only started recently, you might be able to restore your system to a previous working state.

To Use System Restore:

1. Press Win + S, search for Create a restore point, and open it.

2. Click System Restore, then choose a restore point created before the issue started.

3. Follow the prompts to restore your system.

8. Repair Windows Using Installation Media

As a last resort, you can use Windows installation media to perform a repair installation, which reinstalls Windows without removing your files.

Steps to Perform Repair Installation:

1. Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official website.

2. Use it to create a bootable USB or ISO file.

3. Run setup.exe from the media while in Windows.

4. Choose Keep personal files and apps during the setup.

5. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the repair.

Final Thoughts

The “Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation” error can feel discouraging, especially when you’re trying to fix your system using trusted tools like SFC. Fortunately, with these eight solutions—from Safe Mode scans to repair installations—you have several ways to tackle the problem.

Try the steps in order, and in most cases, one of them will resolve the issue. If the problem still persists, it could be a deeper system issue, and a fresh Windows installation may be necessary.