How to fix error: Cannot initiate the restore process. Make sure that all services are running on the server and on the computer to which you want to restore files or folders

Andrew Kolstad 1 Reputation point
2021-03-18T17:43:03.19+00:00

I have three Windows 10 Pro client computers joined to a server running Windows Server 2016 Essentials. When I began to restore some accidentally deleted files to one of the client computers from the server’s backups, the WS16E server would not do it. Instead, it returned an error message: "Cannot initiate the restore process. Make sure that all services are running on the server and on the computer to which you want to restore files or folders." Microsoft’s advice for troubleshooting computer file or folder restoration errors, after checking some preliminary connections issues, was to disconnect the client computer from the server network and then rejoin it. ○ I tried this on one of the computers two ways: one using the Client Connector Wizard, and the other by installing the connector manually from a downloaded WSEClient-x64.msi. ○ When I finished both the process both times, the client computer had version 6.2.9805.10 of the connector software and version 6.2.9190 of the Windows Restoration Driver, which were the same versions as found on my other two client computers that had not been disconnected and rejoined. None of the three Windows 10 Pro client computers, included the one that had been disconnected and rejoined to the server, were able to restore files from backup--they each received the same error message. What else should I do to troubleshoot Windows 10 Pro client computer file restorations in WS16E?

Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
2,371 questions
Windows 10 Network
Windows 10 Network
Windows 10: A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.Network: A group of devices that communicate either wirelessly or via a physical connection.
2,272 questions
Windows Server Backup
Windows Server Backup
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Backup: A duplicate copy of a program, a disk, or data, made either for archiving purposes or for safeguarding valuable files from loss should the active copy be damaged or destroyed.
450 questions
0 comments

3 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Jenny Feng 14,076 Reputation points
    2021-03-19T07:33:21.063+00:00

    Hi,
    To troubleshoot an unsuccessful file or folder restore, you could refer to the following official article as your reference:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/support/troubleshoot-computer-backup-and-restore-errors-in-windows-server-essentials
    Hope above information can help you.

    ============================================

    If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

    0 comments
  2. Andrew Kolstad 1 Reputation point
    2021-03-19T14:00:49.693+00:00

    I have followed the steps outlined on that official article already. I disconnected and rejoined the Windows 10 Pro client computer to the server twice, once with the Client Connector Wizard and once manually with WSEClient-x64.msi. In neither case was I able to restore files or folders from the server backup to the client. There must be some other way to get file restoration working. Some part of the WSE backup system is working, because the daily backups of my client computers continue as they should.

  3. Andrew Kolstad 1 Reputation point
    2021-03-22T17:09:37.197+00:00

    The error message said to make sure that all services are running on the server and on the computer to which you want to restore files or folders. I checked that the Windows 10 Pro client computer’s Windows Server Solution Computer Restore Driver is installed and working properly (checked in Device Manager under System Devices, though version 6.2.9190.0 seems old and is dated 8/17/2012). I checked that the WS16E server’s Windows Server Essentials Computer Backup Service is installed and running (version 10.0.14393.2248 is dated 4/28/2018). When the message says "all services," are there other services that I should check? Is there any additional information that I should provide to help with diagnosis?