How to fix Error 337 on Windows 11

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Troubleshooting Guide: Error 337 – “The Specified Copy of the Requested Data Could Not Be Read”

Why This Error Happens

Error 337 typically occurs when Windows 11 attempts to read data from a source (such as a system file, registry hive, or backup snapshot) that is either corrupted, locked by another process, or inaccessible due to insufficient permissions. This is commonly seen with Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) operations, System Restore, or file synchronization tasks where the underlying data block has become unreadable due to disk errors or file system inconsistencies. In many cases, this stems from a damaged copy in the Volume Shadow Copy storage or corrupted system files that prevent Windows from retrieving a valid, complete copy of the requested data.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

  1. Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM
    Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
   sfc /scannow

Follow this with:

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart your PC once both commands complete.

  1. Check and Repair Disk Errors
    Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
   chkdsk C: /f /r

Confirm the scan on next restart (type Y when prompted), then reboot to allow the scan to complete.

  1. Rebuild Volume Shadow Copy Service (if related to backups/restore points)
  • Open Services (services.msc), locate Volume Shadow Copy, right-click and select Restart.
  • Then open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

    vssadmin delete shadows /for=C: /oldest
  • Recreate a fresh restore point via Control Panel > System > System Protection > Create.

  1. Verify Folder/File Permissions
    Navigate to the file or folder path mentioned in the error log (commonly under C:\Windows\System32\config\ or C:\System Volume Information\), right-click → Properties → Security tab, and ensure your user account and SYSTEM have Full Control.

  2. Check Event Viewer for Correlated Errors
    Open Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) → Windows Logs > Application/System, filter for Event ID 337, and note any accompanying error codes (e.g., disk I/O errors) to pinpoint the exact failing component (backup, VSS, or file system).

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • Verify the fix: Re-run the failed operation (backup, restore, or file copy) and confirm Error 337 no longer appears in Event Viewer.
  • Alternative fix: If the issue persists and involves System Restore, disable System Protection, delete all existing restore points, then re-enable and create a new restore point from scratch.